The Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes

High in the Tian Shan mountains east of Almaty lie some of Kazakhstan's most beautiful landscapes, the Kolsai Lakes and the extraordinary Kaindy Lake. The three Kolsai Lakes form a chain of serene, turquoise alpine waters cradled among steep slopes of dark spruce forest and snow-dusted peaks, laced with hiking and horse-riding trails. Nearby, the surreal Kaindy Lake, created by an earthquake, is famous for the bare, ghostly trunks of a drowned spruce forest that still rise eerily from its clear emerald water.

What you actually see

• The Kolsai Lakes - the chain of turquoise alpine lakes and trails.
• Kaindy Lake - the eerie sunken forest of drowned spruce trunks.
• The mountain hikes - the trails between the lakes and peaks.
• The village of Saty - the base for the lakes and local homestays.

When to go

June to September, the short mountain summer, for the best weather, wildflowers and passable roads and trails; the lakes can be reached in a long day but are best over an overnight in a village homestay. The mountain roads require a sturdy vehicle, especially to Kaindy.

Honest expectations

The lakes are remote and reached by rough mountain roads, with the final stretch to Kaindy needing a four-wheel drive or local transfer, so a guide or tour helps; it is best as an overnight rather than a rushed day trip. Facilities are basic village homestays. The serene turquoise lakes and the haunting sunken forest of Kaindy, though, are unforgettable and among Central Asia's loveliest scenery.

Nearby

Charyn Canyon and the Tian Shan valleys are within reach.