Sightseeing Tour of Kazakhstan

Rest. Breakfast and preparation for the city tour of Almaty.

City tour begins with a trip to Medeo. Drive on to the Parking lot if the cable car will be operating, we get the opportunity to go to Chimbulak ski base and admire the beauty of the Zailiskiy ridge. If the cable car is not operating, a taxi take us to the top of the dam, overlooking the gorge. At the foot of the dam, you will see the world-famous Medeo skating rink!

Medeo Skating rink is located at the altitude of 1690 m above sea level. It was built in 1972 and allows conducting contests in skating sport, hockey and figure skating. From the landslides Medeo is protected by the dam, which was built in the late 1960-s and located to the south of the rink. Special water reservoir allows holding about 6 million cubic meters of water, and the stairs, having 842 steps, leading to the dam regularly hosts competitions on speed climbing.

Return to the city.

After lunch city tour – Central Museum (closed on Tuesdays) and the Independence monument on the Republic square. Overnight at the hotel.

The Issyk Kurgan in south eastern Kazakhstan, near Issyk Lake is a burial mound found in 1969. It has a length of 6 meters and circumference of 60 meters. It is dated back to 4-3rd centuries BC. The Kurgan located in eastern Scythia just north to Sogdiana contained a skeleton, military gear, various ritual items, including 4000 gold jewelry. Although the gender of the skeleton is not defined, it may be 18-year-old Saka Prince or Princess.

In the afternoon transfer back to Almaty city. After lunch the second part of the tour - the Park of 28 Panfilov warriors, National Musical Instruments Museum named after Ykhylas (closed on Mondays), Holy Ascension Cathedral, Green Bazaar, and Central Mosque.

In the evening transfer to the airport. Flight to Shymkent city by KC 969 15 ALA CIT 1925 2050 (*flight is subject to change).

Arrival in Shymkent. Accommodation at the hotel. Overnight.

After breakfast, you will go on a sightseeing tour of ancient settlement of Otrar. On the way visit Arstan Bab Mausoleum. Arstanbab, was a teacher and spiritual mentor of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. Otrar settlement is the motherland of medieval philosopher and scientist Al-Farabi. Otrar settlement was founded in IV century BC. This center of trade and craftsmanship was the main point of the caravan routes between Eastern Europe and China. In the late XIII century Mongolian troops razed the city to the ground. But, despite the catastrophic devastation, Otrar risen from the ashes and in a relatively short time economically developed. The remains of the citadel and other large buildings, as well as the main gate and rabad, covering an area of about 10 square kilometers, have survived to the present days.

Transfer to Turkestan. Sightseeing of Azret-Sultan historical and architectural complex, Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, ancient settlement of Turkestan, Necropolis, and a fragment of the fortress wall, citadel with gates, Hammam, Hilvet underground mosque.

Turkestan (original title – Yassy) was founded around 500 AD at the crossroads of caravan routes from Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva to the North. The city was known as the spiritual and political center of the Turkic-speaking people in the XVI-XVIII centuries and has gained wide international reputation due to preaching activity of the philosopher, the famous Sufi Sheikh Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, who was buried here in a small mausoleum in 1166.

Transfer to Shymkent (170 km). Accommodation at the hotel. Overnight.

Transfer to Sayram. Sayram Settlement is located near Shymkent, at the place of Ispidzhab - one of the largest centers of the Great Silk Road in the Middle Ages. It was first mentioned in Chinese manuscripts of the year 629. In the XIII century it gets a new name - Sayram. The settlement keeps the remains of buildings of XIII-IXX centuries. But this is not the only reason of Sayram's fame, it is also known as the birthplace of the great enlightener of XII century - Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. Mausoleums of his father and mother, Ibrahim-Ata and Karashash-Ana, are also located here.

First you will visit Karashash Masoleum, wander at a local oriental bazaar, then you will forward towards Ibragim Ata Masoleum. After excursion transfer to Aksu Jabagly Natural Park.

Accomodation at a local family homestay. Free time for a walk. Dinner and overnight at a local family homestay.

Aksu Jabagly Reserve was founded in 1926 and located in the Western Tien Shan Mountains at elevations from 1100 to 4236 meters. There is spectacular scenery like the Aksu Gorge where you can walk down to the river. The Park is rich in flora and fauna, 57 species are recorded in the Red Data Book for Kazakhstan. (The tulips of Holland originated from this region!) There are 52 species of mammals including stars like the snow leopard and the bear as well as ibex, argali (mountain sheep) and marmot. Rare and endangered birds including the golden eagle, Eurasian eagle owl and the Himalayan vulture

Afternoon drive back to Shymkent city. Evening transfer to the airport. Night flight to Astana city. KC 342 (Every day) CIT - TSE D 2245 – A 0035(is subject to change)

Upon arrival accommodation in a hotel. Rest.

The sightseeing tour of Astana begins with visit of historical center of the city. You will see the Constitution Square, where the president of Kazakhstan N.A.Nazarbayev announced the decision of transferring the capital of the country from Almaty to Astana.

You will make a step back in time while visiting one of the most beautiful buildings in the city's architecture - Presidential Centre of Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At the museum you will see the Golden man, well known not only in the Kazakh steppe but also in all Central Asia. In order to better understand today’s life of the city, you will enter the largest and unique shopping center Khan Shatyr.

Then you take the elevator to the top of the Astana-Baiterek monument, where you can admire the magnificent panorama of the Kazakhstan capital from the special observation deck. After lunch in one of the capital's restaurants and crossing Ishym river, you will get to the Kazakh Eli Square. There you will visit another unique project - the Palace of Peace and Accord, and also see the extraordinary beauty of Khazret Sultan mosque. Final point of the excursion will be the Palace of Independence, where you can look at the far-reaching plans of the development of Astana in the hall Layout Astana until 2030. Thus, having made the way from the past to the future through the present, you will understand the fate of this unique city - the pride of modern Kazakhstan.

Return to the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel.

After the breakfast drive on to Alzhir complex. Excursion to the complex. In this camp there were the wives with the mark “MCTF” – member of country traitor’s family. Not committing any crime they had to serve in such special camps just for their role of the wife, mother, sister and daughter of those who were accused as the country traitors. Women served the term for not committed crime, even their husbands did not commit any crime, and they worked for the Motherland.

According to the criminal law there was a clause 58 which included 14 items, according to this clause people held responsibility for their relatives and friends, that’s why 8000 women were in the 17th division of Karaganda camp.

After excursion transfer back to Astana city. Free time at leisure to explore the city. Overnight.