Discover the Majesty of Kazakhstan: A Journey Through Time and Culture
Embark on an unforgettable adventure to Kazakhstan, a land of vast steppes, soaring mountains, and ancient traditions waiting to be explored. Nestled in the heart of Central Asia, Kazakhstan offers a rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural wonders that will leave you mesmerized at every turn.
| DAY 1 ALMATY |
| Arrival to Almaty at 6.35 AM from IST, transfer to the hotel. City tour of Almaty: – 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. – Almaty Green Bazaar – Exploration of Almaty pedestrian alley Arbat – Optional visiting shopping malls – 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. |
| Overnight: Almaty |
| DAY 2 FULL DAY EXPLORATION OF TURGEN GORGES |
| Breakfast at the hotel. Our first stop is at Lake Issyk, where we will make a leisurely 1 km hike to the lake. After that, we head to the charming Turgen Gorge. Once you reach the Bear Falls, get ready for an exciting 4 km round trip hike. Then transfer to the ethnos aul Tumar for lunch. Spectacular visit to the Asa Plato Observatory and relaxing walk with photo opportunities. |
| Overnight: Almaty |
| DAY 3 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 |
| Explore the famous Castle Valley Canyon (Kyzylsay Canyon) descending a 2.5 km trail with photo stops. Having finished our exploration, we will climb back to the car park (2.5 km). We will take a break for lunch at the parking lot before continuing our journey to Lunar Canyon (Uzynbulak Canyon) for panoramic views and photo shoot. Then we will head to the unforgettable Stone Shelf to enjoy even more breathtaking scenery, including the panoramic viewpoint “Napoleon” (2.5 km) and “Austrian View” (2 km). Departing, we will visit the village of Saty by the Kolsai Lakes, enjoy the Black Canyon |
| Overnight: Saty hotel. |
| DAY 4 EXPLORE KOL-SAI AND KAINDY LAKES |
| After breakfast, we will change our bus into local mini vans to drive to the picturesque Kaindy lake (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. Explore various locations around the lake, including the shoreline, panoramic viewpoints, and a tributary of the Kaindy River. After that, we will return to the parking lot (2 km), visit the panoramic platform overlooking the valley of the Chilik River. This is followed by a short walk along the shore of the lower lake Kolsai |
| After lunch at hotel, drive to KoI-Sai Lake. Hike around the lake. Optional Small boat ride offered by locals on spot. Later drive back to Saty village for overnight. |
| Overnight: Saty hotel
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| Transfer from Saty to Altyn Emel National Park Arrival to the Basshi village, the headquarters of the park. After checking in at Aqai-Kum guest house and lunch, we will go to Aktau Mountains by local 4×4 jeeps/vans, where we will trek inside the mountains, then visit a 700- year-old willow tree before returning to Basshi for dinner and overnight. |
| Overnight: Aqai-Kum guest house |
| DAY 6 ALTYN EMEL – ALMATY |
| After the breakfast at the guest house, we will go to the Singing Dune, where we will climb its crest. Then visit the Oshaktas stele. After lunch, return to the guest house and drive to Almaty. During the tour we will have the opportunity to see unique animals such as kulans and goitered gazelles, which live only in the Altyn-Emel National Park. |
| Overnight: Almaty DAY 7 ALMATY – KAZAKH AUL (HUNN ETHNO VILLAGE) – ALMATY |
| Breakfast at the hotel, 9.30 meet the guide and transfer to ethno-aul. |
| 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 class 14.30-16.00 Leisure time Transfer to Almaty. Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel. |
| Overnight: Almaty rrrrrrrrrrrrrrr |
| DAY 8 ALMATY — SHYMKENT — TURKESTAN CITY TOUR |
| Take a flight to Shymkent at 7.55 — 9.15 AM Upon arrival in Shymkent we drive to Turkestan. |
| 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. |
| Overnight: Turkestan |
| DAY 9 TURKESTAN AKSU-DZHABAGLY VILLAGE |
| Drive to Aksu-Dzhabagly Nature reserve. Upon arrival, visit local museum of National Park. Hike with local guide. Overnight: Ruslan guest house |
| DAY 10 AKSU-DZHABAGLY SAYRAM SHYMKENT |
| Transfer to Sayram. Sayram City Tour: Explore 3000 years old Sayram town, outskirt of modern Shymkent city. Sayram or ancient Ispijab, the only city in Kazakhstan, mentioned in “Avesta”, the Zoroastrian holy book. The Sayram ancient monuments include mausoleums, erected over the graves of the spiritual ruler, of Sheikh Ibrahim, and Karashash-ana – the father and mother of the great scholar and poet Khoja Ahmed Yassavi. Transfer to Shymkent Shymkent City Tour: City sightseeing. Visit the History Museum, Memory Alley in Shanshi park, the Museum of Political Repression Victims, Abai Museum and Ethnography Museum. |
| Overnight: Shymkent |
| DAY 11 SHYMKENT — ASTANA CITY TOUR |
| Morning flight to Astana 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 JuIy2012. The colossal building resembles an oriental palace, whose construction involved over 1,500 builders 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 Muslim 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 and 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: Astana |
| DAY 12 ASTANA – ALMATY |
| 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 the roots, and wishing to eat the egg. This is a Kazakh version of the universe. Quite recently, Bayterek, a folklore 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 13 ALMATY – DEPARTURE
Early check-out, transfer to the airport, 5.20 AM TK flight to Istanbul. |
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