Charyn Canyon
Charyn State National Nature Park (2004). A 154 Km Canyon Cut About 12 Million Years Ago, Up To 300 M Deep, With The 2 Km Valley Of Castles The Usual Stop. Sometimes Called Kazakhstan'S Grand Canyon. · Kegen, Almaty Region
Charyn Canyon is a long red-rock gorge cut by the Charyn River about 200 km east of Almaty, up to 300 m deep and some 154 km long, within Charyn National Park (set up in 2004). Most people mean the Valley of Castles, a stretch of about two kilometres where wind and water have carved towers, walls and arches from rock around 12 million years old. There are two main ways to see it. The rim path gives wide views from above, and a steep track leads down into the canyon to the river, where cottonwoods give the only real shade and a campsite sits near the water. Be honest about conditions: summer heat is fierce, there is almost no shade on the rim, wind blows dust over the rock, and the last stretch of road is gravel and rough. It is a long day from Almaty and the main viewpoint can get crowded at midday. Still, it is Kazakhstan's best-known landscape, and the light at the start and end of the day is the best of all. Take water and plan to be back before dark.
Red-rock canyon on the Charyn River in Charyn National Park, about 200 km east of Almaty by road; the Valley of Castles section has a main entrance with a viewing area, a path to the river and a campsite, Kegen, Almaty Region, Kazakhstan
The park entrance is normally open during daylight hours through most of the year, with a ticket booth at the main gate and a staffed viewing area near the Valley of Castles. Facilities run longest in summer and thin out in winter, when the road can be icy and some services close. The river path is walked in daylight only. The park is not free: an entrance fee is charged per person and per car. Times and fees change, so confirm before you drive out from Almaty.