Lakes of Kazakhstan

Name of tour: Lakes of Kazakhstan

Duration: 6 days & 5 nights

Day 1: Almaty
As you arrive at the airport, you will meet your guide who will go with you to the city of Almaty and begin your travel in Kazakhstan. The guide will take you on a tour of the city. You will get to visit the Green Bazaar, where you will have a hard time stopping yourself from buying stuff. The tour will also take you to one of the oldest parks in the city, the park of Panfilov. A beautiful wooden building, Zenkov Cathedral can be found in the park. As you finish exploring areas devoted to culture, business, and sport, you will be taken to the GOrge of Medeo, which is known for its highest skating rink and recreational resort of Shymbulak. Taking the picturesque winding mountain road you will get to the next destination, Kok-Tobe hill. There you can take a walk on winding paths that opens up a beautiful view of the city. One can also take a look at a souvenirs shop. A short ride on cableway takes you to the center of the city and finishes the tour. Then transfer to the hotel follows.
 
Day 2: Almaty – Big Almaty Lake – Almaty
On the second day, you will be driving to the Big Almaty Gorge which has the alpine lake of Big Almaty at an altitude of 2510 m.a.s.l. It is a very beautiful lake in Trans-Ili Alatau. It gets really beautiful with its blue calm surface reflecting the sky and mountains around. The lake is a direct result of a movement of glaciers. Even during the hottest days, the temperature of the lake does not go above 10 degrees C for it is located high up in the mountains. The lake itself serves as a source of potable water for the city Almaty. Tour continues itself to a higher altitude of 3300 m. It is where most astronomical and space researches take place. At the base of the Big Almaty Peak, one can witness a beautiful view of the lake and the white-capped mountains covered by fir-trees and juniper. The ends with the return to the hotel and overnight.
 
Day 3: Almaty – Kaindy Lake
We will be travelling to Kaindy Lake in the morning. The lake is surrounded by beautiful pine forests at an altitude of around 2000 meters. The formation of the lake dates back to 1911. The powerful earthquake caused the landslide which came to form a natural dam. Water flooding the valley resulted in a beautiful lake that can be witnessed today. Water in the lake is very cold and crystal clear making it possible to see the tops of trees that once were growing in the valley. This is the place of such beauty that cannot be subject to words. One definitely should go there and see the beauty of the place. It is also a great place for a picnic which we will definitely have. After the picnic, we return to Saty settlement, where you will have free time. You can fill up this time with walking, trekking in the vicinity. You can even go horseriding (on request for an additional charge). Overnight is in the guest houses.
 
Day 4: Kaindy Lake – Charyn Canyon – Almaty
Morning breakfast will be followed by a transfer to the canyon of Charyn, which is one of the beautiful formations of nature in Kazakhstan. The canyon was formed around 12 million years ago. What makes it fascinating are vertical cliffs that resemble the pillars of an ancient castle. These cliffs are the direct result of the wind, sun, and rain. It takes 3 hours to reach the destination. These hours will be taken up by interesting narratives about the history, culture, and traditions of Kazakh people. There will also be a stop for lunch in one of the local cafes. The magnificent view of the canyon will make the long journey leading to this place totally worth it. You can infinite time admiring the beauty of the canyon, walking through the Castles Valley. The day ends with your return to the hotel for overnight.

Day 5: Almaty – Nur Sultan
In the morning you have a transfer flight to the capital city of Kazakhstan. In Nursultan, you will get to see the Constitution Square, where the decision about moving the capital from the city Almaty to the former city of Astana (today’s Nursultan) was made. You will also see the Presidential Center of Kazakhstan. In the museum which is our next stop, you will see the “golden” man that is well known in Central Asia. For you to get a better grasp of what the life of the city is, we will take you to the largest and unique shopping center Khan Shatyr. After this, taking an elevator you will get to the observation deck which is on the top of the Astana-Baiterek monument, where you get a fascinating view of the capital city. Lunch is followed by crossing the Ishym river which will take you to the Kazakh Eli Square. The Palace of Peace and Accord along with the beautiful mosque of Khazret Sultan can be found out there. The excursion in the Palace of Independence will round up our day. In the palace, you can witness the plans that the city of Astana was subject to. Overnight is in the hotel.
 
Day 6: Nur Sultan – Airport
Transfer to the airport is in the morning.