Charyn Canyon in southeastern Kazakhstan has ranked 17th in the Worldworthy 100: Canyons & Gorges 2026 international ranking. It was the only destination in Central Asia to make the list of 100 canyons and gorges across 46 countries. The Grand Canyon in the United States ranked fourth, while Letchworth Gorge in New York State took first place.
Visitor numbers at Charyn Canyon have increased more than fifteenfold over the past five years, rising from 16,105 in 2020 to 249,928 in 2025. The number of visitors more than doubled from 117,793 in 2024.
Charyn is located approximately 200 kilometers east of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city. The canyon stretches for 154 kilometers along the Charyn River. Its best-known section is the Valley of Castles, where reddish rock formations resemble fortress walls, towers, and palaces.
Established in 2004, the national park covers approximately 127,000 hectares. In addition to the canyon, it protects an ancient grove of Sogdian ash trees in the Charyn River valley. The protected area is also home to gazelles and other rare wildlife.
Charyn can be reached from Almaty in several hours by car. Visitors often combine a trip to the canyon with visits to the Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy in the northern Tian Shan Mountains. Kaindy is known for its submerged spruce forest. An earthquake-triggered landslide blocked a mountain gorge, creating a lake that submerged the forest. The trunks of the trees still rise above the water.
The growth in tourism has prompted restrictions. In 2019, authorities banned private vehicles from descending into the canyon. The park has since developed observation platforms, introduced visitor transportation services, and opened a visitor center. In 2025, work also began on widening the road at the main checkpoint to ease congestion.
Other national parks in Kazakhstan, particularly those near major cities, are also struggling with excessive visitor numbers. Environmentalists have warned that heavy tourist traffic is damaging vegetation and contributing to litter and other environmental problems in protected areas, including Charyn.
Worldworthy awarded Charyn a score of 9.48 out of 10. Its ranking draws on traveler reviews, travel guidebooks, and media coverage. The organization lists 5,441 visitor reviews and ratings for Charyn, although the final ranking is an editorial assessment rather than a public vote.
Kazakhstan is developing tourism infrastructure in its mountain regions, around its lakes, and along the Caspian Sea coast as it seeks to attract more international visitors. The Times of Central Asia previously reported on the country’s plans to expand its tourism destinations and the challenges holding back the sector’s development.
