Archaeological Kazakhstan

Day 01: Arrive Astana – Flt
Meeting on arrival assistance and transfer to Hotel King Astana
Welcome Dinner at local restaurant
Overnight

Day 02: Astana
We shall spend the day visiting the new metropolis – Astana which is growing with every passing day, we shall visit the new capital of Kazakhstan. Our sightseeing starts with visit to Baiterek Tower – symbol of a growing tree of life with a golden globe symbolizing the egg of the bird of fortune – Semurg. Afterwards drive to Presidential with background of beautiful Esil river passing through the city adds to the grandeur of the capital.We shall then drive to see the Peace & Concord monument Later visit Nur Astana Mosque – a commitment to Kazakh faith in Islam. We shall then visit Khan Shatyr tent! then Duman huge shopping center, café and meeting places. Next visit Kazmunaigaz building in traditional Russian architecture. We shall then drive to Presidential Cultural Center – see the Kazakh Ethnic Museum.
The National Museum of Kazakhstan – see the artefacts from Scythian period and the “Warrior Prince” found from Issykurgan near Almaty. Also we shall see artefacts from other Scythian sites spread all over Kazakhstan. The museum’s Gold room has priceless collection of golden objects and from various sites. The museum is one of the best with very modern exposition of its collection
In the evening see the Opera & Ballet Theatre for evening performance
Overnight

Astana:
The rising capital of Kazakhstan is fast developing into an economic hub of Central Asia. Until 1998 was the suburb of Akmolinsky region, Astana was chosen to be the new capital of Kazakhstan shifting from Almaty. The planning of Astana has been done on modern cities like Brasilia by famous Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa. Astana has developed as an architectural symbol of the region with modern buildings depicting Kazakh cultural heritage, modern Islamic architecture, Russian and even Chinese architecture – keeping inview various ethnic groups living in modern Kazakhstan. The vicinities of Astana were small settlements till 1830 when it was developed as the a defensive settlement for the Cossacks in 1832 under the name as Akmolinsky settlement.
Climatically Astana is fast changing from harsh weather conditions to a more friendly habitat – thanks to huge horticulture projects with growth of trees since the start is now paying back.

Day 03: Astana/Shymkent - Flt
Shymkent/Turkestan – 160 kms
Morning flight to Shymkent – on arrival we shall proceed to a local restaurant for Lunch later depart for Turkestan. Arrival and transfer to Hotel Yassi
Later we shall visit Khoja Ahmed Yassawi’s complex – sun setting photography
Overnight 

Day 04: Turkestan/Otrar/Shymkent – 200 kms
Morning revisit Ahmed Yassawi Complex – visit the shrine and later walk to various secular parts associated to the great Turkestan Ascetic. Also visit the site museum of the complex
Afterwards depart for Shymkent via Otrar – visit the Otrar archaeological site and the museum. Otrar was an important eastern town of the Shah of Khorezm but was raised and burnt by the Mongols under Chengiz Khan in 1225 AD. It was infact punitive expedition initially but later on it continued, devastating town after town. The impact of Mongol invasion lasted for many decades as the local populace was mercilessly killed.
Later continue to Shymkent and on arrival transfer to Hotel
Evening we shall drive around the town built during the Soviet times as an industrial site known for producing armament and bullets used for military purpose. Now the bustling town is undergoing a great change giving concrete structure to modern day buildings
Overnight

Day 05: Shymkent/Akyrtas/Taraz – 255 kms
Morning depart for Taraz – shall continue to Akyrtas to see the ruins of a Silk Road city.
Later drive back and proceed to Taraz and on arrival transfer to Hotel Dzhambul
After lunch we shall visit the other archaeological sites and tombs of Aisha Bibi
Overnight

