Charyn Canyon
Three hours’ drive from Almaty is a completely stunning place called Charyn Canyon.
The canyon starts quietly and inconspicuously. At first, it seems very small.
![](../img/travel/charyn-canyon/P1830172.jpg)
And then it grows so much that it takes your breath away.
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![](../img/travel/charyn-canyon/P1830194.jpg)
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It’s just like the Wild West.
![](../img/travel/charyn-canyon/P1830202.jpg)
In fact, compared to the Grand Canyon in the United States, Charyn Canyon is just a dwarf. The American canyon is ten times larger.
![](../img/travel/charyn-canyon/P1830254.jpg)
And even with such “modest” dimensions, the canyon is an amazing place.
![](../img/travel/charyn-canyon/P1830261.jpg)
A big advantage is that it’s easy to descend to the bottom of the canyon. In the US, it takes a whole day to do this, while in Kazakhstan, you can do it in just a couple of hours.
![](../img/travel/charyn-canyon/P1830268.jpg)
At the bottom of the canyon, the Charyn River flows through it.
![](../img/travel/charyn-canyon/P1830272.jpg)
The bottom of the canyon is twice as interesting as the top.
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They say the Weinstein brothers filmed a TV series called “Marco Polo” here. It was cheaper to come to Kazakhstan than to film in the Grand Canyon.
![](../img/travel/charyn-canyon/P1830306.jpg)
Yes, it’s like a miniature version of the pure Wild West.
![](../img/travel/charyn-canyon/P1830314.jpg)
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There is also a minibus that can take you to the exit for 100 rubles in the canyon.
![](../img/travel/charyn-canyon/P1830302.jpg)