South Kazakhstan Tour

Welcome to Kazakhstan! After landing, our driver guide will welcome you at the arrival hall and escort in a private car to the downtown hotel. You can spend the rest of the day in the hotel and adapt to the temperature in Almaty.

► Why Should You Choose Our Private Guided Tour?
1. Several historical sites in Central Asia, such as mausoleums and ancient cities, lack detailed guides and English introductions; thus, our professional guide will help you learn more about related history, legends, and figures, rather than just appreciating the architecture and cultural relics.
2. Some religious sites and bazaars have different opening hours. If you travel independently, you need to plan your visit carefully, otherwise there might be disappointments due to improper arrangements. However, our experienced guide, familiar with the route, can maximize your visit within a limited time.

► How to Choose a Suitable Local SIM Card
You can buy it at any service office of Kazakhstan's three significant telecommunications operators — Kcell, Beeline, and Tele2 — at the airport or downtown. It is recommended to choose Kcell’s “activ card” and apply for its TOP S+ package that includes 10GB of data plus 100 minutes of calls for 3,690 tenges (about $7), of which every 10 minutes of calls can be converted into 1GB. The card also has a Walk for Gigs activity that, if you walk over 5,000 steps a day, you can get 500MB of data, which is just tailor-made for the following hikes in our itinerary.

Accommodation: Renion Park Hotel, Almaty (3 stars) or similar

In the morning, the driver guide will take you out of Almaty city to the Medeu Valley in the southeastern urban areas. Breathing in the fresh air and climbing the 842-step “Health Stairs” up to the top of Medeu Dam, you can overlook the whole Medeu Ice Arena and enjoy the beautiful scenery of snow-capped mountains.

Drive back downtown to Green Bazaar (Zeleny Bazar), one of the oldest markets in Almaty, dating back to 1868. Roaming in the bazaar, meet vendors in uniform, orderly stalls, and various foods, instantly integrating into Kazakhstan people’s daily lives. With resource-exporting as its only pillar industry, Kazakhstan is like a “Green Bazaar” for the world. Rich in resources but overly dependent on the outside, the country’s economic environment is very fragile, so becoming a “factory” rather than a “bazaar” is imperative for Kazakhstan. Near the bazaar is Ascension Cathedral (Zenkov Cathedral), a landmark and an important religious center in Almaty. From afar, you will see its candy-colored exterior matched with golden crosses. The interior is lavishly decorated, with a massive crucifixion of Christ hanging above the altar, the walls inlaid with exquisite mosaics, and murals showing stories of the Orthodox religion, bringing every visitor into a sacred world.

Then, continue to visit the Central Mosque of Almaty, built in 1890 and the second-largest mosque in Kazakhstan. Look at the simple but elegant mosque with five minarets, the tallest of which is 47 meters (155 feet) and the 36-meter-high (120 feet) central dome. Observing from the inside, the dome is decorated with colorful mosaics, inlaid with religious texts from the Koran written by famous Turkish calligraphers.

In the late afternoon, follow your driver guide to view the sunset at Kok-Tobe Hill. Take the electric bus to the mountain top, where you can gain a bird’s eye view of the snow-capped mountains in the setting sun and Almaty’s cityscape accented by green trees and red-roofed buildings. Besides, Kok-Tobe Hill is punctuated with cafes, restaurants, mini zoos, roller parks, roller coasters, Ferris wheels, and other recreational facilities. Local music fans even built statues of the Beatles here, which is said to be the only memorial statues of the four members together worldwide. It is pretty worthwhile for taking pictures! After going downhill by cable car, the driver guide will transfer you back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Renion Park Hotel, Almaty (3 stars) or similar

Today, we will drive three hours to Charyn Canyon National Park, exploring specific astounding landforms of several branch canyons. The Charyn Canyon, eroded by the fast-flowing Charyn River, reaches 150-300 meters (490-980 feet) deep and extends to the flat grassland east of Almaty. Our first stop is the Valley of Castles, the most marvelous part of Charyn Canyon, whose rock walls have been formed into colorful rock layers by the magic of nature for 12 million years. Going down to the bottom, looking up at the cliffs formed by red rocks on both sides due to the erosion of wind and water over the years, each rocky peak has a different shape: some are like roosters with their heads held high, some mysterious castles, some butterflies in the wind, and some galloping horses, each boulder owning an ancient legend.

