If anyone wants to visit Kazakhstan, home to the vast and varied landscapes of the steppe and the fascinating nomadic traditions and culture of Central Asia, he is not sure where to start, he can read this article of mine named 10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan. With this itinerary (10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan), I will take you around this beautiful and vast country, visiting some of the best places in Kazakhstan, from the vibrant city of Almaty and the futuristic city of Astana to exploring Kolsai Lake, Kaindy Lake, and the Charyn Canyon, some of the most spectacular natural sites in the country, all in 10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan.
10 Days tour plan in Kazakhstan
Table of Contents
Day 1-3 of 10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan
Almaty (3 Nights)
Among the 10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan, I spend my first day in Almaty. Our itinerary starts from Almaty, one of the most vibrant cities in Central Asia, surrounded by snowcapped mountains of Tian Shan Mountain range, where there are so many cool things to do that will completely change your earlier impression about Kazakhstan.
We start our first day in Almaty at the Zenkov Cathedral, which is probably one of the city’s most impressive structures, if not the most impressive, in the town. It is one of my favorite attractions, due to its colorful exterior and detailed designs that stand out from the rest of Almaty’s greyish, Brutalist-style buildings.
A closer look at the 28 Panfilov Guardsmen Monument in Almaty
Located right next to the monument, you will also find an impressive wooden structure of the Musical Instruments Museum, a museum showcasing Kazakh folk instruments and other musical instruments from the region, which is another great place to visit before continuing our trip.
A shopper at the Green Bazaar in Almaty
Located just north of the Zenkov Cathedral, you’ll find the Green Bazaar, one of the oldest bazaars in the city, which is always bustling with people and shopkeepers selling all sorts of products from electronics to fresh produce like raw meat and vegetables.
The hall of Green Bazaar in Almaty
Even if you’re not interested in shopping, the Green Bazaar will give you the chance to fully immerse yourself in the local culture. You can watch lively interactions between vendors and customers, and maybe even try some of the local street food or traditional snacks that shopkeepers often try to lure customers with.
Kok Tobe Hill, Almaty, Kazakhstan
It’s a perfect spot to experience the sunset in Almaty. This made our 10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan.
Mountains viewed from Kok Tobe Hill in Almaty
Located at an altitude of around 1,100 metres (3,600 feet), Kok Tobe is connected to Almaty via cable car and you can catch a cable car from the Kok Tobe Hill Gondola Station directly from the city centre, making it very easy to get there without a car.
The Sunset from Kok Tobe Hill in Almaty
The roundtrip ticket for the gondola is around 5,000 Kazakhstan which is reasonable. The facility is well maintained and even though there are a lot of people queuing up at sunset, it didn’t take me long to board and I was at the top in no time.
Exterior of the Central State Museum
After you’ve finished your work at Kok Tobe Hill, you can rest for the day and start your second day by visiting the Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which is a great place to explore more deeply the unique identity of the once nomadic people of the steppe.
First President Park in Almaty
You can spend the rest of the day enjoying Almaty’s incredible cafe culture or you can travel further afield and visit places like First President Park and the Botanical Garden, and discover why Almaty is called the City of Gardens.
A woman at the Spirit of Tengri Music Festival in Almaty
If you’ve managed to combine your trip with the Spirit of Tengri Music Festival, which is often held on one of the weekends in June, you’re going to have a great time in Almaty.
You can check the exact date from their official website before planning a trip. You can say it is the most important note in this article of the 10-day tour plan in Kazakhstan. The lakes, and the Charyn Valley, you will have to rely on this overnight organized tour that will take you to these places from Almaty, without making you worry about logistics and overnight stays in Sati.
Keep in mind that the shared group tour is only available on Mondays every week, so make sure to align your trip carefully. You can check their group tour schedule here. If you are traveling with other people and you want to organize a private tour, you can also book the private tour here with up to 15 people and you can book it on any day.
Day 4-5 of 10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan: Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes, and Charyn Valley (1 night)
Single person in Charyn Valley
The next day of 10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan, we will visit Charyn Valley and Kolsai Lake on the first day and Kaindy Lake on the second day
A car in Kazakhstan
If you are traveling with other people, you can organize a private tour from here and you can travel on any day you wish. With enough people, it will be just as cost-effective as going on a shared group tour.
