Where to go in Kazakhstan in autumn

Autumn suits travellers who dislike both heat and crowds. The southern deserts and canyons, where summer afternoons pass +40 °C, become comfortable again in September and October, while aspens, willows, wild apricot and larch turn yellow in the mountains. The beach lakes of the north are empty by then, so this list leans towards the southeast, the Altai and Mangystau. Our search seasonality study agrees: Charyn searches peak in September, Kolsai in October, Altyn-Emel in September–October.

The catch is short days and fast-changing mountain weather. In October dirt roads turn to mud after rain and nights in a tent get cold, so for each place below we say not just why autumn works but how late into autumn it still makes sense.

1. Kolsai Lakes — October colour

In its autumn round-up Informburo called October at Kolsai “phenomenal”: aspens and weeping willows around the lower lake (1818 m) turn gold, wild apricot leaves on the slopes near the middle lake (2252 m) go two-toned, and on sunny days the water looks sapphire. The trail to the middle lake is considered open April to October — 7.35–7.8 km each way and 5–6 hours of walking. Start early in autumn: less daylight, quicker weather changes. Base yourself in Saty, 280–320 km from Almaty, and allow two days. See Kolsai Lakes.

2. Kaindy Lake — clear water

We Project notes that Kaindy’s water is especially clear in autumn, so the spruce trunks drowned in 1911 show far below the surface. Kaindy’s window is shorter than Kolsai’s, though: the 9 km dirt track with a ford from Saty washes out in rain, so go in September and in dry weather. In autumn 2025 the footpath to the lake was temporarily closed for repairs — check its status before you go. Most people do Kaindy and Kolsai on consecutive days. See Kaindy Lake.

3. Charyn Canyon — red and gold

September–October is the canyon’s second comfortable season after spring. Informburo pointed to the October contrast between red sandstone and yellow leaves along the river. The extra reason to go is the Sarytogay ash grove: 1,100 ha of relict Sogdian ash that turns gold in autumn and that most single-day visits skip. So in autumn, stay the night. The drive from Almaty is 3–4 hours each way, and October days are noticeably shorter. Ideas for combining sights: what’s near Charyn.

4. Altyn-Emel — desert without the heat

In July this desert park sees +33…+43 °C. According to Trekking Club, October days are +5…+15 °C with nights at 0…+10 °C, and The Astana Times names August–October as the park’s second season. Informburo also noted how good the striped Aktau hills look in autumn against the snowy Altyn-Emel ridge. The Singing Dune is about 40 km from Basshi and the Aktau hills about 70 km; a permit covers one route for one day, so give the park 2–3 days. See Altyn-Emel, the Singing Dune and the Aktau hills.

5. Katon-Karagay — September in the Altai

Autumn comes early in the Altai. The Aviasales guide’s seasonal outline for the park: May–June for meadows in flower, July–August for long hikes, September for autumn colour and mild days with cold nights in a tent, October to April for experienced visitors only. So go in September with a warm sleeping bag. It is about 380 km and five hours from Ust-Kamenogorsk to Katon-Karagay village, so allow four or five days. It is a border area — read about the border zone. See Katon-Karagay.

6. Aksu-Zhabagly — the Aksu canyon

The Aksu canyon, about 37 km long and up to 500 m deep, is the showpiece of Central Asia’s oldest nature reserve. In May–June the water is too high to get down to the river and the grottoes; the recommended windows are spring, late summer and early autumn, which makes September a good bet. The key condition: this is a strict reserve, not a park, and visits must be arranged with the administration in advance. The canyon is about an hour from Shymkent. See Aksu-Zhabagly.

7. Big Almaty Lake — without the crowds

The turquoise peaks in July–August, but September and October bring far fewer people. The trade-off is the water level, which drops in autumn and dulls the colour a little. Since 2026 the lake is walk-in only — about 15 km up the road with over a kilometre of climbing, 4–6 hours up and 3–4 down — so fit it into the daylight. From November to April the road is snowbound with avalanche risk, so the autumn window closes with the first cold. See Big Almaty Lake.

8. Bozzhyra and Mangystau — the autumn window

Tengrinews recommends mid-April to late May or the second half of September for Bozzhyra. Summer passes +40 °C and nights drop by 20–30 degrees. Autumn also means dry tracks: after heavy rain the clay ruts turn to mush. Bozzhyra is about 300 km from Aktau, 4x4 only, with no signal; fuel is in Aktau, Zhanaozen and Shetpe. Bozzhyra alone takes a day; the loop via Sherkala, Torysh and Karagiye about five. See Bozzhyra and Mangystau.

9. Markakol — golden larches

A mountain lake at 1447 m in larch taiga near the Chinese border; We Project’s 2025 autumn lakes list mentions golden larches along its shores. It is also the hardest place here to reach: about 400 km and 11 hours from Ust-Kamenogorsk including a ferry over the Irtysh, with the last 50-plus km on a gravel road where Tengrinews called a 4x4 essential. The lake freezes on average from 20 November, and no source describes the track in the shoulder season, so aim for early autumn and arrange your visit with the reserve. See Markakol.

How to choose

Practical tips

• Start early. Days shrink fast: by November Almaty averages 9 h 44 min of daylight (see Charyn in winter).
• Pack a warm layer. Mountain and desert nights are cold even after warm days.
• Watch the forecast. At Kaindy, Altyn-Emel, Bozzhyra and Markakol a single downpour changes the road.
• Fees under Order No. 232 don’t change by season; the fee calculator gives the current amount. General prep: before you go.
• Missed autumn? See winter and the top 10 overall.