Cheapest Way To Travel To Charyn Canyon From Almaty
Escaping Almaty
In recent years, Central Asia has emerged from the fog of the Soviet Union which has shrouded them for so many years and staked their claim as both an economic and tourist hub. Even though Kazakhstan has taken many steps to make their country more accessible to foreign travelers, it doesn’t change the fact that much of the country is still a vast wilderness.
Backpackers arriving in Kazakhstan will be disappointed to find out it is difficult to break out of the cities and explore the endless steppes of Central Asia. Without renting a car or paying for an outrageously expensive tour, most tourists will be confined to cities such as Almaty or Nur-Sultan (formerly known as Astana).
Although it may seem impossible, there are options to escape the cosmopolitan cities of modern Kazakhstan and explore the land of nomads and eagle hunters. You can even bask in the country’s rugged natural beauty on a backpackers budget, meaning you will have extra money to extend that round the world trip for a couple of weeks.
You can read more on Charyn Canyon here!
How To Do A Day Trip To Charyn Canyon
As you well know, tours taking you outside the confines of Kazakhstan’s major cities will cost you an arm and a leg. One of the most accessible, as well as breathtaking, places near the former capital of Almaty is Charyn Canyon. Well perusing tours at your hostel and online you will see tours starting at around one hundred dollars for a day trip. Little known to most backpackers, there is a way to explore the Kazakh desert and canyons on a budget.
While most experienced travelers may scoff at the idea of doing a bus tour, Kazakhstan gives you little options. During the summer shuttles transport local tourists to and from some of Almaty’s nearby hotspots, including Charyn Canyon.
Through the Ecotourism Information Resource Center (EIRC), you can visit Charyn Canyon for as little as 6,000 Tenge (15 USD). After meeting early in the morning in downtown Almaty, it is just a 3.5-hour drive to the canyon. While there you are given ample time to explore Charyn Canyon, relax by the river, and soak in the Kazakh wilderness before being loaded back on the bus.
Unfortunately, these bus tours only run on the weekend. Unless you are wanting to spend a lot of time in Almaty, it would be best to arrange your trip to coincide with Saturday and Sunday.
Looking to get to Big Almaty Lake for the day? Read more here!
The Grand Canyons Little Brother
When you first step off the bus onto the sun backed rocks and dirt you will notice that the region surrounding Charyn Canyon is incredibly flat. The barren wasteland of the desert is an explanation in itself as to why Kazakhstan has such a low population density. While scanning the endless the Mars-like horizon, a single crack can be seen separating the earth, this is the Charyn Canyon.
Unlike the Grand Canyon, Charyn Canyon lacks the size and grandeur of its American brother. The orange walls almost seem like a mini-replica of what the United States has to offer. As long as you don’t continuously compare the two canyons, you are sure to enjoy the natural beauty of this barren desert.
After descending into the canyon, and following the trails for roughly thirty minutes, you will find yourself at the edge of the Charyn River. Locals and Russian tourists lay out their towels and lounge about under cover of the trees or simply bask in the sun. A majority of the park seems rugged and gives the feeling of wandering through the Kazakh wilderness. Along the river, however, you will find several overpriced restaurants and tourist camps awaiting unsuspecting travelers.
Looking to ride the rails in Kazakhstan? Read my article on getting to Nukus from Aktau here!
Exploring Kazakhstan
Many of your more adventurous of stubborn travelers may try and hitchhike and camp out at Charyn Canyon. This is a totally feasible option if you have a lot of time on your hand and a lot of patience. Those who aren’t willing to shell out the extra money for a private car or a tailor-made tour will have to hop on a weekend bus to enjoy the beauty of Kazakhstan.
For Charyn Canyon, passengers were given ample time before having to be herded on to the bus and sent back to the confines of Almaty. Of course, many travelers would want time to just kick back and relax with the Kazakh wilderness as a backdrop. What these bus tours do is give you a taste of what Kazakhstan has to offer for a cheap price. If you find a place you have truly fallen in love with, then you might want to consider a private trip.
As Kazakhstan continues to pick up the pace and becoming a leading influence in Asia, its tourism industry will also grow. Of course, this will mean more rowdy tour groups and tacky souvenir shops. On the other hand, it will also unlock natural treasures which have been kept a secret from the world for decades.
Looking at camping in Charyn Canyon? Read more here!
