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Day 1: Almaty The tour will start with a car rental drive to Kazakhstan’s Medeu Gorge (1690 m), which is notable for having the world’s highest mountain skating rink, and will be followed by a cable car ride to the Shymbulak ski resort region. Your mountain tour continues at the foot of Kok-Tobe hill, where park eco-cars will transport you over a scenic curving mountain track. The first leg of the tour concludes with a quick ride on the famous Almaty cableway* from the top of the hill to the city center. After lunch, the city portion of the tour continues, with the first stop being Almaty Museum, where you may learn about the history of Kazakhstan’s southern metropolis. The tour will continue after the museum with a quick stop to learn about the architecture and history of the Abai Opera and Ballet Theatre. Then you’ll visit Zenkov Cathedral, one of the world’s most beautiful wooden monuments, in one of Almaty’s oldest parks, the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen. The Green Bazaar is the next point of attraction, a popular hangout for residents. *Attention: Tour is not available on Mondays. On Tuesdays, in the tour departing at 10:00, cableway is not available. Transfer to the hotel, check-in. Overnight.
Day 2: Almaty – Shymkent Breakfast is served in the hotel. Check out and transfer to the airport for your tour to Shymkent. Shymkent is Kazakhstan’s third megapolis in terms of population and the first in terms of occupied space. Since ancient times, the city has run alongside one of the branches of the Great Silk Road, alongside the most famous medieval Kazakhstan and Central Asian cities such as Otrar, Turkestan, Syganak, Sauran, and others. A sightseeing tour lets you to visit the following attractions: walk of Fame (Park named after Sh. Kaldayakov), “Zher Ana” monument, Ordabasy Square, Park “20th Anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan”,Obelisk of Glory, Eternal Fire to the Fallen in WWII, Dendropark – optionally, Visiting the regional historical – museum, the ruins of the citadel of ancient Shymkent, walking on the pedestrian street “Arbat”. At the end of the tour you will be transferred to a hotel by a car rent. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 3: Shymkent – Otrar – Turkestan Breakfast is served in the hotel. Check-out. Departure for the settlement of Otrar with rented car. Sightseeing at the Arystan-Bab Mausoleum (teacher and spiritual mentor of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi), as well as the archaeological site of Otrar. Al-Farabi, the medieval philosopher and scientist, was born and resided in Otrar. Proceed to Turkestan. Sightseeing at the “Azret-Sultan” historical and architectural complex, as well as the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (Necropolis, Hammam, Hilvet underground mosque). Turkestan was created circa 500 AD in northern Kazakhstan at the intersection of caravan routes from Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. In the XVI-XVIII centuries, the city was recognized as the spiritual and political hub of the Turkic-speaking people, as well as the seat of the Kazakh Khanate. The preaching activities of the famed Sufi sheikh and philosopher Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, who was buried in a tiny tomb here in 1166, has given Turkestan a wide international reputation. The current mausoleum was built 233 years after his death under the order of an excellent military leader, Emir Tamerlane, and it is now a masterpiece of medieval architecture and one of the most important places of prayer for Muslims. Overnight in the hotel in Turkestan.
Day 4: Turkestan – Sairam – Shymkent – Almaty Check-out and breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Shymkent’s Sairam district (190 km). Arrival in Sairam and touring at Mar-Tobe, the Ibrahim-Ata Mausoleum, the Karashash-Ana Mausoleum, and the medieval minaret with a car rent. Sairam is situated on the outskirts of Shymkent, on the site of the old Ispidzhab, one of the most important centers of the Great Silk Road in the Middle Ages. It initially appears in Chinese writings in the year 629. It is renamed Sairam in the thirteenth century. The area preserves the ruins of buildings from the XIII-IXX centuries. However, this is not the only reason for Sairam’s popularity; it is also the birthplace of the famous enlightener of the XII century, Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. There are also the mausoleums of his father and mother, Ibrahim-Ata and Karashash-Ana. Transfer to Shymkent airport. Departure to Almaty. On arrival transfer to the hotel. Overnight.
Day 5: Flight Breakfast is served in the hotel. Check-out time is no later than 12 p.m. Transfer to airport.
Transport: 02 pax – Sedan 04 pax – Minivan 06-08 pax – (minivan in Shymkent, Turkestan; minibus Sprinter in Almaty)
Price per person:
Early check-in – 30 $ per person Single early check-in – 40 $
All dinners – 100 $ (4 dinners) All lunches and dinners – 160 $ (4 lunches, 4 dinners)
English speaking guide – 340 $ per group
Flight tickets – from 80 $ per person (Almaty-Shymkent-Almaty)
Service includes: – Transport – Accommodation: Almaty – “Kazakhstan” Hotel 3* Shymkent – “Aidana Plaza” Hotel 4* Turkestan – “Khanaka” Hotel 3* – Entrances to all museums – Single rooms – Visa and visa support – English speaking guide |
