Aksu Canyon
Ақсу шатқалы
One of the deepest canyons in Central Asia, with sheer cliffs several hundred meters high and the emerald Aksu River flowing along the bottom. It is Shymkent's classic one-day nature trip.
Aksu Canyon is about 30 kilometers long, and its deepest point reaches about 500 meters. It was carved by the Aksu River cutting through a limestone plateau. The rim is open grassland, and just a few steps away the ground drops into a sheer, deep gorge, which makes a powerful visual impact. The usual route is to view the canyon from the cliff edge, then descend a trail to the riverbank at the bottom. The round trip takes about 2 to 3 hours. Wear non-slip shoes and bring plenty of water. From Shymkent, hiring a car takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. It can be combined with the Aksu-Zhabagly Reserve on the same day or in a two-day itinerary.
Opening hours
Open all day (daytime visits recommended)
Nearby sights
- Kaskasu Gorge
- Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve
- Sayram-Ugam National Park
- Khizr Minaret, Sayram
- Karashash Ana Mausoleum
- Ibrahim Ata Mausoleum
- Shymkent Dendropark
- Shymkent Zoo