Splendid Kazakhstan Tour from Almaty

Welcome to Kazakhstan! After landing in its largest city, Almaty, the private driver guide will meet you at the arrival hall and escort you to the hotel downtown. The rest time will be yours to recover from the jet leg.

From Almaty, which sinks into a mountainous landscape, you can see the snow-capped Heaven Mountains, which allow people to feast their eyes on the natural scenery in urban areas. With a green coverage rate of over 70%, Almaty is the greenest city in Central Asia, so walking here is like roaming in a big forest. Almaty’s surrounding area also has the most beautiful and diverse scenery, from woodlands, grasslands, and lakes to deserts, canyons, and ancient rock paintings, each is eye-catching.

► Why You Need Our Guided Tour
a. You will visit many religious and historical sites such as mosques, mausoleums, and ancient cities. Still, many places do not have sufficient English introductions and guides. Therefore, our professional guide’s explanation will give you a deeper understanding of Kazakhstan’s monuments, cities, and national history and culture rather than just appreciating the architecture.
b. Driving to the nature reserves and national parks around Almaty and other cities takes more than a few hours. If you take a taxi, it may be costly, or you may be cheated. If you rent a car, there may be distance restrictions or various emergencies such as unfamiliar road conditions, no signal in remote areas, and difficulties in using navigation. Therefore, choosing our itinerary with an experienced driver guide is convenient and safe.

Accommodation: Renion Park Hotel, Almaty (3 stars) or similar

Today, the driver guide will show you around Almaty, both to landmarks downtown and scenic spots on the outskirts. The first destination is Medeu Valley, famous for its high-altitude ice skating rink, the Medeu Mudflow Control Dam, and the Shymbulak Ski Resort. We will go up the 842 steps of the Health Stairs on the dam to the mountaintop; you may hesitate when taking the first step but will overcome the fear of heights with each step. When you reach the top, breathe the fresh air to arouse all the adrenaline with positive emotions, just like winning a gold medal in the Olympics, and be rewarded by the fascinating panoramic view of the mountains and the ice rink.

Then, we’ll drive back downtown to explore Green Bazaar (Zeleny Bazar), a considerable two-story Central Asian-style market buzz with all kinds of fruits, vegetables, meats and nuts, and well-organized: the meat area has fresh beef, mutton, pork and horse meat, and some stall owners are very enthusiastic and will cut a piece of horse meat sausage for you to try. Because of the nomadic eating habits, the dairy products area is most popular with locals, stacked with a rich variety of cream, cheese, yogurt, milk lumps, etc. The fruit and vegetable area is neatly arranged with bright colors, and it is also the area with the most tourists. You can even see Korean stalls selling snacks such as pickled vegetables and sushi rolls.

Moving south to Ascension Cathedral (Zenkov Cathedral), the world’s second-tallest existing wooden structure, its candy-colored exterior and glittering golden onion-shaped domes and crosses will surely leave you with an unforgettable impression. Unlike Catholicism, there are no sculptures in the church but huge, richly colored icons in front of which believers bow down and light candles. If you happen to catch the mass, you will see many Russian believers gathered here, listening to the intertwined choir hymns and the archbishop’s prayers in such a sacred vibe.

Continue to visit Almaty Central Mosque, one of Kazakhstan’s largest and most beautiful mosques. With a golden dome dazzling under sunlight and four towering minarets, it looks like a mysterious castle. Cover your hair with a headscarf or hat, enter the mosque barefoot on the Persian carpet, and admire shining chandeliers, intricately carved porches, colorful gold-woven carpets, and exquisite decorations on the pillars, all of which show the solemnity and beauty of the mosque.

In the late afternoon, arrive at Kok-Tobe Hill, a 1,100-meter-high (3,600-foot) mountain located on Almaty’s southeastern edge, where you will take an eco-friendly car up to the hilltop to watch the sunset. After reaching the top, go to the observation deck to enjoy the 360-degree panoramic view of the entire city. Before nightfall, the golden light shining on the mountains south of Almaty is dazzling. You can also take pictures with the Kok-Tobe photo frame, the 372-meter-high (1,220-foot) TV tower, the Beatles sculpture, and other iconic buildings. Finally, go downhill by cable car, and your driver guide will escort you back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Renion Park Hotel, Almaty (3 stars) or similar

Today, we will drive three hours to Charyn Canyon National Park. The fast-flowing Charyn River has eroded a canyon 150 to 300 meters (490 to 985 feet) deep, extending to the flat grassland about 150 km (95 miles) east of Almaty. Long-term weathering has formed bizarre and colorful rock formations in Charyn Canyon. The most popular branch is the Valley of Castles, named after the enormous rocks that resemble ancient castles. We will hike to explore and have a packed lunch here.

