Tour Time: 7 Days / 6 Nights
Departure:
Return:
Location: Kazakhstan
Age: 16 - 60+
Group size: Minimum 2 persons
Themes: Cultural, Archaelogical, Eco tours, Photography tours,
Tours to Turkestan - immersion in the history of the ancient city, whose age is 1500 years. The famous Khoja Ahmed Yassavi was born and worked here, and it is not surprising that the main monument of Turkestan bears his name. The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, annually attracts many tourists from all over the world. This is a holy place, and in ancient times it was believed that visiting it three times was equivalent to a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Arrival to Turkestan International Airport. Immigration & Customs arrival procedures.
Meet and Greet by English speaking Tour-Guide with the company placard.
Transfer to Hotel. Early check-in. Time for refreshment.
Optional: lunch at local restaurant.
Turkestan Sightseeing Tour:
The Mausoleum of Khodja Ahmed Yassawi UNESCO HERITAGE
Khoja Ahmed Yassawi was a Turkic Sufi poet, an early mystic who exerted a powerful influence on the development of Sufi orders throughout the Turkic-speaking world.
Khoja Ahmed Yassawi complex was built in the end of the 14th century and became one of the main places of worship in Sufi Muslims culture. A legend states that Tamerlane ordered the construction of the mausoleum on the side of Khoja Ahmed Yassawi’s grave but all the attempts were unsuccessful. Later Tamerlane saw a dream where he was told that the key to his success was above all constructing a mausoleum on the burial place of Arystan Baba, the spiritual mentor and teacher for Khoja Ahmed. Tamerlane followed the prompt he received from a dream but later, instead of completing the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yassawi, the Conqueror decided to invade in China. But on the way he got sick and died. No one else tried to finish building the Mausoleum. And it still remains incomplete…
Visit to the Hilvet Semi-Underground Mosque
The underground mosque of Hilvet in Turkestan, is a medieval religious construction is half underground. It is located in 120 meters to the south of Khoja Ahmed Yassawi mausoleum.
The Mosque plays an important role in the cultural and religious identity of pilgrims who regularly come to Turkistan.
Breakfast at the Hotel.
Visiting the Mausoleum of Arystan - bab of XII century - one of Muslim shrines in Central Asia that is famous as pilgrimage place (outside of the city).
Visiting the Museum in Shaulder Village. Guests will be provided with lunch boxes.
Visiting the Otrar hill-fort.
Otrar (also called as Farab) was an important trading center in the history of Central Asia, situated at the intersection of the caravan ways of the Great Silk Road.
The first settlement on the territory of Otrar was established in the 1st century BC by Kangly (Kangju Empire). The earliest monuments are dated from the XII to XV centuries.
Otrar was a large oasis containing a series of town and cities with its own names: Altyntobe, Dzhalpak-tobe, Kuyuk-Mardan-tobe and Pchakchi-tobe.
Otrar is the birthplace of the great medieval philosopher Abu Nasr al-Farabi.
The period of X-XII centuries was the time of prosperity of urban life, which was broken by the Mongol invasion. In 1219 Otrar fell under the onslaught of the army of Genghis Khan.
Transfer back to Turkestan city. Free time.
Optional: dinner at local restaurant.
Visiting Karavansaray, unique entertainment and shopping complex, designed in a style
of ancient town.
From the moment guests plunge into the enchanting atmosphere of the KARAVANSARAY complex, they will find themselves in a fascinating fairy tale glorifying the great history, culture and eternal romance of Kazakhstan.
Kyz Zhibek and Tolegen Boats Show in a theme of ancient epos.
Transfer to Hotel. Overnight.
Guests will be provided with breakfast box. Check-out.
Transfer to Turkestan International Airport. Departure to Almaty (Fly Arystan).
Arrival to Almaty. Arrival procedures.
Almaty Sightseeing Tour:
Visiting Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, The Ascension Cathedral, and Museum of national instruments. The collection presents over 1000 objects, including rare exhibits dating back to the 17th century. There are in total 60 types of national instruments: kobyz, dombyras, syldyrmak (like tambourine) as well as other nations’ musical instruments. To feel the union of various nations living peacefully together in Kazakhstan, guests should go to Green Bazaar to participate in food tasting of national delicacies.
