Take a tour of Kazakhstan
Shymkent & Turkestan Tour by “Turan Asia”
Shymkent & Turkestan Tour by “Turan Asia”
This is a two-day tour of historical and well-preserved Silk Road sites around the 12th century city of Shymkent and 5th century city of Turkestan.
Day One:
Shaulder Settlement & Arystan-Bab Mausoleum
The tour will arrange your transfer to the Astana airport for a flight to Shymkent. Upon arrival, you will be met by a guide and transported to the Otrar Region’s Shaulder Settlement, 220 km from the airport.
Sightseeing at this historic site includes the 14th century Mausoleum of Arystan-Bab, the teacher and spiritual mentor of famous Turkic Sufi poet Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, as well as the archaeological site of the ancient settlement of Otrar. Otrar holds cultural and spiritual significance as the birthplace and residence of the renowned medieval philosopher and scientist Al-Farabi, with its settlement dating back to the 4th century BC.
Azret-Sultan Complex, Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Mausoleum, Turkestan Ancient Settlement
The next stop on the tour is Turkestan, often called the jewel of the Silk Road, where you will experience the "Azret-Sultan" historical and architectural complex which includes the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, ancient Turkestan settlement, the Necropolis, a fragment of the fortress wall, citadel with gates, a traditional bath house “Hammam”, and the Hilvet underground mosque.
Turkestan, established around 490 AD, stood at the intersection of caravan routes from Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, making it a significant cultural and political center for Turkic-speaking peoples between 16th to 18th centuries. It also served as the capital of the Kazakh Khanate. Pilgrims often liken three visits to Turkestan to a small Hajj to Mecca.
Dinner at a local restaurant and transfer to the hotel.
Day Two:
Shymkent-Sairam-Shymkent-Astana
Sairam Museum, Mar-Tobe, Ibrahim-Ata Mausoleum, Karashash-Ana Mausoleum & Medieval Minaret
After arrival in Shymkent via transfer, you'll proceed to the Sairam Settlement (20 km) for a sightseeing tour.
Highlights here include visits to the Local History Museum "Sairam", the ancient settlement of Mar-Tobe (where senior members of Kazakh clans and tribes held political and military councils), Ibrahim-Ata Mausoleum, Karashash-Ana Mausoleum, and a medieval minaret. The Sairam Settlement, situated near Shymkent, stands at the site of Ispidzhab, one of the largest centers of the Great Silk Road during the Middle Ages.
Kazygurt Mountains
The Kazygurt Mountains are home to the sacred Kamekalgan stones including sanctifying rocks known as "Adam and Eve"; "Noah's Ark" believed to be at the top of Kazygurt Mountain (which according to legend was at one time higher than all other mountains in the world); stone statues of animals, and the mystical stone called "Dastarkhan". The Kazygurt mountain massif, located in the northern spurs of Talas Ala-Tau, rises to an altitude of 1,776 meters above sea level.
Transfer to the airport for the evening flight to Astana.
Pricing:
1Pax: 900$ 2Pax: 800$ 3Pax: 700$ 4Pax: 600$ 5Pax:500$
6Pax: 450$ 7Pax: 400$ 8Pax: 380$
Single supplement 60$
The price includes: Transport services & transfer services – on VIP class, English speaking guide, entrance and eco fees, meals according to the meal plan, transfer to and from the airport in Astana, accommodation at the 5-star Rixos hotel in Turkestan.
The price does not include: air tickets from Astana to Shymkent and back (estimated to start from 135 USD per pax with luggage).