Research on charyn.kz

How many people visit Kazakhstan's national parks: visitor statistics

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

In 2025 Kazakhstan’s specially protected natural areas received 3.7 million visitors — 900,000 more than in 2024, according to the ecology minister. Over four years the flow grew almost 2.5-fold: for 2021 the deputy minister cited 1.5 million. The busiest parks are Burabay, Ile-Alatau and Kolsai Lakes. Charyn Canyon had 117,793 visitors in 2024. Complete, comparable series for every park are not public, so below we show only what has been published.

What a national park trip costs: 29 protected areas, three scenarios

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Key findings

A couple by car for one day pays from 0.3 MCI (Burabay, weekday) to 1.3 MCI (Altyn-Emel) — 4.3× apart; median 0.9 MCI.
A family of four for two days pays 0.6–2.5 MCI; the per-person line now outweighs the car.
A group of 20 by bus pays 2–11 MCI, 5.5× apart.

Couple by car, one day

2 people, 1 day, car · ₸ · MCI 2026 = 4,325 ₸

Altyn-Emel 5,622.5 ₸
Almaty Reserve 4,757.5 ₸
Aksu-Zhabagly 4,757.5 ₸
West Altai Reserve 4,757.5 ₸
Korgalzhyn 4,757.5 ₸
Markakol 4,757.5 ₸
Naurzum 4,757.5 ₸
Ustyurt Reserve 4,757.5 ₸
Karatau Reserve 4,757.5 ₸
Charyn 4,757.5 ₸
Kolsai Lakes 4,757.5 ₸
Irgiz-Turgai 4,757.5 ₸
Zhongar-Alatau 4,325 ₸
Karkaraly 3,892.5 ₸
Alakol 3,892.50 ₸
Kokshetau 3,460 ₸
Katon-Karagay 3,460 ₸
Tarbagatai 3,460 ₸
Sayram-Ugam 3,027.5 ₸
Buiratau 3,027.5 ₸
Akzhaiyk 3,027.5 ₸
Bayanaul 3,027.5 ₸
Ulytau 3,027.5 ₸
Semey Ormany 2,595 ₸
Ile-Alatau 2,595 ₸
Ile-Balkhash 2,595 ₸
Ertis Ormany 2,162.5 ₸
Altyn Dala 2,162.5 ₸
Burabay 1,297.5 ₸

Group by bus

20 people, bus · ₸ · MCI 2026 = 4,325 ₸

Altyn-Emel 47,575 ₸
Almaty Reserve 38,925 ₸
Aksu-Zhabagly 38,925 ₸
West Altai Reserve 38,925 ₸
Korgalzhyn 38,925 ₸
Markakol 38,925 ₸
Naurzum 38,925 ₸
Ustyurt Reserve 38,925 ₸
Karatau Reserve 38,925 ₸
Charyn 38,925 ₸
Kolsai Lakes 38,925 ₸
Karkaraly 34,600 ₸
Katon-Karagay 34,600 ₸
Zhongar-Alatau 34,600 ₸
Tarbagatai 34,600 ₸
Irgiz-Turgai 32,437.5 ₸
Ulytau 30,275 ₸
Alakol 30,275 ₸
Kokshetau 28,112.5 ₸
Sayram-Ugam 25,950 ₸
Buiratau 25,950 ₸
Akzhaiyk 25,950 ₸
Bayanaul 25,950 ₸
Ile-Alatau 25,085 ₸
Ile-Balkhash 21,625 ₸
Semey Ormany 17,300 ₸
Ertis Ormany 17,300 ₸
Altyn Dala 17,300 ₸
Burabay 8,650 ₸

