Blessed Land Of Zhetisu Private Tour

Route: Almaty, Almaty region (Kazakhstan)

Season: March - November

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

Day 1. Almaty, Arrival

Arrival in Almaty, the Southern capital of Kazakhstan. Meeting and greeting at Almaty International Airport. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 2. Almaty

Breakfast at the hotel. The Best of Almaty Sightseeing Tour (7 hours) at 10:00.

After meeting the guide at your hotel, you will start the tour with a visit to Almaty Museum, one of the most modern and interesting museums, equipped with multimedia tools, which will captivate you with rich museum collections, a variety of ancient exhibits, allowing to study in a short time the history of the region since the Great Silk Road.

After the museum, you will continue the tour and will have a short stop for a detailed acquaintance with the architecture and history of Abai Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Then you will visit one of the oldest Almaty parks - Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, where one of the most beautiful wooden buildings in the world - Zenkov Cathedral is located. In the park, you will also see the Memorial of Glory and Eternal Flame, listen to the stories of the guide, and admire the beauty of the Museum of Musical Instruments.

The next point of interest is a popular place for townspeople - the Green Bazaar, where it is impossible to refrain from shopping. It is a great chance to experience the atmosphere of the real eastern market, its colors, smells, and crowds.

There you can obtain famous oriental sweets, and dried fruits, buy local products and souvenirs, but don't forget to bargain. In the market, they accept cash in tenge (local currency), so it would be good to have some with you or there is an exchange point just nearby to the market area.
Time for lunch in a local restaurant or a cafe.

After lunch you will start the second part of the tour with a ride to the Medeo Gorge (1690 meters above sea level) well known due to the highest mountain skating rink in the world and the dam, protecting the city from dangerous mudflow. A brief walk around with a chance to take your mountain-view pictures and breathe the fresh pine-tree air, then you will take a cable car to the Shymbulak Ski Resort area.

Having ridden about 20-25 minutes above magnificent fur trees up to the altitude of 2260 meters above sea level, you will get to the 1st level of the ski resort, occupied by fancy restaurants, a ski & snowboarding school, and a mountain hotel.

The resort is very popular for its mild climate, a large number of sunny days and snow through the winter, and remarkable scenery of mountain ranges. You will have a quick chance to walk there and take pictures of the breathtaking mountain peaks around. Then you will go down the same way by cable car and drive to the city.

Meanwhile, you will be told an interesting story about why Almaty is actually called «the Apple City».

Further, your mountain adventure continues at the top of Kok-Tobe Hill, where the tallest TV tower in the world is located (if to count from the sea level) and where you will get by the picturesque winding mountain road on the park eco-cars.

In Kok-Tobe Park you can stroll along the winding paths of the park, admire the magnificent panorama of the city from the special observation deck, throw a coin in the "apple" fountain, and visit the shop of national souvenirs. The tour ends with a short ride from the top of the hill to the center of the city by the famous Almaty cableway* and then dropping you off at your hotel.
Transfer to the hotel.

* On Tuesdays, in the tour departing at 10:00, the cableway is not available. Park eco-cars are used instead.

Day 3. Almaty Region

Breakfast at the hotel. The Big Almaty Lake Tour (6 hours, at 13:00) or The Issyk Lake Tour (7 hours, at 11:00) depending on the season:

The Big Almaty Lake Tour (7 hours):

The tour starts with driving to the Big Almaty Gorge, where at an altitude of 2,510 m above sea level the Big Almaty Lake - one of the most picturesque lakes in Trans-Ili Alatau. The lake is very beautiful, especially when its blue surface is absolutely calm, and it reflects the sky and surrounding mountains.

The Big Almaty Lake was formed as a result of the movement of an ancient glacier. Thanks to the high-mountain location the water in the lake is always cool - even in July the water temperature does not exceed 10 degrees. The lake is a source of potable water for Almaty city, which is why the access of tourists to the lake is limited. The tour route lies higher than the Big Almaty Lake to an altitude of 3300 meters above sea level, where scientific premises for astronomical and space research have settled down.

