Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Meals

10 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners

Others

Astana - City tour Astana - Local Jewler Visit Turkistan – Caravan Serai complex Otrar - Ancient settlement Turkistan - Yasui Mausoleum Almaty – Winery visit and wine tasting Almaty – Turgen Gorge Almaty – Lake Issyk Almaty - Zenkov Cathedral Almaty - Panfilov Park Almaty - Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments Almaty - Zelenyi Bazaar Charyn Canyon - National Park Kolsay Lakes National Park - Hiking Karakol - Dungan Mosque Karakol - Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral Karakol - Jeti Orghuz Canyon Hike Cholpon Ata - Petroglyphs Lake Issyk-Kul - Boat tour

Transport

Private vehicle , Plane , Overnight Sleeper Train

Accommodation

Hotel (6 nights), Overnight Train (1 night), Guesthouse/Homestay (3 nights)

Not included:

Flights

International flights are not included

Optional

Other activities and services not included

Others

Other activities and services not included

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here (https://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance).

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Astana
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Astana

Salemetsiz be! Welcome to Kazakhstan. Your adventure begins in Astana with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at your hotel. Astana was purpose-built to become the capital city of Kazakhstan in 1997 and is home to meticulously planned city streets and architecture. The modern metropolis was designed by leading Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, who won first prize in a competition against other world-renowned architects. Now, it’s one of the youngest cities in Central Asia. If you arrive early, maybe stroll along the Astana waterfront or go shopping in the world’s largest tent at the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Centre. Tonight, join your leader and group for dinner in town for your first authentic Kazakh food experience.
Day 2 Day 2: Astana
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Astana

This morning, join your leader for a city tour around some of the most impressive designs of the new city. Visit Bayterek tower, then stroll down Nur Boulevard to Khan Shatyr – another city landmark in the shape of a giant transparent tent. Visit Nur-Astana Mosque – with its capacity of 5000 worshippers inside and an additional 2000 outside, it’s one of the largest mosques in Central Asia. Then, you’ll stop at the Palace of Peace & Reconciliation – a pyramid-shaped conference hall considered Astana’s symbolic centre. This afternoon, why not find some horse meat dishes or plov (a popular rice dish with chunks of lamb, onions and carrots) for lunch. After, you’ll met back up with your group and visit a renowned local jeweller and his workshop to learn about his craft.
Day 3 Day 3: Turkistan
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Turkistan

This morning, take a flight to the historic centre of Kazakhstan, Turkistan – home to more relics and cultural sites than any other place in the country. When you arrive, visit the new Caravan Serai – a complex recently built to model ancient Silk Road trade centres, giving visitors a taste of what life was once like here. With your free time in the late afternoon, you can see the Yasawi Mausoleum, illuminated with vivid colours and patterned exteriors.
Day 4 Day 4: Turkistan/ Overnight Train
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Turkistan/ Overnight Train

Head out on a city tour this morning, starting with a visit to Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Mausoleum – Kazakhstan’s most iconic building. Built by Tamerlane, it’s said that three visits here are equal to one visit to Mecca. As it’s a religious site, it’s recommended that women wear a headscarf when entering. On the grounds, you’ll find a rose garden, monuments, an archaeological museum and a mosque. Leaving the mausoleum, jump in your private transport to Shymkent, stopping at the ancient settlement of Otrar on the way. First excavated in 1969, its history dates back to the first century AD, with remnants of palaces, mosques and bathhouses that can still be seen today. This is also where Genghis Khan’s army is said to have fought when the Mongols first invaded Central Asia. Board your overnight train in the evening.
Day 5 Day 5: Almaty
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Almaty

Pulling into Alamaty this morning, hop off the train and head out to find some breakfast. Today, you’ll be going on a daytrip to Lake Issyk and Turgen Gorge. Stop at the Issyk Museum – an archaeological reserve dedicated to Kazakh history and Scythian culture (an ancient nomadic people who were particularly skilled in horseback warfare). Continue to Ile-Alatau National Park, where peaceful Lake Issyk sits in the foothills of the surrounding mountains. Relax and refresh on the lakeshore of this stunning spot before carrying on to Turgen Gorge, where a short hike will bring you to a waterfall. On the way back to Almaty, stop by a winery, where you’ll meet with a local craft winemaker and sample some raw wine, craft cheese and tuck into a hearty lunch.
Day 6 Day 6: Almaty
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Almaty

Today, you’ll take a city tour of Almaty with a local guide. This former capital of Kazakhstan now has a completely different vibrancy to Astana, with its wide tree-lined streets, numerous parks and the view of the snow-capped mountains. Visit Central Square and the colourful Zenkoff Cathedral in Panfilov Park, dedicated to the 28 guardsmen who died defending Moscow against German tanks in WWII. Check out the fascinating Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments, which features a great collection of ancient relics. Finally, visit Zelenyi Bazaar and experience the vibrant market scene before returning to the hotel to rest and recharge.
Day 7 Day 7: Kolsay Lakes National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Kolsay Lakes National Park

