Blossom of Felicity Tour

Program’s name: Blossom of Felicity Tour

Quantity of the days: 7 days

Day 1: Almaty
Welcome to Almaty! The adventure begins with “Blossom of Felicity Tour”. Today you will experience city tour, where you will observe tourist’s attractions. And the first point will be Almaty Museum, which was opened in 2001. There you will learn the history of progressing Almaty.  Then you are going to visit and stop over the architecture and history of Abai Opera and Ballet Theatre. The Kazakh state academic Opera and ballet theater named after Abai has been pleasing the audience with theatrical and Opera productions, musical performances and performances of ballet companies for more than half a century. Further you will walk in one of the oldest of Almaty parks - Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen. Zenkov Cathedral is located in this park. This historical monument is considered one of the main attractions of the city. Also you will observe following sights the Memorial of Glory and Eternal Flame, the Museum of Musical Instruments. According to the significance of the heritage stored here and the volume of unique exhibits, the institution ranks fifth in the world among similar museums. Next point of interest is the Green Bazaar, where you can immerse into national taste.  During the tour you will walk in you the Medeu Gorge (1690 meters above sea level) and ride there. It was built in 1972-the largest mountain skating rink in the world, surrounded by the amazing mountains of the Trans-Ili Alatau. After you will take a cable railway to Shymbulak ski resort area. Rolling over above great fur-trees about 20-25 minutes up to the altitude of 2260 meters above sea level, you will get to the 1st level of ski resort. You are going down the back way by ropeway. Your will proceed your mountain journey with the top of Kok-Tobe hill, there are souvenir shops where you can buy various Souvenirs in memory of Kazakhstan, there is a Ferris wheel, and there are several viewing platforms that offer a great view of Almaty. In the end of the tour you will have  ride by the famous Almaty cableway*. On Tuesdays, in the tour departing at 10:00, cableway is not available. Park eco-cars are used instead. 

Day 2: Almaty – Shymkent
The trip begins with driving to the Almaty International airport and transfer to Shymkent by local flight (ab.1h 40 min one way). Shymkent is one of the largest cities of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The sightseeing tour begins with fetching highlights of the city. In course of the tour you will contemplate the following attractions: Walk of fame (park named after Sh.Kaldayakov), “Zher Ana” monument is the Saka Queen Tomiris, installed in 2008, standing on a giant bull , Ordabasy squar, Park “20 years of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan”, Museum of Victims of Political Repression, Obelisk of Glory, Eternal Flame to the lost in The Great Patriotic War, Arboretum, Regional Museum. In the end you will to your hotel.

Day 3: Shymkent – Turkestan – Shymkent
In the morning you will departure from Shymkent to Otrar region, Shaulder Settlement. Today you will admire sightseeing at Local History Museum "Otyrar", Arystan-Bab Mausoleum an architectural monument of the XII-XIV centuries, archaeological monument of the ancient villages of Otrar. Otrar is the most developed city of the middle ages in southern Kazakhstan. Since ancient times, Otrar was a city where culture, trade, agriculture and cattle breeding were developed. This is the birthplace of the great scientist and philosopher Abu Nasir al-Farabi. Medieval Arab and Persian authors-historians, geographers-wrote about this city as a political, commercial and cultural center on the edge of Kazakhstan that played an important role in the history of Central Asia. After exploration of sightseeing in Otrar you will drive to the city of Turkestan, which was founded around 500 AD it was given the status of the second Mecca-the Holy city of adherents of Islam. In Turkestan you will explore "Azret-Sultan" it is a research and educational institution designed to collect, preserve and research the monuments of archeology and architecture of Turkestan, Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Turkestan ancient settlement, Necropolis, a fragment of the fortress wall, Citadel with gates, Hammam, Hilvet underground mosque. After the tour – return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 4: Shymkent – Sairam – Kazygurt – Shymkent
Today you will start after breakfast departure to Sairam Settlement (20 km). En route you will have a chance to observe local attractions Local History Museum "Sairam", Mar-Tobe, Ibrahim-Ata Mausoleum, Karashash-Ana Mausoleum, medieval minaret. Sairam or ancient Ispijab, the only city of Kazakhstan mentioned in the" Avesta " - the Holy book of the Zoroastrians, was located in the interfluve of Aksu and Sairamsu, at the intersection of major caravan roads, And it witnessed the rapidly developing history of the Great Silk Road. Then you will have a drive to the foot of Kazygurt Mountains to Kamekalgan natural sacred stones. You will discover the best sites such as: sanctifying rocks "Adam and Eve", stone statues of animals, "Noah's Ark", the magic stone "Dastarkhan". It never ceases to attract attention, and with each new scientific discovery or occurrence of a phenomenon in this place, interest in it will increase. Return to the hotel for overnight.

Day 5: Shymkent – Aksu Jabagly – Shymkent – Almaty
After breakfast you will head to Aksu-Jabagly natural reserve. You will explore Aksu canyon. The total area of the reserve is 131.934 hectares. The reserve is quite old, it was founded on July 14, 1926. Today, the reserve is protected by the state and protected by law. It is situated at the spurs of the Western Tien-Shan Mountains at an altitude from 1000 to 4280 meters above sea level. The largest species of animals that live in the reserve are birds. Patchwork of colorful alpine flowers adorns the base of rigorous peaks with dazzling snow and bluish tongues of glaciers. The reserve is home to about 60 species of mammals, including such rare animals as argali, mountain goat, maral, stone marten, muskrat. Bearded vultures, griffons and golden eagles are flying high in the sky...  Drive to the hotel for overnight. Transfer to the railway station and departure to Almaty by evening train. 

Day 6: Almaty– Issyk – Almaty
Today you will transfer to Issyk Lake. On the way you will drive in Trans-Ili Alatau - Issyk Gorge lies along the Kuldja tract, where many years ago the Great Silk Road passed. Then you you will explore the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “ISSYK”, there you will observe the expositions dedicated to the history and culture of the Saka period. The chamber in which the Golden man was buried was literally littered with all sorts of gold products, the total number of which was more than 4,000 units.  After you will head straight to an altitude of 1756 meters above sea level, to the beautiful mountain lake Issyk, located in the valley with the same name. Nature in the area of Issyk lake is very picturesque: rocky gorges, dense forests and Alpine meadows, where many plants grow, including rare plants listed in the Red book: Edelweiss, Kungei feather grass,  Archa, Golden Adonis. On the lake you will adore the blossom beauty of its turquoise water surface and the Issyk Gorge. Transfer to the hotel for overnight.

Day 7: Flight
Hotel breakfast and check-out. Transfer to the airport and departure.