Discover the Wonders of Kazakhstan

DAY 1. TUESDAY/ ALMATY.

Arrival to Almaty at 2140 PM. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight in the hotel.

Meals:  

Overnight: Almaty

DAY 2. WEDNESDAY/ ALMATY 

City tour of Almaty. 

Sightseeing around Almaty includes visiting:

– Panfilov Park. The name of the Panfilov Park comes after the heroes of Panfilov. There is a big monument in commemoration of the heroic actions made by 28 Almaty Soldiers who died in 1941 near Moscow.

– Zenkov Cathedral. Zenkov Wooden constructed Cathedral is one of the eight unique wooden buildings in the world. It is one of the few buildings to survive the 1911 earthquake, despite the fact it is built entirely of wood and constructed without nails;

– National Musical Instruments Museum. In the Museum of Musical Instruments, one can find various national musical instruments.

– Medeu, the World’s largest speed skating rink known as Medeo. At the end of the gorge there is a ski resort Shymbulak, situated at an altitude of 2.200 m above sea level. It is one of Central Asia’s top skiing spots where one can take a cable car funicular to Shymbulak Ski resort.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

 

Meals: 

Overnight: Almaty

DAY 3. THURSDAY/ ALMATY – CHARYN CANYONS – SATY VILLAGE

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Charyn Canyon. Sightseeing in the “Valley of Castles”.

Charyn Canyon is a natural complex, unique in its kind not only in Kazakhstan but also worldwide. It was formed during Paleogene and reminds the Grand Canyon of Colorado River in North America, although inferior to it in size. The height of the steep slopes of the canyon is up to 150-300 meters. Extraordinary dissection of the terrain is striking: the numerous ravines form a dense, chaotic network. Wind and water have created the beautiful “Valley of Castles”, where you are always surrounded by the fancy towers composed of sedimentary rocks. The length of the valley – more than 2 km, width – 20-80 meters. For millions of years the nature has been creating a unique architecture, erecting magnificent castles carefully and slowly. 

Later continue driving to Saty Village.

Dinner and overnight in Saty hotel. 

Meals: 

Overnight at the Saty hotel. 

DAY 4. FRIDAY/ EXPLORE – KOL-SAI AND KAINDY LAKES 

After breakfast, drive to the picturesque lake Kaindy (depth 30 m), located at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level in the mountains Kung Alatau (one of the Tien-Shan ranges), famous for its amazing underwater forest – over the surface of the lake emerge the tops of the spruces. Walk around the lake. After lunch at hotel, drive to Kol-Sai Lake. Hike around the lake. Later drive back to Saty village for overnight. 

 

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Saty hotel

DAY 5. SATURDAY/ SATY – ALMATY 

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Almaty. Upon arrival in Almaty, afternoon free time before dinner. Optional visiting shopping malls. 

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Almaty

DAY 6. SUNDAY/ ALMATY – KAZAKH AUL (HUNN ETHNO VILLAGE) – ALMATY

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:30 Meet the guide and transfer to ethno-aul.

Program 

11.00-11.10 Welcome greeting by two warriors wearing the armors designed in the style of Saka Period and the 

hostess greeting the guests with national ritual called Shashu. 

11.10-11.30 Baursaks Kazakh puffy bread master class cooking 10 min. 

11.30-12.00 Acquaintance with the construction of a Kazakh yurt and its sacral meaning for a nomad. Acquaintance 

with old time Kazakh housekeeping duties: whisking wool, spindle yarn making, hand flour grinding, baby 

lullabying in Besik (cradle), Tusau Kesu. 

12.00-12.40 Sarbaz Nomad Group performance. National Horse Games: 

Jigitovka – horseback riding with acrobatic elements 

Atpen audaryspak ( struggling and pushing a rival while horseriding) 

Kyz kuu game (chasing a girl by horse for kissing her, in case of failure she lashes him) 

Kara Zhorga (traditional Kazakh dance) 

Horseback riding. 

13.00-14.00 National cuisine lunch (plov, fresh salad,tea.water). 

14.00-14.30 National archery master clas 

14.30- 16.00 Leisure time

Transfer to Almaty.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch

Overnight: Almaty 

DAY 7. MONDAY/ ALMATY – SHYMKENT – TURKESTAN 

Take a flight to Shymkent at 0755 – 0915

Upon arrival in Shymkent, city tour of Shymkent. Late afternoon drive to Turkestan. 

