Bartogai Reservoir

The Bartogai Reservoir is a turquoise basin in the middle of sun-scorched steppe, formed by a dam on the Chilik River. The contrast of bright blue water and ochre hills makes it almost surreal, and hidden nearby is Charyn’s Black Canyon — a lesser-known but equally striking sibling of the famous Valley of Castles, with dark basalt walls. Tour buses rarely make it out here, so Bartogai is about silence, space and off-road driving. In a 4x4 we follow dirt tracks along the shore and drop into the canyon. It is accessible year-round and often becomes the final note of the grand expedition on the way back to Almaty.