4 Days in Turkistan: History, Heritage & Nature

Duration: 4 days / 3 nights

Season: March – October

Route:Turkistan Railway Station / Airport → Turkistan City → Otrar Settlement → Arystan Bab Mausoleum → "Hazret Sultan" Museum-Reserve → Shayan → Akmeshit Aulie → Domalak Ana Mausoleum → Turkistan → Railway Station / Airport

Route Type: Historical · Ethnic · Nature-Based

---

Day 1 Arrival & City Orientation

• Meet & Greet at the airport or train station by your certified guide
• En route city introduction — guided overview of the old and new parts of Turkistan on the way to your hotel

---

14:00 – Hotel Check-In

(Based on selected accommodation option)

---

16:30–18:00 – Evening City Walk

Enjoy a relaxing walk along the scenic embankment, with a narrative about modern Turkistan.
Highlights include:

• Decorative fountains
• New museums
• Architectural elements of hotel complexes and public spaces

---

18:30–19:30 – Dinner at Arbat Restaurant (Menu example, may vary by option)

• Balguyn salad
• Achichuk (spicy tomato-onion salad)
• Uzbek pilaf
• Flatbread
• 0.5 portion of manty per person
• Arbat house tea

Followed by free time

---

21:00 – Water Show: Kyz Zhibek & Tolegen

A stunning floating theatrical performance based on the beloved Kazakh romantic epic.
Part I: Characters arrive on boats in a ceremonial parade along the Karavansaray canal, greeting the audience
Part II: The performance continues in the central harbor, blending fountain choreography, theater, and music to tell the epic love story.

The original score was composed exclusively for this project by renowned Kazakh composer Syrym Nabikulov.

Day 2 Otrar, Arystan Bab & Ancient Turkistan

---

Itinerary

07:00–07:45 – Early breakfast at the hotel

08:00 – Meet your guide at the hotel
Depart for Arystan Bab Mausoleum and the Otrar Settlement

---

09:30 – Visit to Arystan Bab Mausoleum

Arystan Bab was a revered Muslim saint and Sufi sheikh who lived in the 11th–12th centuries. He was the spiritual mentor of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the founder of Turkic Sufism.

• The mausoleum is a place of pilgrimage in southern Kazakhstan

• Originally built in the 12th century, it was restored under Amir Timur in the 14th century

---

10:30 – Transfer to Otrar Settlement

A legendary Silk Road city destroyed by Genghis Khan in the 13th century for its resistance.

• Otrar was a major center of trade, science, and religion

• Birthplace of the philosopher Al-Farabi

• Famous for its eastern baths, coin mint, and ancient library

• Visitors today explore excavated streets and ruins rising from the steppe

---

11:30–12:30 – Return transfer to Turkistan

12:45–13:45 – Lunch (sample menu)
Greek salad, eggplant salad, mastava soup, baursaks, beef samsa, zhent dessert, berry tea

---

14:00–17:00 – Tour of Ancient Turkistan

• Citadel dating back to the 2nd century BC

• Fire temple ruins in Kultobe archaeological park

• 400-year-old eastern bathhouse

• “Gar” – underground cell of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi

• Streets of historical artisan and merchant quarters

• Hilvet Underground Mosque

• Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi

  • Insightful interpretation of the epigraphic texts on the façade

---

17:30–18:15 – Altyn Samruk Museum Visit

Home of the Altyn Samuryq Flying Theater, a unique multimedia experience:

• Learn about Kazakh culture and history, including the legacy of Yasawi

• Fly via VR over the Caspian Sea, Charyn Canyon, and Kolsai Lakes

• Feel the spirit of the Kazakh steppe with cutting-edge virtual immersion

---

18:45–19:45 – Dinner (sample menu)
Vegetable platter, Gidjuvan kebab, beef & chicken kebabs, Uzbek flatbread, Tashkent tea, mineral water

20:00 – Return to hotel
Overnight in Turkistan

Day 3 – Sacred Caves and Legends of the Steppe

---

Itinerary

07:00–08:00 – Breakfast at the hotel

08:15–10:00 – Drive to Shayan (129 km) en route to Akmeshit Cave

En route: Guided story – Appak Ishan Architectural Complex (30 minutes)

A prime example of 19th-century Islamic architecture, this complex includes:

• A domed mosque on a cylindrical drum

• A P-shaped madrasah with classrooms and hujras (student cells)

• A darshana (prayer and spiritual hall) under a raised dome
  It served as a center for religious education and remains a cherished spiritual landmark in the Turkistan region.

---

10:00–11:15 – Continue 35 km to Akmeshit Aulie Cave
(Final approach includes a short walk and stairs)

---

11:15 – Arrival at Akmeshit Aulie Cave

One of Kazakhstan’s most sacred natural wonders, Akmeshit Aulie is a giant limestone karst cave, over 150 m long and 65 m wide, with a ceiling height reaching 30 m.