Taraz & Akyrtas: The southern steppes of Kazakhstan was a perfect place for many cities as we called them Silk Road sites today were referred as rich cities of Transoxania. Akyrtas was no doubt one the similar cities and when the Arabs arrived here it was already a living town in 8th AD. The local population was of Turkic origin the Qarluks who may have been the earliest Tribes of Goturk Khanate roaming in the steppes before settling in present day Akyrtas site which could be dated back to 2nd Ad or even 1st BC. During the Turkic confederacy of the local rulers called Karluks and at that time population was professing Buddhism where as earlier to this period they must have been Shamanist or Animist along with other nomads of the Zhyetsu (seven rivers) Nestorian monks had established a church as we can see crosses and signs on rocks found here. Even there is record of people professing Manichean religion. The Chinese invasions of these parts records defeating the local Turkic people. We shall see well defined streets with well-placed huge stones assures us of nicely laid out city plan. Though with the passage of time and abandonment has left only the town plan which is still very interesting to see.

Taraz or Talas: Taraz was an important and well inhabited town with river Talas flowing past. This could be the eastern most extension of Sogdiana with admixture of Turkic tribal groups. Again yet another town on the Great Silk Road, Taraz is situated in the foothills of Talas range. Finds of stone age period from the caves situated in the nearby mountain range, then as of many sites Scythian tribes in the land of seven rivers have been found here in Taraz. Around 2nd AD Turkic population along with Sogdians flourished in this region. The Chinese invasion of Taraz and the famous battle along present day Talas river was fought around 750 AD between joint armies of Chinese and Karakhitays but were defeated by the Arabs. However Arabs made a tactical retreat leaving Karakhitays as master for a short period. Later to be converted as Kara Khanid were of Uighur stock but after the conversion they established themselves as one of the strongest ruling dynasty in the later years to come.
We can see the earlier sites of the Arab period and then later Kara Khanid which suggest us of a well developed city on the Silk Road. In the outskirts of town we can see Aisha Bibi’s tomb in the best of red sandstone with another tomb of her nurse nearby.

Day 06: Taraz/Shymkent – 175 kms
Shymkent/Almaty – KC972 – 1000/1115 hrs
Early morning depart for Shymkent and onto airport for flight to Almaty
On arrival transfer to Hotel Grand Voyage
Afternoon excursion to Issykurgan – the site of the ‘Scythian Warrior Prince’ later visit the site museum – later return to Almaty. Almaty environs are potted with kurgans – mounds from the various Scythian period. Issykurgan site was most significant, when one of the mound opened by A.K Akishev found remains of a princely person named later as ‘Warrior Prince’
We shall return in the afternoon
Overnight

Day 07: Almaty
Morning sightseeing tour of Almaty town – visit Panfilov Park, Zhenkov’s Holy
Ascension Cathedral, Museum of Kazakh musical instruments, later visit State Museum of History.
Afterward visit Zeelyoni bazaar (green market), the City mosque and drive through the town seeing various colonial buildings
Overnight

Day 08: Almaty
Tamgaly Rock Drawings (WHS) Situated about 163 kms out of Almaty, Tamgaly rock drawings is wonderful depiction of Human ages and migratory periods. These 5000 rock drawings are spread in an area of 90 hectares dating from 2nd millennium BC down to 20th century.

We can divide the main rock drawings as follows:
- Middle Bronze Age (14th – 13th BC) – Solar deities, Zoomorphic, disguised people and wide variety of animals.
- Late Bronze Age – (1200 BC) – we see pastoral life scenes, nomadic life with smaller figures
- Early Iron Age – (1200 BC – 5th BC) – this is mostly Scythian periods and Wusun People. These are mostly mixed drawings depicting different people who inhabited the area.
- Middle Ages – (6th – 12th AD) this is the Turkic period with many migratory tribes settling in the region. They are mostly depicting essence of power with warriors, arrow shooters, standing on horses, shooting from horses, banner signs and flags (standards)
- Modern Age – (13th-14th AD) – a settled culture of Dzhungarians and present day Kazakhs. The rock drawings ceased in 19th/20th AD

We shall spend sometime exploring these interesting periods on various rock slopes, ridges and gullies.
Return in afternoon to Almaty
Overnight

Day 09: Almaty/Depart – Flt
Morning transfer to airport for your departure flight
Assistance on departure