South Kazakhstan Classic Tour

South Kazakhstan Classic Tour

Silk road cities of Kazakhstan and UNESCO biosphere reserve – Aksu-Zhabagly

The Great Silk Road played a major role in the development of economic and cultural relations of the peoples of Asia Minor, Central Asia, the Caucasus and China. It also served as a corridor for technological, cultural and religious exchange.

In 2014 UNESCO has added eight settlements of the Great Silk Road located at the territory of Kazakhstan onto its World Heritage List. Hence the name was the Routes Network of Changan-Tian-shan Corridor. This tour will allow you to get acquainted with 3 objects of Kazakhstani Silk road included in the list of the UNESCO heritage list and also with the oldest nature reserve Aksu-Zhabagly which will fascinate you with its remarkable nature.

Day 1 - Almaty City

9:30 - Meeting with the guide at the lobby of the Kazakhstan hotel.

City tour starts from visiting of sights:the Panfilov Park,named after the 28 Panfilov’s guards from Almaty,the world’s most elevated wooden church - Zenkov Cathedral,the Central Mosque. 

Passing the modern highlights of the city: futuristic and busy Al Farabey street,the Presidential Palace,Monument of Independence.

14:00 - Transfer to Medeo gorge

20:00 – Excursion to the Kok-Tobe mountain via minivan

After excursion - Transfer to train station to catch a night train to Taraz

Day 2 - Taraz- Shymkent

On arrival to Taraz - excursion around the city.

After lunch - deprt to Shymkent.On the way to Shymkent visiting of Mausoleum "Aisha-Bibi",the mausoleum of Babaji-Khatun,visit the archaeological park "Ancient Taraz",the monument "550 anniversary of the Kazakh Khanate".

Overnight in hotel in Shymkent city.

Day 3 - Shymkent-Sairam Ugam

Short city tour at Shymkent, including visiting of local bazar, Park of independence, Park of Abay, Historical museum.

Transfer 70 km  to canyon  Aksu (Sairam Ugam National Park ) via ancient city of Sairam – the part of a Great Silk  Road – visit  Mausoleums of parents of Hodzha Ahmet Jassaui - Ibragim аtа and Karashash ana.

Arrival to canyon of Aksu which depth reaches 500 m. Visiting of "the Valley of thousand eyes» - a huge stone wall with set of the caves reminding eyes.

Despite huge depth of a canyon, there is a chance to step through it. It can be made in a surprising place under the name the Devil's bridge (the Shaitan коpir) where the distance between canyon edges is narrowed to half of meter. And a bit more low on a current the river Aksu and at all disappears underground. This place name the Black hole, and to it one of the most beautiful place of Sayram Ugam .

Drive back to Shymkent. Overnight in hotel.

Day 4 - Shymkent - Turkestan

in the morning - drive to Turkestan(170km).On the way visit Arystan bab mausoleum, ruins of Otrar city.

On arrival to Turkestan - visit the mausoleum of Hodja Ahmed Yassavi.The religious structure continues to draw pilgrims from across Central Asia and has come to epitomize the Kazakh national identity. It has been protected as a national monument, while UNESCO recognized it as the country's first site of patrimony, declaring it a World Heritage Site in 2003.

Overnight in hotel in Turkestan city.

Day 5 - Turkestan

After breakfast transfer to train station to catch a train to Almaty