Things to do in Enbekshikazakh District

No. 6 of Best Things to Do in Kazakhstan

Charyn Canyon National Park

Charyn Canyon National Park is located approx. 200 km east of Almaty, in a semi-desert area near the China-Kazakhstan border. The main body of the park consists of a canyon system carved by the Charyn River over tens of millions of years: stretching approx. 154 km, with depths reaching 200–300 m, the red sandstone has been shaped into rugged rock pillars and steep cliffs by long-term erosion from wind and water. The entire park is composed of several canyons with distinct styles. Valley of Castles is the signature of the canyon, with ochre-red cliffs over 100 m high and rock pillars resembling ancient castles and towers. You can descend from the observation deck along a zigzag path to the valley floor, then walk 2–3 km, passing through narrow rock corridors, all the way to the banks of the Charyn River; Valley of the Moon presents a different face, with grayish-white, rounded hills resembling the lunar surface; in addition, there is the Black Canyon, known for its black cliffs and panoramic river valley views, as well as the more secluded Temirlik Canyon. The canyon is home to over 1,500 species of plants, more than 10 of which are listed in the Kazakhstan Red Data Book, and the park also preserves a rare ash forest.

Charyn Canyon

Lake Esik

Turgen

Esik State Historical and Cultural Museum

Lake Issyk

Issyk Lake is 1756 meters above sea level. At first, Issyk Lake was 1850 meters long, 500 meters wide and 50-79 meters deep. The water was green and blue. In 1939 some hotels began to be built by the lake. In 1959, Issyk-Kul Park was built one after another, with hotels and restaurants. There is a wide asphalt road leading to the lake, and there are direct buses.

Assy-Turgen Observatory

Roshcha

Shilik River

Tsentral'nyy Stadion Goroda Issyk