Journey from the enchanting natural beauty of the glacial mountain ranges of Almaty and Bishkek, to the magnificent desert canyons on the South of Issyk Kul Lake. Immerse yourself in the culture of the nomadic people of the central Asian steppes and discover the intersection of the ancient and the modern in Astana. A host of wonderful historical and cultural sites across these two countries will make this an unforgettable experience.
Depart on your scheduled overnight flight to Kazakhstan's capital city, Astana.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Upon arrival at the airport early this morning, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy a relaxing breakfast and morning before being taken on a half day city tour of the city after lunch. As well as taking in the architectural wonders that crown this sprawling metropolis, a trip to the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, famed for its blue-glass-and-white-marble facade, will allow for a full historical and cultural immersion from ancient to modern times. Replete with an incredible collection of artefacts across several themed halls and numerous interactive displays, there is much to discover at this magnificent museum. Be sure to check out the Golden Hall which houses thousands of Bronze Age ornaments, including the famed 'Golden Man' - a 3rd or 4th century warrior whose gold clad remains were uncovered in 1969 and remain the prevailing national symbol of Kazakhstan. After this, visit the Military Museum which contains more than 6,000 exhibits collected throughout the country. Stroll along the Ishim River and pass by Atyrau Bridge and the Kenesary monument. Your final stop before your welcome dinner will be the Assumption Russian Orthodox Cathedral which is the largest Orthodox church in all of Central Asia standing at 68 meters tall.
Breakfast & Lunch
Set off on a tour offering a new perspective on the city, including a visit to the majestic Palace of Peace and Accord - a 77 metre high pyramid and one of Kazakhstan's most striking cultural landmarks. An imposing symbol of unity, it hosts delegates from all of the world's major religions in its circular chamber and houses a 1,300 seat opera house. From here, go on to the architectural brilliance that is the Baiterek Tower and ascend this iconic landmark for breath-taking panoramic views of the city, 90 meters up. Next, make your way to the mesmerising Khan Shatyr Entertainment Centre; with its fabulous neofuturist design and huge variety of things to do under its tent, it is an urban paradise. Return to the hotel for a leisurely afternoon.
Breakfast & Lunch
Take a flight to Almaty, the former capital and Kazakhstan's largest city. Once settled, the full splendour of the city will be revealed on an afternoon tour, including visits to the iconic Independence Square - the Soviet influenced old quarter, featuring the bright and quirky Ascension Cathedral, comprised entirely of wood without a single nail; Panfilov Park, named after the General who orchestrated the famous defence against the advancing German army during World War 2, and the enchanting Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, venture to the national park, Ile Alatau and set off on a scenic drive to the Medeo skating rink - nicknamed the 'Factory of Records' due to 138 world records having been set here. Continue your journey up the mountainside to the alpine resort of Shymbulak; at 2,260 meters above sea level, delight in a visual feast of incredible views. Today's last stop is Kok Tobe, enjoy a cable car ride and admire magnificent panoramic view of the city.
Breakfast & Lunch
Hunting with eagles and hawks is a unique feature of traditional life in Central Asia. Visit the only falcon farm in Kazakhstan - 'Sunkar', where you will enjoy a spectacular show with specially trained hawks, golden and bald eagles, owls, vultures and falcons.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today travel from Almaty to Karakol on the eastern tip of Kyrgyzstan with a stopover at the Charyn Canyon; dubbed the mini Grand Canyon, it is a fascinating contrast to the snow-peaked mountains of Almaty. Venture into “Valley of Castles” to see the canyon from the inside. Continue onward to Karakol, where the evening is at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Begin your Karakol city tour at the Dungan Mosque - a colourful century old wooden edifice in the Chinese Buddhist architectural style, yet built in the Kyrgyz traditional wood feathering style, instead of metal nail construction. Later, visit the striking Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, before driving to Jety-Oguz canyon where you can enjoy a light hike through the magnificent canyon of red sandstone. Return to the hotel for dinner and an evening of leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, take a scenic drive to Chon Kemin valley along the North Shore of Issyk Kul Lake. En route, familiarize yourself with tremendous geographical feats at the Museum of Nikolai Przhevalsky, where you can see 19th century artefacts from this famous Russian explorer's great expeditions in Central Asia and West China. Next, visit Cholpon-Ata - an impressive site of ancient rock carvings, followed by a trip to the temple of the Scythian civilizations which existed from 900 BC until 400 AD. Continue your journey to the lush mountains of Chon Kemin before arriving at your Guest House accommodation.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
On the way to Bishkek, make a stop near Tokmak city to visit the striking ruins of the medieval city Balasagun and marvel at its famous Burana tower; formerly one of three capitals of the Karakhanid Empire, Balasogun was one of the most developed cities during the peak of the Great Silk Road era. After this, take a look at a collection of Balbals, Turkic ancient tombs before arriving at Bishkek to tonight's hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, get to know the capital city on an exciting sightseeing tour. Visit Manas Monument - the main national hero of the Kyrgyz people. Next, sample the State History Museum and take a walking tour around main Ala Too Square to watch the ceremony of the changing of the Guard of Honor. Finish at the Old Square, containing the sole remaining Parliament House in Central Asia. After lunch, drive to the captivating Ala Archa National Park situated in the Tien Shan mountains. You will be in the alpine gorge through which the fast-flowing Ala Archa River runs. The gorge is flanked by tall, snow-covered, peaks with steep-sided, forested, mountain slopes. In the National Park you can easily hike along the main gorge of Ala Archa and back to enjoy views of magnificent peaks of the Tien Shan. Finish with dinner at a local restaurant and enjoy a traditional folklore show, before returning back to your hotel.