All areas and scenarios

Protected area	2 people, 1 day, car	4 people, 2 days, car	20 people, bus
Altyn-Emel	5,622.5 ₸	10,812.5 ₸	47,575 ₸
Almaty Reserve	4,757.5 ₸	9,947.5 ₸	38,925 ₸
Aksu-Zhabagly	4,757.5 ₸	9,947.5 ₸	38,925 ₸
West Altai Reserve	4,757.5 ₸	9,947.5 ₸	38,925 ₸
Korgalzhyn	4,757.5 ₸	9,947.5 ₸	38,925 ₸
Markakol	4,757.5 ₸	9,947.5 ₸	38,925 ₸
Naurzum	4,757.5 ₸	9,947.5 ₸	38,925 ₸
Ustyurt Reserve	4,757.5 ₸	9,947.5 ₸	38,925 ₸
Karatau Reserve	4,757.5 ₸	9,947.5 ₸	38,925 ₸
Charyn	4,757.5 ₸	9,947.5 ₸	38,925 ₸
Kolsai Lakes	4,757.5 ₸	9,947.5 ₸	38,925 ₸
Irgiz-Turgai	4,757.5 ₸	9,947.5 ₸	32,437.5 ₸
Zhongar-Alatau	4,325 ₸	9,515 ₸	34,600 ₸
Karkaraly	3,892.5 ₸	9,082.5 ₸	34,600 ₸
Alakol	3,892.50 ₸	7,785.00 ₸	30,275 ₸
Kokshetau	3,460 ₸	8,650 ₸	28,112.5 ₸
Katon-Karagay	3,460 ₸	8,650 ₸	34,600 ₸
Tarbagatai	3,460 ₸	8,650 ₸	34,600 ₸
Sayram-Ugam	3,027.5 ₸	6,920 ₸	25,950 ₸
Buiratau	3,027.5 ₸	6,920 ₸	25,950 ₸
Akzhaiyk	3,027.5 ₸	8,217.5 ₸	25,950 ₸
Bayanaul	3,027.5 ₸	6,920 ₸	25,950 ₸
Ulytau	3,027.5 ₸	6,920 ₸	30,275 ₸
Semey Ormany	2,595 ₸	5,190 ₸	17,300 ₸
Ile-Alatau	2,595 ₸	6,487.5 ₸	25,085 ₸
Ile-Balkhash	2,595 ₸	6,487.5 ₸	21,625 ₸
Ertis Ormany	2,162.5 ₸	4,757.5 ₸	17,300 ₸
Altyn Dala	2,162.5 ₸	4,757.5 ₸	17,300 ₸
Burabay	1,297.5 ₸	2,595 ₸	8,650 ₸

Methodology and limits

Calculated from the lines of Order No. 232 (28 appendices) and the Burabay act No. 04/276; tenge at the current year’s MCI. One vehicle entry in each scenario; Burabay counted on a weekday rate. Discounts, park services and the separate tax-code charge are not included. Work out your own trip in the fee calculator.

What entry to Kazakhstan's national parks cost: MCI and tariffs, 2015–2026

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Apply today’s rates to past years and park entry would have more than doubled between 2015 and 2026: the MCI (monthly calculation index, МРП) that tariffs are based on rose from 1,982 to 4,325 tenge, up 118%. What actually happened was different. Until October 2024 the Charyn and Kolsai park tariffs were written in tenge and stayed frozen for seven years at 500 tenge per adult per day. The link to the MCI — 0.2 MCI per person and 0.7 MCI per passenger car — arrived only with Order No. 232.

When Kazakhstan goes out into nature: monthly search seasonality

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Key findings

Charyn peaks in April and September, not summer — the canyon floor’s summer heat shows in search too.
Bayanaul is the most seasonal: its July peak is 7.5× its December low. Burabay is 2.7× with a June–July plateau.
Altyn-Emel is the flattest (1.8×). Worldwide demand for Charyn, Big Almaty Lake and Kaindy is steadier and rises into May–June.

Charyn Canyon (RU, Kazakhstan) · peak: Apr

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Burabay (RU, Kazakhstan) · peak: Jun

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Bayanaul (RU, Kazakhstan) · peak: Jul

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Big Almaty Lake (RU) · peak: Jun

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Kolsai Lakes (RU) · peak: Oct

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Kaindy Lake (RU) · peak: May

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Altyn-Emel (RU) · peak: Apr

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Worldwide demand

Charyn Canyon (global) · peak: May

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Big Almaty Lake (global) · peak: May

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Kaindy Lake (global) · peak: Jun

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What it means for a trip

Charyn is a shoulder-season place: go April–May or September–October, and early in the morning in summer — see Charyn weather by month. Winter has the lowest interest everywhere, which makes it the best time for an empty Charyn in winter.

Which nature sites in Kazakhstan people search for most

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Key findings

Worldwide, Charyn Canyon and Big Almaty Lake lead with 22,200 searches a month each, followed by Kaindy Lake (18,100) and Kolsai Lakes (14,800).
In Kazakhstan’s Russian-language search Burabay is first with 14,800 a month, then Charyn (9,900) and Bayanaul (6,600).
Kaindy is searched 9.5× more worldwide than domestically; Kolsai 7.8×. Burabay is the reverse: domestic demand is 5× the worldwide figure.

Two audiences, two different Kazakhstans

Average monthly Google searches, worldwide, all languages

Charyn Canyon 22,200
Big Almaty Lake 22,200
Kaindy Lake 18,100
Kolsai Lakes 14,800
Altyn-Emel 6,600
Burabay 2,900
Bayanaul 390

Worldwide search is mostly a foreigner planning a trip from Almaty: places reachable in a day or two — the canyon, mountain lakes, the sunken forest. All four global leaders are in Almaty Region.