We embarked on a 45-day self-drive road trip through Central Asia, creating an anti-clockwise loop that started in Kazakhstan, continued through Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and ended in Kyrgyzstan. This route avoided unnecessary detours and allowed for a gradual ascent along the legendary Pamir Highway, making the journey both efficient and breathtaking.
Itinerary
Day 1 (Almaty)
Starting in Almaty, our journey kicked off with an authentic Kazakh feast at Shashlychok Na Pastera. We savored our first bite of Tohax bread and lamb skewers(Shashlik). It was a budget-friendly delight at around SGD 20/USD 15 for 2 pax. Then, we headed back to rest as we were tired after the long flight from Singapore to Almaty.
Day 2 (Almaty – Saty)
At the buzzing Green Bazaar, we tasted Kazakhstan’s deliciously diverse dairy and meat products. A highlight was the breathtaking Zenkov Cathedral—one of the tallest wooden structures globally, built without nails!
In the late afternoon, we started our drive towards Saty Village. We wanted to be closer to Kolsai Lakes. We will explore these lakes on Day 3.
Day 3 (Kolsai Lakes)
Escaping the urban buzz, we ventured to the Kolsai Lakes National Park amid the Tian Shan mountains. Despite intermittent rain, the Lower Kolsai Lake stunned us with its mirror-like reflections. The Kolsay Lakes Town made an ideal base, located conveniently at the trail entrance.
Day 4 (Kolsai Lakes, Charyn Canyon, Saty)
Weather was on our side and we did a horseback adventure (KZT 25K/USD 50 per pax) that introduced us to the second Kolsai Lake with another surreal view. After the horse ride, we visited Charyn Canyon.
Day 5 (Taraz)
We started the morning with a drive to the entrance of Lake Kaindy, hoping to explore its famous sunken forest. Pressed for time, we had to skip hiking. Still, our drone offered a beautiful consolation – a fleeting view of surreal waters shimmering between mountains.
In the afternoon, we drove towards Taraz, a 2,000-year-old Silk Road city, marveling at its ancient architecture and vibrant markets. Ending our day, we had a sumptuous dinner at Jeti Tandyr.
Day 6 (Shymkent, Turkestan)
From Shymkent, we drove to Turkestan for a half day trip, where we admired the spectacular Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a stunning yet partially unfinished architectural gem commissioned by Timur.
Where we stayed
Almaty – Guesthouse on Sadovaya 33 USD/night Hosted by a friendly russian man, spacious and clean
Saty – Panorama glamping 53USD/night Cabins with a nice grassland landscape and wild animals
Kolsai lakes – Kolsay lakes town A good but pricier option within the Kolsai lakes, conveniently located at the area of the first Kolsai lakes
Taraz – Keruen Deluxe 27 USD/night Cheap, clean and value for money
Shymkent – Sary Arka Hotel 20 USD/night Spacious room and cheap, only that the AC wasn’t working so we used a standing fan for the night. But for bed and breakfast, price couldn’t be better