Outdoor Activities Turkistan
Outdoor Activities in Turkistan
Turkistan is a historic city in the Turkistan Region of southern Kazakhstan, on flat steppe about 160 km north-west of Shymkent. The outdoor activities are gentle: walking heritage sites, an evening by the canals and day trips by car.
Walking the Heritage Sites
- Walk the Azret Sultan precinct, which holds the Yasawi Mausoleum, the Hilvet mosque, the Eastern Bathhouse museum and the Friday Mosque
- See fragments of the 19th-century citadel wall, which is under conservation
Tips:
- Expect the circuit to fill most of a morning, queues included
- The mausoleum is open 09:00 to 18:00, so start in the morning
- Carry your original passport
Day Trips by Car
- Visit Sauran, about 43 to 46 km north-west, a mudbrick site of the 13th to 18th centuries
- Visit Otrar, about 50 km south, a medieval Silk Road city with the Arystan Bab Mausoleum beside it
- See the Ukasha Ata mausoleum and well at the foot of the Karatau range, about 47 to 55 km north
Tips:
- These sites are on open steppe with no shade, so bring water, a hat and sunscreen
- Agree a taxi price and waiting time before leaving
- Minibuses back from Otrar may stop by mid-afternoon
Karavansaray Canals
- Entry to the Karavansaray complex is free, and its canals link the buildings
- Watch the nightly Parade of Boats, usually around 20:00 to 21:00
- Take the electric-car ride around the grounds, about 2,000 KZT, up to ten people per car
Tips:
- Boat rides on the canal are offered, so ask on site for the current price
- Confirm show times locally, as they change with the season
Camel and Pony Rides
- Short rides are offered around the mausoleum precinct and are commercial in tone
Tips:
- Choose animals that look well fed and rested
- Skip rides in the midday heat
Summers are very hot, with highs of 35 to 40 C and up to 45 C in heat waves. April to May and September to October are the best months. Respect Turkistan’s religious sites and follow responsible travel practices.