A car in Saati
Since many of these places are remote and often require you to drive off-road and cross rivers several times, going with an organized tour is the best way to go, unless you have rented your own 4WD and you know what you are doing.
Charyn Valley from the air
For the hike, you will have about 1.5 hours and you can choose whether to hike on the ridge or go down the valley, and hike down. I chose the ridge because I think it would be more epic to see the valley from above, but the view is great either way.
People hiking in Charyn Valley
If you choose to walk down, the trail will end at a river and you can take a shuttle pick-up truck back to the start if you don’t want to walk back. There is no shade anywhere in the valley, so make sure to carry enough water and apply sunscreen before you start hiking.
Lunch at Saty
After you’re done in Charyn Valley, you will be taken to Saty for lunch. This is also where you will spend the night so you can rest before continuing on to Kolsai Lake.
One person at Kolsai Lake
Kolsai Lake is a huge lake surrounded by beautiful mountains, with plenty of opportunities for hiking as well as boating and horseback riding if you want to see the area in style.
Kolsai Lake from the parking lot
You will have about 3 hours of free time at Kolsai Lake and can choose to hike around the lake, which will take about 2 hours and require you to cross the river on foot (be prepared to get your shoes wet), rent a boat for 10,000 KZT for an hour or ride horses around the lake for 6,000 KZT.
Boats on Kolsai Lake
After you are done on the lake, you will be taken back to Satti and the guest house will provide you with dinner before you head back for the day.
Kandy Lake from above
The next day of 10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan, you will have breakfast at the guesthouse before heading to Kandy Lake, one of the most unique lakes here, where you will see crazy blue water and dead tree trunks formed as a result of a massive limestone landslide caused by an earthquake in 1911.
Hikers and Taxis on Kandy Lake
At the lake parking lot, you can walk to the lake for about 45 minutes, take a shuttle van for 500 KZT one way, or you can ride a horse both ways for 6,000 KZT.
On the way, you will stop at the Black Canyon for a while and then at the Yellow Canyon for an hour of hiking before heading back to Almaty between 6 and 8 pm, completing our day exploring Charyn Canyon, Kolsai Lake, and Kaindy Lake.
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I recommend you catch the night train at 23:46 leaving from Almaty-2 train station. This is the fastest of all the trains, taking just 10 hours, and has first-class berths that you can share with one other person and has a built-in bathroom which is very convenient. And since you will be back in Almaty around 7.00 – 8:00 PM when the tour drops you off, you will have plenty of time before catching the overnight train in case of an unexpected delay.
Otherwise, you can spend some time at a cafe in Almaty about an hour before your scheduled train and then you can take a YandexGo taxi to the train station. I wouldn’t recommend being at the train station several hours before your train because there is nothing to do there.
I would recommend stopping at the Coffee Center in Almaty. They are open until 1am and there are plenty of seats with power outlets so you can charge your electronics until you catch the overnight train. Not to mention they have great coffee and food.
Day 6 of 10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan
Shymkent (2 nights of 10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan)
Shymkent is the third largest city in the country and is a great place to use as a base to explore Turkestan, one of Kazakhstan’s most beautiful historical cities.
After spending 10 hours on the train, you should arrive in Shymkent by 10am where you can relax at your accommodation and spend the evening strolling around Abay Park, a huge park located in the center of the city.
The price is a little higher than average but you really get your money’s worth here. I ordered the beef kebab and it was different from any kebab I’ve had before and it was delicious! After dinner, you can rest for the night and prepare for your trip to Turkestan the next day of 10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan, as we will spend the whole day visiting all the beautiful historical structures there.
Getting to Turkestan from Shymkent
The best day among 10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan is the day of getting to Turkestan from Shymkent independently as a day trip is extremely easy and straightforward. All you have to do is book a taxi from anywhere in Shymkent with the YandexGo app and go to the Samal bus station. You should not spend more than 1200 KZT and it will take about 1.5 hours to get back to Shymkent. Very easy! The total travel time is 3 hours both ways and the whole trip costs less than 3000 KZT.