• A microclimate inside supports a lush green grove with birdsong and filtered natural light

• Once believed to house a dragon, the cave is now a place of prayer, healing wishes, and nature reverence

• Popular among both pilgrims and adventure seekers

---

11:45–12:15 – Guided interpretation of the cave’s geology, history, and legends
12:15–13:00 – Free time for reflection, exploration, and photography

---

13:10 – Group assembly by vehicle
13:15 – Picnic-style lunch (boxed lunch provided, no dining facilities in the area)

---

14:30 – Visit to the Domalak Ana Mausoleum (58 km from Akmeshit)

Domalak Ana (Nurila bint Shaikh Mizambek) is a revered motherly figure in Kazakh folklore:

• Wife of Baidibek Batyr

• Ancestress of the Alban, Suan, and Dulat tribes

• Renowned for wisdom, kindness, and clairvoyance

• Her final wish: to be buried where a white camel would rest. Her mausoleum now stands at that sacred spot.

To this day, her resting place draws pilgrims and seekers of maternal blessings and spiritual strength.

---

15:35 – Departure from Domalak Ana (160 km drive to Turkistan)

17:40–18:00 – Estimated return to Turkistan
Evening at leisure (free time)

---

Day 4 – Culture & Departure: Legacy of the Steppe

---

Itinerary

08:00–09:00 – Breakfast at the hotel

---

09:00 – Guided Walk to Farab Library (Exterior Visit & Narration)

The Farab Library is a striking modern facility blending architecture, technology, and knowledge.

• The upper floors feature panoramic reading halls surrounded by glass walls

• The second level includes creative studios, workshops, and a spacious coworking hub

• Below ground lies a research center with rare manuscripts, digitization labs, and conservation spaces
  Though this is an exterior visit only, your guide will share the vision and structure of this cultural institution named after the famed scholar Al-Farabi

---

Visit to the "Uly Dala Eli" Museum (Tickets included)

The "Land of the Great Steppe" Center in Turkistan is a major cultural complex honoring Kazakh history and identity.
Inside this two-level interactive museum, visitors experience:

• Ancient metallurgy, equestrian traditions, and the Kazakh Khanate

• The broader Turkic world, nature, and Kazakhstan’s future vision

• Highlights include the Turkic Hall with a towering 14-meter 3D sphere, a glass bridge over the map of Kazakhstan, and intricate design elements like bas-reliefs and inlaid floors

• The museum also hosts multimedia zones and conference halls

---

Departure

Transfer to the airport or train station

Tour Price Includes

• Certified Russian/English-speaking guide (1 guide for the entire 4-day tour)

• Meals according to the tour itinerary

• Lunch box on Day 3

• Transportation with experienced driver throughout the tour

• Entrance tickets to all listed attractions

• Museum visits per itinerary

• Accommodation in a hotel of the selected category

• Breakfasts included with hotel stay

• Transfers from/to airport or railway station

• 0.5L bottled water per person per day

---

Not Included in the Tour Price

• Fees for professional photo/video shoots

• Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra meals, etc.)

• Unlisted services not specified in the program

• Airfare/train tickets (domestic or international)

• Early hotel check-in before standard check-in time

---

Additional Information

• Groups of over 10 people – prices available upon request

• Holiday seasons – special pricing applies

• Tour pricing is based on a Russian-speaking guide

  • Foreign language guides – pricing available upon request

• Children under 12 – pricing upon request

• Children aged 12 and above – charged at adult rate

---

Travel Tips – What to Bring

Clothing & Footwear (by season)

Spring / Autumn:

• Comfortable clothing & walking shoes

• Light jacket / raincoat / windbreaker

• Headwear

• Waterproof footwear

Summer:

• Sunhat / cap

• Sunglasses & sunscreen

• Light, breathable clothing

• Comfortable shoes

Winter:

• Warm outerwear

• Insulated shoes, gloves, hat, scarf

---

Dress Code for Religious Sites

• Head covering required (especially for women)

• Shoulders & knees must be covered

• Avoid overly bright, tight, or revealing clothes

---

Recommended Essentials

• Personal medications / first-aid kit

• Refillable water bottle

• Charged phone + power bank

• Local currency: Kazakhstani tenge (₸)

---

Tour Prices (Per Person in KZT & USD)

---

➕ Additional Payments

---

Important Notes

• Inform your guide immediately if you feel unwell

• The itinerary may be adjusted due to weather or group conditions

• The organizer reserves the right to change the route or suspend the tour for safety reasons

• If the listed hotel is unavailable, a hotel of equal category and conditions will be provided

• Please inform us in advance about allergies or dietary restrictions

• Unused meals are non-refundable