Almaty, its biggest city, may have ceded capital status to its flashy young rival, Astana, but it remains the country’s cultural and financial centre, and custodian of the Kazakh soul. Spectacularly set beneath the snow-capped peaks of the imperious Zailysky-Alatau mountains, it’s a relaxed, pleasantly green city of fancy malls and fountains, black-windowed SUVs and broad, busy boulevards. It’s the sophisticated, modern hub of a booming petro-economy for sure, but one with enough surprises to make Almaty a highlight of any visit to Kazakhstan.
1. You can get a taste of life on the Silk Road – There’s no better introduction to Kazakhstan’s multifaceted ethnic patchwork than the bustling Green Bazaar market hall, where traders from across Central Asia and as far afield as Korea gather to hawk their wares. Fresh produce is abundant: the foothills around Almaty lay strong claim to be the ancestral home of the apple (the city’s name literally means “father of the apple”) and the fruit here can grow to giant proportions.
2. The ski slopes are fit for royalty – Barely half an hour’s drive from the city, the ski resort of Shymbulak hit the headlines in 2014 when Prince Harry took then girlfriend Cressida Bonas for a spin on the slopes. The resort is unexpectedly ritzy, and the skiing among the best in Central Asia. Almaty’s chilly, sunny winters guaranteeing cold, crisp snow well into April and invariably good conditions.
At any time of year, it’s well worth escaping the city smog to ride the 4km series of ski lifts, with their fetching leopard-print cabins (in homage to the seldom-seen snow leopards that still roam these mountains), up to the 3180-metre Talgar Pass. Various rocky hiking trails lead up into the surrounding peaks, snow-capped even in summer, and the views are spectacular.
3. You can visit the world’s second tallest wooden building – Flattened by earthquakes more than once, Almaty is not a city awash with historic buildings. Standing proudly defiant in leafy Panfilov Park, one dazzling exception is the Cathedral of the Holy Ascension – a confection of pastel-hued gables, brightly painted tiles and gilded domes – that rises almost 60m and was built without a single nail. A magnificent gilt altarpiece dominates the opulent interior, where (predominantly) women – their heads covered in beautiful scarves – light candles and worship in hushed reverence. It’s a great place to experience Kazakhstan’s refreshingly open attitude to religion: Muslims and Atheists often visit along with their Russian Orthodox friends.
4. There’s some impressive socialist realist art and architecture – A stone’s throw from the Ascension Cathedral, Almaty’s Soviet War Memorial looms dramatically in front of the forbidding bulk of city’s former army headquarters: a powerfully built, jutting-jawed Red Army infantryman leaps, grenade in hand, from a relief of grim-faced soldiers. Oddly this is the city’s prime favoured spot for wedding pictures. For a more nuanced taste of Soviet art, head to the Kasteyev State Arts Museum, undoubtedly the city’s finest. The museum is named after Abilkhan Kasteev, regarded as Kazakhstan’s preeminent painter, and among the vast collection is a fascinating room devoted to his depictions of Soviet life, from epic canvases of the rapidly industrializing landscape to intimate portraits of peasant life.
5. The Russian baths are the finest in Central Asia –Perhaps Almaty’s one truly unmissable experience, the Arasan Baths complex is the most elaborately styled bathhouse in the region, built in the 1980s as a grand statement of late Soviet ambition. Pick up a towel, slippers and conical felt shapka (hat) and leave your modesty behind in the changing room.
There’s a Finnish sauna and a marble Turkish hammam but they’re invariably empty – you’ll find your fellow bathers in the ferociously hot Russian parilka (steam room), vigorously thrashing each other with vyeniki (bundles of oak or birch leaves), a wince-inducing ritual said to improve circulation.
Value for Money – Baku is an extremely cheap and you can get great value for money on accommodation and sightseeing. You can get around by walking or via bus and metro which cost around US$1 per journey.
Safety – Although tourist numbers are very low compared to other cities in Asia, Baku is very safe and you shouldn’t encounter any issues exploring this city both during day and night. Local people are very friendly even with the language barrier and they will greet you with smiles and curiosity
Baku’s Old City is a Sight to Behold – The Old City is a walled city, called the Icheri Sheher by the locals. It is a UNESCO heritage site and offers an incredible insight into the lives and times of people living in Baku between the 12th and 16th centuries. You can take a guided tour of Icheri, but if you want to discover it on your own, then it is a good idea to get an audio guide at one of the many Tourism Kiosks throughout the city. Follow the sound guide and fall in love with the glory of a bygone era.
The Fortress Wall – The Fortress Wall in Baku helped protect the city from battles and walls until the 16th century. Initially constructed in the 12th century, The wall as destroyed several times across the centuries. Then in the 16th century, the locals upgraded the wall and added a second fortress wall lower than the original one, to fortify it. That way, if any invaders would dare jump the wall, they’d end up trapped in a water-filled moat between the two walls and easy to catch.
Caravanserais For a Drink or Two – Baku has so many stories to tell because it lies in the Silk Route, the famous road taken by nomads and traders traveling across Asia for better business prospects. Caravanserais are the inns and hotels where they used to rest and recuperate. It’s incredible to note that the architecture of these Caravanserais is pretty standard across thousands of miles of Silk Route.
Maiden Tower For The Climb of A Lifetime – Another UNESCO Heritage Site, the Maiden Tower, has perplexed archeologists and historians regarding its actual purpose and its unique shape. It could have been a part of the defense strategy of the locals in the 5th or 6th century when it was built. Another theory asserts that the locals were trying to study the moon and other celestial bodies and that’s why they created the highest tower they could build. And finally, some believe that the tower was a fire-worshipping temple, and from the above, it does look like a buta, the symbol of fire and light.
Visa -Visa assistance for Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan
Accommodation – Accommodation in mentioned HOTEL on Twin / Double Sharing Basis
Transport – All Tours & Transfers in AC luxury coach (Seat in Coach basis)
Meals – Daily buffet breakfast in the hotel.
Tour Guide – English Speaking guide from arrival till Departure.
Airport Transfer – Return Airport Transfers on Private basis
Sightseeing – Guided city tour of Almaty and Baku (As per attached itinerary)
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