Shymkent
Located on the southern tip of Kazakhstan, just north of Kyrgyzstan’s Tashkent, Shymkent is the third most populated city in Kazakhstan and a cultural and industrial hub. It has rail links with surrounding cities including Almaty, Nur-Sultan and Turkistan making it easy for tourists to access.
Popular sights in Shymkent include the Museum of Local History, the mausoleums of Arystan Bab and Khoja Ahmed Yasawi and Akmeshit Cave, located north of the city.
The nearby mountainous national parks of Sairam-Ugam and Aksu-Zhabagly Reserve are great places to visit to see tulips and wild horses, with lakes and rivers to explore on foot or by horse. Nature lovers will enjoy a homestay in Aksu-Zhabagly, as well as being a tulip paradise it is also popular with birdwatchers. Homestays offer a great opportunity to engage with locals and sample the traditional cuisine.
Shymkent
Tulips and sufis
If Almaty is the queen of Kazakhstan, Shymkent is the eager lady-in-waiting. Situated on a junction connecting Tashkent with the rest of Kazakhstan, Shymkent is a vibrant traders town. But the surroundings are the star attraction...read more
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