Kolsay Lake
You will see the Bartogai reservoir with its turquoise waters...
With Juliya
Discover Kolsay Kaindy lakes, ancient Charyn canyon
and singing dunes with a local expert
Best tours in Kazakhstan with guide with 12 years of experience
You will see the Bartogai reservoir with its turquoise waters...
The main attraction of the canyon are rock formations...
Singing Sands is a fascinating natural phenomenon...
I was born in Almaty. Started to work as a translator (English-Russian) in mountain treks 23 years ago, after 3 years of 63 days trekking annually in summer season plus botanic and ornithology, horse riding and bike tours at spring and autumn I became a guide and was leading individual and group tours up to 26 people. It was great experience, fun and possibility to travel to the places of my own country which usually are very hard to reach like Inylcheck glacier - foot of Khan-Tengri (7 010 meters high) and Pobeda (7 439) peaks, which is still my favorite place of Kazakhstan.
Your comfort and unforgettable experience are my top priorities
Official certification from Kazakhstan Tourism Board with 23 years of professional experience
Fluent in English, Russian, and Kazakh - seamless communication for international travelers
Trusted by travelers from 30+ countries with 4.9/5 average rating on TripAdvisor
Born and raised in Kazakhstan - knows hidden gems, best photo spots, and authentic experiences
Extensive driving experience on highways and off-road terrain, ensuring comfortable and safe journeys
Captures your best moments with professional equipment - memories that last forever
Ready to explore Kazakhstan with a trusted local expert?
Book Your Tour NowClients from 30+ countries have explored Kazakhstan with us
Join hundreds of happy travelers who explored Kazakhstan with us
Our tour with Julia was amazing! She is a really great driver and guide. Taking us to the best places and telling us everything about those places, she really knows a lot. She took really good care of us (even arranged vegetarian food for me in such a meat loving country) and it was great fun with her. Her English is great as well and she is really responsive. Would def recommend a tour with her!
Yuliya sent me a guide who speaks Korean really well and a English speaking driver. They are terrific! No problem in communication and fell comfortable.Car and Lunch both are good. The Assy plateau is amazing and I could really enjoy it.
We have the chance to spent two days with Dima in our trip. He has been a really awesome guide, very kind, helpful and with a lot informations to tell about kazakhstan, the nature and everything around. Always with a smile and great kindness to us. We really enjoyed the real coffee from the coffee`s maker around charyn canyon. It was such a blast. The homestay was like home, warm and sweet with great dishes. We felt very honoured by everyone. The different landscapes we explored were amazing and so beautiful. It has been two awesome days, and probably the best in our trip. We thank a lot Yuliya for her efficient work to organized the trip as we asked. She did a great work finding what would be the best according our wishs and fund. Thank you very much for everythin. We highly recommand them.
Yuliya is a very knowledgeable and experienced tour guide. Her 4x4 off-road car will take you virtually everywhere you would like to go. Moreover, she is a very safe driver, which is not so evident in Central Asia. She took fantastic care of us and really customized the tour to our likings. In short, if you would like to see some of Kazakhstan`s varied and very beautiful nature in a time efficient manner, we would highly recommend booking a tour with Yuliya.
Yuliya was the best tourguide I ever had so far. She was very responsive in all my messages, she was very considerate in all my request especially I was going alone and was on a budget trip. She even arranged my 4 days itinerary even if I`ll be with her for 2 days trip only. I just had the best 30th birthday in kazakhstan and it was all beacause of yuliya. I had great food and a very comfortable and warm home. She made me experienced how beautiful and astonishing kazakhstan is.
Fantastic trip with Yuliya to see Kaindy/ Kolsai Lake and Charyn Canyon. Not a bad word to say. You couldn't really ask for more in a laidback, relaxed and thoroughly enjoyable trip. Communication was excellent from very first contact to on time arrival at hotel meeting point. It felt more like a road trip with a friend than a trip with a tour guide I'd never met before. Very knowledgeable about the area, sights, nature and wildlife. Safe driving and good conversation. Great local shashlik. Homestay in Saty was very comfortable and home cooked food simple (manti) yet delicious and very filling. It was a shame it was over so quickly!
Our pricing is fully transparent with no hidden fees. Unlike mass-market agencies, we include professional guide services, all national park entrance fees (eco-fees), accommodation, bottled water, and all meals in the base price. You won't need to reach for your wallet during the trip. Note that flights to/from Almaty, travel insurance, and personal expenses are not included.
We prioritize meaningful exploration over quantity and never do '5-places-in-a-day' rush tours. We typically spend 2–4 hours at each major location, providing historical context and pointing out hidden photo spots. This balanced approach ensures you have time to walk, stretch, and truly immerse yourself in the landscape without burnout.
Safety and comfort are non-negotiable on rugged terrain. We exclusively use reliable Japanese 4x4 off-road vehicles — Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota FJ Cruiser, or Mitsubishi Pajero — meticulously maintained for mountain roads. Every vehicle features high-performance A/C and limited passenger capacity to ensure legroom and personal space, so you arrive energized rather than exhausted.
We avoid mass-tour crowds to maintain intimacy. Our small-group expeditions are capped at 12 participants, while private tours offer 100% privacy for couples or solo travelers. We also welcome corporate and B2B groups of up to 30 people, splitting everyone into separate vehicles with dedicated guides so the experience stays relaxed and human-centric rather than a standard bus-tour format.
We don't believe in 'one-size-fits-all' trekking. During consultation, we match the route to your fitness level. At Kolsai Lake, the standard trekking route runs 2–6 km (about 3 hours), and reaching the second Kolsai Lake on foot or by horseback is available on request. At Kaindy Lake, trekking covers 2–4 km (about 3 hours), and Charyn Canyon has a 3–5 km trek (about 2.5 hours). The guide adjusts the pace daily, ensuring you enjoy the beauty at a comfortable speed without exhaustion.
For safety reasons, we have a strict policy against evening departures on return day. While we usually finish by 4–6 PM, mountain weather and road conditions can cause unpredictable delays. We will decline bookings with critical international flights scheduled for that evening. We strongly advise staying one extra night in Almaty to rest stress-free instead of rushing to beat the clock.
The journey is part of the adventure. We make strategic stops every 1.5–2 hours at clean restroom facilities and local shops for authentic snacks. Beyond necessities, we often reveal unique points of interest off standard maps, giving you chances to stretch, breathe fresh mountain air, and experience local culture. We curate the drive to be as rewarding as the destination itself.
Preparation equals enjoyment. Pack sturdy hiking shoes, layered clothing (mountain weather changes rapidly), and SPF 50+ sun protection. Bring a personal first-aid kit, energy-dense snacks, and a thermos for hot drinks. Crucially, carry your original passport for national park checkpoints and keep cash/cards handy. Since signal is spotty, download offline maps/music beforehand and inform loved ones of your itinerary.