Trip to Charyn Canyon

Trip to Charyn Canyon (Unique Natural Memorial)

Duration - 10 - 12 hours
Season - all the year round



The Charyn River is running through the deep canyon with bizarre rock monuments reminding in shape of castles and towers on top of steep rocky walls. The Torajgir Mountain have got elevations of more than 2000 m and are one of several southeast Kazakh mountain ranges north of the Tian Shan.

The walls of Charyn Canyon in Dolina Zamkov area show rock storeys of different ages and different origin. Dark rocks at the bottom of Charyn Canyon and in the lower part of Dolina Zamkov are volcanic lava rocks. These are the oldest rocks in this area. On top of these rocks are layers of much younger rocks. These red cliffs (i.e. the walls of Dolina Zamkov), consist of solid gravel which was deposited by debris flows. The plains around Charyn Canyon are covered with grey gravel which was deposited by rivers, and dust which was deposited by wind. Sand and gravel on the bottom of Charyn Canyon was deposited by Charyn River. Some gravel on terraces above Charyn River is evidence of Charyn's former river bed.

Itinerary: Transfer Almaty - Chilik village – Charyn canyon (220 km, 3-3,5 hours). Excursion to Charyn canyon (“Valley of Castles”), Water, wind and time have created fantastic sculptures, wonderfully beautiful and diverse. Lunch. Back to Almaty.

The cost includes: transport, lunch, guide services, ecological taxes.