Tailor-Made Classic Kazakhstan Tour, Private Guide & Daily Starts

Today, we will tour Astana. The first stop is the old town. Many buildings from the Soviet era, over 100 years ago, are preserved here. Then, come to Hazrat Sultan Mosque, a traditional Islamic building. Continue following your driver guide to the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the largest museum in Central Asia. Then we will visit Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, a pyramid-shaped building. Head west to the 79-meter (260-foot) high Bayterek Tower and take the elevator to the interior to enjoy Astana’s panorama.

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Keep moving west to Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center, which looks like a giant Mongolian-style tent, known as the world’s tallest tent. The last spot is Nur Alem Future Energy Museum, once the core pavilion of EXPO 2017 Astana in Kazakhstan. After all visits, the driver guide will transfer you back to the hotel. 

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Meals: Breakfast

This morning, the driver guide will escort you to Astana Airport, where you will fly 1.5 hours to Almaty. After arriving, your driver guide based in Almaty will pick you up and take you to the hotel downtown.

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In the afternoon, the driver guide will take you to the Sunkar Raptor Center for the Falconry Show (available from Apr. to Oct. except for Monday & Tuesday), where you will see different species of falcons displaying their unique hunting techniques.

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Before dusk, follow your driver guide to Kok-Tobe Hill to watch the sunset. Take the eco-friendly electric bus to the mountaintop, and you can enjoy the 360-degree panoramic view of Almaty at the viewing platform. Ultimately, the driver guide will send you back to the hotel.

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Meals: Breakfast

Today, we will first leave Almaty for Basshi Village by driving for 3.5 hours. After hotel check-in and lunch, rest up for the following tour. This afternoon, we will spend three hours exploring Altyn Emel National Park, Kazakhstan’s largest nature reserve. Entering the park and heading to the Aktau Mountains, you will see acres of Mars-like landscapes. In addition, traces of extinct subtropical plants and skeletal fossils of ancient animals have been found in rock cracks. Not far to the west is the Katutau Mountains, which formed by the solidification of lava from the eruption of two large volcanoes. Continue west along the road we come from, and you will see an oasis with long-lived ancient trees growing around streams and lakes. After that, the driver guide will directly drive you back to Basshi Village.

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Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we will continue exploring Altyn Emel National Park to climb Singing Dune. Leaving Altyn Emel National Park and driving on the highway to Zharkent, we will be accompanied by the Katutau Mountains’ foothills for a long stretch. These mountains are also called Tiger Mountains because of their tiger-stripe-like landforms. We will stop for a short visit so you can observe closely. After arriving in Zharkent, try authentic local food for lunch. 

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Next, we will visit Zharkent Mosque, which combines Chinese and Central Asian architectural styles. At last, we will stroll in a local market in Zharkent and drive for two hours to our hand-picked resort in Chunja Hot Springs, where you will stay tonight.

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Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, we are going to appreciate two kinds of distinctive scenery. After driving for 1.5 hours, we’ll first arrive at Charyn Canyon National Park. As the most beautiful and popular part of Charyn Canyon, the Valley of Castles is named after its boulders that resemble ancient castles, and we will leave you enough time to hike through peculiar rock landforms, reddish-brown sandstone columns, as well as find rare animals and plants.

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Drive another 1.5 hours to Saty Village, and we will head to Kaindy Lake, hidden in Heaven Mountains. After an over 30-minute bumpy drive, the lake’s turquoise water will suddenly catch your eyes, with many notable straight dead spruce trunks standing in it. Ultimately, return to Saty Village for dinner and prepare for tomorrow’s long hike.

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Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Starting early morning from Saty Village, we will make it to Kolsai Lakes. It consists of three lakes at different altitudes, and we will drive directly to Lower Kolsai Lake. There are some falconers by the lake, and you can pay to take photos of a golden eagle standing on your shoulder. In addition, you will challenge a 7-km (4.5 miles) hike to Middle Kolsai Lake at an altitude of 2,250 meters (7,380 feet), which takes about 3 hours one way. Alternatively, you can choose horseback riding, popular among tourists.

► Note: Horseback riding, available from April to October, is at your own expense, costing $30-40 per person for a round trip.

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After returning from Middle Kolsai Lake, the driver guide will transfer you to Bayseit Village for dinner and then drive for 3.5 hours to hotel in Almaty. 

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Meals: Breakfast, Lunch-box, Dinner

Today, we will have an Almaty city tour. The first stop is the Central Mosque of Almaty, one of Kazakhstan’s largest mosques. Then, head south to Green Bazaar (Zeleny Bazar), the largest comprehensive market in Almaty. Keep moving south to the Ascension Cathedral (Zenkov Cathedral) in the center of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen Park. Continue following your driver guide to Rakhat Candy Factory, a confectionary store of Kazakhstan's most famous candy brand. The last destination in Almaty is the Medeu Ice Arena. We will climb up its 842-step-long staircase to get closer to snow-capped mountains and enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Medeu Ice Arena. After visit, you will fly 2 hours to Astana again with provided airport see-off and pick-up.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: King Hotel Astana (4 stars)

Today, we will drive nearly three hours out of Astana to visit the Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an essential stop on the migratory route of birds from Africa, the Middle East, and India to their summer breeding grounds in Siberia, boasting over 200 grassland lakes. If you come here between June and September, when the saltwater lake Tengiz becomes the northernmost breeding ground for flamingos, you can see thousands of these rare birds. 

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Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

On the last day of our 10-day Kazakhstan private tours, your driver guide will pick you up at the hotel and escort you to Astana Airport today at the appointed time. If your flight schedule allows, we will stop by the Astana Grand Mosque en route, only a 10-minute drive from the airport. 

Meals: Breakfast