Tour program

Day 1. Almaty.
Arrival to Almaty. Your driver will be waiting at Almaty (ALA) airport to take you directly to your hotel in Almaty – a 30-minute drive. There are no activities planned for today.

Please keep in mind that hotel check-in time is typically after 2.00pm. Early check in is not guaranteed, but if you do arrive early luggage storage is available at the hotel.

Overnight at a hotel in Almaty

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Day 2. Almaty – Turkestan.
Breakfast at the Hotel. Check out, transfer to Almaty airport to take domestic flight to Turkestan city (flight duration 1 hour 30 min). Arrival to Turkestan, hotel check in.

Beginning of excursion: transfer to Khoja Ahmed Yassawi Mausoleum (XIV c). The Mausoleum is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This amazing construction was built in honor of a famous Turkic poet and Sufi mystic Khoja Ahmed Yassawi. The word "Yassawi" originates from "Yassy" – that was an ancient name of Turkestan. The whole city is a historical and cultural reservation of Khazret Sultan.

Places to visit:
The State Historical and Cultural Museum "Aziret Sultan"
Medieval bath houses – hammam (15^th century)
Hilvet underground Mosque where the great Saint lived.
Necropolis
Rabiya Sultan Begim Mausoleum – great granddaughter of Timur
Fragment of the fortress wall
Citadel with gates

Lunch at the local café.

After lunch we will visit:
Uly Dala Eli Museum
Memorial Complex of Kazakh Khanate
Presidential alley
Multifunctional Complex Karavan Saray with a show program

Transfer to the hotel. Dinner / Free time

Overnight at a hotel in Turkestan
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner


Day 3. Almaty.
Morning check out from the hotel, transfer to airport to take flight to Almaty city (1 hr. 30 min flight). Arrival to Almaty. Transfer to a hotel. Free time.

Overnight at a hotel in Almaty
Meals: breakfast


Day 4. Almaty.
This day you have 2 options:

Option 1. Almaty City Tour (includes visit to the National Central Museum, Green Oriental Market, Panfilov Park with Russian Orthodox Cathedral). After City Tour your driver will drop you at the hotel. Free time.

Option 2. Excursion to Northern Tien Shan Mountains.
Transfer to Ile – Alatau National Park (15 km) to the high-altitude skating rink "Medeo" (1600 m a.s.l.). Take a cable car lift to Shymbulak Ski Resort and further up to Talgarsky Pass (3128 m.) Panoramic view to the Zailiskiy Alatau chain of mountains and Almaty City. Couple of hours hiking around and enjoying the views. Descent by cabin to Medeo. Drive to Almaty. Free time.

Overnight at a hotel in Almaty.
Meals: breakfast


Day 5. Departure.
A transfer will be provided from your hotel to ALA Airport - a 30-minute drive. We wish you a safe homeward journey and hope to see you again in Kazakhstan soon.

Inclusions:
All transport services according to the program in an Air-conditioned tourist transport – tourist bus / Van or 4WD car.
Double\ Twin sharing accommodation: 4* hotel in Almaty – 3 nights, 4* hotel in Turkistan – 1 night
English speaking guide throughout the tour
Meals according to the program
Entrance fees for the tourist sites as specified in the program (Museums, fee for the National Parks)
Mineral water for the entire itinerary

Exclusions:
International / domestic air tickets
Visa to Kazakhstan (if required)
Travel insurance
Meals that are not included above
Single supplement charge
Drinks that are not included above
Personal expenses