Almaty Region · Kazakhstan
Kolsai Lakes Road
KZ05-08Chundzha junction to Saty
A Tien Shan mountain road peeling south from the steppe highway into the Kungey Alatau, winding through meadows of wild horses and yurt camps to some of the most photogenic alpine lakes in Central Asia.
Branching south from the Kuldjinsky tract near Chundzha, the KZ05-08 narrows into the Kungey Alatau foothills through open meadows past grazing horses, rivers and yurt camps, snow-capped Tien Shan peaks rising ahead, terminating at the village of Saty, gateway to the three stacked Kolsai lakes. The paved section is fine for a standard car.
Scenery
Best seasons
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Kolsai Lakes Road on the map42.2 mi · point to point
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Character
Corners
busiest around mile 1Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%1,205.8 – 1,863.5 mPoints of interest2 stops
- SatyLandmark40 mi in
- Kara CharynLandmark1.2 mi in
Hazards
- Unpaved beyond Saty
- 4x4 required for Kaindy Lake
- River crossings near the lakes
- No fuel beyond Saty
Sources
“The desert scenery gradually transforms into lush valleys and towering peaks.”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
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