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Soft adventure tours from Astana to AlmatyDestination: Kazakhstan Route: Astana – Borovoe – Astana- Chimkent – Aksu Jabagly National Park- Turkestan – Almaty – Big Almaty lake – Almaty. Best time for journey – June-September Duration: 10 days Group size: maximum 18 pax Character of the tour – culture program, visits to interesting nature places of Kazakhstan including national park Borovoe and Аksu Jabagly national reserve Meals: All meals (Russian, Asian, European meal) Transportation with AC: subject to number of pax – Jeep 4 WD, MB Sprinter, Bus for 50 places. Accommodation: Astana –Hotel Tengry, Borovoe – cottages Gulnar, Turkestan –Hotel Turkestan, Almaty – Hotel Otrar. Guiding: English speaking guide (Germany)
Itinerary of soft adventure tours: Day 1. Arrival to Astana. Drive to Hotel. S/S program. Visiting the main sites of the city- Baiterec Tower the cymbol and its visiting card. The height of the construction is
Day 2. Astana – Borovoe ( After breakfast transfer to Borovoe – scenic place not far from Astana. This place located in the area between Astana and Kokshetau. It’s a wonderful district, a real oasis, named Borovoe. Geographically this nook is called the Kokshetau heights and the local guides gave it the name of Kazakhstani Switzerland. The heights of Borovoe are in fact not that high: 500-600 m for the average hilltops, 300-
Day 3. Borovoe – Astana. After breakfast short hiking near the aria. Borovoe is more beautiful than a fairy tale. The harmony of the mountains and forests and lakes creates not only the unique beauty of the landscape, but also a special healing climate. One cannot help but mention the lakes of Borovoe . There are many lakes: Shyuchie, Borovoe, Big and Small Chebachie and Kotukul glitter on the green carpet of the forest. Every name here has its own legend. For example , the Sphinkx is interesting when one looks at him from different points of view, for then one can see the face of a young lady with waving hair, then that of a woman and in the end that of an old woman. In the afternoon transfer to Astana. Dinner and overnight in a hotel.
Day 4. Astana – Shimkent – Aksu-Jabagly. In the morning you catch your plane and fly to Chimkent. Transfer to Aksu-Jabagly village. The famous place of interest of the western Tien-Shan is Aksu-Jabagly Preserve with the total area of 74.4 thousand hectares. Founded in 1926 it was the first reserve in Kazakhstan and Central Asia . In the preserve there are main altitudinal bets of vegetation – from semi-deserts to glaciers zone. Several kinds of endemic species of plants grow on the territory of the preserve. You’ll be impressed with the mountain ridges, swift rivers, nature of the amazing beauty. Dinner and overnight in a guest house.
Day 5. Aksu-Jabagly national park. In the morning the full excursion in Aksu-Jabagly Natural Park. There are several interesting destinations inside the park. The Aksu river canyon is one of the deepest canyons in Asia. You’ll get acquainted with fascinating wonders of Aksu-Jabagly . Hiking along the canyon. You’ll see the waterfall in the gorge. Picnic in the open aria. Hiking back to the village. Dinner and overnight in the guesthouse.
Day 6. Aksu-Jabagly national park – Turkestan. After breakfast set off for Aksu-Jabagly national park. In the way visit of the Arystan-Bab (Khoja Akhmed Yassayu’s teacher’s mausoleum) and Otrar town excavations. After several hours driving on the road in steppe we’ll reach Turkestan – ancient capital of Kazakh Khanate. Turkestan (Iasi) was evaluated as a spiritual and political center of the Turkic –speaking people and was the capital of the Kazakh Khanate. Turkestan is 1500 years. Turkistan city attracts people with its historical monuments in the open area and rich history hidden in its heritage. The roots of the city are very deep. Considering the ancient remains from the Stone Age around the city, we can say that settlement began here 500 thousand years old. We can also come across the remains from the Bronze Age. Evening walking in amazing ancient city. Feel the spirit of ancient city. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.
Day 7. Turkestan – Almaty In the morning S/S tour in Turkestan. Visit Azret-Sultan “historical – architectural complex- Khodja Akhmed Yassayu mausoleum, the first great Turkic Muslim holy man brought religious glory to the town. The mausoleum in honor of Kozha Akhmed Yasaui was built on a grand scale by Timur in the late 14th century ( from 1389 to 1405). Today this one of the largest outstanding and best-preserved constructions of the Timurid period considered to be Kazakhstan’s greatest building and the most important site of Muslim pilgrimage in Central Asia. Also visiting Turkestan town necropolis, oriental baths and underground mosque. In the evening visit to “night bazaar”. Train to Almaty. It takes 18 hours. Night in train.
Day 8. Almaty. Arrival in Almaty at 09.44AM. In the morning short excursions in the town. Visit the Square of 28 Panfilov Heroes, devoted to general Panfilov, a hero of World War 2 and the members of this division. In the center of the park the Glory Memorial dedicated to the victims of the Civil War and World War 2. You’ll get acquainted with Almaty’s history and see the Ascension Cathedral the second highest wooden building in the world built according to the plan of a famous Russian architect A.Zenkov. The church was one of the few buildings that survived the severe earthquake. Next to the cathedral there is an alley of spruce trees that were loaned by the presidents of different countries. Then you’ll visit the Museum of Musical Instruments which has a big collection of Kazakh folk musical instruments and musical instruments of different nationalities of the world. Visit the old center of the former Capital historically formed in the 30-50s of the 20th century, the Opera and Ballet Theatre, Parliament. Then excursion to the main square – the Republic Square where an Independence Monument, Golden Man that is a symbol of the city and an bas-reliefs depicting the prominent events of the Kazakh history. After lunch visit Medeo an ice stadium located in a mountain valley on the south-eastern outskirts of Almaty. It is an outdoor speed skating rink and one of the most famous ice rinks in the world. Many world records in speed skating have been set up here. You’ll see the medeo Dam built in the late 1960s standing next to the skating rink protecting the city of Almaty from potentially devastating mud flows. Viewpoints on top of the dam provide great views of the stadium. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.
Day 9. Almaty – Big Almaty lake – Almaty. After breakfast drive to the one of the scenic place, not far from Almaty , the Big Almaty lake (40km) One way journey time is 2.5 hours which includes a visit to the mud stream check dam in the canyon of the river Bolshaya Almatinka bearing the traces of the last mud streams. Time of sightseeing and dinner – 7 hours. The rock – dammed Mountain Lake is located in the forest area of the National Park “Ile Alatau” 2511m over the sea level with maximum depth 35m and temperature of water in summer 10-12 degrees. After the picnic near the lake we’ll have return to Alamaty. Short excursion and dinner. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 10. Departure. Drive to airport for departure.
Quotation: Group size 10-12 paying pax - $1549 p.p. in twin Single supplement - $160 p.p. Quotation includes:
Not included: visa fees, airport taxes, tips, personal expenses, drinks These soft adventure tours are for those, who like to travel and discover new destinations. |