Kaindy Lake Guide 2026: Almaty Rental Car Adventure

How to Get to Kaindy Lake by Rental Car on Your Kazakhstan Trip

Exploring Beyond Almaty, Kazakhstan

Deep in the mountains surrounding Almaty, Kazakhstan, lies the enchanting Kaindy Lake, often called the 'Sunken Forest.'

Formed after a devastating earthquake in 1911 triggered a massive landslide, the forest was submerged, leaving an otherworldly landscape where spruce trees dramatically emerge from the water's surface.

It's no wonder travelers consistently rank Kaindy Lake as a must-see destination in Kazakhstan. The catch? Getting there is an adventure in itself, definitely not for the faint of heart! 🚗

How to Get to Kaindy Lake, Step 1: Reach Saty Village

Your journey to Kaindy Lake begins with a drive to Saty Village. This charming village typically serves as the base camp for exploring both Kaindy Lake and its equally stunning neighbor, Kolsay Lake.

Saty Village is located approximately 186 miles from Almaty, and the drive usually takes about 4-5 hours by car.

Most travelers opt to stay in Saty (A) and then make day trips to Kolsay Lake (B) and Kaindy Lake (C). However, we chose a slightly different approach, booking our first night's accommodation near Kolsay Lake itself.

Our room overlooked Kolsay Lake, and we can't recommend it enough! (We'll share a detailed post about this amazing stay soon. 😊)

If you're curious about our booking process, you might find our previous post helpful:

Recommended Kolsay Lake View Accommodation

Kazakhstan Rental Car Trip: Accommodation Recommendations | Great Views & Value

How to Get to Kaindy Lake, Step 2: Transfer to a Furgon in Saty (Bargaining is Key!)

Once you arrive in Saty Village, your rental car journey ends! The final ~6 miles of the road are incredibly rough, often restricted to regular vehicles, or highly discouraged. From here, you'll need to transfer to a local UAZ van, affectionately known as a 'Furgon.'

As you drive through the village, you'll spot several Furgons parked in an open area. Before our trip, we wondered how we'd find them, but once there, it was clear exactly where to go!

It seemed there were 'brokers' who would help negotiate prices and connect travelers with Furgon drivers.

Fares typically range from 20,000 to 25,000 KZT per vehicle, which is equivalent to approximately ~$32 to ~$45 USD. We were initially quoted 25,000 KZT but managed to bargain down to 22,000 KZT, or about ~$35 USD.

When we visited, the sky was clear in the distance, but it was raining in Saty Village. We decided to set off anyway, and it turned out to be a successful decision!

National Park Entrance Fee

The first Furgon ride lasted about 40 minutes, a bumpy, rattling journey. Early on, you'll stop at the national park entrance, where a fee of 3,000 KZT per vehicle must be paid.

One person from your group will need to go to the management office to pay the entrance fee directly.

The moment you climb into the Furgon (UAZ van) in Saty Village, your true off-road adventure begins. The road is relentlessly bumpy, sending your backside bouncing with every jolt.

Kazakhstan Trip: How to Get to Kaindy Lake by Rental Car | Furgon

With each bump, we were thrown upwards, our heads nearly hitting the ceiling. It felt less like getting a bruise and more like risking a serious injury!

How to Get to Kaindy Lake, Step 3: Transfer to a Second Furgon ('Taxi')

Mid-journey, you'll even encounter sections where the Furgon drives directly through shallow river crossings – quite the experience!

The first Furgon ride, though we didn't time it precisely, felt like about 40 minutes.

The Furgon drops you off at a spot where other vehicles gather, as pictured above. Here, you'll find a small cafe and even a restroom (which requires a small fee to use).

The first Furgon driver typically waits for about an hour. If you need more time, be prepared for an additional charge.

At this point, you'll transfer to a second Furgon, which locals often refer to as a 'taxi.' Alternatively, you can opt for a horseback ride, though it's usually more expensive.

The second Furgon (or 'taxi') costs 500 KZT per person, and the ride itself is quite short, lasting only about 5 minutes.

How to Get to Kaindy Lake, Step 4: The Final Walk (Downhill + Uphill)

From the final taxi drop-off point, it's a downhill walk of about 10-15 minutes to reach the lake's viewpoint. Since you'll need to hike back up, plan for a round trip of at least 30-40 minutes.

So, the sequence of events goes like this: first Furgon drop-off → transfer to second Furgon → walk downhill → enjoy the lake → walk back uphill → take the second Furgon ('taxi') back → arrive at the first Furgon's waiting spot!

After all that travel, we realized we spent less than 20 minutes actually standing by the lake itself.

Kazakhstan Self-Drive Trip: Our Honest Review of Kaindy Lake

As a family, we usually prefer to linger longer at each destination, soaking in the atmosphere. But on this particular day, it felt like we were constantly being rushed.

While the lake itself was undeniably beautiful, the feeling of being rushed left us wishing for more time to appreciate it.

After our trip, we gathered opinions from our group of five: three felt the challenging journey was part of the fun, while two believed the scenery didn't quite justify the effort.

Ultimately, this day became more about 'the journey' than 'the destination' itself.

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