Day 1: Almaty by bike
Itinerary
Our Kazakh adventure begins in Almaty, previously the capital of the Kazakh State when it was under Soviet control in the 20
th century. The largest city in Kazakhstan, its name translates as
the place with apples. Due to the wide variety of wild apples found near here, it’s believed that this might be where apples originate from. After being transferred from the airport and an early check in to our hotel, we’ll grab our bicycles and hit the streets of Kazakhstan for a tour of its most memorable sights. Our comprehensive itinerary includes such gems as Zenkov Cathedral, a wooden Orthodox church built at the turn of the century without the use of nails, and the Almaty Museum of Musical Instruments, created in 1980 to exhibit a collection of traditional Kazakh instruments. It’s housed in one of the oldest buildings in the city. We’ll celebrate the fresh produce for which Almaty is famous with our next stop. You’ll be able to experience local Kazakh culture first hand as you shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, including delicious apples of course. Meat, eggs, flowers, plants, spices, dried fruit, cheese and the mare’s milk known as koumiss can all be purchased at the Green (Zelyony) Bazaar. Leaving the Green Bazaar we’ll ride beside the Almaty River, enjoying the breeze on our faces. Later, we will go on a workshop tour to see how locals integrate traditional design into modern clothing and accessories and meet with the owners of these modern concept stores that breathe new life into longstanding national traditions. To round off the day, we’ll enjoy a welcome dinner where we’ll deliver a presentation about Kazakhstan and answer any questions that you might have. It’s a great opportunity to meet your tour leader and fellow tour participants.
Transport: Minivan with A/C for transfer, bike for city tour. Accommodation: Hotel 3* by Western standards.
Meals
B L D
Accommodation
Hotel