Take a tour of Kazakhstan

Turkestan Tour with Sky Way

This is a two-day tour of the ancient city of Turkestan, home to many historical and cultural sites, including a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is at the heart of Kazakhstan’s history and identity.

Day One: 

Otrar Ruins

Legend goes that the city of Otrar was completely burned down by Genghis Khan. In the Middle Ages it was the trading and religious capital of the large Otrar Oasis, which spread over 2,500 square kilometers in a large fertile valley at the confluence of the Arys and Syr-Darya rivers.

Otrar, now a renowned archaeological site, witnessed Kazakhstan’s heyday in the age of the Great Silk Road and remained a major trading center until the end of the Middle Ages. The 10th-century thinker Al-Farabi was born, lived and wrote his masterpieces in the city.

Arystan-Baba Mausoleum

The mausoleum dates back to the 12th-14th centuries and is located close to the ruins of ancient Otrar, around 150km from the city of Shymkent. It was built over the tomb of the 12th-century religious mystic Arystan Baba. According to legend, Arystan Baba was the teacher and spiritual adviser of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (see below).

Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Mausoleum

The Yasawi Mausoleum in Turkestan is a Timurid era Sufi shrine dedicated to the first great Turkic Muslim holy man. Said to be Kazakhstan’s most beautiful building; its inner sanctum contains a two-ton cauldron filled with holy water. Siphoned off by the Soviets in 1935, its hallowed H2O was not returned until 1989.

The first day ends with a transfer back to the hotel.

Day Two:

Ukasha-Ata Mausoleum

The 9th-10th century Ukasha-Ata Mausoleum, consisting of a miniature vestibule and a main room, is home to one of the largest tombstones in Kazakhstan.

Ukasha-Ata Sacred Well 

The sacred well of Ukasha-Ata is a narrow tunnel carved in stone. Legend goes that the water in the well is connected through underground pathways to the spring water of the Zamzam spring in Mecca, and as such, the water itself is believed to possess healing powers.

Ak-Meshit Cave

Ak-Mekshit cave is a unique structure. While not a single tree can be seen for several kilometers of the site, the inside of the cave is a real oasis. It is mentioned in many legends, one of which tells the story of a chained dragon that is believed to still be asleep in the depths of its rocks.

The day ends with a transfer back to the hotel.

Pricing:

1) for a group of 1-3 Pax (Sedan):

1Pax:722$    2Pax:361$     3Pax: 240,67 $

2) for a group of 4-14 Pax (Mercedes sprinter):

4Pax: 223,5$    5Pax: 178,8$    6Pax: 149$  7Pax: 127,71$   

8Pax: 111,75$   9Pax: 99,33$    10Pax: 89,4$    11Pax: 81,27$   

12Pax: 74,5$   13Pax: 68,77$   14Pax: 63,86$   

3) for a group of 4-14 Pax (VIP Mercedes sprinter):

4Pax: 237,5$    5Pax: 190$    6Pax: 158,33$   7Pax: 135,71$   

8Pax: 118,75$   9Pax: 105,56$    10Pax: 95$    11Pax: 86,36$   

12Pax: 79,17$   13Pax: 73,08$   14Pax: 67,86$   

Price includes:  Entrance fees, tour guide, transportation.

NOTE: THE LISTED PRICES MAY BE RECALCULATED BASED ON DIFFERENCES IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES.

Terms of payment:  Payment must be made at least three days before arrival.  

Cancelation policy:  No penalty fees will be charged if the reservation is canceled more than two weeks in advance. A penalty fee of 30% of the total booking amount will be applied if the booking is canceled with one week’s notice. A 50% penalty fee will be applied if the booking is cancelled with less than three days’ notice, and 100% will be applied if the booking is canceled with less than 24 hours’ notice.