Kazakhstan's Cultural Nomad.

Upon landing at Almaty International Airport, you will meet your friendly English-speaking guide, who will be waiting with our company’s logo for a smooth welcome. You may choose to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before beginning your city experience. Your first introduction to Almaty’s multicultural spirit comes with a visit to the lively Green Bazaar, where people from different regions share their traditions through food.

Here you will meet a warm host who invites you to sample local specialities, including traditional horse milk and fresh camel milk sourced from her family’s eco-friendly farm near Turkestan. This vibrant market offers a genuine taste of everyday life, though it remains closed on Mondays. Discover a cultural side of the city with a visit to the Museum of National Musical Instruments, home to more than a thousand pieces, including 17th-century treasures and around sixty traditional instruments such as the kobyz, dombyra, and syldyrmak, alongside those from other cultures.

Your time also includes exploring the peaceful Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen and the striking Ascension Cathedral. Note that the museum remains closed on Mondays.

Hotel Kazzhol Almaty

Hotel Kazzhol Almaty is a well-established 4-star property that blends comfort, style, and warm hospitality in the heart of the city. Its spacious rooms feature modern décor, efficient layouts, and essential conveniences such as Wi-Fi, climate control, and workspaces, making it suitable for both leisure and business stays. The hotel offers a range of facilities, including an indoor pool, fitness centre, sauna, and on-site dining serving local and international cuisine. Its location provides easy access to Almaty’s major attractions, shopping areas, and transport links. With reliable service and thoughtful amenities, Hotel Kazzhol Almaty delivers a balanced, enjoyable stay for travellers seeking comfort and accessibility.

Your fun and excitement will continue with a smooth transfer to Almaty Domestic Airport for your flight to the historic town of Turkestan. After landing at Turkestan Domestic Airport, you will be welcomed into a city whose roots reach back to the 12th century, once known as Yasy and later transformed into an influential hub of the Kazakh Khanate. Across different eras, it served as a significant administrative centre under the Khorezmshahs, Chagataids, Timurids, and Sheibanids, leaving behind a deep cultural legacy.

Upon arrival, you settle into your hotel for a short break before stepping into the warm atmosphere of a local Kazakh household. Here you join a hands-on cooking session where you learn to prepare tandyr-baked bread, enjoying the aroma and flavour fresh from the traditional clay oven. Dinner follows in a family setting, enriched by stories of their craftsmanship.

The head of the household creates beautifully designed saddles while his children produce leather accessories, offering an authentic glimpse into living Kazakh traditions. You will be staying for the next 2 nights here.

Hampton by Hilton Turkistan

The 3-star Hampton by Hilton Turkistan offers a comfortable, modern stay ideal for travellers seeking reliability and convenience. It is designed with a clean, contemporary style. The property features well-appointed rooms equipped with cosy bedding, workspaces, Wi-Fi, and refreshing bathrooms. You can enjoy a daily hot breakfast, a fitness centre for staying active, and a business area for quick work needs. The hotel also provides a 24/7 front desk, on-site dining options, and convenient airport or city access. With practical amenities, friendly service, meeting spaces, and a welcoming atmosphere, this 3-star hotel delivers both comfort and value, making it a solid base for exploring Turkistan or enjoying a restful stopover during your travels.

Get ready to explore the city today after having a scrumptious breakfast. Firstly, you will visit the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site, which offers an inspiring journey into the spiritual and cultural legacy of the Turkic world. This grand structure, commissioned in the late 14th century, honours the revered Sufi poet and mystic whose teachings shaped spiritual traditions across countless Turkic-speaking regions.

Nearby, the Hilvet Underground Mosque adds further depth to the experience. It is said that the saint spent the last phase of his life in this subterranean retreat where he composed his celebrated collection of spiritual verses known as Hikmet. The day continues with a stop at the workshop of a talented wood craftsman who transforms single pieces of aged timber into detailed sculptures infused with philosophy and storytelling, sharing the meaning behind each element he carves.

From there, the journey proceeds to the Karavansaray Complex, a modern yet evocative homage to an ancient Silk Road town, featuring artisan stalls, restaurants, and atmospheric alleyways. Here, you also get to enjoy the innovative Flying Theatre, a virtual reality attraction that brings Kazakhstan’s landscapes, history, and the legacy of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi to life through immersive technology.

