Travel program
Day 1. Almaty, arrival
Arrival in Almaty - the southern capital of Kazakhstan. Meeting at the International airport of Almaty. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2. Almaty
Breakfast in the hotel. Excursion "Grand tour of the southern capital" (6 hours):
Acquaintance with the history of the southern capital of Kazakhstan, its past and present, unique nature and favorite places of rest for citizens - all in one excursion! The route begins with a sightseeing tour around the central part of the city, during which you will get acquainted with the history of the origin and development of the southern capital of Kazakhstan, its main attractions. You will visit the beloved townspeople in the Green Bazaar, where you can not restrain yourself from buying, listening to the callers shouting sellers. This is a unique opportunity to plunge into the atmosphere of this Asian bazaar, its bright colors and smells, and, of course, its gambling trade. You can buy the famous oriental sweets, just do not forget to bargain necessarily ... Then the tour will continue in one of the oldest parks of the city - Park them. 28 Panfilov guardsmen, where you will see one of the most beautiful wooden buildings in the world - the Holy Ascension Cathedral, and also visit the Memorial of Glory and the Eternal Fire, dedicated to the memory of fighters who died for freedom and independence of the country. After visiting the park you will continue to get acquainted with the sports, cultural and business districts of the city, as well as visit the Medeo tract, where the most high-mountain skating rink in the world is surrounded by the most beautiful mountains of the Zailiysky Alatau. Further, the tour will continue on Mount Kok-Tobe, where you climb up a winding mountain road. On this mountain is the highest TV tower in the world (if you count from the sea level), which is visible from anywhere in the city. In Kok-Tobe Park, you will have lunch in a national restaurant where you can taste Kazakh cuisine. After lunch, you will have the opportunity to walk along the winding paths of the park, admire the magnificent panorama of the city from a specially equipped observation deck, and visit the national souvenir shop. The excursion ends with a descent from the top of the mountain to the very center of the megalopolis in the caravan of the famous Almaty cable car ...
Return to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3. Almaty region
Breakfast in the hotel. Excursion "Big Almaty Lake" (6 hours at 13:00 h) or "Lake Issyk" (7 hours at 11:00 h) depending on the season.
Excursion "Big Almaty Lake":
The excursion begins with an ascent along the Great Almaty Gorge, where, at an altitude of 2510 meters above sea level, there is the Big Almaty Lake, which is one of the most picturesque lakes of Trans-Ili Alatau. The lake is very beautiful, especially when its blue surface is absolutely calm and reflects the sky and the surrounding mountains. Big Almaty Lake was formed as a result of the activity of the ancient glacier and, thanks to the high altitude location, the water in the lake always remains cool - even in July the water temperature does not exceed +10 degrees. The lake is a source of drinking water supply in Almaty city and the access of tourists to it is limited. Therefore, the excursion route leads above the Great Almaty Lake to a height of 3300 meters above sea level, where the bases for scientific astronomical and space research are located. Here, at the base of the Big Almaty peak, you can enjoy the enchanting panorama of the mountains and the Big Almaty Lake, surrounded by picturesque mountain peaks covered with Tien Shan fir, aspen and juniper. On your way back to the city, you will visit the falconry, where you can see an exciting show with specially trained hunting predators, hunting with which is one of the most unique features of Kazakh life.
Excursion "Lake Issyk":
The excursion route to one of the most beautiful gorges of the Zailiysky Alatau - Issyk is located along the Kuldzhinsky tract, where hundreds of years ago there were commercial caravans. On the way you will get acquainted with the history and nature of this region, as well as with archaeological monuments of Sak culture - burial mounds, where the famous "Golden Man" was found, which became the state symbol of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Also you will visit the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve "Issyk", where you will get acquainted with the expositions devoted to the history and culture of the Saka period, among them a copy of the Golden Man and gold products, ancient ceramics, weapons, elements of horse equipment, as well as the model of the Sak burial mound in section. Then the excursion route will take you to a height of 1756 meters above sea level, to the beautiful high-mountain lake Issyk, which is located in the same gorge. The lake was formed about 10 thousand years ago as a result of a colossal mountain collapse, which resulted in the formation of a natural dam about 300 meters high. On the shore of the lake you can enjoy the unspeakable beauty of the Issyk Gorge and the turquoise water surface, as well as hear the details of the natural disaster of 1963. On the lake you will be offered a picnic and free time for outdoor recreation.
Return to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4. Almaty region - Taraz
Breakfast at the hotel and free rooms. Excursion "Charyn Canyon" (9 hours):
The Charyn Canyon is one of the most unique objects of nature, where, under the influence of millennial processes of weathering of sedimentary rocks, the original form of the relief took the outlines of isolated rocks, columns and towers. The travel time to the canyon leaves about 3 hours. On the way you will get acquainted with the history and nature of this amazing land, learn a lot of interesting things about the Kazakh people, its life and traditions, and also dine at a local cafe. As soon as you see the Charyn Canyon, you will also forget the whole long way, because the canyon will amaze you with its beauty and splendor! You can admire its grandiose panorama, and then stroll through the labyrinths of the Valley of Castles, surrounded by overhanging impregnable walls. Anyone who has ever visited the Charyn canyon, falls in love with him forever!
Return to Almaty and transfer to the railway station. Departure by evening train to Taraz. Night on the train.
