Charyn
In southern Kazakhstan lies one of the most beautiful gorges in the world, the Charyn Gorge. Probably 90% of the world’s inhabitants know the Grand Canyon. Personally, I found the Charyn Gorge in Kazakhstan even more impressive.
So what makes the gap so special?
First, its remote location east of the metropolis of Almaty. For hours you see nothing but vast steppes. Suddenly the foothills of the Himalayas loom there. You see a gaping chasm in front of you.
Tourists increasingly know how to find the Charyn Gorge. Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of old-fashioned charm. Still, it is undoubtedly one of the highlights of Kazakhstan. The valley of castles is the most “famous” part. The rocks here are seriously eroded in the shape of castles. Locals here quietly bake shashliks any time of year.
Second, low expectations make for a particularly positive experience. I had no idea what to expect. I had just driven 3,000 kilometers through Kazakhstan and seriously had not seen a single highlight. 90% of Kazakhstan consists of flat steppes, camels and oil pipelines. Occasionally a nomadic village looms. Otherwise, there is very little to enjoy. Then when you come across a valley like the Charyn Valley you do take a leap of joy. This kite, unfortunately, no longer holds true for you.
These days, you can already raft, hike and climb in Charyn. The best part, however, is just wandering around it. You can’t actually get lost and the gap is not that big. Then stay especially until the sun goes down. The sky lights up in special colors and the stars are tremendously bright in the sky. We drove through it by car and it resulted in these fat snapshots
