EXPLORE KAZAKHSTAN Land of The Great Steppe 11 Days Expedition 10 DAYS to become closer to Kazakhstan During this expedition, you will meet Kazakhstan with its modern, urban capital full of skyscrapers and spherical complexes. You will have the opportunity to experience the Kazakhs’ culture, taste multiple national cuisines and be fascinated by the beautiful vast steppe out in the wilderness! Astana (Nursultan), A Dynamically-Developing Metropolis The political life of Kazakhstan is concentrated here, and many young people from all over the country go here chasing their dream. You will visit the Nur-Astana Mosque, Beit-Rakhel-Chabad, the Lubavitch Synagogue, the Pyramid of Peace and Reconciliation, the Ethnic Park, the Cultural Center, and the Astana-Baiterek monument. Visit one of the brightest heritage sites of EXPO-2017 - the future energy museum “Nur Alem”. The architectural symbol of the exhibition is the largest spherical building in the world with a diameter of 80 meters and a height of 100 meters. On the ground floor of the building there is a pavilion of Kazakhstan where visitors will get acquainted with the history, culture, traditions, sights and the latest achievements of Kazakhstan. Directly in the Sphere there is the Museum of the Future. Day 1: Welcome to Kazakhstan Flight - Air China - 09:00 HRS Singapore > Astana (Nursultan) - 2155 HRS Arrival in Astana (Nursultan) - 21:00 HRS Meeting with the guide in the arrivals hall. Transfer to the hotel : Accommodation (3 stars twin-sharing hotel) Day 2: The Rhythm of the Capital Program of the day: 08:00 Breakfast 09:00 City tour 13:00 Lunch 14:00 Continue city tour 19:00 Dinner Transfer to train station 21:10 Overnight train to Almaty Sightseeing tour of Astana (Nursultan) In 1997, the president Nursultan Nazarbayev decided to move the capital of Kazakhstan from Almaty to Astana (Nursultan). This decision caused controversial assessments: on the one hand, it was a challenge to the deserted Asian steppe, on the other hand, it was received as a hymn to the human reason and modern technology. Day 3: The Icy Breath of Mountains Program of the day: 10:00 Arrival in Almaty train station (breakfast will be packed in lunch box) 11:00 Trip to Medeo and Shymbulak Ski Resort 12:30 Lunch Explore around Big Almaty Lake 16:30 Falcon Farm 17:00 Beginning of the “Falcon show” 18:00 Dinner at the restaurant Transfer to the hotel and rest (3 stars twin-sharing hotel) During a dizzy climb to the Shymbulak glacier, a modern ski resort, you can feel the free spirit of Kazakhstan, the scope of its territories and the beauty of these lands. Snowy peaks, centuries-old forests, mountain lakes… All this, combined with modern ski lifts, thermal pools, and comfortable cottages leaves no doubt that Kazakhstan is developing by leaps and bounds, remaining true to the traditions of the steppe peoples. While looking at the city from the viewing platform, you easily understand During a dizzy climb to the Shymbulak glacier, the nomad Medeo. Once he decided to halt here and made a cape, which eventually became a whole aul. The air in the gorge is so pure, that one might feel dizzy, and the smell of the forest is mixed with a subtle taste of the icy wind from the peaks of the Trans-Ili Alatau. The most unusual ice rink was built here in 1972: it is located at an altitude of 1691. 2 meters above sea level, and it is as big as three Vatican Cities! Big Almaty Lake & Falcon Farm Enjoy the scenic drive through the Big Almaty gorge. Situated at an altitude of 2,510 meters above sea level lies the mystical Big Almaty lake - one of the most picturesque lakes in Trans-Ili Alatau. The Big Almaty lake was formed as a result of the movement of an ancient glacier. Thanks to the high altitude, the water in the lake is always cool - even in July, the water temperature does not exceed more than 10 degrees Celsius. The lake is a source of drinking water supplying to Almaty city. Because of this reason, most of the lake is restricted for tourists, hence, the excursion route brings us a little higher above the lake, where you can enjoy the glorious panorama of the mountains and the Big Almaty lake, surrounded by different mountain peaks covered with Tien Shan fir-tree, aspen and juniper. Falcon Farm On the way back to town, you will visit the Falcon Farm, where you will enjoy a spectacular show with specially trained hawks - hunting together with them is one of the most unique Kazakh way of life. Then there was a desire to show the art of falconry in the form of the show “falconry”. This is an amazing sight! Be awe by how a golden eagle can take down a wolf, how a white-tailed eagle catches fish from the