Day 7 of 10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan:
Turkestan (one day trip of 10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan)
One of the highlights day among 10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan of a trip to Turkestan is seeing the incredible beauty of the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Muslims.
After the marshrutka drops you off at the bus stop here, you can walk through Etno Park and you will be able to catch a glimpse of the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi from a distance. The mausoleum has a huge, turquoise colored dome that dominates the structure. It is one of the largest domes in Central Asia, measuring approximately 18 meters (59 feet) in diameter.
The interior of the mausoleum is just as spacious as the outside, with a large main hall with an incredibly high domed ceiling connected to several rooms containing small exhibits that you can explore. However, I felt that the interior needs more maintenance.
The Underground Mosque is another great tourist attraction. You must visit in Turkestan. It is located not far from the two mausoleums which I mentioned earlier. This mosque is known for its unique architecture. It is built partially underground, which is rare to see.
Another great place to visit in Turkistan is Masjid Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. It is a beautiful mosque which combines the Timurid architectural style, characterized by intricate tilework and decorative elements and modern design features such as its massive proportions, creating a unique piece of architecture that stands out from the rest of the structures here.
Day 8-10 of 10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan:
Astana (3 nights)
Looking for a place to relax from the heat, Karavan Saray is a great place as it is a huge shopping complex with many shops and restaurants as well as some very cool looking structures that combine the traditional Timurid architectural style with a futuristic architectural style.
If you are looking for a place to have lunch during your exploration here then this is definitely a great place.
A complete travel guide to Turkestan
Getting from Shymkent to Astana
From Shymkent to Astana, it is very difficult to find an overnight train as it is often booked months in advance so I suggest from the experience of mine for tour plan to you go by plane instead. You can find cheap flights here. Shymkent International Airport is located just north of Shymkent and can be easily reached via YandexGo Taxi. It is a small airport but has free wifi and a small cafe where you can wait.
Astana (3 nights of 10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan)
If you’ve ever wondered what a city of the future in Central Asia would be like, Astana is the place to be, with a series of impressive futuristic structures, thanks to the Expo 2017 event held here, as well as the fact that the city was built from the ground up for people. This city is the Dubai of Central Asia, with its own charm that you have to see for yourself.
One of the most iconic structures I saw in Astana that I highly recommend you visit is the Baiterek Tower, a stunning looking futuristic tower of freedom surrounded by beautiful parks and fountains right in the middle of the city, which is where we will start our trip here.
The main attractions of the museum is the “Golden Man” exhibit, which includes the famous Golden Man (Altyn Adam) archaeological find. The Golden Man is the burial suit of an ancient Scythian warrior decorated with gold and is considered the national symbol of Kazakhstan.
There are many other tourist attractions around the museum that you can visit such as the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, a pyramid-shaped museum promoting the value of peace, the Hazrat Sultan Mosque, a lavishly decorated mosque that combines Kazakh and Ottoman architectural elements, and the serene-looking Shaibit Palace of Creativity.
On our second day of 10 days tour plan in Kazakhstan, we are going to visit the Grand Mosque of Astana, which is the largest mosque in all of Central Asia and one of the largest mosques in the world. It took me about 5 minutes to walk from the street to the mosque through its huge courtyard.
This grand mosque has 4 minarets over 130 meters high and has a huge central blue dome measuring 83.2 meters high and 62 meters in diameter, which is the largest dome of its kind in the world. If you think these are all the record-breaking features of this mosque, you will be surprised to know that the entrance of the mosque is also considered to be one of the tallest wooden doors in the world, measuring 12.4 meters high and weighing one and a half tons.
The interior of the mosque is just as impressive as the exterior, the walls of the mosque are decorated with colorful patterns, Quranic verses and prayers as well as Arabic calligraphy and inscriptions, which are beautifully illuminated by yellow lights installed beneath the surface.
This museum was the result of Expo 2017 serving as the Kazakhstan Pavilion during the international exhibition Expo 2017 with the theme “Future Energy” and they transformed this pavilion into a museum.
All the exhibits are very well-made and really show how dedicated Astana is to becoming the city of the future for the entire region. It’s really inspiring and fun to see all the great interactive exhibitions inside as well as the impressive architectural wonder of the museum. It should take you at least an hour or two to see all the exhibitions and floors.
