SILKTRAVEL
Plan Almaty, Charyn, Kolsai and Kaindy by season: mountain roads, winter visits, Assy access and summer yurt stays in Kyrgyzstan.
Jump to the monthly calendar · Spring · Summer · Autumn · Winter
When should I visit Almaty, Charyn and Kolsai?
For a first trip, Silk Travel recommends April–October for warmer weather, green landscapes and opportunities to see animals. Our 5-day Almaty Region tour, 6-day Kazakhstan–Kyrgyzstan tour and 8-day tour also run in winter, usually at the published prices, with small seasonal changes agreed before booking and refined for the weather. Assy and Arabel plateaus are normally visited May–October, subject to roads and weather; neither is included in winter.
Month-by-month travel calendar
Temperatures are monthly means for Almaty city at 851 m, based on Kazhydromet’s 1991–2020 climate normals. In the same month, Charyn can feel hotter in the sun while the lakes and plateaus can be colder and windier. Check the forecast and road or lift status for your exact dates.
| Month | Almaty weather | Trips and access | What to wear |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | −6.1 °C · Cold, with snow or ice | Charyn and the lower lakes if roads allow. Check Shymbulak lifts. | Thermal layers, insulated jacket, winter boots, hat and gloves. |
| February | −4.3 °C · Still wintry | Kolsai and Kaindy for snow scenery if access allows. Keep an Almaty city day as a fallback. | Warm layers, grippy winter boots, gloves and sunglasses. |
| March | +2.7 °C · Milder in town, snow or ice possible higher up | Charyn or Altyn-Emel on suitable roads. Assy stays out of the winter itinerary. | Warm midlayer, waterproof jacket and grippy boots. |
| April | +11.2 °C · Cool to mild, often wet | Charyn and Altyn-Emel for walking. Check lake approaches after rain or snow. | Rain shell, fleece and water-resistant footwear. |
| May | +16.5 °C · Milder days, cool mountain evenings | Lower Kolsai and Kaindy. Check Assy separately. Late-May Song-Kul yurt stays depend on camp opening and roads. | Layers, rain shell and closed walking shoes. |
| June | +21.1 °C · Warm in the city, cooler in the mountains | Assy and Arabel if roads allow. Song-Kul yurts are a seasonal option. Visit Charyn early in hot weather. | Sun hat, light layers, fleece and a windbreaker. |
| July | +23.7 °C · Warmest month on average; canyon heat | Prioritise the lakes and high pastures if accessible. Plan Charyn or Altyn-Emel for early or late in the day. | Breathable clothes, sun protection and a warm layer for mountain evenings. |
| August | +22.6 °C · Warm days, cooler nights at altitude | Kolsai, Kaindy and Song-Kul. Big Almaty Lake depends on road conditions and the authorised transfer. | Light layers, fleece, sun hat and shoes with grip. |
| September | +17.3 °C · Mild in town, chilly at elevation | Kolsai, Kaindy and Turgen. Song-Kul yurt stays usually finish in early September. | Fleece, windproof layer and closed walking shoes. |
| October | +9.8 °C · Cooler, with possible early mountain snow | Charyn, Altyn-Emel or the lower lakes. Confirm Assy and Arabel before including them. | Warm layers, waterproof shell and grippy boots. |
| November | +1.5 °C · Cold spells, possible ice | Combine Almaty with Charyn or the lower lakes when roads allow. The high plateaus are outside our usual access window. | Insulated jacket, warm socks and footwear with good tread. |
| December | −4.0 °C · Winter conditions and shorter days | Plan shorter lake or canyon stops if roads allow. Check resort opening and lifts before adding Shymbulak. | Thermals, insulated jacket, winter boots, hat and gloves. |
1. Seasonal access: seven places and routes to compare
Charyn Canyon: visit year-round. In summer we plan visits in the morning or towards evening and shorten walks in strong heat. Spring and autumn suit guests who want longer walks. Winter brings different canyon scenery. Your guide adapts walking distances and stops to your interests and ability.
For the route, walking options and group prices, see our private Charyn Canyon day tour from Almaty.
Lower Kolsai and Kaindy: we usually keep both in winter itineraries, with transport and walking arrangements generally similar to summer. In warmer months, enjoy open-water views and forest scenery; winter brings frozen lakes and snowy landscapes. At Kolsai, beautiful exposed ice may be visible before snow covers it. Guests may bring their own skates, but any skating must be agreed locally according to ice conditions; it is not a guaranteed tour activity. This guidance concerns the lower lake, not a trek to the upper Kolsai lakes.
Big Almaty Lake: summer and early autumn are popular for mountain views and changing blue-green water. Colour varies with light, water conditions and season. Winter visits depend on permission, the road and the dedicated local transfer. A year-round tour listing does not guarantee daily access to the lake.
For the included local ascent transfer and a combined city itinerary, see the Big Almaty Lake, Almaty and Kok Tobe day tour.
Altyn-Emel National Park: visit year-round for the Aktau Mountains and Singing Dune. In summer we plan morning or late-afternoon visits and shorten walks in strong heat. Our guides often see kulans and goitered gazelles in the park, and eagles on the roads towards Altyn-Emel and Charyn. When conditions allow, we stop for photographs. Wildlife sightings vary and cannot be guaranteed.
Assy Plateau: normally included May–October, depending on weather and the access road. In the five-day tour it is always replaced in winter with a location agreed individually before booking. Arabel Plateau on our six- and eight-day Kazakhstan–Kyrgyzstan tours follows the same usual May–October window and is always omitted in winter; Jeti-Oguz, Barskoon and Fairytale Canyon remain in that day’s programme.
