Kazakhstan through Baikonur, Semey, Turkestan, and Aralsk

1980 €, 9 Days

A cross-country route through Kazakhstan's landscapes, histories, and the human decisions that have shaped the country.

The route begins in the north at Astana, a planned capital built to represent Kazakhstan’s modern identity, then moves west to Aktau, a port city developed during the Soviet period for access to oil and uranium. From there, you’ll travel by train into the heart of Central Asia, reaching the dry former seafloor of the Aral Sea and the now-isolated fishing town of Aralsk.

In Baikonur, leased today by Russia but still on Kazakh territory, you’ll come face-to-face with one of the most significant sites in global space history—the launchpad of Sputnik and the first human into space. It was here the Soviet Union launched its first satellites and cosmonauts into space, including Yuri Gagarin in 1961. Next, you visit Turkestan, home to the UNESCO-listed Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a testament to the region’s Islamic and Timurid past.

You’ll experience the contrasts of urban Almaty, Kazakhstan’s cultural and economic capital, nestled against the foothills of the Tian Shan mountains, before concluding in Semey and Kurchatov, once secret locations at the heart of the Soviet nuclear testing between 1949 and 1989.

This is a journey that covers more than 4,000 kilometers—by air, rail, and road—offering insight into the environmental, historical, and geopolitical forces that have shaped modern Kazakhstan.

Highlights:
♦ Baikonur – Discover the historic center of the Soviet and Russian space programs.
♦ Aral Sea Expedition – Witness one of the world’s most haunting ecological disasters.
♦ Aktau and the Caspian promemade

View Full Itinerary

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Aktau
Arrival in Aktau on the Caspian Sea, setting the stage for your western Kazakhstan adventure.(-/-/-)

Day 2: Aktau
Spend the day exploring Aktau, known for its seaside atmosphere and its layout based on numbered micro-districts, a legacy of Soviet urban planning. The city offers glimpses into Kazakhstan’s oil economy as well as views over the Caspian coastline. (B/-/-)

Day 3: Aktau – Aralsk
Today, you embark on a long and scenic train ride across Kazakhstan’s vast and varied terrain. Departing in the morning, you’ll travel eastward to Aralsk, once a bustling fishing port on the Aral Sea. The journey, lasting about 21 hours, offers a chance to witness the steppe landscape roll by and to meet locals on board. (B/-/-)

Day 4: Aralsk – Aral Sea – Baikonur
Arriving in Aralsk early in the morning, you’ll transfer to jeeps for an expedition to the dramatic remnants of the Aral Sea. This surreal, shrinking body of water stands as a powerful symbol of human impact on nature. After exploring the area, your journey continues southward by road to Baikonur, the city synonymous with space exploration, where you’ll spend the night. (-/-/-)

Day 5: Baikonur - Kyzylorda - Almaty
We take the train early morning to Kyzylorda (3 hours) and then board our flight to Almaty.Hotel in Almaty -/-/-

Day 6: Almaty
Today is dedicated to exploring Almaty, a cosmopolitan city framed by mountains. You’ll visit its key sites including the lively Green Bazaar, the Russian Orthodox Zenkov Cathedral, and the historic Panfilov Park. Enjoy the contrast between urban sophistication and the nearby natural landscapes. (B/-/-)

Day 7: Almaty - Semey
We spend the morning exploring the city before taking our next flight to Semey in northeastern Kazakhstan

Day 8: Semey – Kurchatov - Semey
Transfer to Kurchatov where we visit Museum of the Semipalatinsk Test Site, once a top-secret location for Soviet nuclear experiments. You’ll learn about the legacy of the tests and Kazakhstan’s move toward disarmament. Back to Semey for overnight. (B/-/-)

Day 9: Departure
After breakfast, you’ll transfer to Semey airport for your return flight to either Almaty or Astana, marking the end of your Kazakh adventure. (B/-/-)

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PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

A pioneer tour: This journey is off the beaten tracks in the truest sense. See more here (point 12)
Tour start: You are welcome to fly in to Aktau day 1 for the tour start. Flights from Istanbul (Pegasus) or Baku (Azerbaijan Airlines) directly to Aktau.
Tour end: We recommend to catch a flight to Almaty or by train to Astana.
Travel Insurance Made Easy with Penguin Travel and IATI here
Visa: Most nationalities are visa free until 30 days. Please do your own research.

Price Includes:
Accommodation in shared double/twin room with facilities (2 nights in Aktau; 1 in Baikonur; 2 in Almaty; 1 near Kurchatov)
Meals according to the meal plan (B-breakfast/L-lunch/D-dinner)
Transport as per itinerary incl. night train Aktau-Aralsk and Baikonur-Turkestan (2nd class)
Flight tickets Turkestan-Almaty and Almaty-Semey
Permits for Baikonur
Local English-speaking guides and English-speaking Penguin tour leader (at min. 10 people)

Not Included:
Flight/transport to Aktau/from Semey
Entrance fees
Meals not mentioned included and drinking
Tips
Eventual visa
Insurance
Personal expenses

Additional Services:
Extra night in Astana before tour start OR in Astana or Almaty after tour end: Please ask for our quotation

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