Kazakhstan Charyn Canyon Trek

Almaty Region, Kazakhstan · Kazakhstan

Moderate7 daysAsia~£300 est.

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Overview

Charyn is Central Asia's answer to Arizona: a red-sandstone gash in the Kazakh steppe, three hours east of Almaty, where 12 million years of river-cutting have left a gallery of towers and battlements locals call the Valley of Castles. Most visitors walk the two-kilometre showpiece down to the river and leave; stay instead. Trek the canyon system over several days — the Valley of Castles, the quieter Temirlik and Yellow canyons, and the relict Sogdian ash grove downstream, a species that survived the last Ice Age in this one sheltered bend — and you get the sunrise light and the silence to yourself. The steppe does temperature extremes properly: summer canyon floors exceed 40 °C with no shade and no water sources, so go April-May or September-October, carry four litres a day, and expect near-freezing nights in the shoulder months. An eco-camp by the river offers bungalows and yurts if you would rather not carry a tent. Around £300 for a multi-day guided trip from Almaty with transfers and park fees.