Then, we will drive to another branch, Moon Canyon (Uzunbulak Canyon), famed for the extraordinary off-white rock formations resembling lunar landscapes, created by the patient carving of water and wind. Keep going to Bestamak Canyon, which translates to “five isthmuses” in Kazakh, meaning many narrow passages exist throughout the canyon. During the rainy season, a river winds along the bottom of the canyon and eventually joins the Charyn River, making this a treasure trove of ancient fossils and plant remains.

Finally, we come to the park’s namesake, Charyn Canyon, the only place where the ancient Sogdian ash trees grow, which have extraordinary resilience and an average lifespan of more than 300 years, having survived for more than 2 million years. The Charyn River and its streams cut through the ash forest, making the scenery even more charming. In addition to ash trees, you’ll see other rare plants here, such as poplars (also called Turanga), willows, and silverberries, which survived the Ice Age thanks to the canyon’s towering cliffs. After all visits, you will be transferred to the guest house in Saty Village in about 1.5 hours.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch-box, Dinner
Accommodation: Saty Village Guest House

This morning, strike out along the bumpy road deep into Heaven Mountains to find endearing alpine lakes. Kaindy Lake loses none of its appeal for being enigmatic and less accessible. As a barrier lake formed by the great earthquake in 1911, the alluvial limestone deposited at the bottom of the lake makes the lake water appear aquamarine. Although the original spruce forest has long died, the submerged tree trunks remain intact in the perennially low temperature of the lake, forming a unique landscape of underwater forest, embracing isolated beauty and sacred mystery.

Leaving Kaindy Lake, continue driving westwards to the charming Kolsai Lakes, also hidden in the Heaven Mountains. Arriving at Lower Kolsai Lake hugged by dense fir trees in the valley, you can overlook the long, narrow lake, up to 80 meters deep, from the viewing platform. Submerge yourself in the mirror-like sapphire waters under the sun; no wonder it is praised as the “Pearl of Northern Heaven Mountains.”

At the end of today, the driver guide will escort you back to Almaty by driving for 3.5 hours, and you will enjoy a hearty dinner at a barbecue restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Renion Park Hotel, Almaty (3 stars) or similar

Farewell to Almaty! We will drive for about seven hours to Taraz, one of the oldest settlements in Kazakhstan. After arriving, follow your driver guide to visit two famous mausoleums. The first is the Karakhan Mausoleum, built in the 11th-12th century. The tomb owner, Karakhan, founded the Kara-Khanid Khanate (840-1212), the first Turkic tribe to convert to Islam.

The other is Aisha Bibi Mausoleum, whose owner had a tragic romance with Karakhan and unfortunately paid the price of her life in pursuit of love, attracting many young couples and women seeking fertility blessings, as it is believed that Aisha Bibi’s spirit can help establish healthy marriages. Also, admire the mausoleum’s exquisite terracotta tiles, pointed arches and niches, especially terracotta tiles with uncanny artistry. Decorated with more than 60 zoomorphic, geometric and sun-shaped motifs, reminiscent of the decorative art of ancient nomadic tribes of Kazakhstan, the mausoleum is a striking testimony to the heyday of the Kara-Khanid Khanate.

Archaeological excavations in the Ancient Taraz City have revealed the remains of fortresses, mosques, religious schools, residential buildings, water supply systems, underground prisons, Zoroastrian altars, and caravanserai hotels. Based on these ruins, an open-air museum has been created, where you can walk on wooden bridges to get a close look and gain an in-depth understanding of the fascinating history of Taraz.

Have a good rest tonight to release the fatigue of a long drive. Tomorrow, we will set off for another ancient city.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Pride Hotel, Taraz, or similar

After a 3-hour drive this morning, we will first reach Ak Meshit Cave, the largest cave in Central Asia, formed in the Neolithic Age. Legend has it that it was once a crucial mosque, but part of the dome collapsed in the 20th century, creating a large hole. Still, residents built stairs to keep pilgrims here. Now, you can take in its mysterious charm and unique natural beauty.

Then, drive 2 hours to Turkestan, in the arid steppes of southern Kazakhstan. The city has a history of about 1,500 years and attracts tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims yearly. As to the reason, we must mention the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasavi that we will visit next.

In the 12th century, the Islamic missionary and philosopher Khoja Ahmad Yasavi spread Islamic teachings to ordinary people through Turkic poetry and vernacular; the Turks thus revered him as a saint. Timur, the ruler of that time, built this magnificent mausoleum for Yasavi to immortalize his deeds, which has become the most remarkable historical monument of Kazakhstan and the most important pilgrimage site, earning Turkestan the title of “Spiritual Center of the Turkic World.”

