Almaty Shymkent Turkestan

7 Days

Day 1 – Almaty

Arrival, meeting with the local guide, and transfer to the hotel. In the late morning, departure for a city tour, including Panfilov Street, a pedestrian street since 2017, and the nearby Panfilov Park, home to Zenkov Cathedral, one of the tallest wooden cathedrals in the world. Stop at the Central Mosque (exterior view), one of the largest in Kazakhstan, followed by visits to the Green Bazaar and Rakhat Chocolate Shop, the most famous chocolate factory in the region. Next, visit the Museum of Musical Instruments, which houses over 40 varieties of traditional Kazakh musical instruments. Lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the ethnographic section of the Central Museum, Republic Square, and the Opera House. Dinner at a restaurant and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 2 – Almaty / Charyn Canyon Park / Kolsay (318 km)

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Charyn Canyon National Park, a unique natural reserve reminiscent of the Grand Canyon in Colorado. Enjoy breathtaking views and take a walk through the winding paths of the “Valley of Castles,” surrounded by towering rock formations. Picnic lunch and a stop at Black Canyon, the deepest part of the canyon, carved by the Charyn River over millions of years. Continue to Kolsay, with a stop along the way at a beekeeper’s farm, where natural honey is harvested from the surrounding pristine mountains. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 3 – Kolsay / Kaindy Lake / Kolsay (40 km)

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure by off-road vehicle to Kaindy Lake, located at approximately 2,000 meters above sea level. After a bumpy road and a trekking route, reach the lake, which was formed after an earthquake in 1911. The coniferous trees submerged by the water create an eerie, almost ghostly atmosphere. Lunch in a Kazakh home in the village of Saty. In the afternoon, take a walk around Kolsay Lake to admire one of the three enchanting glacial lakes in the area. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 4 – Kolsay / Almaty / Shymbulak / Almaty (340 km)

Breakfast at the hotel. Return to Almaty, with a stop at the lively Baiseit market along the way. Arrival and lunch at a restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Medeu, home to a famous ice-skating rink where numerous world records have been set. Take a cable car ride to the Shymbulak ski resort, enjoying stunning views of the mountains surrounding Almaty. Dinner at a restaurant and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 5 – Almaty / Shymkent / Sairam / Shymkent (32 km)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for a domestic flight to Shymkent. Upon arrival, lunch at a restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Central Mosque and the 19th-century fortress. Continue to Sairam, one of the oldest cities in Kazakhstan, to visit the mausoleums of the parents of the great Sufi Ahmed Yassawi and the Kizra Minaret. Return to Shymkent for a city tour, including a visit to the monument of Baidibek Bi, a renowned political figure who played a crucial role in uniting the Kazakh people. The sculpture, perched on a hilltop, offers a panoramic view of the city. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 6 – Shymkent / Turkestan (169 km)

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Turkestan. Visit the Arystan Bab Mausoleum, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the country, and the ruins of Otrar, a ghost city that was once a key stop along the Silk Road. Lunch at a restaurant. Continue the tour with a visit to the Khoja Ahmed Yassawi Mausoleum, commissioned in 1389 by Tamerlane and the first Kazakh site included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. Enjoy an immersive experience at the Flying Theatre, which offers a spectacular aerial tour of Kazakhstan. Upon arrival at the hotel, guests will be welcomed with a traditional dance performance. Dinner on a private terrace overlooking the lagoon’s light and water show. Free time before overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 7 – Turkestan / Shymkent / Almaty (169 km)

Breakfast at the hotel. Return to Shymkent and transfer to the airport. Packed lunch before boarding a domestic flight back to Almaty. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel, followed by free time for shopping or relaxation. Dinner at a restaurant and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 8 – Almaty / Italy

Late-night transfer to the airport. Departure for the return flight to Italy.

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

    Start Date

    End Date

    The Trip Cost Includes

    • Pick-up or Drop-off service from and to Airport(in our own vehicle)
    • Transportation to and from!!
    • Food all along the trip(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and a cup of coffee or tea) and accommodations during the trip in hotels with family environment
    • Transportation, food, accommodation and insurance of Guide during the trip
    • Down jacket, all-season sleeping bag, duffel bag and trekking map(in case if you don’t have your own. Down jacket, sleeping bag and duffel bag must be returned after completion of the trip)
    • First Aid Medical Kit(Your guide will carry the Medical Kit but we also advise to bring yourself for your own use, as far as possible)
    • All the required permits and paperwork

    The Trip Cost Excludes

    • International Airfare
    • Visa Charges
    • Hotel Expenses(In Kathmandu, some packages do include hotel expenses)
    • Your travel and medical insurance
    • Personal Expenses such as shopping, bar bills, hot shower, telephone, laundry, titbits etc
    • Food and accommodations in Kathmandu
    • Services not mentioned or not promised by the agent/agency
    • Emergency expenses such as expenses on chartered helicopter.

    You can send your enquiry via the form below.

    Almaty Shymkent Turkestan