The lower lake
Rowing boats.
Marat Rysbekov — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Алибек Исакул — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Insta.ddaanni1l — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tyrix83 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Beloved didi — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Deenahuiotsuda — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Dots foto — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mariа Simonova — CC BY-SA 4.0
Three mountain lakes on the Kolsai river in the northern Tian Shan, between the Kungey Alatau and Trans-Ili Alatau ranges, about 10 km from the Kyrgyz border. Nicknamed the «pearl of the northern Tian Shan», they are ringed by dark forests of Tian Shan spruce. The lake nearest the road is the lower lake at about 1,800 m, blue water between wooded slopes, with guesthouses, campsites and rowing boats on its shore. From there a trail climbs for a few hours to the middle lake at about 2,250 m. The upper lake, at about 2,850 m near the border, cannot be visited without a border permit. The lakes reach about 50 m deep and hold trout, and the park is part of UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Park entry is about 800 tenge per person plus a small car fee, per visitor guides. It is about 300 km from Almaty by road, so many stay a night in Saty village and add Lake Kaindy and Charyn Canyon.
Rowing boats.
To the middle lake.
Around the water.
Kolsai Lakes National Park, near Saty village, southeast of Almaty
The lower lake by car and the middle lake on a few hours' hike; the upper lake near the Kyrgyz border needs a border permit.