Kazakhstan Explorer Trails : April 6th to 12th
Thanks to abundant natural resources Kazakhstan is probably the best developed of the “stans”. You’re more likely to get a good coffee on the leafy streets of Almaty than anywhere else on the Central Asian steppe, and the country’s new capital, Astana, is a 21st-century showcase of modern architecture and futuristic design. Not what you’d expect from a country where few travellers have yet to venture. Whatever your expectations are, leave them in the arrivals lounge. Kazakhstan defies them all.
On our journey we explore vibrant Almaty and Southern Kazakhstan, a place truly off the beaten track that sees few travellers, especially outside Astana and Almaty. For much of this trip, you’ll truly feel the remoteness of Central Asia.
Explore its rugged mountain and semi desert topography with canyons, lakes and forests and understand the Kazak way of life, their culture and food in this truly offbeat adventure.
Essential Info
Cost: Rs 65000/- per person
Country: Kazakhstan
Start: Almaty
End: Almaty
Start Date: 6th April’ 2025
End Date: 12th April’ 2025
Duration: 7 Days
Group Size : Min 5 / Max 10
Theme: Culture, Adventure
Highlights
– Explore Almaty city and admire the city’s view from an altitude of 3200 m above sea level
– Try a traditional Kazakh cuisine – “Beshmarmak”, “Kurt”, Lagman and “Kumys”
– Know the secret of how the Zenkoff Cathedral was built without a single nail
– Try famous Oporto apples at a Green Bazaar and visit Rakhat Candy Factory
– Visit the Altyn Emel Natural Park which is the largest in Kazakhstan
– Explore the canyons and peaks of Aktau mountains and take fantastic photos in the Katutau mountains
– Visit the unconventional Zharkent Mosque
– Plunge into the color of local life in the villages of Basshi and Saty (Kazakh villages)
– Visit the Singing Barkhan ( Singing dunes ) and see the beautiful landscape
– Go down the Charyn Canyon to ” Valley of Castles” and admire its beauty– Trek and walk around Kolsai Lake and Kiandy Lake
ITINERARY
Day 1: April 6th : Almaty
Arrive in Almaty and transfer to the hotel. Rest and later in the evening you have the option to explore Arbat street, the most popular nightlife district of Almaty. Overnight at Almaty.
Day 2: April 7th : Almaty – Altyn Emel National Park – Basshi
After breakfast we leave for Altyn-Emel National Park, about 300 km from Almaty. After reaching Basshi and having lunch we explore the park. Be ready to be mesmerized by he the surreal topography, the different types of red rock formations, colourful mountains, stunning views of canyons and singing sand dunes. Altyn-Emel is a national natural park located in the Ili river valley in Kazakhstan. The Park was founded in 1996 with the purpose to preserving the unique natural complex, archeological, historical and cultural monuments, rare and endangered species of animals and plants. In the Parks territory of 4600 sq kms, one can find various kinds of desert and mountain landscapes.
Late afternoon we visit the Singing Dunes ( Singing Barkhan ) inside the park to hear the sounds and echos of the singing dunes and to see the mesmerizing topography of the region. Later enjoy traditional Kazak dishes at our Homestay and take part in the national Kazakh game “Asyki”. Overnight at Basshi village. .
Day 3: April 8th : Basshi – Katu-tau and Aktau mountains – Zharkent
Toady we visit Katu-tau and Aktau mountains. The former is famous for its unique appearance, which was probably created by small volcanoes, erupted and immediately cooled down several thousand years ago. Today’s unique shapes are well preserved and remain the same. These shapes include holes of all shapes and sizes, grooves, cracks, gyrus, which sometimes resemble shelves, sometimes cups or royal throne, just let your imagination guide you. Aktau canyons and mountains could surprise you by its red, green, pink or even pale blue colored stony slopes. Archaeologists have discovered dinosaur bones in the mountains of Aktau, and remains of other species are being found even today. Its also possible to see some rare and indigenous wildlife of the region today including the Argali ( mountain goat ), Mongolian Khulan ( wild ass ), Stone Marten, Bactrian Deer, Persian Gazelle and Przewalski horse.
After lunch we head to Zharkent town and visit the Zharkent mosque and museum and Orthodox Church. We will also visit the local market and you can try one of the most popular lagman in Kazakhstan or “Beshbarmak”, the national dish of Kazakhstan. Overnight at Zharkent.
Day 4: April 9th: Zharkent – Charyn Canyon – Kaindy Lake – Saty village
After breakfast we drive to Charyn Canyon one of the most visited attractions in Kazakhstan. With spectacular rock formations rising up 370 meters from the valley floor. Visitors can walk a well maintained path some three kilometers along the base of the canyon, known as the “Valley of Castles.” There are a number of fascinating rock formations along the way. The path ends at the Charyn River, in an area with shade trees perfect for picnicking. Later arrive in Saty village and after lunch we visit Kaindy Lake. Evening back to Saty village. After dinner and tasting traditional Kazakh bread “baursaki” and traditional Kazakh cheese “kurt” we sit by the fire with a cup of hot tea. Overnight at Saty village.
Day 5: April 10th : Saty – Kolsai Lake – Almaty
After breakfast we visit Kolsay Lake in the Kolsai Lake National Park. The lakes were formed after an 1887 earthquake caused landslides that dammed the stream. The view of the lake is spectacular and you can go horse riding here , hiking , boat ride etc. around the lake. After lunch we leave from Kolsai Lake and reach Almaty by late afternoon / evening. On the way we stop at a vinery to see the vinery and wine tasting. Overnight at Almaty.
Day 6: April 11th : Almaty
Today, you’ll take a half day 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. Afternoon free to visit Big Almaty lake or shopping or rest. Overnight at Almaty.
