Chundzha (Shonzhy): hot springs of the Uygur district

Chundzha (Shonzhy in Kazakh, also spelled Chunja) is the main village of the Uygur district in Almaty Region, 243 km east of Almaty. When people in Almaty say they are “going to Chundzha”, they mean the hot springs — and those are not in the village. They rise 50–60 km further east, along the road towards the Kolzhat border checkpoint. Expect about four hours from Almaty to the village, then another 50–60 km to the pools. The road crosses the Kokpek Pass and passes the turn-off for Charyn Canyon. Peak season runs from the first autumn cold to mid-May, but the pools are open all year.

The Chundzha hot springs: what is in the water

The springs belong to the Karadala thermal water field. Tengrinews (2020) and English Wikipedia count about 140 outlets in the area; Wikipedia gives an outflow temperature of 37–50 °C.

Here is the catch for anyone coming for treatment. English Wikipedia and many resort ads call the water radon-rich. Kazakhstan’s Research Institute of Balneology and Medical Rehabilitation disagrees: in a 2023 reply to Informburo it described the Uygur district springs as low-mineral nitrogen thermal waters (under 1 g/dm³) of sulphate-bicarbonate sodium type, with only background radon. Silicic acid reaches 48 mg/dm³, just short of the 50 mg/dm³ threshold for “siliceous” water. So if your doctor prescribed radon baths specifically, Chundzha is not that.

Resorts and “sanatoriums”

Do not expect Soviet-style sanatoriums with a medical programme. What you find are private resorts: outdoor, indoor and children’s pools, rooms or cottages, saunas and banyas. Counts vary wildly — Informburo wrote of about three dozen in December 2022 and of “around 150” earlier that year. Of the ten resorts Tengrinews reviewed in 2021, one offered enough treatments to be called nearly a sanatorium, and several had spa, massage or a hammam.

The resorts sit between kilometre 51 and kilometre 106 of the Chundzha–Kolzhat road (Tengrinews, 2020). That is why Aviasales advises typing the resort’s name into your navigation app rather than “Chundzha” — otherwise you end up in the district town, 50 km from any hot water. Book ahead: Aviasales suggests two to three weeks, and a month for public holidays.

We do not quote prices in tenge; weekend and weekday rates differ and change each season.

Getting to Chundzha from Almaty

You leave Almaty on the same eastbound road as for Charyn. Informburo highlights the Kokpek Pass, about 10 km of steep bends that look good in any season. Further on, the road forks: the Narynkol branch goes to the Valley of Castles, the other to Chundzha. Our Charyn directions explain the fork.

• By car. Fill up in Almaty and top up in the village. Mobile data drops out on the road, so download offline maps first.
• By bus. Resort coaches run from Almaty (Informburo), as do scheduled buses to the village; from there you still need a ride for 50–60 km.
• No car? Shonzhy is the nearest village with services to one section of Charyn National Park — see Charyn without a car.

Chundzha and Charyn in one day

Possible, but tiring. The Valley of Castles is about 195 km and 3–4 hours from Almaty; the springs are about 300 km away, and the canyon is on the other branch of the fork, so you backtrack.

A better plan is two days: the canyon in the morning before the heat and the coach groups (see our Charyn day trip timings), then check in at a resort and soak in the evening. Informburo notes you can glimpse the relict Sarytogay ash grove from the road, though only from a distance. With more time, carry on to Kolsai and Kaindy.

When to go

According to Tengrinews, high season starts with the autumn cold and lasts until mid-May. Aviasales (2026) recommends November to March and calls autumn quieter. The pools work in summer too, some of them cooled. If you are pairing the springs with Charyn, spring and autumn suit the canyon better. For other cold-season ideas see where to go in winter.

Bathing tips

• Limit each soak to 15–20 minutes, take breaks and skip alcohol: hot water puts strain on the heart (Aviasales).
• See a doctor first if you have heart or circulation problems; Tengrinews notes that bathing in or drinking the water is not for everyone.
• Bring towels, a robe, spare footwear, a hairdryer and food: resort shops are small and prices higher than in the city (Tengrinews 2024, Informburo).

Kazakhstan’s other famous hot springs, Rakhmanov Springs, are far away in the Altai. Before any trip, run through our before-you-go checklist.