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Turkestan

DAY 8. TUESDAY / TURKESTAN CITY TOUR 

Sightseeing at “Azret-Sultan” historical and architectural complex, Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Turkestan ancient settlement, Necropolis, a fragment of the fortress wall, citadel with gates, Hammam, Hilvet underground mosque and Karavan Sarai complex. 

Sightseeing at Local History Museum “Otyrar”, Arystan-Bab Mausoleum (teacher and spiritual mentor of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi), and archaeological site of the ancient settlement of Otrar.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Turkestan

DAY 9. WEDNESDAY/ TURKESTAN – TARAZ 

After breakfast, drive to Taraz. Upon arrival city tour of Taraz. Visit Mausloeums of Aisha-Bibi and Karakhan. Visit local bazaar and central square. 

Overnight. 

DAY 10. THU TARAZ – AKSU-DZHABAGLY VILLAGE

Drive to Aksu-Dzhabagly Naure reserve. Upon arrival, visit local museum of National Park. Wonder in the village. 

Dinner and overnight in guest house. 

DAY 11. FRI Hike to Nature Reserve 

 

Full day hike in Reserve. Lunch and dinner at guest house. 

Overnight in guest house. 

 

DAY 12. SAT AKSU-DZHABAGLY VILLAGE – SHYMKENT – ASTANA (Maybe evening flight)

Drive to Shymkent airport. Fly to Astana. 

Upon arrival in Astana airport, transfer to hotel. Free at hotel. 

DAY 13. SUN ASTANA – CITY TOUR 

Today, sightseeing tour around Nur-Sultan, which includes visiting of Khazret Sultan mosque. The construction of this largest mosque in Central Asia took as long as 3 years and was inaugurated in July2012. The colossal building resembles an oriental palace, whose construction involved over 1,500builders and masters, who with joint efforts created the most beautiful landmark of Astana.“Hazrat Sultan” is translated as “Apostolic Sultan”. The mosque was named in honor of one of Sufisheikhs – Khoja Ahmed Yassawi (the XII century), who was a poet, philosopher and Muslin saint, well-known in the territory of whole Central Asia. The mausoleum of this saint is located in Kazakh city of Turkestan.

The next stop for today is National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan (closed on Mon) is the youngest an largest museum in Central Asia. The museum was established in the framework of the Cultural Heritage State Programme on behalf of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev. The museum building, with its unusual external form, is an eye catcher. The largest unique museum complex has an area of 74,000 sq.m. and consists of seven blocks with a variable number of stores to the ninth floor. Exhibit space occupies 14 rooms with a total area of over 14,000 sq.m. The National Museum of Kazakhstan is composed of the following halls: Hall of Astana; Hall of Independent Kazakhstan; Hall of Gold; Hall of Ancient and Medieval History; the Hall of History; Ethnography Hall; and Halls of Modern Art.

Have a walk through Independence Square and visit Palace of Peace and Accord, built in a form of a regular tetrahedron. People assign an epithet the «Eight Wonder of the World” to this pyramid. And really it has something to surprise: built by the famous architect Norman Foster, it uses golden section proportions in its design: the faces of the base are 62 meters long while the height is also 62 meters.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Almaty 

DAY 14.  MON ASTANA – ALMATY (FLIGHT)

The second part of the excursion will include visiting of Bayterek Tower. Kazakh legends have it that on the World River bank, there grows the Tree of Life, called Bayterek. Samruk the holy bird of happiness is flying to it to lay a golden egg in the nest, located on its top. Inthe people’s life, becoming a symbol not only of Astana, but also of the whole country. Egg symbolizes the Sun, granting life and hope. But beneath, there is Aydakhar, a wicked dragon, hiding among theroots, and wishing to eat the egg. This is a Kazakh version of the universe. Quite recently, Bayterek, afolklore symbol, was embodied in a beautiful tower, resembling the ever-lasting fight of good and evil. The Bayterek monumental structure was opened in the very center of Kazakhstan capital in 2002. 

The next stop is Khan Shatyr(or “Royal Marquee”) is an entertainment centre built in Astana in 2006. It was the second national project designed by UK architect Norman Foster, who also constructed Astana’s Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. Set in a 150-metre-high transparent tent with an area larger than 10 football stadiums, it contains numerous shopping and entertainment facilities, including a boating river, mini golf and even an indoor beach resort. 

Evening flight to Almaty. Transfer to hotel. 

DAY 15. TUE / ALMATY DEPARTURE

Today, Late check out hotel. Visit Almaty Green Bazaar. Exploration of Almaty pedestrian alley Arbat. By evening transfer at 20:00 PM to airport for checking into flight to Seoul.