After having a packed lunch in the Valley of Castles, we’ll drive to Moon Canyon (Uzunbulak Canyon), appreciating its moon-like yellow-hued landforms. Then, continue to Bestamak Canyon to find traces of extinct animals and prehistoric plant species in the fantastical pink rock formations. Finally, admire the breathtaking scenery of Charyn Canyon in the setting sun, and we will leave for Saty Village and arrive in 1.5 hours.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch-box, Dinner
Accommodation: Saty Village Guest House

Today, we will begin at Saty Village and drive a 30-minute bumpy trail deep into Heaven Mountains, arriving at Kaindy Lake. The 1911 great earthquake caused a large-scale landslide of the mountaintop glacier, whose melted water could not flow out but formed this lake. The original spruce forest was thus submerged with only higher trunks exposed above the water. However, since the lake is icy all year round, the tree trunks have not rotted and still maintain their original appearance, forming a magical natural wonder.

After visiting Kaindy Lake, head west for about 11km to another charming alpine lake, Lower Kolsai Lake. Surrounded by dense fir trees and mountain meadows in the valley, the lake looks extraordinarily blue and clear in the sun, enchanting beyond words. No wonder it is known as the “Pearl of Northern Heaven Mountains”. You can walk along the path on the right side of the lake to the end to enjoy the lake view and meet various cute flowers and plants. Finally, the driver guide will transfer you back to Almaty by driving for 3.5 hours.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Renion Park Hotel, Almaty (3 stars) or similar

Today, we will drive around seven hours from Almaty to Taraz, once an important town on the Ancient Silk Road and now one of the oldest cities in Kazakhstan. After arriving, follow your driver guide to visit the Karakhan Mausoleum, the tomb of a potentate of the Karakhanids (840-1212), and an architectural symbol of Taraz in the 11th century. Then, move on to visit the Aisha Bibi Mausoleum, the tomb of a noble female from the 11th to 12th century AD. Aisha Bibi was a girl who bravely pursued free love, and her admirer was the owner of the mausoleum we’ve just visited before. Defying her father’s obstruction, she left home to find her lover but was accidentally bitten by a snake on the way and unfortunately died. What a pity, like the Kazakh story of Romeo and Juliet!

The driver guide will also show you around the Ancient Taraz City, which witnessed the first and only confrontation between the two most powerful empires in history, the Chinese Tang Dynasty (618-907) and the Arab Empire (632-1258), in 751 AD, namely the Battle of Taraz. It ended with the Arab army winning a Pyrrhic victory over the exhausted and understrength Tang army, after which the Tang Dynasty suffered internal and external troubles and completely lost control of Central Asia. Settle in the hotel and sleep early tonight to relieve the fatigue of today’s long travel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Pride Hotel, Taraz, or similar

Today, we will travel to Turkestan, home to many Islamic sanctuaries in Central Asia. After a three-hour drive, we will stop at Ak Meshit Cave, a spacious yurt-shaped cave made of limestone formed during the Neolithic period (8000-1500 BC), growing mulberry and caragana trees. Embracing a peaceful atmosphere with water drops falling from above, the cave’s air is said to have potential benefits for reducing high blood pressure.

Next, we’ll drive for another two hours to reach Turkestan to visit the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. As a famous Turkic poet and Sufi 800 years ago, he played a crucial role in promoting Islam in the Turkic-speaking world by translating obscure Islamic scriptures and doctrines into Turkic poems to help Turkic people understand, absorb, and gradually believe in Islam. Therefore, Timur, the founder of the Timurid Empire (1370-1507), built a mausoleum to commemorate Yasawi’s outstanding achievements, and this is one of the most significant and completely preserved buildings from the Timurid period.