Day 5. Taraz - Shymkent
Arrival in Taraz by morning train from Almaty. Meeting at the railway station and moving to Taraz. Excursions: mausoleum of "Karakhan", historical complex "Tekturmas".
Taraz is one of the oldest cities in Kazakhstan, the remains of which are hidden under the buildings of the modern city. Taraz is the oldest and largest trade and administrative center along the Silk Road route of the 7th-8th centuries, numbering more than 2,000 years. In Taraz and its environs there are more than 70 monuments of archeology of history, architecture and monumental art. So, for example, the unique monument of medieval architecture of the ХІ-ХІІ centuries-the mausoleum of Aisha-Bibi-is the only monument not only in Kazakhstan but throughout Central Asia, which is entirely lined with carved terracotta and brought by UNESCO to the list of particularly valuable historical and architectural monuments of mankind.
Transfer to Shymkent. On the outskirts of the city - visiting architectural monuments of the 11th-12th centuries: mausoleums "Aisha-Bibi" and "Babaji Khatum". Arrival in Shymkent. Hotel accommodation. Overnight in Shymkent.
Day 6. Shymkent - Shaulder - Turkestan - Almaty
Breakfast at the hotel, freeing rooms. Departure to Otrar district, village Shaulder. Excursions: mausoleum "Arystan Bab" (teacher and spiritual instructor HA Yasavi), archaeological excavations of the ancient settlement of Otrar.
Otrar is the city where the medieval philosopher and scholar Al Farabi was born and lived. Settlement Otrar was founded in the IV century BC. This center of trade and handicraft was the main point of caravan routes between Eastern Europe and China. At the end of the 13th century, Mongolian troops razed him to the ground. But, despite the catastrophic consequences of the destruction, Otrar rebelled from the ashes and in a relatively short time economically developed. Remains of the citadel and other large buildings, the main gate and rabad, whose area is about 10 square kilometers
Transfer to the city of Turkestan. Excursions: the historical and architectural complex "Azret-sultan", the mausoleum of Kh.A. Yasavi, the ancient settlement of Turkestan, the Necropolis, the fragment of the fortress wall, the citadel with the gates, the eastern bathhouse, the underground mosque Hilvet.
Turkestan was founded around 500 AD. at the intersection of caravan routes from Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva to North Kazakhstan. The city was known as the spiritual and political center of the Turkic-speaking people and in the 16th-18th centuries and was the capital of the Kazakh Khanate. The city of Turkestan gained wide world fame thanks to the preaching activity of the famous Sufi sheikh and philosopher Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, who was buried here in the small mausoleum in 1166. Now the existing mausoleum was erected 233 years after his death by the order of the outstanding commander, Emir of Tamerlane and today is a masterpiece of medieval architecture, which became one of the main places of worship of Muslims. According to the legend, all attempts to erect the walls of the mausoleum failed: according to one version, they were demolished by a violent storm, according to another version, a green bull appeared, which destroyed everything. The saint who appeared in a dream to Tamerlane said that first it is necessary to build a mausoleum over the tomb of St. Arystan-Bab (the teacher and spiritual mentor of Khoja Ahmed Yasavi), and then over the tomb of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi that Tamerlane did. Therefore, pilgrims first visit the mausoleum of Arystan-Bab, and then the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. Pilgrims say that three trips to Turkestan equals a small hajj to Mecca.
Transfer to the railway station of Shymkent. Departure by evening train to Almaty. Night on the train.
Day 7. Almaty
Arrival in Almaty by morning train from Shymkent. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. Free time in Almaty. Overnight at the hotel.
On this day you can visit shopping centers and malls of the city, for example, TSUM, on the top floor of which is a real "treasury" of souvenirs, where you can buy national clothes and toys, souvenir yurts, national musical instruments, jewelry and other souvenirs. TSUM is surrounded by many shops, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, stretching on both sides of the so-called "Almaty Arbat". This is a pedestrian section of the street Zhibek Zholy, which means "Silk Road", with cozy benches and fountains. Professional and amateur artists who offer their work have chosen a place for themselves, and local television channels often shoot various scenes from the life of citizens.
Day 8. Almaty, departure
Breakfast in the hotel. Release of rooms (until 12:00 o'clock). Airport transfer. Departure home.
The cost of the program: 1320 USD per person, with a group size of 2 people
For group applications, discounts are given
The cost of the program is INCLUDED:
1. Accommodation in Almaty in a tourist class hotel in a double room
2. Accommodation in Shymkent in a tourist class hotel in a double room
3. Transfers to / from the airport / railway. station and relocations according to the program
4. Meals: standard breakfast at the hotel, lunch / picnic on Days 2-4
5. Excursions according to the program in Days 2-6
6. Railway tickets Almaty-Taraz / Shymkent-Almaty (4-seat coupe)
7. Ecological fees and admission fees for the excursion route
The cost of the program is NOT INCLUDED:
1. Meals not indicated in the program and / or not included in its cost
2. Visa support and registration in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, if required
3. Surcharge for single accommodation (153 USD)
4. Surcharge for early check-in and late check-out to / from the hotel
5. Personal expenses and other expenses not indicated in the program
Note.
In the event of currency fluctuations or changes in local government taxes, as well as changes in the cost of fuel, air tickets, we reserve the right to change the value. The firm reserves the right to change the time and sequence of excursions without changing the whole program of the tour. Prices are subject to change without prior notice.
