Three Days On The Great Silk Road Tour

Route: Taraz - Shymkent - Otrar Settlement - Turkestan - Sairam (South Kazakhstan)

Season: March - October

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

Day 1: Taraz - Shymkent

Arrival in Taraz by morning train from Almaty. Meeting at the railway station and transfer to the city. Sightseeing at the History Museum, Karakhan Mausoleum, Dautbek Mausoleum, and Tekturmas Historical Complex.

Taraz is one of the oldest cities in Kazakhstan, with its ancient remains hidden beneath the modern city. It was a major commercial and administrative center on the Silk Road in the 7th–8th centuries and dates back more than 2,000 years. There are more than 70 monuments of archaeology, history, architecture, and monumental art in Taraz and the surrounding area.

A unique monument of medieval architecture from the 11th–12th centuries is the Aisha Bibi Mausoleum. It is the only monument in Central Asia entirely decorated with terracotta and is included in the UNESCO list of the most valuable historical and architectural monuments.

Transfer to Shymkent. Accommodation at the hotel. Overnight in Shymkent.

Day 2: Shymkent - Otrar Settlement - Turkestan - Shymkent

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Otrar Settlement (220 km). Sightseeing at Arystan Bab Mausoleum (teacher and spiritual mentor of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi) and the archaeological site of the ancient settlement of Otrar.

Otrar is the birthplace of the medieval philosopher and scientist Al-Farabi. The settlement was founded in the 4th century BC and became an important center of trade and craftsmanship along caravan routes between Eastern Europe and China. In the late 13th century, Mongol troops destroyed the city.

Despite this devastation, Otrar was rebuilt and developed again in a relatively short time. The remains of the citadel and other large structures, as well as the main gate and rabad (suburb), covering an area of about 10 square kilometers, have survived to the present day.

Transfer to Turkestan (70 km). Sightseeing at the "Azret-Sultan" Historical and Architectural Complex, including the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (necropolis, fortress wall fragments, citadel gates, hammam, and underground mosque).

Turkestan was founded around 500 AD at the crossroads of caravan routes from Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. It became the spiritual and political center of Turkic-speaking people in the 16th–18th centuries and served as the capital of the Kazakh Khanate.

The city gained international recognition due to the teachings of the Sufi philosopher Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, who was buried here in 1166. The current mausoleum was built 233 years after his death by order of the great ruler Emir Tamerlane. Today, it is a masterpiece of medieval architecture and one of the most important Islamic pilgrimage sites.

According to legend, all attempts to build the mausoleum initially failed. In one version, it was destroyed by a powerful storm; in another, by a mythical green bull. A saint later appeared in Tamerlane’s dream and advised him to first build a mausoleum over the grave of Arystan Bab, and only then build the one for Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, which he did.

For this reason, pilgrims traditionally visit the mausoleum of Arystan Bab before visiting the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. It is believed that three visits to Turkestan are equivalent to a minor Hajj to Mecca.

Transfer to Shymkent. Overnight in Shymkent.

Day 3: Shymkent - Sairam - Shymkent

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Departure to Sairam settlement (20 km). Sightseeing at the Local History Museum "Sairam," Mar-Tobe, Ibrahim-Ata Mausoleum, Karashash-Ana Mausoleum, and a medieval minaret.

Sairam is located near Shymkent, on the site of ancient Ispidzhab — one of the largest centers of the Great Silk Road in the Middle Ages. It was first mentioned in Chinese manuscripts in the year 629 and was renamed Sairam in the 13th century.

The settlement preserves remains of buildings dating from the 13th to the 19th centuries. It is also known as the birthplace of the great 12th-century spiritual leader Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. The mausoleums of his parents, Ibrahim-Ata and Karashash-Ana, are located here.

Transfer to the foothills of the Kazygurt Mountains to visit the sacred Kamekalgan stones. Sightseeing includes the "Adam and Eve" rocks, animal-shaped stone sculptures, "Noah’s Ark," and the magical "Dastarkhan" stone.

Kazygurt is a mountain massif with an altitude of 1,776 meters above sea level, located in the northern spurs of the Talas Alatau. The mountain consists of two hills connected by a saddle.

Despite its relatively modest height, Kazygurt is associated with a legend that it was once the highest mountain in the world. During a great flood, when the world was submerged, only its peak remained above water, and it is believed that Noah’s Ark came to rest here. Today, a symbolic structure representing Noah’s Ark, created from wood and metal, stands at the summit.

Transfer to Shymkent railway station. Departure to Almaty by evening train.

TOUR PRICE: On request

TOUR PRICE INCLUSIONS:

Double accommodation in a hotel in Shymkent

Transfers to/from railway stations and transportation as per the program in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan

Sightseeing as per the program with an English-speaking guide

Admission fees during the tour

Meals: Standard hotel breakfast

TOUR PRICE EXCLUSIONS:

Accommodation in Almaty, if required

Railway tickets (Almaty–Taraz / Shymkent–Almaty)

Single accommodation supplement in Shymkent

Meals (except hotel breakfasts)

Visa support and registration in Kazakhstan, if required

Personal expenses and other costs not mentioned in the program