Breakfast
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your return flight home, or onto your chosen extension.
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Excellent trip with a small group. Very interesting countries with lots to see. Amazing scenery in Kyrgyzstan in particular and the people are very friendly. The guides and drivers were great - special shout out to Dina in Almaty and Tania and Sasha in Kyrgyzstan. These three went out of their way to ensure we were well looked after. The alpine resorts of Shymbulak and Jety-Oguz were the highlights for me but every day brought something great.
Elizabeth James
12 May 24The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
Kazakhstan requirements To enter Kazakhstan, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you arrive and at least one blank page. British Citizens do not require a visa to visit Kazakhstan.
Kyrgyzstan requirements To enter Kyrgyzstan, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least two blank pages. British Citizens not require a visa to visit Kyrgyzstan.
Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.
We strongly advise you check your destinations- Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.
Border Crossing:
Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan Should take approximately 30 minutes though delays do occur. You will need to exit the bus with your bags for passport control. The driver may not be allowed to exit the bus or assist.
Please note that if you are travelling on the Main Tour only, we will require your passport information at least 30 days prior to departure. If you are travelling on the Shymkent Extension also, then passport information will be required at least 45 days prior to departure. Failure to provide this information could result in an impact on the tour.
You will be given proof of stay at each hotel that you visit during your tour. Please keep these forms together with your passport should immigration control want to see these on departure.
Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalized on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.
IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
This tour is accessible to most people with a good level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves climbing of steep stairs and getting on and off coaches and boats. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.
Kazakhstan: The currency in Kazakhstan is the Kazakhstani tenge (KZT). We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK but cash machines are available in all the major cities to withdraw money in the local currency. Credit and debit cards are accepted in major cities and hotels, but smaller establishments tend to only take cash. Make sure to have small bills as change is not always available.
Kyrgyzstan: The currency in Kyrgyzstan is the Kyrgyzstani som (KGS). We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK but cash machines are available in Bishek to withdraw money in the local currency. Credit and debit cards are accepted but only at some of the larger hotels, shops and restaurants in Bishek as the country is predominantly a cash economy.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.
You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry, any meals not included in the itinerary as well as drinks and any additional snacks. Approximately £400-£500 per person will be sufficient for the duration of the tour.
Tipping It is at your customary to tip both your driver and guide. We would recommend to tip your guide approximately $6 per day and your driver approximately $3 per day. Tips are accepted in the local currency, however it is asked that if you do not tip in the local currency that you only pay with notes, as coins cannot be exchanged.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 10 and the maximum will be 25. In the unlikely event there are fewer than 10 passengers booked on your tour date, you may be asked to change to a different date. A full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
This is an escorted tour, meaning you will have the services of an English speaking guide throughout your tour ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.
For Private Tours or groups 4 and lower, you will be accompanied by a Driver and Local Guides on excursions. These Local Guides will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to guest houses. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Lunch and Dinner (when included) will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.
Vegetarian and Vegan options are not always available, please request prior to departure and our suppliers will do our best to arrange this. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way. Bottled water will be available at shops and hotels.
On arrival in Astana, you will be met by the representative from our local agent, Dolores Travel Group. This representative will be holding a sign displaying “Mercury Holidays” and will then escort you to your transfer vehicle. Your national guide will be on hand 24 hours a day should you have any queries.
If you need to contact your representative during your stay the details are: Dolores Travel Group 104A, Kichik Beshagach str. Tashkent, 100025, Uzbekistan
Telephone Number (office): 00998 78 1208883, Telephone Number (mobile): 00998 99 858 8894 (Anna)
Emergency contact information:
Office: 00998555158883.
In Kazakhstan please contact Mariya Pyanykh: 0077017360941
In Kyrgyzstan please contact Irina Komissarova: 00996772400767
E-mail: avishnevskaya@dolorestravel.com
