Charyn Canyon, the Kolsai Lakes, or the natural hot springs of Chundzha — during Nauryz (the Central Asian New Year, celebrated March 21–23), you can finally tick off destinations you never have enough weekends for. March 21–25 gives you 5 days off in a row — plenty of time for trips within 300 km of Almaty. Nauryz is the biggest holiday in Kazakhstan, similar in importance to Christmas and New Year in the West, so the whole country is in celebration mode. We’ve put together 6 destinations with prices, car-free options, and the honest downsides of each.
Prices are approximate and were accurate at the time of writing (February 2026). Double-check details before your trip.
Ethno-village Gunny
The ethno-village “Gunny” is an ethnographic complex — essentially a recreation of a traditional Kazakh village — where you can experience Nauryz the way it’s meant to be celebrated: with ancient rituals, traditional ceremonies, and authentic national cuisine.
The highlight is a horseback show by the SARBAZ group performing traditional Kazakh equestrian games (kokpar — a mounted tug-of-war over a goat carcass; tenge alu — picking up coins from the ground at full gallop; and kyz kuu — a horseback chase between a man and woman). There are also traditional ceremonies like Shashu (showering guests with sweets and coins for good luck) and Tusau keser (a ribbon-cutting ceremony for toddlers taking their first steps — symbolizing the start of their life’s journey). You can try your hand at traditional crafts in hands-on workshops. Meals are served inside a yurt (a traditional nomadic tent): beshbarmak (Kazakhstan’s national dish — boiled meat served over flat noodles), baursak (golden fried dough balls, a festive staple), and kumys (fermented mare’s milk, a traditional Central Asian drink).
Ethno-village Gunny — yurts and horseback shows at the foot of the mountains 
Great for families, groups of friends, and couples.
Distance: 35 km from Almaty, ~1 hour drive
How long to allow: half a day — the program runs 4–5 hours
How to get there:
- By car: along the Talgar highway, the road is in good condition
- Bus #224 from Baikonur metro station (Sports Palace) — runs from 5:30 AM to 10:00 PM, but every ~85 min. The stop is ~800 m from the village
Prices (2026): program with lunch 20,000–30,000 KZT/person ($40–60)
Contacts: +7 707 051 35 51 · hunny.kz · @gunny_aul
On the map: Google Maps · 2GIS · Yandex
Tamgaly-Tas petroglyphs
Cliffs along the Ili River with Bronze Age petroglyphs, Buddhist reliefs, and Turkic inscriptions from the 8th–9th centuries. It’s an unusual spot: Turkic carvings sit alongside Buddhist images of the Buddha. Allow 1–2 hours for the visit.
Without a guide or some prep work, you’ll miss a lot — the carvings aren’t always obvious. We recommend studying a map of the petroglyphs in advance or going with a guide.
Buddhist reliefs and petroglyphs on the Tamgaly-Tas cliffs 
Distance: 120 km from Almaty, ~2 hours
How long to allow: 1 full day
How to get there:
- By car: best option, the road is good
- Public transport: none
Prices (2026): small fee on site
On the map: Google Maps · 2GIS · Yandex
Nomad Fortress nearby: 30 km from Tamgaly-Tas you’ll find Nomad Fortress — the film set for “Nomad” (2005). The site was poorly maintained for years, so you’ll find some negative reviews on the maps. But the area was recently cleaned up and put back in order. You can combine it with Tamgaly-Tas for a walk and atmospheric photos in the fortress setting.
The Golden Man museum & Saka burial mounds
The closest historical option to the city — 50 km from Almaty.
The museum in Esik holds a replica of the “Golden Man” — a Saka warrior from the 5th–4th century BCE. The original is in the National Museum in Astana, but the find was made right here, near Esik, in 1969.
Next to the museum are Saka burial mounds. You can see the excavation site and get a sense of the scale: the Issyk burial mound, where the Golden Man was discovered, was about 60 meters in diameter.
The Golden Man museum in Esik and the Saka burial mounds 
Who it’s for:
- Families with kids (the exhibits are visual and the history is easy to follow)
- People who want to “get out of town” but not for a whole day
- You can combine it with Turgen Gorge for a half-day trip
Distance: 50 km from Almaty, ~1 hour
How long to allow: a full day (museum + drive + lunch — and even more if you combine with Turgen Gorge)
How to get there:
- By car: along the Kuldzha highway
- There are buses to Esik, but it’s a 2–3 km walk from the bus station to the museum
Prices (2026):
- Entry: adults 500 KZT, students/seniors 300 KZT, schoolchildren 200 KZT
- Guided tour (group up to 10): 1,500 KZT in Russian/Kazakh, 3,000 KZT in foreign languages
Museum website: issykrm.kz
On the map: Google Maps · 2GIS · Yandex
Charyn Canyon
Tourists come for the Valley of Castles — cliffs 150–300 m tall that have weathered over millions of years into pillars, towers, and ridges.