Kegen–Karkara border crossing: the usual mountain connection between Kazakhstan’s eastern lakes and Kyrgyzstan. When it is unavailable, including in winter, we travel through Korday and change the order of the itinerary. We agree the seasonal route before booking and confirm roads, checkpoint operation and each traveller’s documents for the dates.
Song-Kul in Kyrgyzstan: our yurt-stay season runs from late May to early September, with actual opening and closing visits dependent on weather and access. The yurts here are unheated, and showers and toilets are shared. Read our Song-Kul guide before choosing the stay. It is a summer mountain experience, not an option to assume for a winter itinerary.
2. Spring: greener steppe and canyon days
April and May suit Charyn and Altyn-Emel before the strongest summer heat. Lower landscapes green while snow can remain higher in the mountains. Wildflowers may brighten the journey, with timing influenced by rainfall, temperature and elevation. Enjoy spring’s changing landscapes without relying on poppies in a particular week.
The 2-Day Altyn-Emel Tour separates the Aktau Mountains and Singing Dune with a night in Basshi. The 2-Day Kolsai and Kaindy Tour combines Charyn and the lakes with a guesthouse night near Saty. Both provide room for walks and meals across two days rather than concentrating every major stop into one long excursion.
For spring lake photography, prepare for mixed conditions: water, lingering snow and cloud can create different scenes within one month. A lower canyon programme may work while higher routes remain unsuitable. Keep a jacket and grippy shoes accessible, and discuss priorities so an alternative can replace any unavailable mountain approach.
3. Summer: high pastures, lake visits and Kyrgyzstan yurts
June through August is the main period to consider Assy’s high grasslands and summer yurt stays in Kyrgyzstan. Longer daylight gives more flexibility for photography and breaks. The contrast between a warm city or canyon and a cooler mountain evening is part of the experience, so pack layers even when your holiday begins in hot weather.
The Assy Plateau and Issyk Lake day trip combines mountain scenery with a Turgen lunch stop. For two countries, the 6-Day Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Tour links Charyn and the lakes with Karakol, Issyk-Kul and further Kyrgyzstan stops. To make Song-Kul a priority, compare the separate 6-Day Kyrgyzstan Photo Tour, starting and finishing in Bishkek.
Summer is a good time to choose a comfortable pace rather than a fixed walking target. Our standard five-, six- and eight-day tours use easy walks adapted to the guests; they do not require technical climbing, trekking poles or specialist equipment. Bring footwear with good grip, a sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. A warm fleece, vest or windbreaker is useful even in summer at Assy, Arabel, Kolsai and Kaindy and in Saty in the evening.
4. Autumn: forest colours and a varied regional journey
September and October can bring yellow birch, poplar and shrub foliage against the dark green Tian Shan spruce. The spruces themselves are evergreen. Colour timing varies between valleys and elevations, and a storm can change the scene quickly. Build photography time into the day rather than fixing your entire holiday around a promised peak-colour date.
The 5-Day Almaty Region Tour connects Altyn-Emel, Zharkent, canyons, Kolsai, Kaindy, Turgen, Assy and Issyk Lake. It is a useful choice for contrasting desert and mountain scenery in one journey. For later autumn dates, the Assy section needs confirmation or a separately agreed alternative. Lower-elevation autumn trips remain worthwhile even when a high route is no longer suitable.
Include Almaty itself: Green Bazaar offers seasonal fruit, nuts, honey and other foods, depending on supply. Autumn weekends and holidays can still be busy. Choosing weekdays where possible and allowing flexible photo stops often matters more than expecting an empty viewpoint. Leave time to enjoy the city between longer excursions.
5. Winter: snow scenery with a suitable daily plan
Our five-, six- and eight-day tours run year-round. In winter we usually retain Charyn, Kolsai and Kaindy; the cross-border tours also retain Karakol and Issyk-Kul. Assy is replaced by an individually agreed stop, and Arabel is always omitted while Jeti-Oguz, Barskoon and Fairytale Canyon remain. We agree changes before booking, then refine the plan for weather and road conditions.
Winter prices are usually the same as the published tour prices. We usually use the same checked guesthouses and hotels as in summer. Replacing an itinerary stop with a ski-resort visit usually carries no tour-price supplement; skiing and cable-car tickets, including sightseeing lift rides, are paid separately. Exact accommodation and seasonal substitutions are agreed before booking.
By agreement, a winter programme can include Shymbulak or Ak-Bulak near Almaty, or Karakol ski resort in Kyrgyzstan, instead of another stop. Ask us to fit the visit into your route and check services for your dates. If you’re choosing where to ski near Almaty, compare Shymbulak, Oi-Qaragai and Ak-Bulak in our Kazakhstan skiing guide. Ala-Too Resort in Jyrgalan is a possible future addition only after its opening and services have been confirmed. For a frozen-lake experience, discuss Kolsai: the appearance of exposed ice depends on snowfall.
For budgeting, current starting rates are $90 for the Big Almaty Lake and city day, $110 for Assy, $270 for two-day Altyn-Emel, $290 for two-day Kolsai, $840 for five-day Almaty Region and $1,020 for either six-day programme mentioned above. These are per person for four private guests, with twin or double sharing on multi-day tours, checked on 24 October 2026. Confirm the programme and total for your dates.
Compare overnight stops in our Almaty route guide and read the Kazakhstan travel FAQ for packing and practical details. Send your dates, group size, walking preferences and main seasonal wish through our tour request form, or WhatsApp +7 (701) 740-00-33. We can then check the proposed access, accommodation and daily sequence for your trip.