Sibiny Lakes in East Kazakhstan: choosing a lake and what to expect
Five lakes among granite mountains, 85 km from Oskemen. Southern shores are crowded with cabins, while the rocky north is reached only by water or on foot.
Sibiny Lakes in East Kazakhstan: when to go, month by month
- January: good
- February: good
- March: possible
- April: off season
- May: off season
- June: good
- July: best time
- August: best time
- September: good
- October: off season
- November: off season
- December: possible
Summer is for the water, and in winter the lakes serve as an ice rink.
Sibiny Lakes in East Kazakhstan: why go
The five Sibiny lakes
Sadyrkol, Tortkala, Shalkar, Korzhynkol and Karakol lie at the head of the Sibinka River, ringed by granite on three sides.
Built-up southern shores
Shalkar has about 310 plots and up to 3,000 people at the peak. The quiet northern shores are reached by water or a mountain route.
Ablaikit monastery
A Buddhist monastery, Ablaikit, stood near Sadyrkol from the 17th to 20th centuries, with Dzungar fortress walls higher up.
Access and ecology
A 2018 check found 36 structures blocking the way to the water. In 2020 people complained of pit latrines and rubbish by the shore.
The Sibiny Lakes are five lakes at the head of the Sibinka River in Ulan District, East Kazakhstan, 85 km from Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk), ringed on three sides by granite mountains. Locals come in summer for the water and in winter for the ice. Expect crowded cabin plots on the south shores; quiet takes effort, because the rocky north shores are reached only by water or a long mountain route.
Choosing where to go
The lakes are Sadyrkol, Tortkala, Shalkar, Korzhynkol and Karakol. Our sources give no size or depth for each.
| You want | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A cabin and services | south shores, especially Shalkar | Hotels and rest areas are here |
| Quiet | north shores | Rocky and hard to reach |
| History | around Sadyrkol | Site of a Buddhist monastery |
This Shalkar has no connection with the lakes of that name in North and West Kazakhstan.
What to expect on the shore
Lake Shalkar has about 310 land plots with three to five houses each, so up to 3,000 people at the peak (Inbusiness, 2020). The district counted 25,659 tourists in 2017. In 2020 activists and an ecologist complained of chaotic building by the water, pit latrines and rubbish; we found nothing newer.
Access has been a sore point too. A 2018 check found 36 structures blocking the way to the water, and barriers came down on 32 plots. If someone asks you for money at a barrier, ask what the charge is for.
History above the water
A Buddhist monastery, Ablaikit, stood near Sadyrkol from the 17th to 20th centuries. Stone walls of a Dzungar fortress and Baukuys cave, with traces of an ancient camp, lie higher up (Weproject, 2018).
Getting there
Start from Oskemen. A road was built around 2017–18, but we found no recent description, and we found no public transport. Hire a car or driver. Bring water, and scout a camping spot in advance, since many plots are private. The Bukhtarma reservoir is another trip from the city. See also our lakes guide.
Sibiny Lakes in East Kazakhstan: tips before you go
- Check the water and shore yourself before settling in, especially with children.
- Bring your own drinking water.
- If asked to pay at a barrier, ask on what basis: shores have been checked for illegal fencing.