Optional: lunch at local restaurant.
Transfer to Hotel. Check-in. Free time.
Transfer to Falcon Nursery Farm.
Guests will see a Hunting birds Show.
Please note: The Hunting birds Show does not operate on Mondays.
Seven species of predators take part in the show. Guests will learn more about falcon hunting history, organic traits and the life-style of hunting birds.
Optional: dinner at local restaurant.
Transfer to Hotel.
Overnight.
Breakfast at the Hotel.
Transfer to Huns Kazakh Ethno Village.
Huns Kazakh Ethno Village is a perfect place for those who are willing to revive and see the nomadic past of the ethnic Kazakhs. The village is situated about 35 km away from Almaty in the Talgar district. Staying there may also be a great way to escape from the speedy rhythm of the big city life to the mountains for a breath of fresh air, horseback riding and discovering Kazakh traditional games and rituals.
Welcome greetings by two warriors wearing the armors designed in the style of Saka Period and the hostess making a national ritual called Shashu.
It implies showering guests with candy like Kazakhs do at wedding ceremonies. Then candies must be picked up and kept for a good luck. Kazakhs believe these sweets will bring luck in future.
Acquaintance with the construction of a Kazakh yurt and its sacral meaning for a nomad.
Acquaintance with old time Kazakh housekeeping duties: whisking wool, spindle yarn making, hand flour grinding, baby lullabying in Besik (cradle), Tusau Kesu (cutting the rope on the feet after a baby takes the first walk), Atka otyrgyzu (first horseback sitting).
SARBAZ group performance (different theatricalized programmes: legends and national horse games)
-Kyz kuu game (chasing a girl by horse for kissing her, in case of failure she lashes him
Atpen audaryspak (struggling and pushing a rival while horseriding)
Lunch (National cuisine. Included: salad, pilaf, traditional bread baursak, tea)
Guests will offered a master class of Traditional Archery to learn techniques of holding the bow and shooting it, and then they will be giving 3 arrows each to try what they’ve learned.
Transfer to Hotel.
Free time.
Optional: dinner at local restaurant
Overnight.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Charyn National Park by coach.
Arrival to the Valley of the Castles.
Guests will walk to vista point of Valley of the Castles with heartbreaking panoramic view.
Included: guests will have a lunchboxes.
Transfer to Almaty.
Optional: dinner at local restaurant.
Overnight.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Medeo Gorge (25 km from the city).
Arrival to Medeo Gorge - the highest mountainous skating rink in the world and one of the main attractions of Almaty (no visit inside).
Guests take a cable car (total length is 6200 m) from Medeo skating rink to Shymbulak Ski Resort - which is situated in a picturesque valley of Trans-Ili Alatau at a height of 2200 m above sea level. It is an amazing place where you feel dizzy from the clear air and surrounding beauty. Arrival to Talgar Peak (3200 m above sea level).
Optional: lunch at local restaurant.
Transfer to Hotel. Free time.
Optional: dinner at local restaurant.
Overnight.
Packed breakfast. Check-out.
Transfer to Almaty International Airport (ALA). Check in for flight.
Departure to the next destination.
• 4 nights’ accommodation at the hotel in Almaty as per chosen category on BB in TWN/DBL
• 2.5 nights’ accommodation at the hotel in Turkestan on BB in TWN/DBL including early check-in
• Transport services:
• Meals: BB
• Spanish-speaking Tour guide in Almaty
• English speaking Tour guide in Turkestan
• Visiting Huns Ethno Village with lunch
• Entrance ticket to museum
• Food tasting at Green Bazar
• Entrance Ticket to the cable car (Medeo-Shymbulak-Talgar) and Kok-Tobe
• Lunchboxes in Charyn canyon
• Lunchboxes in Arystan Bab
• Hunting birds show
• Eco fees to Charyn Canyon
• Water 1 L per person
• International air tickets
• Single supplement
• Meals – HB (lunches) 45 USD
• FULL BOARD 220 USD
• Supplement to Spanish Speaking Tour guide in Turkestan 415 USD
• Domestic flight ticket Turkestan – Almaty 85 USD
• Soft beverages
• Personal expenses
• Photo and video charges
• Any services not mentioned in the above program
