Duration: 9 days
Places to visit: Astana - Almaty - Shymkent - Big Almaty Lake - Charyn - Shymkent - Turkestan - Arystan Bab - Issyk Lake - Almaty

Day 1: Astana
Your guide will pick you up at International Airport and accompany you to Astana City. Today you will have a city tour. First of all you will visit complex «Astana - Baiterek». The unique construction is a symbol of Astana. The viewing platform is located at the height of 97 meters, and from the height of the bird's flight you can see the panorama of building of a new capital of Kazakhstan. Also after walking around the city you will have time to visit the singing fountains alley. The wide alley cuts the left river-bank into two parts. The object is extremely difficult. The parkway represents a three-level gallery type construction consisting of two pavilions, glass transition-passes, open galleries, green lawns, colorful sidewalks and huge bowls with musical fountains. In the evening you will have a dinner at 7 p.m. Night is in a hotel.

Day 2: Astana - Almaty
Your guide will pick you up at International Airport and accompany you to Almaty City. Today we will have a city tour. You will get acquainted with Almaty's history and see the Ascension Cathedral - the second highest wooden building in the world. Then you will visit the Square of 28 Panfilov Heroes. Afterwards you will visit the Museum of Musical Instruments. After lunch You will go to the Medeo Gorge, where in the wonderful mountains of Trans-Ili Alatau the largest high mountain skating rink in the world is located. Next destination is Shymbulak ski resort, located at an altitude of 2230 meters above sea level. It is very popular for its mild climate, large quantity of sunny days and snow through the winter and remarkable scenery of mountain ranges. In the evening we drive to Kok Tebe to see the panoramic view of Almaty. Night will be in a hotel.

Day 3: Almaty - Big Almaty Lake - Almaty
In the morning we will drive to the most beautiful Big Almaty Lake. It is located at an altitude of 2511 m, on the upper side of the canyon by the same name, is fed by the Almaty River running through it, and is part of a wonderful national park. Big Almaty Lake is set high up in a gorge of the Bolshaya Almatinka River, 2,511m above sea level and 28.5km south of Almaty. It lies in a hollow like a gleaming mirror, surrounded on all sides by majestic peaks. Fed by glacial water, the lake is 1.6 km long, almost a kilometer wide and 40 m deep. We will drive to the "Hawks nursery". There you will see different hunting dogs and many birds of prey. At this place people train hawks, eagles, golden eagles to hunt together with them. Your guide will tell you about amazing traditions of Kazakh hunting with hawks. In the evening you will come back to Almaty city.

Day 4: Almaty - Charyn - Almaty
Today we will visit one of the most popular places of Kazakhstan - Charyn Canyon. It is an amazing creation of nature that has existed for millions of years, picturesque and very diverse in geomorphologic aspects. The height of steep mountainsides reach 150-300 meters. Numerous ravines and gullies make dense rambling net. Wind and water created stunning "Red Castles Valley". All along the valley you are surrounded by towers of fantastical forms, built of sedimentary. Throughout time nature has created these architectural wonders, without haste, it has built majestic castles. The road to the Canyon and back is 400 km. After a short walk in the canyon we will drive back to Almaty.

Day 5: Almaty - Shymkent - Turkestan
In the morning is a flight to Shymkent. Today we will drive to Turkestan. It attracts people with its historical monuments and rich history. You will have a full day excursion in Turkestan. We will visit Azret-Sultan historical-architectural complex and Khodja Akhmed Yassayu mausoleum. He is the first great Muslim holy man that brought religious glory to the town. The mausoleum in honor of Kozha Akhmed Yasaui, was built on a grand scale by Timur in the late 14th century (from 1389 to 1405). Also we will visit Turkistan town's necropolis, oriental baths, and underground mosque. It is a small but very interesting town! Overnight is in a hotel.

Day 6: Turkestan - Arystan Bab - Shymkent
In the morning we will drive to Arystan Bab mausoleum. The mausoleum was erected over the grave of a famous religious mystic Arystan Bab, who lived in XII century. The first building of the mausoleum belongs to the 14-15 centuries. In the 18th century section of the site an ancient tomb was destroyed by an earthquake, was built two domed building with aiwan, supported by two carved wooden columns. The 18th century building was destroyed and in 1909 was rebuilt again. The mausoleum was built of baked bricks. In the afternoon we arrive in Shymkent town. Overnight is in a hotel.

Day 7: Shymkent - Almaty
In the morning  flight to Almaty. Arrival and transfer to the city. You will visit our historical museum. Almaty was the capital of independent Kazakhstan from 1991 to 1997. In 1997, the capital moved to Astana; since then, Almaty has been referred to as the southern capital of Kazakhstan. Almaty remains the major commercial center of Kazakhstan. The city is located in a mountainous area of southern Kazakhstan, near the border with Kyrgyzstan. Almaty is the largest, most developed, and most ethnically and culturally diverse city in Kazakhstan. After lunch you will visit a popular place for townpeople - the Green Bazaar, where it is impossible to refrain from shopping. It is the great chance to experience an atmosphere of the real eastern market, its colors, smells and crowds. There you can obtain famous Oriental sweets, but don't forget to bargain... In the evening you will have a dinner in a national restaurant. After the dinner we will drive to the hotel.

Day 8: Almaty - Issyk Lake - Almaty
In the morning we will drive to the Issyk Gorge. The route will take you to an altitude of 1756 meters above sea level, to the beautiful mountain Issyk Lake. The lake was formed about 10,000 years ago due to colossal landslide, which resulted in the formation of a natural dam of 300 meters in height. At the lake you will enjoy the majestic beauty of its turquoise water surface and the views of Issyk Gorge. We will have a picnic there to spend more time having a rest.  In the afternoon you will return to Almaty city.

Day 9: Almaty - Airport 
In the morning is transfer to airport.