Turkistan Itineraries for Two to Three Days
Pick a Base
You can sleep in Turkistan, in Shymkent about 160 km away, or arrive from Almaty by overnight train or flight. Each base changes how much driving you do.
Itinerary A: Two Days from Turkistan
- Day 1. Morning at the Azret Sultan precinct, then lunch and an afternoon at the Karavansaray. Stay for the Parade of Boats show after dark.
- Day 2. Drive to Otrar and Arystan Bab, adding Sauran or Ukasha Ata by car if the heat allows.
Itinerary B: Three Days with a Private Tour
Operators sell a three-day Turkistan, Otrar and Ukasha Ata private tour at about US$385 to US$1,050 per person in 2026, with the price depending on how many people share the car. Compare inclusions, since entry fees and meals vary.
Itinerary C: Shymkent Base
Stay in Shymkent for its bazaars, museums and citadel, then take Turkistan as a day out. The rail journey runs roughly 3 to 4 hours, and minibuses take about 2 hours. If you would rather see the Karavansaray at night, sleep one night in Turkistan.
Itinerary D: Aksu-Zhabagly Overnight
Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve lies roughly 90 to 100 km from Shymkent. Entry needs a permit and a guide, both arranged through the reserve office in Zhabagly village. Plan it as an overnight from Shymkent, since it is too far to combine with Turkistan in a day.
Itinerary E: Silk Road into Uzbekistan
From Shymkent, continue to Tashkent by train or road. The Afrosiyob high-speed train then links Tashkent and Samarkand. Border and visa requirements depend on your passport, so check the official pages for both countries before you book.
Arrival Notes
- Air: Hazrat Sultan International Airport (HSA), about 21 km out. Direct flights from Almaty and Astana operate, along with a few seasonal international routes. Confirm schedules before booking.
- Rail: Overnight trains run from Almaty. Look up the timetable and train type on the KTZ site. No direct train runs from Astana.
- Road: Shared cars and minibuses run from Shymkent bus stations for a few thousand tenge at most.
Hotels
The Karavansaray Turkistan Hotel and the Family Hotel are the best-known names. Hampton by Hilton Turkistan is about a 10-minute walk from the mausoleum, and the Platinum Hotel charged about 10,000 KZT for a single in July 2026. Rixos and Ramada by Wyndham also list properties.
Season and Safety
The mildest weather falls in April, May, September and October, while mid-summer can reach 45 C. Carry your original passport.
Read more: day trips from Turkistan details each outing.
Book rooms through Booking.com . Entry rules are set out in the UK government advice , and operator itineraries appear on Welcome.kz .