Winter Kolsai and Kaindy: 2 days by Land Cruiser
From late December to March Kaindy freezes clear and the drowned spruce trunks stand in ice, while Kolsai sits under snow at 1,818 m. A private Toyota Land Cruiser with an English-speaking driver takes up to four guests from Almaty to Saty and both lakes over two days for $780 per car, the driver’s lodging and meals included. Winter tyres, the 12 km gorge track to Kaindy and every hour of waiting are in the price.
- Seasonlate December – March
- CarToyota Land Cruiser Prado / 300, up to 4 guests
- RouteAlmaty → Saty ≈300 km, ≈5 h; Kaindy track 12 km
- Nights1 night in Saty
- Price$780 per car
Winter Kolsai and Kaindy: 2 days by Land Cruiser: price per car
| Car | Per car 2 days | Per person if you are 2 · 3 · 4 · 6 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4x4 up to 4 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado / 300 | $780 | $390 | $260 | $195 | — |
English-speaking driver included. Prices in US dollars, updated 20 October 2026.
What does the 2-day winter trip look like?
- Day 1, 06:30: pickup at your Almaty hotel, east on the A351 through Shelek and the Shilik valley to Saty (≈300 km, about 5 hours in winter). Afternoon at Lower Kolsai, 14 km of asphalt above Saty, when the low sun lights the snow on the spruce slopes. Night in a Saty guesthouse.
- Day 2, 08:30: the 12 km gorge track to Kaindy in the Land Cruiser, then a 15-minute walk to the frozen lake. Leave by 12:30 and you are back in Almaty around 18:30–19:30.
Want Charyn as well? A 45-minute stop at the canyon rim on day 1 fits if you leave by 06:00; the full Valley of Castles walk needs a summer day trip.
Why a Land Cruiser, and why only in winter?
In summer a minivan reaches Kolsai and you switch to a local off-roader for Kaindy. In winter the gorge track to Kaindy is snow-packed and icy, and the off-roaders at the checkpoint run less often. Our Land Cruisers carry winter tyres, chains and a shovel, and the driver has done the track in snow. That is why this product is 4x4 only and runs from late December, once the ice is safe to look at, until March, when avalanche risk on the gorge slopes can close the track. We check the road and the avalanche status with the park the evening before each departure.
Is it safe to walk on the ice?
Only where locals walk, and only with someone who knows the ice that week. Springs keep some patches thin even in January. Most visitors photograph the trunks from the shore and the edge of the ice, which is where the classic picture is taken anyway. Daytime temperatures run −10 to −20 °C; bring proper boots, gloves and a spare battery, and expect mobile signal to drop in the gorge.
What do we provide, and what do you book yourself?
We sell transport: a private car with a driver for two days, the driver’s lodging and meals included. Your guesthouse in Saty is not part of our price — you book it directly, and we send a shortlist of warm guesthouses with hot showers that are open in winter (expect $30–60 a room). Park tickets are paid on the spot: 865 ₸ per person and 2,595 ₸ per car in 2026.
What’s included
- Toyota Land Cruiser with an English-speaking driver for 2 days
- Fuel, tolls, parking, the Kaindy gorge track
- Winter tyres, chains, shovel, bottled water
- Driver’s lodging and meals in Saty
- Free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup
- 30% deposit by card, balance online or to the driver
Not included
- Your guesthouse in Saty
- Park tickets
- Meals
VISAMastercard Fixed price, licensed and insured driver, secure card payment by Stripe.
Questions
How much is a private winter trip to Kolsai and Kaindy?
$780 per car for two days in a Toyota Land Cruiser for up to four guests, with an English-speaking driver, fuel, winter tyres and the driver’s lodging and meals. Your Saty guesthouse, park tickets and meals are paid separately.
When is Kaindy Lake frozen?
Usually from late December to March. The ice is clearest on cold, windless days in January and February. In March and April avalanche risk can close the gorge track, so we confirm the road the evening before.
Can a minivan do this trip in winter?
Not to Kaindy. The 12 km gorge track is snow-packed and icy in winter, so we run this trip in a Land Cruiser only. A minivan can reach Lower Kolsai on asphalt; ask us for a winter Kolsai-only quote.
Can we do it in one day?
It is possible but not advisable in winter: about 11 hours of driving on short days, with no light left at the second lake. Two days with a night in Saty is the safe version.
Is a guide included?
No. This is a private car with an English-speaking driver who knows the route and the conditions. We do not sell guiding or hotel packages; you book your guesthouse directly from our shortlist.