The visit concludes with the enchanting Kyz Zhibek and Tolegen Boats Show, where a beloved epic unfolds over water through graceful boat choreography, fountains, music, and theatrical performances that celebrate timeless romance and Kazakh heritage.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will begin your journey toward Shymkent City, with a memorable stop at a traditional camel farm along the way. Here, you can sample freshly collected camel milk paired with classic Kazakh light bites, while learning about the daily routines and heritage of local shepherds. A short guided walk through the farm offers insight into nomadic traditions, and visitors have the rare chance to observe the camel-milking ritual, performed only at dawn and again in the early evening.

The route continues to the ancient settlement of Otrar, also known as Farab, for an hour-long exploration of this once-vital hub on the Great Silk Road. It was established as early as the 1st century BC by the Kangly people of the Kangju Empire. Otrar later flourished between the 12th and 15th centuries, serving as a strategic and cultural powerhouse of Central Asia.

Following the visit, the trip proceeds to Shymkent, where an optional late lunch at a local restaurant can be arranged. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to their hotel for check-in and a chance to unwind. The evening remains flexible, with the option to enjoy dinner at a nearby restaurant.

After enjoying breakfast, you will begin the morning with a stop at the Ethnographic Museum, followed by a descent into the remarkable Hilvet underground mosque. Return to the city afterwards, where an optional lunch at a nearby eatery can be arranged. You will then continue to the Altyn Orda Art Gallery, an inspiring creative space established by the talented Kazakh artisans of the Beisbekov family.

A hands-on dry felt master class can be added for those interested in exploring local craftsmanship. Later, you will be assisted to the Shymkent Domestic Airport for a flight to Almaty. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and unwind, with the option to enjoy dinner at the hotel restaurant. This balanced schedule blends culture, creativity, and smooth travel throughout the day for a memorable experience overall.

Today, you will be visiting the Nomad Ethno Centre for an immersive look into Scythian-Saka kurgans, the sacred burial mounds that once united leaders from Siberia, Altai, the Black Sea region, and the vast Steppe. The tour explores how these mounds symbolised a cosmic link between the heavens and the underworld. The program then highlights the warfare of nomadic warriors, showcasing traditional armour, weapons, and horseback combat techniques, including horse archery.

You also get to learn about yurt construction, interior design, and cultural meaning before experiencing the art of eagle hunting with Berkutchi. A traditional lunch inside nomadic yurts is included, with an optional dinner available. The area holds deep historic significance today. You will be staying at the hotel in Almaty for another night.

After breakfast at the hotel, meet our representative who will be assisting with your journey toward Charyn National Park with a cultural stop in Koram Village. Here, a local Uyghur-Kazakh family will welcome you for an immersive experience that includes a hands-on demonstration of crafting traditional homemade noodles for lagman, along with a tasting session and a lively village performance.

The trip continues to Charyn National Park, where the group descends the stairs to the striking Valley of the Castles and follows the scenic path leading to the Charyn River, a relaxed walk of about fifty minutes each way. There is time to enjoy the riverbank and dramatic canyon surroundings before heading back to the parking area. The day concludes with a transfer to Saty Village, check-in at a guesthouse, free time to unwind, and a homemade dinner featuring shared dishes, tea, and water, followed by an overnight stay.

Accommodation: A Local Guesthouse

Your day begins with a drive to the lower parking area of Kaindy Mountain Lake, then continues to the upper lot using the classic Soviet-era minibus, the only available transport on this route. You may take on a gentle mountain walk reaching elevations of about 1,700 meters, followed by an hour of calm relaxation beside the lake, surrounded by the dramatic Kungey Alatau scenery. You can also take a horseback ride to Kaindy Lake; it is a really fun activity.

The journey then proceeds to Kolsay First Lake, with an optional meal at a nearby eatery, before enjoying a leisurely lakeside stroll. When you return to Almaty, check into your hotel, and you also have the chance for an optional dinner at the hotel itself.

Begin the morning with a satisfying breakfast at the hotel before preparing for your departure. After gathering your belongings, complete the check-out process and proceed to the arranged transfer that will take you to Almaty International Airport. Once you arrive, check in for your flight. Soon after, board your flight and head home, carrying cherished memories, meaningful experiences, and plenty of photos that capture the highlights of your journey from this remarkable, adventurous trip.