We will also explore several other buildings in the mausoleum complex. Go down to the Hilvet Underground Mosque, built to protect worshippers from the scorching summer heat, and you will feel noticeably calm. Next, watch Ancient Baths built for pilgrims in the 15th and 16th centuries. They have a central hall and individual rooms with different functions, such as a hot water room, steam room, cold water room, and massage room. Your guide will explain their respective designs and functions to you in detail. Then, learn about specific items used by mosques in the Juma Mosque Museum. Opposite the museum is our last spot today, the Mausoleum of Rabia Sultan Begum, artfully decorated with a vibrant turquoise tile-made dome and intricate carvings. As we admire it at dusk, it’s the best time when the setting sun makes the mausoleum’s ornate details even more inviting.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Edem, Turkestan, or similar

After breakfast, we will drive for one hour to Otrar, one of the important towns in the fertile Syr-Darya Valley in the past. However, its governor killed Genghis Khan’s merchant envoys in 1218 and thus invited brutal retaliation. Again attacked by Dzungar Khanate (1678-1757) around 1700, Otrar never recovered from it, and now we can only imagine its original glory from the restored fortress, city walls, and mosques.

Still, Otrar is home to the Mausoleum of Arystanbab, a legendary mentor of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, whose mausoleum we’ve visited yesterday. Although the 12th-century Islamic brick tomb is less luxuriously decorated, it is vital for pilgrims, especially examination candidates, who often stay overnight and pray to realize their wishes.

Leave Otrar and drive nearly 2.5 hours to Shymkent, where we will take a stroll around the downtown. Ubiquitous parks and leisure citizens allow you to closely experience Kazakhstan’s authentic life. You may also encounter a tulip fountain landmark and many stalls selling tulips and genuinely feel that Shymkent is the cradle of tulips in Kazakhstan. After that, the driver guide will send you to the hotel.

► Suggested Dinner Site in Shymkent (at your own expense)
You can take a taxi to Kok-Saray in 15 minutes to taste Uzbek specialties. The restaurant has a good environment and gorgeous Central Asian decoration. The must-try is Uzbek Plov, considered Uzbekistan’s national dish. It stir-fries long-grain rice, carrot cubes, onion cubes, lamb or beef cooked with fat and seasoned with salt and cumin.
Average Cost per Person: 4,000-6,000 Tenge (about $8-12)
Address: Zholdasbekov St 24, Shymkent 160000

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Ramada by Wyndham Shymkent (4 stars) or similar

Early this morning, the driver guide will accompany you to visit local bazaars in Shymkent, especially the best one, Qyrgy Bazar, where everything is cheaper than stores or supermarkets. Friendly sellers offer a tempting variety of fresh fruits, nuts, local cheeses, and snacks. Your driver guide will help you avoid tourist rip-off if you want to buy some as food supply or to take home. Since a long drive back to Almaty awaits you today, you can also have a meal in the bazaar’s restaurant before departure. After all visits, we will drive for 9 hours back to Almaty.

► For your information:
We can provide train or flight options if you feel a 9-hour drive too tiring, and our travel consultant will give specific cost changes according to your choice.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Renion Park Hotel, Almaty (3 stars) or similar

On the last day of our Kazakhstan tour package, the driver guide will pick you up and escort you to the airport. We wish you a smooth journey home! If Kazakhstan leaves you panting for more to explore its young capital, Astana, or expand your trip to other Central Asian countries like Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, etc., you can contact our travel consultants to customize the itinerary!

► Where to Leave the Last Image of Almaty
Before leaving Almaty, you might walk westward less than 10 minutes from the hotel to visit Arbat Street on your own. Flanked by shopping malls, cafes, universities, monuments, and historic buildings, it is full of vitality and youthful spirit but not cut off from traditional charm. Meander through the street, watch the hustle and bustle of locals, and use camera to record the last moments of your Kazakhstan trip.

Meals: Breakfast