Here, at the basis of the Big Almaty Peak, you can enjoy a fascinating panorama of mountains and the Big Almaty Lake, surrounded by the picturesque mountain peaks covered with Tian-Shan fir tree, aspen, and juniper. On the way back to the town you will visit the Falcon Farm, where you will enjoy a spectacular show with specially trained hawks - hunting with them is one of the most unique features of the Kazakh way of life.

The Issyk Lake Tour (7 hours):

The tour route to one of the most beautiful gorges of Trans-Ili Alatau - Issyk Gorge lies along the Kuldja tract, where hundreds of years ago the trade caravans traveled. On the way, you will learn a lot about the nature and history of this region and see the burial mounds of the Saka period, where the famous "Golden Man" was found, which has become the state symbol of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Also, you will visit the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “ISSYK”, where you will see the expositions dedicated to the history and culture of the Saka period, including a copy of Golden Man and golden items, ancient ceramics, weapons, elements of horse equipment, as well as the model of Saka burial mound. Then the tour route will take you to an altitude of 1756 meters above sea level, to the beautiful mountain lake Issyk, located in the valley with the same name. The lake was formed about 10,000 years ago due to colossal landslides, resulting in the formation of a natural dam of 300 meters in height.

On the lake, you will enjoy the majestic beauty of its turquoise water surface and the Issyk Gorge, as well as listen to the details of the natural disaster of 1963. Also at the lake, you will have a picnic and free time for recreation in nature.

Return to the hotel. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 4. Almaty Region, Charyn Canyon

Breakfast at the hotel. The Charyn Canyon Tour (9 hours) at 09:00.

Charyn Canyon is one of the unique natural monuments of Kazakhstan. The canyon is about 12 million years old and surprises with its vertical cliffs, reminding the ancient castles, created by wind, sun, and rain. It will take about 3 hours to reach the canyon. Meanwhile, you will hear a lot of interesting about the history and nature of the region, about Kazakh people, their life and traditions, as well as have lunch in a local cafe.

And as soon as you see Charyn Canyon you will forget about this long way at once - so much you will be impressed with the beauty and splendor of the canyon.

You can admire the grand panorama and then have a walk through the maze of the Castles Valley with its inaccessible walls overhanging you. Anyone who has ever been to the Charyn Canyon falls in love with it forever!

Return to the hotel. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 5. Almaty

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day in Almaty.

During this day you can visit shopping malls in the city, including the oldest one - Zangar (Central Department Store), which is the best and the most convenient place for handicrafts and antique Kazakh jewelry. The top floor of this department store is a treasury of small stores selling different souvenirs, like felt slippers, toys, bags, dolls, mini yurts, and so on.

If you want to buy some souvenirs – this is the place to go. You can also have a walk along Zhibek Zholy Street - the pedestrian street in the heart of the city, so-called “Almaty Arbat”, with comfortable benches and fountains, shops, and cafes. This place is chosen by professional and amateur artists offering their work for sale.

Overnight in the hotel.

Day 6. Almaty, Departure

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out (until 12:00 noon). Transfer to the airport. Departure.

TOUR PRICE: On request

TOUR PRICE INCLUSIONS:

1. Double accommodation in Almaty in the 3* hotel of tourist class (5 nights)
2. Airport transfers
3. Services of a professional English-speaking guide
4. Meals: Standard Hotel Breakfast, Lunch/Picnic on Days 2-4
4. Sightseeing tours according to the program on Days 2-4
5. Environmental and admission fees and tickets

TOUR PRICE EXCLUSIONS:

1. Meals not indicated in the program and/or not included in the tour price
2. Visa support and registration on the territory of Kazakhstan, if required
3. Surcharge for a hotel early check-in and/or check-out
4. Single accommodation supplement
5. Personal expenses and other expenses not indicated in the program