water, how a black vulture dances, how a Saker Falcon flies at a speed of 320 km/h and how a bearded man eats bones (animals are not subjected to violence). Day 4: The Martian Chronicles Program of the day: 07:00 Breakfast, check out 07:30 Transfer to Tamgaly Tas 09:00 Excursion in Tamgaly Tas 11:00 Transfer to National Park 13:30 Lunch in guest house 15:00 Transfer to the Singing Dune 19:00 Return to Bashi Village 19:30 Dinner and rest in guest house Tamgaly Tas - ”Stone library” of Kazakhstan, where in the tract by the river or on the rocks, numerous of petroglyphs have been saved, and there are many images of mysterious deities and late Buddhist inscriptions. Also in “Tamgaly Tas”, you can find the ancient Turkic runic inscriptions of VIII-IX centuries. Scientists-archeologists have learned among the many images of petroglyphs depicting Buddha Sakyamuni, the Buddha of Infinite Light Amitabha and Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion. Today “Tamgaly-Tas” is insanely popular among archaeologists, religious scholars and connoisseurs of Indian culture. The Singing Barkhan got this name because the western wind dispersing the sand, creates the vibrations that resemble the sounds of the pipe organ. It is the best place to develop your imagination and create some surrealistic pictures in your mind. This large sandbox is located in the Altyn-Emel National Park and stretches between two ridges of the Djunragh Alatau - the Small and Large Kalkans. There are many legends explaining the phenomenon of the “singing” of the dune. For example, people believed that the spirits of buried cities and warriors dwell in the desert, who drag out their sad songs to tell their descendants about their past. One of the most popular superstitions is the story that, under the sands of the singing sand dune, Genghis Khan is buried, and his not found peace of soul, exhausted from torment, tells us about his exploits. But as they say, it is better to “hear” once than read a hundred times. Day 5: The Stone Fairytale Program of the day: 08:00 Breakfast 09:00 Trip to Aktau and Katutau mountains 13:00 Lunch (lunch box) Continue trip Return to village 19:00 Dinner and rest in guest house Altyn-Emel (Translated as “ Golden Saddle”) is a national park in the center of Almaty region, the quintessence of the nature of Zhetysu (Semirechye). It is located in a secluded valley, surrounded by mountains on three sides, and by impassable reed bed of the Ili River. At first glance, one cannot understand if they came to Kazakhstan, to Africa, or to Mars Right here you can see the famous Martian landscapes: the 1.5 km long and 130 m high dune “Singing barkhan”; Aktau, clay mountains, rugged by canyons, as if it was cut with a sharp knife; Katutau, mountains, created with the help of fiery volcanoes. In the west of the park, there is a long chain of 45 stone fences, on which you can see the drawings of animals. The Kututau Mountain appears in the form of erupting lava, frozen in its rapid flow. Curves, hollows, cracks, holes at one moment take the form of an imperial bowl, and at another, seem to be a cradle for a baby. Your own fantasy and hundreds of legends told by our guide, will help you find the right key to the riddles of Katutau. Day 6: The Majesty & Force of Nature Program of the day: 07:00 Breakfast 08:00 Transfer to Charyn Canyon 14:00 Explore the Canyon by going for a short trek 14:30 Lunch Continue excursion to the Valley of Castles 17:30 Transfer to Kolsay lake 20:30 Dinner and rest in guest-house Charyn Canyon, carved by the Charyn River, flowing from the slopes of the Tien Shan, is one of the most magnificent canyons in the world: its length is 150 km, and the height of the walls reaches 200 meters. By the way, the Statue of Liberty is only 93 meters height. Charyn Canyon is a visual aid for geography: here, as in the time machine, one can observe all the processes of formation of rocks and reliefs. The age of the canyon is 12 million years. The awareness of it is truly fascinating and as breathtaking as the contemplation of stone giants propping up the bright blue sky. Charyn Canyon a paradise for fans of hiking and lovers of wild nature. Here you can find a unique ash-tree grove that survived the Ice Age and now is officially acknowledged as a natural monument. Day 7: The Taste of Kolsay Program of the day: 09:00 Breakfast 10:00 Trip to lake Kolsay 13:00 Lunch in the Yurt (You can taste koumiss, shubat) 14:30 Trip to Kolsay Lake 2 (Horse riding) 17.30 Return to Satty Village Dinner and rest in guesthouse Three Kolsay lakes are located at an altitude of 1800, 2250 and 2700 meters above sea level and form a unique natural region.