Highlights of Kazakhstan
Duration:
7 days / 6 nights
Season:
March to October
Kazakhstan is a unique region in the world, because of its history, geographical position and size. Being the world’s 9th largest country and located in the center of Eurasia, it is also the largest landlocked country in the world. During this tour you will visit the main highlights of Kazakhstan and will really enjoy the trip.
Day 1. Meeting with guide in Almaty and transfer for city tour.
City tour starts from visit of Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, named after the 28 Panfilov guards from Almaty, who died heroically defending Moscow against the Nazi invasion in 1941. The next stop is the world’s most elevated wooden church, Zenkov Cathedral, Green bazar and the Central mosque. Then we will pass through the modern highlights of the city: futuristic and busy Al-Farabi street, the Presidential palace, Monument of Independence.
Transfer to Medeo gorge, where you will have a brief stop on the huge Medeo dam, which protects the city from destructive mudflows formed on the tops of the western Tien Shan.
Getting to Shymbulak from Medeo by cable car.
The Ski Resort Chimbulak is located on a picturesque valley in the Zailiyskiy Alatau within the height 2260 m above sea level, 25 km from the center of Almaty.
Transfer to7 visit Kok-Tobe mountain (the highest point of the city, located at height of 1100 meters above sea level). From its top opens the surprising panorama on mountains and the city. The highest TV-tower is located here.
18.00 Transfer for dinner at local restaurant. Back to hotel, overnight.
Meal: ---
Any questions?
Day 2
Breakfast
11.00 After breakfast depart to excursion at the Big Almaty Lake (about 30 km from Almaty)
Big Almaty Lake is located in gorge of river Big Almatinka, at height of 2511 m above sea level, in 28,5 km to the south from Almaty.
Lunch during excursion.
16.00 Transfer to Falconry farm “Sunkar”
Viewers will get a lot of information about the history of falconry, the biological features and the way of life of birds of prey.
Drive back to city, dinner at local restaurant.
Overnight at hotel.
Meal: ---
Day 3
Breakfast. Transfer to Saty village at Kolsay Lakes National Park (about 250 km)
Arrival to the Kaiyndy Lake. It's a very young lake that appeared only in the beginning of the last century as a result of the 1911 earthquake. Lunch during excursion. Dinner and overnight in guesthouse.
Optionally: boat trip
Meal: lunch, dinner
Day 4
Breakfast. Transfer to the 1st Kolsay Lake. Trek to the 2nd Kolsay Lake (about 8 km). Here you can enjoy horse riding or get to the top by yourself. Such kind of beauty cannot be found anywhere. Here you can enjoy unsurpassed forest. These lakes are situated in the eastern part of the picturesque Kungei Tau gorge, 300 km from Almaty. Lunch during excursion
Drive back to the guesthouse.
Dinner, overnight in guesthouse
Optionally: horse riding and boat trip
Meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5
Breakfast. Transfer to Charyn canyon (about 80 km from Kolsay lakes). The Canyon has been described as the Grand Canyon’s little brother. The Canyon itself is approximately 150 km long, and, in places up to 300 meters deep. Lunch during excursion.
Afternoon transfer back to Almaty.
Evening flight to Astana.
20.30 arrival to Astana. Accommodation at hotel. Overnight
Meal: lunch
Day 6
Breakfast. City tour starts from old part of the city on the right side of Ishim river. Constitution Square, Museum of the First President, Congress Hall will be starting points of excursion. You will walk along the riverside of Ishim and see the city in dynamics, and how it is developing, and then continue tour with the most important architectural buildings and monuments of the modern capital (Independence Square, Water-Green Boulevard, and Round Square).
Visit National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At the museum you will see the Golden man, well known not only in the Kazakh steppe but also in all Central Asia.
Visit Bayterek, symbol of Astana.
Visit Atameken –miniature map of Kazakhstan.
Visit Temple of Peace and Accord- pyramidal building of the Palace of peace and Accord built by the project of a prominent British architect, Norman Foster, became the genuine decoration of the new capital of Kazakhstan.
Visit Nur-Astana mosque. The fantastic outline of the left bank of Astana.
Transfer to hotel. Overnight
Meal: ---
Day 7
Breakfast
10.00 – Transfer from Astana to Borovoe nature reserve park - 260 km (3.5 hours)
13.30 - Arrival to Borovoe
14.00 – Lunch at local restaurant
Burabai National park (Borovoe), occupies 85000 hectares of northeastern part of Kokshetau elevation. There are 14 lakes in the park, each having surface area of more than 1 sq.km, and a large number of small lakes. In the middle of the steppe the nature itself has created the unique natural landscapes of extraordinary beauty with combination of majestic mountain scenery, blue mirror lakes, coniferous and deciduous groves.
On a way to the resort area the guide will tell you the history and legends of the resort, which is famous for it.
After lunch you will have a walking tour on the shore of Borovoe lake, where you can have view on “Ush-kyz”, “Ok-Zhetpes”, “Zhumbaktas” rocks and “Kokshetau” mountain, each having the surprising legends reflecting history and identity of Kazakhs.
16.00 – transfer to Astana
Transfer to hotel. The end of tour.
Meal: ---
