Charyn Canyon

Charyn Canyon, about 195 kilometres east of Almaty, runs for some 150 kilometres along the Charyn River and is often likened to a smaller Grand Canyon. Over millions of years the Charyn River has carved through soft sedimentary rock to create a dramatic gorge of towering red-and-ochre cliffs, pinnacles and eroded formations. Its best-known stretch, the Valley of Castles, is a dry side gorge about three kilometres long, cut by meltwater, with rock spires and columns that turn deep red in low sun, walked along its floor.

What you'll find

• The Valley of Castles - a dry gorge of red rock spires.
• The canyon floor walk - the trail down among the formations.
• The Charyn River - the green ribbon of river at the gorge's end.
• The ash grove - the rare relict ash forest nearby.

When to go

May to October, for accessible roads and pleasant temperatures, avoiding the scorching midsummer midday heat; spring and autumn are ideal. The rocks glow most beautifully in the warm light of early morning and late afternoon. It is usually a long day trip from Almaty.

Before you go

It is a long drive from Almaty, so it makes for a full day or an overnight, and the canyon, while beautiful, is smaller than its Grand Canyon nickname suggests. The Valley of Castles floor gets busy on summer weekends, and there is little shade.

Nearby

The Kolsai and Kaindy lakes and the Tian Shan foothills are within reach.

Key facts