Kazakhstan Silk Road — 9 Days South Kazakhstan: Turkestan to Almaty
| Duration | 9 Days / 8 Nights |
|---|---|
| Country | Kazakhstan (Central Asia) |
| Price From | $2,930 USD per person (~$326/day, was $3,329) |
| Tour Style | Private, Cultural, Silk Road, All-Inclusive |
| Operator | Agate Travel (TourRadar Traveller’s Choice) |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Almaty — Gateway to Kazakhstan
Arrive in Almaty. Private transfer to Renion Park Hotel. Afternoon orientation: Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral, and the Green Bazaar. Welcome dinner at a top Kazakh restaurant — try kazy (horse meat sausage), baursak (fried dough), and shubat (fermented camel milk).
Day 2: Almaty Deep — City & Mountains
Ride the cable car to Kok-Tobe for city panoramas. Visit the Central State Museum and the Golden Man. Afternoon: drive to Big Almaty Lake, a stunning turquoise alpine lake at 2,500m in the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. The color changes with the light — emerald, turquoise, or deep blue. Return to Almaty.
Day 3: Charyn Canyon to Kolsai
Drive to Charyn Canyon. Walk the Valley of Castles — 300m high red walls carved over 12 million years. Then to Lower Kolsai Lake, the first of the three “blue pearls” of the Tian Shan. Evening trek around the lake. Overnight in Saty village guesthouse.
Day 4: Kaindy Lake to Taraz — The Sunken Forest
Morning visit to Kaindy Lake with its eerie sunken forest. Then drive west to Taraz, one of Kazakhstan’s oldest cities (over 2,000 years). Visit the Aisha Bibi Mausoleum, a masterpiece of 12th-century Central Asian architecture with intricate terracotta tile work — legend says it was built for a woman who died of a snake bite while traveling to meet her lover. Overnight in Taraz.
Day 5: Taraz to Shymkent — Ancient Silk Road Cities
Explore Taraz: the Karakhan Mausoleum and the Ancient Taraz archaeological site. Continue to Shymkent, Kazakhstan’s third-largest city. Visit the 12th-century Sayram archaeological site, believed to be the birthplace of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. Afternoon walking tour of Shymkent: Independence Park, the Regional Museum, and the Old City. Overnight in Shymkent.
Day 6: Turkestan — The Spiritual Heart of Kazakhstan
Full day in Turkestan, the spiritual capital of Kazakhstan. Visit the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most important Islamic monuments in Central Asia. Built by Timur (Tamerlane) in the 14th century, its turquoise dome and intricate tile work are breathtaking. Explore the historic citadel, the underground mosque, and the medieval bath house. Overnight in Turkestan’s Hotel Khanaka.
Day 7: Turkestan to Almaty via the Steppe
Drive across the vast Kazakh steppe — one of the world’s largest grasslands — back to Almaty. Stop at the Saka burial mounds (kurgans) scattered across the landscape. The endless horizon and big sky of the steppe are an experience in themselves. Evening arrival in Almaty.
Day 8: Almaty — Leisure & Farewell
Free day in Almaty. Options: return to the Green Bazaar, visit the Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments, take a final cable car ride, or simply relax at a café. Farewell dinner at a top Almaty restaurant with live traditional music — dombra (two-stringed lute) and kobyz performances.
Day 9: Departure
Morning at leisure. Transfer to Almaty International Airport. Nine days across Kazakhstan: from the futuristic mountains of Almaty to the ancient Silk Road cities of the south, from turquoise lakes to golden steppes.
What’s Included
• 8 nights: hotels + guesthouse
• Daily breakfast and dinner
• Private English-speaking guide
• Private air-conditioned vehicle
• All park and museum entrance fees
• Cable car at Kok-Tobe
• Big Almaty Lake excursion
• Charyn Canyon trek
• Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes visit
• Airport transfers
What’s Excluded
• International flights
• Lunches
• Travel insurance
• Tips
