Hidden Gems of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

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 – ASTANA (FLIGHT) – ASTANA CITY TOUR 

Early breakfast. Morning transfer to airport for flight to Astana. 

Upon arrival in Astana airport, drive for sightseeing tour around Nur-Sultan, which includes visiting of Khazret Sultan mosque. Theconstruction 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: Astana

DAY 4. FRIDAY/ 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 5. SATURDAY/ 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 6. SUNDAY/ 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 7. MONDAY/ SATY – KARAKOL, KYRGYZSTAN

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Karakol via Kegen border. Upon arrival in Karakol, check in hotel.

 

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Karakol

 

DAY 8. TUESDAY/ KARAKOL CITY TOUR

 

After breakfast city tour of Karakol town, one of the first Russian military outpost founded on July 1, 1869. The town existed from early on as a trading center and garrison. It was called Przhevalsk in Soviet times, after the explorer Nikolai Przewalsky, whose last expedition ended here, and who is buried nearby.

The Dungan Mosque is the only one of nine mosques not destroyed by the Bolsheviks, although they did close it for ten years. Impressively, it was built without a single nail, using techniques brought from China, the Dungan homeland. 

 

Afternoon drive to Jety Oguz gorge. This afternoon we enjoy visiting to the beautiful gorges of Southern Issykul Region.

Visit Jety Oguz gorge (40 minutes), a lush valley with striking red sandstone rock formations – the ‘Seven Bulls’ from which the valley takes its name. Hiking in the Jety-Oguz gorge.  Afterwards, drive back to Karakol. Overnight in hotel.

Meals: Breakfast. Overnight: Karakol

DAY 9. WEDNESDAY/ KARAKOL – CHOLPON-ATA, ISSYKUL  

After breakfast, drive to Lake Issyk Kul Lake 260 kms. Visit Cholpon-Ata Petroglyphs, a civilization dating back to 5th Century BC near the lake and in both locations, you can see the Baalbals: stone faces carved on rocks.

Issyk Kul (literally “Warm Lake”) never freezes despite its altitude of 1600 m. This is due in part to thermal activity deep down. The lake is the second highest and largest in the world at 702 m deep.  It is unique in that many streams and rivers flow in, none flow out.

The Tian Shan looks like a sleeping camel, and among its humps, in the circle of mountain ranges, Issyk Kul is sparkling like a birth-mark on a girl’s face – in the words of the Old Kyrgyz song.

Afternoon, Boat ride at the lake. Free at lakeside. 

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Issykul 

DAY 10. THURSDAY/ ISSYKUL – CHONKEMIN VALLEY

Today drive to the beautiful Chon-Kemin valley. Here you will have the

opportunity to explore an old Soviet farm (kolkhoz) village and enjoy a short hike in the valley

with green fir trees on the mountain sides. Dinner and overnight in a lovely Ashu

guesthouse.

 

DAY 11. FRIDAY/ CHONKEMIN VALLEY – BISHKEK 

 

After breakfast, morning free exploration around the place on your own. 

Later, driving to Burana tower. The tower, along with grave markers, some earthworks and the remnants of a castle and three mausoleums, is all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagun which was established by the Karakhanids at the end of the 9th century.

The next stop is in nearby Don-Aryk village where you will witness the famous horseback game

called  ulak-tartysh (also known as kupkari and buzkashi ). After the game, around midday, lunch at the local house of Mukan Baike in Don-Aryk village. 

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Bishkek 

DAY 12. SATURDAY/ BISHKEK – OSH 

Today we take a short domestic flight to Osh in the morning (exact time not known yet). Osh is Kyrgyzstan’s second-largest city and unofficial “southern capital”. The city is 3000 years old, but nowadays not much is left from old times. 

We will have a city tour in Osh with visiting the Suleiman Mountain – UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nicknamed Kichi-Mecca (Little Mecca), Suleiman Too sacred mountain is a major place of Muslim and pre-Muslim pilgrimage. On top of the mountain is a stone shelter known as Babur’s House, named after the 15-16th-century Muslim leader who founded the Mughal Dynasty in India. We will also visit other sights in Osh such as the Central Square with the Lenin Statue and the local Osh Bazaar. 

Meals: Breakfast. Overnight: Osh

DAY 13. SUNDAY/ OSH – UZGEN MINARETS – BISHKEK 

Travel to Uzgen, medieval capital city with Islamic architecture.  Explore the culture of rice and plov. 

In Uzgen town we’ll visit the beautiful Historical and Archeological Complex. With its strategic location on the Silk Road Uzgen became an important trading hub in Fergana valley. The city reached its highest glory under the Karakhanid kingdom. Karakhanids declared Uzgen their second capital and the city prospered economically and culturally.

Nowadays, Uzgen is famous for its medieval architecture, authentic bazaar, and legendary red rice. The Historical and Archeological Complex is a site where the glory of medieval Islamic architecture survived in the form of minaret tower and mausoleums. Afternoon drive back to Osh. Take a flight back to Bishkek. 

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Bishkek 

DAY 14. MONDAY/ BISHKEK – ALA-ARCHA NATIONAL PARK – BISHKEK 

Excursion to Ala-Archa national park. Afternoon City sightseeing. Walking city tour of Bishkek, which includes Central Square Alatoo, White House, Parliament House, Manas on Horse Statue, Lenin Statue, and Oak Park.

DAY 15. TUESDAY/ BISHKEK – ALMATY – SEOUL  

Today, drive to Almaty (250 km) via Kordai border point. Upon arrival in Almaty exploration of Almaty pedestrian street Arbat. By evening, transfer at 20:00 PM to airport for checking into flight to Seoul.