Day 7: April 12th : Almaty ( Departure )
After breakfast transfer to airport. End of tour.
Trip Info
Almaty
Altyn Emel National Park
Basshi
Charyn Canyon
Saty Village
Zherkent
INCLUDED
– 3 nights stay each in Almaty, 1 Night stay in Basshi village, 1 night stay in Saty village AND 1 night stay in Zharkent town
– Breakfast on all days ( 6 Breakfast )
– All airport transfers during tour in Suv / Van
– Day 2 to Day 5 tour in Suv / Van
– Half day guided tour of Almaty in Suv / Van
– Service charges
– Taxes
EXCLUDED
– Flight Charges ( Your city to Almaty and back )
– Visa ( 14 days visa free entry for Indian nationals )
– Entry tickets and camera charges ( wherever applicable )
– Dinner & Lunch
– Other than those mentioned
Day 1: March 29th – Tashkent
Hotel : South Hotel – OQ UY Hotel or Similar
Included Activities : City sightseeing tour, Market walk
Included Transport : Airport pickup
Meal : None
Day 2: March 30th -Tashkent – Samarkand
Hotel : Hotel Mohina – Furkat Guesthouse or Similar
Included Activities : City Walking Tour
Included Transport : Train
Included Entry tickets : None
Meal : Breakfast
Day 3: March 31st : Samarkand
Hotel : Hotel Mohina – Furkat Guesthouse or Similar
Included Activities : City Sightseeing
Included Transport : Car / Van
Included Entry tickets :None
Meal :Breakfast
Day 4: April 1st : Samarkand – Nuratau Mountain Homestay
Hotel : Village Homestay
Included Activities : Drive to Mountain Homestay
Included Transport :Full day tour
Included Entry tickets :None
Meal :Breakfast
Day 5: April 2nd : Nuratau Mountain Homestay – Bukhara
Hotel : Ikat – Eshoni Pir or Similar
Included Activities : Gidjuvan & Bukhara Sightseeing
Included Transport :Full day tour
Included Entry tickets :None
Meal :Breakfast
Day 6: April 3rd : Bukhara
Hotel : Ikat – Eshoni Pir or Similar
Included Activities : City Sightseeing, Walking Tour
Included Transport : Car / Van
Included Entry tickets :None
Meal :Breakfast
Day 7: April 4th : Bukhara – Tashkent
Hotel : Gold Khiva – Art House Boutique Hotel or Similar
Included Activities : None
Included Transport : Train, Car / Van
Included Entry tickets :None
Meal : Breakfast
Day 8: April 5th : Departure
Meal : Breakfast
Included Transport : Airport drop
- Rs 2500/- Discount ( For our regular guests)
- Rs 2000/- Discount ( For new bookings )
- Rs 3000/- Discount ( For 3 or more people booking together )
- Stay will be in Standard category hotels and Bed n Breakfast places with good reviews on a double/twin sharing basis.
- Local and Western food is available at most places.
- Breakfast ( Included ) will be western and/or local breakfast at most places.
- Private car/van for Airport transfers
- Private car/van for all travel and sightseeing
- Uzbekistan visa can be made online ( Your passport must be at least 6 months valid from the date of entering )
For this trip
This tour is for travelers who want to experience some of the best destinations Uzbekistan has to offer. We have tried to create a good mix of culture, nature, and experiences for this trip .
For all our trips
Our small group tours also allow enough time for yourself ( mostly in the evenings ) and the group leaders will assist you too if you need to do your own thing.
Stay and the food is a big part of the travel and we make sure you are made comfortable therefore we choose some of the best-reviewed places to stay and eat.
We try to incorporate more local experiences on our tours with the help of our experienced tour leader and local guides to make your experience even more memorable.
Our tours are not standard sightseeing package tours, it’s more experience-oriented so as to give real travel value to the guests.
Who are we?
Exotic Expeditions is an experiential based travel company founded in 2010. We are based out of Bangalore and Mumbai and we create uniquely designed tours that have high travel value. We include activities, local interactions, and offbeat destinations so that the guests go back with experiences to remember for a long time.
What are all included in our tours?
A comprehensive list of inclusions and exclusions is mentioned on the respective trip page, but across all our trips, we have these in common: exclusive private transfers, breakfast on most days, good accommodation, unique experiences,
expert guides and an experienced trip leader who’s there to assist you around the clock.
Are flights & visas included in your costs?
No.We don’t include flights and visa costs in our prices unless specified. We, however, will help you with booking flights and getting the visa done.
What is the typical group size?
We believe that a small group is can enjoy the journey better and have closer interactions with the group members, therefore, we restrict our group size to a maximum of 15. Group size typically between 5 and 15. Our travelers are
friendly, open-minded, well traveled and we have a good gender mix on our tours.
Who can join this trip?
Anyone above 18 years of age can join our trips. Participants below the age of 18 must be accompanied by an elder.
Which cities do travelers come from?
Our travelers come from all over India. Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad and Calcutta are represented the most.
What are the payment options?
You can make payments through credit and debit cards, net-banking, cash or cheque. Installment options are also available.
Can solo travelers join one of the tours?
Yes. On most of our tours, we have a high turnout of solo travelers seeking a different travel experience. Many of them even end up becoming friends after the tour.
How safe is it to travel with you?
Your safety is our number one priority and we design our travel journeys keeping this in mind.
- You can contact us at contact@exoticexpeditions.org / exoticexpeditions@gmail.com
- Call / WhatsApp us at 9986450370
- Bookings can be done by online bank transfer/cash/ cheque or credit/debit card
- Installment options are also available
