Sacred places of Kazakhstan

Day 1: Almaty
You will arrive to the former capital of Kazakhstan, Almaty. Upon arrival we will start a city tour visiting Almaty Museum. Then we will go to see an oldest park of Almaty "Park of 28 Panfilov Guardmen" where we will see a wooden Zenkov cathedral. From the park we will walk towards the Green Bazaar. It's a favorite shopping place for the locals and for the visitors. In the afternoon we will drive outside of the city to Medeu Gorge (1 690m). It's famous because of the highest skating rink in the world. You can do a short walk to enjoy the view of the gorge. Then we will take a cable car to reach Shymbulak ski resort. Then we will return to the city and take another cable car to arrive to Kok-Tobe hill. It's a nice area with parks and the highest TV Tower in the world (if count from the sea level). The night is in the train Almaty-Taraz. Train #379T 20:16 - 08:11(This is subject to change.)

Day 2: Almaty - Taraz - Sairam - Shymkent
In the morning we will arrive to Taraz. We will start a city tour right after arrival. First we will visit History Museum then Karakhan and Dautbek mausoleum. The tour will continue in Tekturmas Historical Complex, Akyrtas ancient palace complex. Taraz is very old city but it was built up again on the remains of the old city. Then we will drive 160km and have a sightseeing tour at Ibraghim Ata Mausoleum, Karashash-Ana Mausoleum and a medieval minaret. The city Sairam is located at the place of former Ispidzhab which was one of the biggest cities of the Great Silk Road. This place is famous because it's a birthplace of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi XII century. There are the mausoleums of his mother and father, Ibraghim-Ata and Karashash-Ana are located in area. Drive to Shymkent city for overnight in the hotel.

Day 3: Shymkent - Otrar Settlement - Turkestan - Shymkent
This day we will drive 220km until the Arystan-Bab Mausoleum, he was a teacher of the famous Khoja Ahmed Yasawi and the archeological site of the ancient Otrar. Then we will drive another 70km until Turkestan city. The sightseeing tour in Turkestan starts from"Azret Sultan", it's a historical and archeological complex. Then we will see a Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Necropolis, Hammam and Hilvet underground mosque. Turkestan was found around 500 AD, on the cross road of between Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. The city was a spiritual and political center of the Turkic-speaking people in the XVII-XVIII centuries. And it was capital of Kazakh Khanate. We will drive back to Shymkent 170km. The night is in the hotel.

Day 4: Shymkent - Aksu-Zhabagly Reserve - Shymkent
This day is a nice day for explore the Canyon, we will drive to Aksu-Zhabagly Reserve which is 125 km away from Shymkent. Aksu-Zhabagly is the oldest natural reserve in Kazkahstan. The location of the canyon is on the altitude from 1000 to 4280meters, in the Tian Shan Mountains. The reserve has very rich type of the animals and plants. The area is surrounded by the high mountains with snowy tops. There are many endangered and endemic species of the animals inside the reserve like snow leopard, deer and roe deer, argali and ibex. The common types of the animals possible to see are wolves, foxes, beras, porcupines and ermines. Bearded vultures, griffons and golden eagles will be flying high in the sky. The nigh is in the hotel in Shymkent.

Day 5: Shymkent
Shymkent was one of the branches of the Great Silk Road along with the other cities like Otrar, Turkestan, Syganak, Sauran and others. Shymkent is the third biggest city of Kazkahstan. Our city tour will pass through the places like Walk of Fame, Monument "Jer Ana", Ordabasy Square, Park 20^th Anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Obelisk of Glory, Eternal Fire to the Fallen in World War II, Dendropark )optin), and the regional Historical Museum. At the end of the day we will visit the ruins of old Shymkent and will have some walk on the walking street called Arbat. The night is in the hotel.

Day 6: Shymkent - Almaty - Issyk - Almaty
In the morning we will take a flight to Almaty, it will last 40minutes. From the aiport of Almaty we will drive to Issik lake. The way to the lake is one of the most beautiful road of Trans-Ili Alatau. Issik lake lies along the Kuldja tract, which was the way where the caravan travellers were crossing. On the way to the lake we will visit the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve. The exposition of the museum is dedicated to the history and culture of the Saka period. And the main sight of the museum is a Golden Man and the golden items. Then we will arrive to the altitude of 1756metersm, where the most beautiful lake located. This lake is located in the valley called Issik. The lake was formed 10 000 years ago, because of the big landslide. The landslide is created the natural dan 300meters high. You will have a free time of the shore of the lake. And we will return to Almaty. The night is in the hotel.

Day 7: Flight
Breakfast in the hotel and check-out. Transfer to airport.

Transport:
02 pax - Sedan
04 pax - Minivan
06-10 pax - Sprinter in Almaty / Toyota Hiace in Shymkent

Price per person:
02 pax - 1 200 $
04 pax - 885 $
06 pax - 675 $
08 pax - 670 $
10 pax - 585 $
Single - 80 $

Half board - 150 $ per person
Full board - 270 $ per person

English speaking guide - 830 $ per group

Train Almaty - Taraz (4 berths per compartment) - from 40 $ per person

Flight Shymkent - Almaty - from 75 $ per person

Accommodation in Almaty in Day1 (if required):
Standard Double/Twin room - 30 $ per person
Standard Single room - 50 $

Service includes:
- Transport
- Accommodation:
Almaty - "Kazakhstan" Hotel 3*
Shymkent - "Shymkent" Hotel 3*
- Entrances to all museums
- Mineral water during the tour

Service does not include:
- Full board
- Single rooms
- Early check-in
- Travel insurance
- Visa and visa support
- English speaking guide
- Accommodation in Almaty in Day1
- Domestic flight Shymkent - Almaty
- Domestic train ticket: Almaty - Taraz