Visit Kazakhstan from Central Asia

Name of the tour: Visit Kazakhstan from Central Asia

Duration: 7 days

Day 1: Almaty
Upon arrival, our driver will meet you at the airport. He will take you to the Almaty city and you will start to get acquainted with its sightseeing. First, you will go to Almaty Museum, Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen- one of the oldest parks in Almaty and where one of the most beautiful wooden building in the world - Zenkov Cathedral is located. Next place which we are going to visit is the popular Green Bazaar, where every person is interested and buy something. After that you will have lunch and start the second part of your tour in Kazakhstan going to Medeu Gorge that is 1,690 meters high. It is well known skating rink in the world due to the highest mountain. You will have some time for walking, taking mountain-view pictures and breathing the fresh pine-tree air. Then we will take a cable car and go to Shymbulak ski resort area. On the continuation will be Kok-Tobe hill, where the tallest TV tower in the world is located. There it is possible to stroll along the winding paths of the park, admire the magnificent panorama of the city from the special observation deck. The tour ends with the short ride from the top of the hill to the center of the city by the famous Almaty cableway. You will spend the night in the train going from Almaty to Taraz.

Day 2: Almaty – Taraz – Sairam – Shymkent
Upon arrival to Taraz, you will be met by our driver at the railway station and he will transfer you to Taraz, one of the oldest cities in Kazakhstan. This day you will get acquainted with sightseeing. First, you will visit History Museum, then Karakhan and Dautbek Mausoleum, Tekturmas Historical Complex, Akyrtas antient palace complex. You will continue the tour to Sairam district of Shymkent (160 km).  There you will have sightseeing at Ibrahim-Ata Mausoleum, Karashash-Ana Mausoleum, and medieval minaret. Sairam is located at the edge of Shymkent, at the place of former Ispidzhab - one of the largest centers of the Great Silk Road in the Middle Ages. This place is also known as the birthplace of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. He was the great enlightener of XII century. You will also visit Mausoleums of his father and mother, Ibrahim-Ata and Karashash-Ana , which are also located here. After all you will be transferred to Shymkent city and spend the night in the hotel.

Day 3: Shymkent – Otrar Settlement – Turkestan – Shymkent
After having breakfast, you will go to Otrar Settlement and then visit Mausoleum Arystan-Bab. It is the archaeological site of the ancient settlement of Otrar.  Next destination will be Turkestan (70 km). There you will have a sightseeing at "Azret-Sultan" historical and architectural complex, Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. Turkestan was founded around 500 AD at the crossroads of caravan routes from Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva in northern Kazakhstan. The city was known as the spiritual and political center of the Turkic-speaking people in the XVI-XVIII centuries, and was the capital of the Kazakh Khanate. Farther your transfer will take you to Shymkent, where you will spend the night in the hotel.

Day 4: Shymkent – Aksu-Zhabagly Reserve – Shymkent
Today we transfer to Aksu-Zhabagly Reserve, where we will drive 125 kilometers and visit Aksu Canyon. Aksu-Zhabagly is located at the spurs of the Western Tien-Shan Mountains at an altitude from 1000 to 4280 meters above sea level and considered as the oldest natural reserve in Kazakhstan. Semi-deserts substitute dry motley grass of steppes, luxurious plots of meadows give way to thickets of creeping juniper. Here high-altitude zones are represented. Patchwork of colorful alpine flowers adorns the base of rigorous peaks with dazzling snow and bluish tongues of glaciers. The reserve is a rich treasury of rare, endangered and endemic species of animals and plants. It is home for argali and ibex, deer and roe deer, lynx and snow leopards, wolves, foxes, bears, porcupines and ermines. Bearded vultures, griffons and golden eagles are flying high in the sky.  You will have an unforgettable moment for your whole life. After that we will return to Shymkent where you will spend the night in the hotel.

Day 5: Shymkent
Today you will have an amazing tour in Shymkent city, in the third megapolis of Kazakhstan by its population and the first one in terms of occupied space. The city since ancient times ran along one of the branches of the Great Silk Road along with the most famous cities of medieval Kazakhstan and Central Asia. This entire day is dedicated to sightseeing tour of Shymkent. It includes visiting Walk of Fame, Monument "Jer Ana", Ordabasy Square, Park “20th Anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan”, Obelisk of Glory, Eternal Fire to the Fallen in WWII, Dendropark, regional historical – museum, visiting the ruins of the citadel of ancient Shymkent, walking on pedestrian street "Arbat". Then you will come to the hotel and spend the night there.

Day 6: Shymkent – Almaty – Issyk – Almaty
Today you will have a flight from Shymkent to Almaty. Upon arrival you will have a meeting with driver at the airport and then transfer to Issyk Lake.  The tour route is in very beautiful Issyk gorge which lies along the Kuldja tract. The trade caravans were travelling here hundreds of years ago. On the way to Issyk Lake, you will visit the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “ISSYK”. Here you will see the expositions dedicated to the history and culture of the Saka period, including a copy of Golden Man and golden items. Next destination will be Issyk Lake.  It is located in the valley with the same name at an altitude of 1756 meters above sea level. The lake was formed about 10,000 years ago due to colossal landslide, resulted in formation of the natural dam of 300 meters in height. In addition, at the lake you will have a picnic and time for recreation at nature. After we will return to Almaty and you will stay in the hotel to spend the night there.

Day 7: Flight
Breakfast in the hotel and check-out. Transfer to airport. In the morning you will have breakfast in the hotel and then check-out. The driver will pick you up to the airport. This will be the last day of your tour in Kazakhstan.