From the New Capital to the Old
From Astana, Kazakhstan’s purpose-built capital on the northern steppe, down to Almaty, the country’s business center in the south, survey a hand-picked selection of highlights – natural, like gorgeous variegated Charyn Canyon, or man-made, like the ghost town of Otrar, founded in the 1st century AD.
7 Day Trip
- Private Journey
Minimum of 2 Travelers - Travels to:
Central Asia, Kazakhstan - Flexible Essential:
Astana to Almaty
MIR Signature Why end mights on this Tour
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Admire candy-colored Zenkov CathedralRead More
Admire the candy-colored Orthodox Zenkov Cathedral in Panfilov Park in the center of Almaty; built without the use of nails, it is a survivor from czarist times.... -
Picnic in a gorgeous canyonRead More
Picnic amid the striated colors of spectacular Charyn Canyon, cut by the swift Charyn River cascading down from the Tien Shan Mountains....
Why Travel with MIR on this Tour

- Over 30 years of Central Asia travel experience
- The first American travel company to open an accredited office in Central Asia
- Travel programs such as Vassar, Dartmouth and the Harvard Museum of Natural History have chosen MIR to guide them to Central Asia
- Twice named one of National Geographic Adventure’s “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth”
- On-the-ground support and quality you can trust
- Personalized travel planning from start to finish
- Guides and tour managers that clients rave about
Itinerary & Highlights at a Glance
Days 1-2: Astana, Chimkent
Begin in the new city of Astana, capital of Kazakhstan only since 1997, admiring its modern monuments, such as Baiterek Tower, commemorating a Kazakh folk tale, and the Khan Shatyr Center, the "World's Biggest Tent." Fly to Chimkent in the evening.
Highlights
- Astana, purpose-built capital of Kazakhstan on the steppe
- Viewing platform of 344-foot Baiterek Tower in Astana
Days 3-4: Chimkent, Otrar, Turkistan
Wander Chimkent's bazaar before setting out though the desert towards the remains of Otrar’s medieval fortress. Continue to the historic city of Turkistan to visit the UNESCO-listed mausoleum of revered Sufi sheikh Khoja Akhmed Yasavi, the first Turkic Muslim holy man.
Highlights
- Chimkent, third largest and one of the oldest towns in Kazakhstan
- Vibrant local bazaar
Days 5-7: Chimkent, Almaty, Charyn Canyon
Fly to Almaty, inspecting the Kazakh two-stringed dombra at the Museum of Musical Instruments, and visiting a falcon farm. Drive through spectacular Charyn Canyon, with its strange rock formations and colorful strata, before returning to Almaty.
Highlights
- Almaty, Kazakhstan’s business capital and largest city
- Lofty Tien Shan Mountain Range
See Dates & Prices for more details or to see suggested extensions.
Tour Dates & Prices
Land Tour Price, Per Person
based on double occupancy
- 2 Traveler Minimum $2,995
- Plus Internal Air $300
- Single Supplement $250
2018 Dates
Your Choice of Dates
Start on a Saturday
Recommended months of travel:
- April,
- May,
- June,
- July,
- August,
- September,
- October,
- November,
- FROM
- $2,995
- Min 2 Travelers
Group Size
Pricing is based on a minimum of 2 travelers on this trip. Call for solo trip pricing.
Private trip prices vary by season and are subject to hotel availability for your travel dates. Hotel upgrades, additional nights and solo traveler prices are available on request.
What’s Included
On Your Tour
- Shared accommodations in well-located superior tourist class hotels to more basic hotels. Call for hotel upgrade prices.
- 6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner, per the itinerary. A few lunches and dinners are left free so you may enjoy a chance to dine on your own.
- One arrival and one departure transfer. (Additional arrival and departure transfers available at additional cost.) MIR will arrange for travelers to be met upon arrival and seen off on departure, whether we make your air arrangements or not.
- Ground transportation throughout itinerary by car or van.
- Guided sightseeing tours and entrance fees as outlined in itinerary.
- Services of experienced, English-speaking local guides, drivers and other staff.
Before Your Tour
- Personalized pre-departure support from one of our knowledgeable Tour Specialists.
- Complete pre-departure information including detailed packing list and reading list.
- Touring with MIR handbook with country-specific information, maps, and travel tips.
- Customized visa application instruction kit (if applicable to your itinerary; please note, visa fees are not included in the tour price).
- Final document packet including luggage tags, final updates, and more.
- Assistance booking your custom flight arrangements (on request; please note that international and internal airfares are not included in the land tour cost).
Prepare for Your Trip

International Airfare
MIR's in-house, full-service air department will gladly assist with your air travel needs.
More Info
Reading List
MIR recommends reading up before you leave home. So settle back in your armchair with some of our favorite books about our favorite places.
More Info
Visas
Most MIR programs require one or more visas, and each visa requires a completely blank page in your passport. Visa information for this particular tour is listed in the Detailed Descriptive Itinerary.
More InfoTravel Insurance
Stay a Little Longer…
MIR can arrange for an extended program in the South Caucasus countries, Iran, Western Russia, or Eastern Europe. All of MIR’s destinations are open to you, and all can be attached to this program. Please contact MIR for more details about exciting options for extended travel.
Or, choose from one of these suggested itineraries:
Is this Trip Right for You?
The accommodations vary from superior tourist class to more basic hotels. It is important to keep in mind that the country of Kazakhstan may not be up to the standards North American travelers expect.
A full list of details about the rigors of this tour are explained in the Detailed Descriptive Itinerary.
Read our Travel Journals
MIR's Travel Journals offer first hand accounts of MIR's fascinating destinations.
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Chinese Turkestan & Central Asia: Exploring the Silk Road
Andrew Barron, MIR's Director of Scheduled Group Tours, visits the ancient Silk Road in Western China and the 'Stans with the Chinese Turkestan & Central Asia scheduled group tour. Read about his journey from Almaty to Urumqi, Kashgar and Bishkek.... Read More
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Ancient Persia, Modern Iran: A Tour Leader’s Blog
Follow along with seasoned MIR Tour Manager, Michel Behar, as he blogs his way through MIR's Ancient Persia - Modern Iran small group tour. Spend each day with him as he recounts his favorite traditional Persian foods, his discoveries at the outdoor markets, and his impressions of the gardens, art and architecture of Iran.... Read More
MIR in the News
International Travel News Spotlights New MIR South Caucasus Small Group Tour
April 18, 2018
International Travel News recently featured one of MIR’s newest small group tours, Village Traditions of the South Caucasus, in its monthly roundup of recommended tours. The 21-day tour takes travelers on an in-depth explor... Read More
MIR Vice President Talks “Edgy” Travel in TravelAge West
April 1, 2018
MIR vice president Annie Lucas was recently interviewed in TravelAge West about traveling to off-the-beaten-path destinations. MIR’s specialized expertise with destinations that ordinary travelers may be wary of were highli... Read More
From the Blog
The Timeless Appeal of the Republic of Georgia
April 10, 2018
MIR’s Vice President, Annie Lucas, loves Georgia and shares her insider's list of reasons that Georgia has everything a traveler could ask for in a destination. ... Read More
Traveler Spotlight: Bill Altaffer, One of the World’s Most Traveled People
April 2, 2018
Bill Altaffer, MIR traveler extraordinaire, had the honor of being named the “World’s Most Traveled Person” in 2005, on the website Most Traveled People.com. The website has calculated that “…the land area on Earth ... Read More