Explore Kazakhstan

You’ll arrive bright and early for your first day in Kazakhstan. After checking into your hotel you’ll have the opportunity to relax and unwind before a guided tour of the city. Almaty is the largest city in Kazakhstan and is the country’s business and education centre. Head on a tour of the city’s most memorable sights, including Panfilov Park, the Green Bazaar and Zenkov Cathedral. The Cathedral was built in 1904 without a single metal nail, and is still one of the world’s tallest wooden structures today.

After an early breakfast your guide will take you to Altyn Emel, a national park outside of Almaty. You’ll stop for lunch at the small village of Basshi and drive onto the ‘singing dunes’, which rise 150m high and stretch for 3km. En route to your hotel you’ll visit a nomad banya to experience a traditional sauna.

Charyn Canyon is one of the most famous natural sights in the country, often compared to the Grand Canyon in the US (though much smaller in size). This canyon is known for its unusual rock formations. You’ll walk down to the river and have a picnic lunch before driving back to Almaty for dinner.

A jam-packed day of adventure before an evening flight to Shymkent. First you’ll head to Medao and Shymbulak - the sports ground that hosted the 2011 Asian Winter Games - before driving onto Big Almaty Lake, a natural alpine reservoir located in the Ile-Alatau National Park. In the evening you’ll fly onto Shykent, arriving in time for a late dinner.

Another long drive, but the views will be worth it. Your guide will take you to Turkestan, a 1,500-year-old city home to many famous monuments. Visit the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, which boasts the largest dome in Central Asia. As Kazakhstan’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s a great place to soak in the local history.

After breakfast you’ll take a short flight to Astana, Central Asia’s youngest capital city. Brimming with 21st century architecture by the likes of Norman Foster, this contemporary and futuristic city is unlike anything else you’ll have seen in Kazakhstan. Visit Independence Square, the Hazrat Sultan Mosque, Baiterek Tower, Nurzhol Boulevard and Khan Shatyr before an evening light-show at Ishim River.

With so much to see and do in Astana, a second day in the city is definitely required. Your guide will take you to the Memorial Museum Alzhir, the National Museum and the Museum of the Future to learn more about the past, present and future of the region.

After one final breakfast and a chance to say goodbye to your travelling companions you'll transfer back to the airport for your flight home.