Old Kazakhstan and New Kazakhstan

Day 1
Arrival in Astana, transfer to the hotel and breakfast.After accommodation, you will get acquainted with the city. "Astana" in Kazakh language means "capital". Astana is a unique city, combining both eastern and western culture, the pride of the Republic. It has been the capital since 1997. Astana was built by the best architects in the world. City excursion in Astana, focusing on its history, architecture and impressive new buildings.Lunch.
After lunch to 'Algir', the former camp for wives of 'traitors' (at the time of Stalin).

Day 2
After breakfast we continue exploring Astana, visiting several new buildings and centers, like: Cultural Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan; the Palace for Peace and Reconciliation (designed by the famous architect Norman Foster); the Astana-Baiterek Tower a monument, one of the main attractions of the city. In a figurative sense means support, defender. And lunch.
After lunch we fly to the city of Taraz in the south of Kazakhstan near the border with Kyrgyzstan, on the Talas River (Taraz)and will be transferred to our hotel.

Day 3
We explore the historical city of Taraz, which celebrated in the year 2002 its 2,000 year of existence!The city's population - 326 113 people. In the city we visit the Karakhan- and AishiBibiMausuleums and the history museum. And we'll have lunch at local cafe.
After lunch we drive to the village of Jabagly (258 km), entrance to the AksuJabagly natural reserve ate the foot of the Talasky Mountains. In Jabagly we'll be accommodated in a comfortable guesthouse where we'll enjoy a dinner.

Day 4
AksuZhabagly - the oldest and most famous game reserve in Central Asia. It was created in 1926, its area increases all the time and now is 132.6 hectares. It is located on the ridges TalasAlatau and UgamMaidantal, in the western part of the Tien Shan. The name of the reserve is formed from the names of his two greatest rivers -Aksu andZhabagly, between the rivers which it was originally created.
Today we hike in the natural reserve with her rich variety of flora and fauna. Depending on the season we can enjoy blooming trees, flowers and wild tulips. 
In this reserve even snowleopards live, eagles, brown bears and many more interesting mammals.
Dinner and accommodation in the Jabagly guesthouse.
Guests can choose to hike or ride a horse in the reserve.

Day5 
Another day in the Aksu-Jabagly natural reserve, hiking or riding a horse. One of the natural highlights is the Aksu canyon that we'll visit.This is the deepest canyon in Eurasia, its depth from 300 to 500 m, the distance between the edges - about 1 km. The canyon walls composed of conglomerates of ancient lake sediments. Several ledges they descend to the bed of a vibrant and deep river, the water is always very cold, as it is derived from melting glaciers TalasAlatau and Ugam.
After dinner in the guesthouse we continue our tour by train to Turkestan (6 hours) where we'll be accommodated in a hotel.

Day 6
After breakfast we visit the Mausuleum of Khodja Ahmed Yassawi, the largest building constructed under the reign of Timur, built between 1389 and 1405 in honor of the prophet Khodja Ahmed Yassawi.Hazrat Sultan Khoja Ahmed Yasawi - founder of Sufism, poet, preacher. Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, located in the city of Turkestan in the south of Kazakhstan - an amazing complex of palaces and temples, a masterpiece of architecture. Inscribed on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.
After lunch we have time for ourselves, followed by a train ride to Almaty (18 hours, including night). 

Day 7
Arrival in Almaty in the early morning, and transfer to our hotel.Breakfast.Almaty is the first capital of Kazakhstan. And today it is the only city in the whole country with population of 2 million people. Almaty - a modern city, full of entertainment and cultural events. And still it is the economic and educational center.
We'll enjoy a city excursion and visit the Panfilov Park, where stands the ZenkovCathedrale, designed by the building master Zenkov from St. Petersburg. Built without any nails it nevertheless withstood a strong earthquake in 1911! In the park you will also find a huge monument to the Victory over the Nazis in 1945. The museum of national musical instruments, Independence Square and the panomaric hill Kok-Tube.Where is the first monument to the Beatles in the CIS.Here we'll have a lunch.
After lunch we continue our excursion, visiting the National Museum, Green Bazar and other places.

Day 8
The snowcapped mountains south of Almaty have been looking inviting - today we enter them. Firstly, some 20 kms from the city center, the famous skating rink Medeo (at almost 1,700 meter), where until the mid-eighties the majority or world-records were established and broken. 
Moving further up we reach the ski-resort of Shymbulaq (2,300 meter). The lifts are working all year round and we can go up to 3,200 meter and hike from there!
After returning to Almaty late afternoon you are free.

The program has ended.
You may extend your holidays or return home.