Full Day Charyn Canyon, Lunar Canyon, Black Canyon Tour with Charyn River

This full-day tour travels from Almaty into Charyn National Park, taking in Charyn Canyon, Lunar Canyon, Black Canyon and the Charyn River across a schedule that runs from about 9 am to 7 pm, with national park eco fees already covered in the price.

Morning drive to Charyn Canyon

Your driver-guide collects you in the morning and heads east from Almaty toward the national park, with commentary on the region's geology and history along the drive. The route runs close to the border area with China, through open steppe that gradually gives way to canyon country.

The Valley of the Castles

The first stop is Charyn Canyon's best known section, the Valley of the Castles, where red sandstone cliffs rise as high as 300 metres and have been carved by wind and water over millions of years into shapes that resemble ancient fortress walls. Marked trails let you walk between the formations, and the narrow passages and changing rock colors make it a favorite stop for photography.

Lunar Canyon and Black Canyon

From there, the tour continues to Lunar Canyon and Black Canyon, two smaller canyons with a very different character from the Valley of the Castles. Lunar Canyon's pale, cratered terrain looks almost otherworldly, while Black Canyon's darker rock and deep, narrow gorges give it a heavier, more dramatic feel, and both are a short stop rather than a long walk.

The Charyn River

The day also takes in the Charyn River, where the moving water and greenery along the banks offer a change of pace from the dry canyon landscape and a good spot to rest and take photos before the drive back to the city.

The tour ends with the return drive to Almaty in the evening, rounding off a long day that covers four distinct landscapes in one trip. Rayna's driver-guide handles the whole route, and the local team stays reachable before and after your trip if you have questions about the day.

• Walk through Charyn Canyon's Valley of the Castles, where red sandstone cliffs rise up to 300 metres.
• See the contrasting landscapes of Lunar Canyon and Black Canyon on the same day.
• Stop at the Charyn River for a scenic break among the canyon scenery.
• Full-day tour from Almaty with driver-guide, vehicle and national park eco fees included.
• Marked trails let you get close to the sandstone formations for photos.

• Roundtrip hotel transfer for the full-day tour
• Professional English-speaking driver-guide
• Charyn National Park eco fees

• Personal expenses, including shopping, drinks and dining on-site
• Additional excursions or optional activities
• Entrance fees to attractions other than those listed under inclusions
• Meals and beverages

1. Download the soft copy of your voucher from your dashboard.
2. Keep a copy of the voucher on your phone.
3. Present it to your driver for verification at pickup.

• Be ready in the hotel lobby 15 minutes before your scheduled pickup time.
• Provide accurate hotel address details when booking, to help pickup run smoothly.
• Carry a valid ID or passport with you for identification during the tour.
• If you do not report within the designated time, it is treated as a no-show, with no rescheduling or refund available.
• Stick to the scheduled pickup time, since timings can shift with traffic and other factors.
• Please be punctual for both the transfer and the tour.