In addition to the main mausoleum, other religious sites in the complex are also worth visiting. The Underground Mosque is built in a small cave, and inside, you can walk through the hypostyle halls where Yasawi lived and wrote in the last years of his life. Beyond the exquisite interior are some exhibits, including books written by Yasawi, which your driver guide will fully introduce.

Opposite is the Juma Mosque, once neighboring Yasawi’s home. This building is more like a residence than a mosque, with catapults, cannons and a wooden cart on display on the outside; inside, you can see the light green mihrabs and photos of old Turkestan hung on the walls, showcasing various items used in the operation of the mosque, including wooden pillars, furniture, books, mats and brass hand-washing and face-washing containers. A few steps away is the Ancient Baths, a bathroom built for pilgrims to clean their bodies before entering the holy place. Despite no luxurious decoration, it is fully functional, with a hot bath hall, steam room, cold water room and even massage room.

Ultimately, visit the Mausoleum of Rabia Sultan Begum, the mausoleum of Timur’s great-granddaughter, whose husband, Abylkayyr Khan, was a 15th-century leader of the Uzbek nomads. Even though this turquoise-domed architecture is just a replica of the 15th-century original demolished in 1898, its beautifully decorated domes and intricate carvings still demonstrate exquisite craftsmanship, historically crucial as a cultural heritage of Turkestan.
  
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Edem, Turkestan, or similar

Today, we will first drive for 1 hour to Otrar. In ancient times, it was once an important city on the Amu Darya River and has always been a central hub on the caravan route between Eastern Europe and China. Even after being severely damaged by the Mongol army at the end of the 13th century, it still redeveloped its economy relatively quickly.

Until the 18th century, as the Eurasian branch of the ancient Silk Road gradually declined, the complex irrigation system could no longer be maintained, and the city gradually disappeared. Today, you can only learn about its former glory through the restored gates and walls on the ruins of the ancient city, as well as functional buildings such as bathrooms and museums.

Drive a few kilometers away to the Arystanbab Mausoleum, which has been a significant pilgrimage site in this desert oasis for centuries. The mausoleum was built for the mentor of Yasawi and has undergone many reconstructions. The only oldest ones inside are the two carved wooden pillars preserved from the 18th century. Connected to the mosque, its central arch on the front is magnificent and vast, and the two large domes on the left and the minarets at both ends are awe-inspiring.

After visiting Otrar, nearly a 2.5-hour drive will take you to today’s final stop, the southernmost and the sunniest city in Kazakhstan, Shymkent. With about 300 sunny days a year, you don’t have to worry about suffering lousy weather here. When strolling downtown with your driver guide, you will encounter a vast botanical garden, numerous squares and water parks, and many historical sites such as mosques and ancient mausoleums.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Ramada by Wyndham Shymkent (4 stars) or similar

In the morning, the driver guide will lead you to explore local bazaars, especially the bustling Qyrgy Bazar, where you can glimpse the traditions and authentic local daily life. Beyond colorful textiles, traditional costumes, and inviting stories from friendly stallers, the heady smell of snacks will instantly arouse your appetite. You can buy a crispy baked bun with meat filling and onion aroma or have a cup of Kompot, a healthy Russian beverage made by boiling fresh seasonal fruits such as apples, pears, peaches and berries with sugar, with a unique flavor whether you drink it hot or cold. Then, we will return to Almaty by driving for around nine hours.

► Note: If you prefer to avoid the long and tiring road journey, our travel consultants can help you upgrade to a train or flight and provide pricing information.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Renion Park Hotel, Almaty (3 stars) or similar

It is time to say goodbye to our 9-day Kazakhstan tour. Your driver guide will escort you to Almaty Airport at the appointed time. Wish you a happy journey!

So far, you have experienced Kazakhstan’s core religious sites, historical relics, and natural scenery. If you want to unlock more mysterious and historic cities in other Central Asian countries, such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, please contact our travel consultants to customize an extended itinerary!

► Recommended Touristy Site for Your Free Time
About a 15-minute walk south of the hotel or 5 minutes by taxi, you can visit the House Museum named after D.Konaev, which costs 1,000 tenge (about $2) per person but is closed on Mondays. In memory of Almaty politician D.Konaev, the museum showcases about 3,000 collections related to Konaev’s life and precious information about the history of Kazakhstan. Another area is the memorial apartment, which is only open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, displaying Konaev’s office, living room, bedroom, kitchen, and a family library with 7,000 books. The museum is well-equipped with text introductions in English and enthusiastic staff who know about Konaev and Kazakhstan’s history inside out.

Meals: Breakfast