Why March is a good time:
- No summer heat (July hits +35…+40 °C)
- Fewer tourists than in peak season (May–September)
But the weather is unpredictable — chilly in the morning, +15 °C by midday. Dress in layers.
A walk through the canyon takes 2–3 hours. You can combine it with Bartogai Reservoir or Lake Kolsai.
Charyn Canyon — Valley of Castles 
Want to learn more about the location? Read our complete Charyn Canyon guide.
Distance: 195 km from Almaty, 3–3.5 hours one way
How long to allow: 1 day (2–3 hours on site). The canyon itself doesn’t take a whole day, so it’s better to combine — for example, Charyn + Bartogai or Charyn + Kolsai. If you combine with Kolsai, leave early — it’ll be a packed day. Don’t want to rush — stay overnight in Saty.
How to get there:
- By car: paved road almost the whole way
- Public transport: none
Prices (2026): eco fee — cars 2,752 KZT, pedestrians 786 KZT, motorcycles/mopeds/ATVs 1,573 KZT.
On the map: Google Maps · 2GIS · Yandex
Kolsai Lakes
Three mountain lakes surrounded by Tien Shan spruce. The first lake is more accessible (30–40 minutes on foot from the parking lot). The second requires a 5–6 hour round-trip trek with ~400 m of elevation gain.
The Kolsai Lakes surrounded by Tien Shan spruce 
About March: the Kolsai Lakes sit in the mountains, and the weather here can be very different from Almaty. In March, the average daytime temperature at Kolsai-1 is around +5 °C. The weather is highly variable — check the hourly forecast and watch for changes 3 days out, 1 day out, and the morning before the trip. Rain or snow can shift or stretch out, which will affect your plans.
Want to learn more? Read our complete Kolsai guide.
Distance: 300 km from Almaty, 4–5 hours one way
How long to allow: you can do the first lake in a single day (with an early start), but 2 days with an overnight stay is more comfortable. For a hike to the second or third lake, you need at least 2 days, ideally 3.
How to get there:
- By car: paved road all the way to the lake (including the Saty stretch)
- Public transport: none
Prices (2026):
- Eco fee: pedestrians 786 KZT, motorcycles/mopeds/ATVs 1,573 KZT, cars 2,752 KZT
- Accommodation: comfortable rooms average 40,000–75,000 KZT/night depending on the day of the week and type. Options in Saty village, in Kurmenty and right at Kolsai-1. Browse on Google Maps to compare by location and reviews, then look up your favorites on Instagram, Booking, or Choco for discounts.
On the map: Google Maps · 2GIS · Yandex
Chundzha hot springs
If you don’t want adventure, you just want to relax — head for the thermal springs in Chundzha. Water temperature is 38–40 °C year-round. Resorts with pools, banyas (traditional steam baths), and food. You can show up for 2–3 days and do nothing.
Outdoor thermal pool What’s there:
- Resorts at every level: from budget (~15,000 KZT/night) to premium (~50,000+ KZT/night)
- Popular ones: Premium Spa, Mirage, Zhetysu, Arasan
- Meals usually included or there’s a cafe on site
Who it’s for:
- Couples looking to unwind
- Anyone who wants to rest without activities
- 5 days off — no rush, easy to spend 2–3 days
Distance: 250–300 km from Almaty, 3.5–4 hours
How long to allow: at least 2 days with an overnight stay
How to get there:
- By car: along the Kuldzha highway, road is good
- Some resorts arrange transfers — check when booking
- Buses to Chundzha run from Sayakhat bus station, but rarely (1–2 per day) and slowly (~5–6 hours)
Prices (2026):
- Resorts: 15,000–50,000 KZT/person per night
- For the holiday dates (March 21–25), book in advance
On the map: Google Maps · 2GIS · Yandex
Comparison table
| Destination | What to do | Distance | Trip length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethno-village Gunny | Horseback shows, ceremonies, yurt cuisine | 35 km | Half a day |
| Tamgaly-Tas | Petroglyphs, Buddhist reliefs | 120 km | 1 day |
| Golden Man museum | Museum, Saka burial mounds | 50 km | 1 day |
| Charyn | Walk through the Valley of Castles | 195 km | 1 day |
| Kolsai | Mountain lakes, trekking | 300 km | 1–2 days |
| Chundzha | Thermal springs, relaxation | 250–300 km | 2–3 days |
Practical tips
Book in advance
Demand is higher than usual on Nauryz. Ethno-villages and Chundzha resorts get booked up 2–3 weeks before the holiday. If you’re going March 21–25 — book now.
Bring cash
Eco fees in national parks — cash only. Markets and villages don’t always have card terminals. Set aside 5–10k KZT in cash for unexpected expenses.
Dress in layers
March is unpredictable: +5 °C in the morning, +15 by midday, cold again in the evening. Or it might suddenly snow. Bring a jacket you can take off, and waterproof shoes.
If you wanted to spend time outside the city and dive into Kazakh culture — Nauryz is the perfect time.
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