Kazakhstan trip: Tour 8

 

Kazakhstan trip: Tour 8

Day 1: Almaty
Upon arrival to Almaty you will be met and transferred to the city. You will have a city tour and travel to Almaty Museum. Then we will visit Abai Opera and Ballet Theatre. Then you will visit one of the oldest of Almaty parks as Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, where one of the most beautiful wooden building in the world as Zenkov Cathedral is located. We will visit the Memorial of Glory and Eternal Flame and see the beauty of the Museum of Musical Instruments. Then we will travel the Green Bazaar. In the afternoon we will travel to the Medeu Gorge (1690 meters above sea level) and see the highest mountain skating rink in the world and the dam. Then you will take a cable car to Shymbulak ski resort area for about 20-25 minutes above magnificent fur-trees up to the altitude of 2260 meters above sea level, you will get to the 1st level of ski resort and see restaurants, ski, snowboarding school and mountain hotel. Then you will go down the back way by cable car. Further we will travel at the top of Kok Tobe hill, where the tallest TV tower in the world is located. You can end your tour with the short ride from the top of the hill to the center of the city by the famous Almaty cableway. Transfer to a hotel for sleep.

Day 2: Almaty - Shymkent
In the morning is transfer to the Almaty International airport and departure to Shymkent by local flight (1h 40 min one way). On arrival to Shymkent you will have a city tour. We will visit park named after Sh.Kaldayakov , "Zher Ana" monument, Ordabasy squar, Park "20 years of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan", Museum of Victims of Political Repression, Obelisk of Glory, Eternal Flame to the fallen in The great Patriotic War, Walk of Fame, Arboretum, Regional Museum. Rest is in a hotel.

Day 3: Shymkent - Turkestan - Shymkent
In the morning is departure from Shymkent to Otrar region, Shaulder Settlement. You will have a sightseeing at Local History Museum "Otyrar", Arystan Bab Mausoleum, archaeological site of the ancient settlement of Otrar. Otrar is the city where primitive philosopher and scientist Al Farabi was born and lived. Otrar settlement was originated in IV century BC. The traces of the citadel and other buildings, as well as the main gate and rabid, casing an area of about 10 square kilometers, have endured to the present days. After sightseeing in Otrar you will be taken to the city of Turkestan, which was founded around 500 AD at the crossroads of caravan routes from Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva to northern Kazakhstan. In Turkestan you will visit "Azret Sultan" historical and architectural complex, Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Turkestan ancient settlement, Necropolis, a fragment of the fortress wall, Citadel with gates, Hammam, Hilvet underground mosque. Overnight is in a hotel.

Day 4: Shymkent - Sairam - Kazygurt - Shymkent
In the morning you will have a departure to Sairam Settlement (20 km). We will have a local History Museum "Sairam", Mar Tobe, Ibrahim Ata Mausoleum, Karashash Ana Mausoleum, medieval minaret. Sairam Settlement is situated near Shymkent, at the place of Ispidzhab as one of the largest centers of the Great Silk Road in the Middle Ages. The settlement keeps the traces of buildings of XIII-IXX centuries. Afterwards is transfer to the foot of Kazygurt mountains to Kamekalgan natural blessed stones. You will visit "Adam and Eve", stone statues of animals, "Noah's Ark", the magic stone "Dastarkhan". Kazygurt is mountain massif having altitude of 1776 meters above sea level, located in the northern spurs of Talas Alatau. Night is in a hotel.

Day 5: Shymkent - Aksu Jabagly - Shymkent - Almaty
In the morning is transfer to Aksu Jabagly natural reserve. We will travel to Aksu canyon.  Aksu Zhabagly is the oldest natural standby in Kazakhstan, located at the branches of the Western Tien Shan Mountains at an altitude from 1000 to 4280 meters above sea level. The basic high-altitude zones are signified here: semi-deserts auxiliary dry motley grass of steppes, luxurious plots of meadows give way to thickets of creeping juniper. Patchwork of colorful alpine flowers adorns the base of rigorous peaks with dazzling snow and bluish tongues of glaciers. The reserve is a rich treasury of rare, endangered and endemic species of animals and plants. It is home for argali and ibex, deer and roe deer, lynx and snow leopards, wolves, foxes, bears, porcupines and ermines. Bearded vultures, griffons and golden eagles are flying high in the sky. Rest is in a hotel.

Day 6: Almaty - Issyk - Almaty
In the morning is transfer to the railway station and driver to Issyk Lake. The tour route to one of the most good-looking gorges of Trans Ili Alatau - Issyk Gorge is located via the Kuldja tract. Then we will visit the State Historical and Cultural Museum Reserve "ISSYK" and see the history and culture of the Saka period, including a copy of Golden Man and golden items, ancient ceramics, weapon, elements of horse equipment, as well as the model of Saka burial mound. We will travel to an altitude of 1756 meters above sea level, to the stunning mountain lake Issyk. Enjoy the beauty of its turquoise water surface and the Issyk Gorge. Transfer to a hotel for sleep.

Day 7: Flight
Transfer to the airport and departure.

Transport:
02 pax - Sedan economy
04 pax - Minivan
06-10 pax - Minibus

Price per person:
02 pax - 1 360 $
04 pax - 990 $
06 pax - 765 $
08 pax - 760 $
10 pax - 670 $
Single - 100 $

Early check-in - 40 $
Single early check-in - 60 $ 

Half board - 155 $
Full board - 275 $

English speaking guide - 840 $ per group

Flight Almaty - Shymkent - from 85 $ per person
Train Shymkent - Almaty - from 50 $ per person 

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
- Train Shymkent - Almaty
- Flight Almaty - Shymkent 

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