Take breakfast at a guest house and start driving up, following Kaindy Gorge to the famous lake. Kaindy Lake, called after a small river that runs through in the depth, is located 15km to the east of the village Saty (dirt road). This natural reservoir lies at a height of about 1800m above sea level, in the zone of dense spruce forest. The lake was formed in 1911 after a huge earthquake that resulted in a big landslide from the eastern slope. The uniqueness of the lake is that after the rise of a natural dam that blocked the gorge, water that filled a basin has formed a lake but has not destroyed the spruce that had been growing in this place along the river. The upper parts of the trees sticking out of the water lost lateral branches and bark, and the wood became white. The lower part of the “drowned” pines retained branches that were overgrown with algae under the water, thus created a fantastic underwater landscape.

After an excursion around Kaindy Lake, we get back to the cars. Take lunch and head back to Almaty. Drop off at your hotel in late afternoon.