There are many Sights around Shymkent for tourists who love history, nature, pilgrimage or adventures. Everyone will find something exciting.
One-Day-Tour
Turkistan Region
Nature
Akmechet Cave
The Akmechet Cave is the largest cave in Central Asia. It’s so big that even a small mulberry forest is growing inside.
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Aksu-Zhabagly National Reserve
The Aksu-Zhabagly National Reserve is the oldest National Reserve in the former Soviet Union countries and full of petroglyphs and endemic plants.
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Tulip field “Red Hill”
The tulip field Red Hill or Шұбайқызыл қыраты is one of the wild tulips field with the highest density of flowers per square meter.
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Aksu Canyon
Just in front of the doors of city Shymkent is one of the biggest and deepest canyon in Eurasia: The crystal blue water Aksu river and the soft stone of the Tian Shan Mountains created this 500 meters deep Aksu Canyon.
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Kaindy Waterfall
One of the most beautiful waterfalls in South-Kazakhstan is the Kaindy Waterfall in the Sairam-Ugam Nationalpark.
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Lower and Upper Lake of Sayram Su
The two beautiful cold lakes of Sayram Su are located in the Sairam-Ugam National park. The upper lake has a wonderful cyan blue color.
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Mashat Canyon
Mashat Canyon is another beautiful valley near Shymkent. The steep, rugged and rocky walls of the gorge are impressive and eagles often circle in the sky. In spring, flower lovers can enjoy an impressive spectacle in the Mashat Canyon when the wild tulips are in full bloom.
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Adam & Eve Rock (Gayip Eren Qyryk Shilten)
The Adam and Eve Rock also known as Gayip Eren Qyryk Shilten is a reddish shimmering upright rock exposed from a rocky hill, which has a thin crack running length-ways in the middle. Brave people can squeeze through this crack from one end to the other. It’s great fun for young and old.
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History and Pilgrimage
Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
The beautiful and monumental Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in Turkistan is on the UNESCO World Heritage list and is the architectural prototype of the famous Registan in Samarkand.
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Ancient silk way city Sawran
The ancient city Sawran is a abandoned silk way city of the 16th century. The old impressing walls and some basement of houses are still visible in the Kazakh steppe.
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Noah’s Ark Monument (Keme Kalgan Monument)
Local legends say that Noah and his ark were not stranded on Mount Ararat, but between the peaks of Mount Kazygurt near Shymkent. The Keme Kalgan Monument is a tall transmitting antenna in the shape of a sailing ship and is intended to represent Noah’s Ark in an abstract form and thus remind us of these legends. The monument is located right next to the A-2 highway between Shymkent and Tashkent and is therefore easy to reach. The view from the hill is fantastic.
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Ancient silk way city Otrar
Otrar was a famous silk way city. Also well-known as Farab. It’s the birth place of philosopher Abu Al-Farabi (872) and place of death of King Amir Timur (1405). The city was destroyed by Mongol king Genghis Khan.
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Mausoleum of Arystan Bab
The Mausoleum of the mystic Kazakh Arystan Bab near Otrar is a wonderful building built with burnt bricks with alabaster mortar.
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Mausoleum of Domalak Ana
The Mausoleum of Domalak Ana is a beautiful new Mausoleum with a nice park for a wise woman from the south Kazakhstan region in the 10th century.
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Kazhymukan Munaitpasov Museum
The wrestler Kazhymukan Munaitpasov (1871-1948) was the first Kazakh who became a world champion. In the village Temirlan, just 45 km northwest of Shymkent, a tent-shaped museum about him was opened in 2001 to mark the 130th anniversary of the famous wrestler’s birth. It houses about 500 exhibits: Khadzhimukan’s personal belongings, his awards, documentary newsreels, painting and photographs.
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Akbura Mausoleum
Another sight near Shymkent is the beautiful Mausoleum of Akbura near the Kazygurt mountain. It is located in a small valley with a garden like aspen grove and next to a spring with fresh water.
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Ordabasy National-Cultural Reserve
The Ordabasy National Cultural Reserve is located about 45 km from Shymkent. It includes Mount Ordabasy, which is an important historical site for Kazakhs. It was there that in late autumn 1726, Kazakh wise men Tole Bi, Kazybek Bi and Aiteke Bi met together with Kazakh warriors and the Khan to develop a strategy against the Dzungar-Kalmak army. This meeting was crucial for the protection and liberation of the Kazakh people and their territories. A 28-meter-high stele called Birlik (Kazakh: Unity) was erected near the top of the mountain in 1997. It is a testament to the unity and resilience of the Kazakh people. In spring, wild tulips bloom on Mount Ordabasy.
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Jambyl Region
History and Pilgrimage
Mausoleum of Aisha Bibi
A masterpiece of very detailed clay stones architecture is the Aisha Bibi Mausoleum built for a beautiful girl who died tragically before her secret wedding.
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Tekturmas Mausoleum
The Mausoleum of Tekturmas are two beautiful mausoleums of the Kazakh Warrior Mambet Batyr from the 18th century and of the Kazakh spiritual leader Sultan Mahmud Khan located on a hill with a wonderful view to Taraz.
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2-3 Days Tour
Kyzylorda Region
History and Pilgrimage
Baikonur Cosmodrome
The Baikonur Cosmodrome is a very busy spaceport and the first steps into space launched from this place. It’s a lifetime experience to watch a rocket launch from Baikonur.
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Nature
Aral Sea, city Aralsk & Lake Kamyslybas
In the city Aralsk you can see the old harbor on the Aral Sea and can swim in the beautiful Lake Kamyslybas.
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Uzbekistan
History and Pilgrimage
Silk way city Samarkand is on of the oldest city on earth and has beautiful Mausoleums of the Timurid Empire and the famous old school Registan.
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Tashkent
Tashkent – the capital of Uzbekistan offers a mix of old silk road architecture and modern & soviet architecture to their guests.
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Nature
David’s Cave
The David’s Cave is a cave of the prophet David in the mountains close to Samarkand. The hiking tour up to the cave on steps is a great adventure.
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This list is not completed, yet. There are more sights around Shymkent to discover. If you think there are sights around Shymkent that we have to add to our list – don’t hesitate and contact us.