This morning, drive to Saty Village, stopping at the spectacular Charyn Canyon along the way. The richly coloured canyon carves a path through the surrounding landscape, with vivid tones of oranges and browns shifting and changing as the sun travels across the sky. Enjoy some time here to marvel at the natural wonder and grab some photos before continuing to Saty Village, where you’ll check into your homestay and experience a taste of local life in the Tien Shan Mountain Range.
Day 8 Day 8: Kolsay Lakes/Border Crossing/Karakol
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Kolsay Lakes/Border Crossing/Karakol

This morning, visit Kolsay Lakes, also known as ‘the blue necklace’ for the clear blue waters framed by the mountains. If there’s time, you’ll take a hike to the lesser-known Kaindy Lake – a turquoise lake with a ‘submerged forest’ protruding from the water. Amazingly, the lake was created by an earthquake in 1911 which caused a limestone landslide, creating a natural dam in the forest. As time went on, the dam filled with water and the trees were covered, leaving just their trunks standing in the centre. Enjoy a picnic lunch, then head over the border to Kyrgyzstan, where you’ll continue your journey to Karakol.
Day 9 Day 9: Karakol
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Karakol

This morning you’ll head out on a city tour of Karakol – once a small Russian military post, then a bustling soviet state, this town is bursting with history. Visit the Dungan Mosque – built in 1910, this colourful mosque was created without the use of a single nail. Instead, the structure was built using special cutting and groove techniques. You’ll also explore the Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral and a local market. Then, head out of the city to see the Jety Oguz, also known as Seven Bull Valley, where your leader will take you on a forest hike to a waterfall with panoramic views. Return to Karakol for another restful night.
Day 10 Day 10: Bishkek
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Bishkek

Today you’ll have a full day’s drive to Bishkek, which sits along the northern shore of Issyk Kul – the second largest alpine lake in the world after Lake Titicaca in South America. The views of the landscape are not to be missed, especially your first glimpse of Issyk Kul, surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Along the way, you’ll stop at Cholpan Ata to visit a petroglyph’s site. Then, take a short boat ride out onto the huge alpine lake to really soak up the beauty of these shimmering waters. In Bishkek, you have a free night, where you might want to head to a final dinner with your group and toast to an amazing adventure.
Day 11 Day 11: Bishkek
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Bishkek

With no further activities planned, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast today. You can check out of your hotel any time before noon.
Day 12 Day 12: Bishkek
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Bishkek

Today is a full day’s drive to Bishkek along the northern shore of Issyk Kul – the second largest alpine lake in the world after lake Titicaca in South America. The views are lovely along the way, especially seeing Issyk Kul surrounded by snow capped mountains. On the way, you’ll stop at Cholpan Ata, visit a petroglyph’s site and take a short boar ride onto the lake to enjoy its sheer size and scale. Arrive in Bishkek in the late afternoon.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 13 Day 13: Bishkek
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Bishkek

Take a trip down memory lane today with a city tour showcasing the country’s fascinating history. The centre of the city is Ala-too Square, which was known as Lenin Square in Soviet times. Lenin used to stand in his concrete overcoat in the middle of this square, proudly gesturing towards the mountains. A great place for a wander is Dubovy (Oak) Park, where you’ll find a few open-air cafes. The century-old oaks here and all along Freedom Avenue make Bishkek one of the greenest cities in Central Asia. In the afternoon, you’ll have some free time to further explore Bishkek. Quite the contrast to the relaxed quiet streets, square and parks in the city center, Osh Market is noisy, crowded, and a perfect peek into local life. You’ll find all kinds of things on sale here from spices and fruits to clothes and carpets. Get together with your travel mates and enjoy an optional dinner together tonight to celebrate a great journey through Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 14 Day 14: Bishkek
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Bishkek

You adventure ends after breakfast today and you can depart at any time. Hotel checkout time is 12 noon.

+11

11 days tour

Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan Adventure

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan Adventure

Day 1: Astana

Day 2: Astana

Day 3: Turkistan

Day 4: Turkistan/ Overnight Train

Day 5: Almaty

Day 6: Almaty

Day 7: Kolsay Lakes National Park

Day 8: Kolsay Lakes/Border Crossing/Karakol

Day 9: Karakol

Day 10: Bishkek

Day 11: Bishkek

Day 12: Bishkek

Day 13: Bishkek

Day 14: Bishkek

Experience Style

Accomodation level

Experience Type

Physical Rating

Age range

Who talk about us:

Best cities to travel to

America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania