Astana: 2-Day 1-Night Ranch Stay & Tour Historic Mausoleum

The best part of this experience is that the horses are not simply a way to cross the steppe. You feed them, groom them, learn basic riding skills, and take part in ranch work before riding to the Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum. I like the close contact with daily horse life, and I like that the $315 price includes transport from Astana, every meal, accommodation, and a private sauna. The homemade food, especially dishes such as beshbarmak, pilaf, manty, and baursaks, is another strong reason to consider it.

The main caution is the accommodation. One person found the ranch room poor and left early, while others loved the sunrise views and home-style setting. You should book this for the horse work, open steppe, food, and family hospitality first, not for polished hotel comforts. Winter can be especially memorable, but snow, cold, and long hours in the saddle require proper clothing.

Key points to know before you book

• The mausoleum ride is the cultural centerpiece: You reach the Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum on horseback, linking Kazakh history with the open steppe.
• You do more than ride: Feeding, grooming, horse care, hippodrome practice, and ranch chores are built into the stay.
• The horse selection is unusually varied: You may work with Kazakh horses, Orlov Trotters, and English Thoroughbreds.
• Food is part of the program: Meals include local favorites, desserts, homemade bread, jams, kumis, and cooking lessons for manty and baursaks.
• Nature comes in several forms: Ride through the steppe, along the Nura River, and toward local lakes, with the Ishim River also part of the stated riding area.
• This is a private group experience: Pickup and drop-off are available anywhere in Astana or at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport.

Why this ranch stay feels different from a standard horse ride

Many horse outings give you a short ride, a few photographs, and a trip back to town. This one is built around staying at the ranch and learning how the horses are handled. That changes the pace. You have time to watch morning feeding, ask questions, practice basic horsemanship, and see what the work looks like before setting off.

Taiburyldyn Shabysy Ranch is in Akmola Province, within reach of Astana by arranged transfer. The setting is open and rural, with broad steppe views, rivers, local lakes, horses, dogs, and cats. You are not being taken to a staged village attraction. The appeal is the working ranch and the chance to take part in its routine.

The experience is offered year-round. Summer may bring a meal in an authentic yurt, while other seasons use the ranch dining area. Winter adds snow and sharp cold to the ride. A January visit to the mausoleum was described as a particularly enjoyable snow ride, but you should bring rain gear, comfortable clothing, and sturdy shoes in any season.

No prior riding experience is required. That is important, since the schedule includes several rides and a longer outing on the second day. The team provides basic instruction and aims to match beginners with suitable horses. Still, you should be comfortable spending extended periods outdoors and sitting in a saddle.

Arriving from Astana and meeting the horses

Your trip begins with pickup at your Astana address or at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport. The transfer is included, which makes the $315 cost easier to judge. You do not need to arrange a separate taxi to a remote ranch or solve the return trip after a full day outside.

At the ranch, the first useful activity is morning horse feeding. This is not filler. It gives you a calm introduction to the animals before you ride them, and it shows the practical side of horse care. You can learn how the horses behave, how they are fed, and how riders build trust through steady handling.

The available horses include traditional Kazakh horses, Orlov Trotters, and English Thoroughbreds. That range is unusual for a small ranch program. Your ride may therefore feel different depending on the horse assigned to you, but the stated focus is on instruction and horsemanship rather than speed.

You also have access to the ranch facilities for feeding and grooming. If you have never handled a horse, this is where you can learn the basics without being rushed into a long trail ride. Alima and the team were specifically praised for giving clear riding instruction and paying attention to whether a beginner was having a good time.

Day one: riding lessons, a yurt meal, and Kabanbai Batyr

The first ride explores the area around the ranch. You learn the basic controls and get used to the horse’s movement while taking in the quiet steppe. The program also includes hippodrome training sessions, which are designed to develop riding technique and confidence.

The day’s main ride leads to the Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum. Kabanbai Batyr is one of the most respected figures in Kazakh history, and reaching his memorial on horseback gives the visit a clear connection to the country’s nomadic past. You are not simply driving to a monument, checking a box, and returning. The horse ride becomes part of the historical setting.

Expect open views and fresh air rather than a tightly timed city tour. The appeal is the combination of distance, history, and movement. In winter, snow can turn the ride into a striking scene, but cold-weather preparation matters. Warm layers, gloves, and weatherproof footwear are sensible choices even though the official packing list only calls for comfortable clothes, shoes, and rain gear.

Food is given a central role. In summer, lunch may be served inside a yurt, which adds a traditional setting to the meal. In other seasons, you dine at the ranch. The cooking includes familiar Kazakh dishes such as pilaf, beshbarmak, manty, and baursaks, along with salads, desserts, fresh bread, homemade jams, tea, and kumis.

Vegetarian meals are available, but you should request that option in advance. The food is prepared by a local cook, so this is a useful choice for anyone who wants to learn about Kazakh cuisine through a family-style meal rather than a restaurant menu.

Sunset on horseback and a sauna after the cold

After dinner, the first day continues with an evening ride across the steppe. The timing matters. The low sun changes the color of the open country, and the ride offers a quieter end to a busy day than another formal activity would.

Back at the ranch, you can use the private sauna. This is particularly welcome after a winter ride or a long day in the saddle. Tea and a homemade dessert follow the sauna, giving the evening a simple, local rhythm.

The accommodation is a ranch guesthouse with traditional touches and modern amenities. It is not presented as a luxury hotel, and that distinction should guide your expectations. One person found the accommodation uncomfortable and described it in very negative terms. Another appreciated a room with wide views of the sunrise, sunset, horses, and dogs.

Those differing impressions suggest that comfort may depend on your room, your expectations, and your idea of a ranch stay. If you need polished finishes, hotel-style service, or carefully standardized rooms, this may not be the right overnight choice. If you like rural settings and can accept some rough edges, the room may feel like part of the setting rather than a problem.

Day two: longer trails and real ranch work

The second morning starts with a traditional breakfast. Fresh bread, homemade jams, and hot tea are listed as part of the meal. You then take an extended trail ride through the steppe, using the riding skills learned on day one.

The longer outing gives you more time to settle into the horse’s rhythm. For a beginner, that can be rewarding, but it can also be tiring. People with back problems, limited mobility, visual impairments, or pregnancy should not book this activity. It is also not suitable for children under 10 or people over 70.

Horse care follows the ride. You feed and groom the animals and learn how a ranch day is organized. This is one of the program’s strongest features because it gives you a better sense of the work behind the riding experience. You are not only being carried across the countryside. You are asked to take part in the care of the animal that carries you.

The schedule also includes cooking lessons. You may learn to make manty and baursaks, two dishes that help explain the food served at the ranch. Baursaks are fried pieces of dough often served with tea, while manty are filled dumplings. Making them yourself gives the meal more meaning than simply receiving a plate.

Lunch may include pilaf or beshbarmak, salads, and kumis. You should be open to strong, unfamiliar flavors and to the fact that the food is homemade rather than tailored to tourist habits. The program includes vegetarian choices, but it is still wise to communicate dietary needs when you book.

Following the Nura River through the steppe

Later on day two, you ride along the Nura River. The river route gives you a different view from the open country around the ranch. Instead of seeing only broad horizons, you get a more defined natural corridor with water, changing vegetation, and quieter views of the countryside.

The stated riding areas also include local lakes and routes along the Ishim River. Exact routes can vary with conditions, season, and the horses, so you should think of these as possible riding zones rather than guaranteed stops at every body of water.

This part of the program is best for people who enjoy time outside without constant commentary. The river ride is about the pace of the horse, the sound of the countryside, and the chance to see more of Akmola Province beyond Astana. The open setting also means weather can affect the outing. Bring rain gear and clothing that can handle dust, cold, or changing conditions.

A final traditional dinner closes the ranch portion of the trip. Afterward, the team drives you back to your chosen location in Astana. Because transportation is included at both ends, you can treat the ranch as a complete short break from the city rather than worrying about transport connections.

What the $315 price really includes

At $315 per person, this is not a cheap two-day activity. It is also more than a trail ride. The price includes one night at the ranch, all meals, airport or Astana pickup and return, guided rides, horse care, instruction, the mausoleum visit, access to the sauna, and cooking activities.

That package is good value if you would otherwise pay separately for transport, lodging, meals, riding lessons, and a day tour from Astana. The private group format also matters. You are not being placed in a large coach group with a fixed sightseeing script.

The value is weaker if your main goal is a high-end room or a short, polished horseback excursion. The accommodation has drawn the most serious criticism, and the ranch setting is plainly more rustic than luxurious. There is also no alcohol included, and costs for off-ranch activities not specified in the package are extra.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option gives you some planning flexibility. Since the ranch asks you to book 24 to 48 hours in advance, do not leave this until the last minute.

Who should book this ranch adventure?

I would choose this for an active couple, a solo visitor interested in Kazakh culture, or a small private group that wants time outdoors. It suits people who want food, animals, history, and countryside in one short trip.

It is especially good for a first visit to Kazakhstan if you want to move beyond Astana’s urban sights. The mausoleum adds cultural context, while the meals and horse care provide a more personal look at local life.

I would not choose it for a luxury break, a family outing with young children, or anyone who dislikes animals, rural rooms, or unpredictable weather. You should also avoid it if you have a medical condition that makes horseback riding unsafe.

The strongest reason to book is the complete mix: riding instruction, multiple horse breeds, ranch work, homemade cooking, a historic memorial, river routes, and an overnight stay. The main reason to hesitate is the uneven accommodation experience. Contacting the provider before booking to clarify the room and seasonal riding conditions would be sensible.

Should you book the Taiburyldyn Shabysy Ranch stay?

Book it if you want an active, personal introduction to Kazakhstan’s steppe culture and do not need hotel-level comfort. The kindness of Alima and her team, the patient riding instruction, the food, and the time spent around the horses are the heart of the trip.

Think of the ranch as a working family property with a guesthouse, not a resort. If that sounds appealing, $315 covers a great deal and gives you a rare chance to reach the Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum on horseback. If your priority is a polished room, predictable comfort, or a short sightseeing ride, choose another Astana excursion.

FAQ

How long is the ranch experience?

The experience lasts two days and includes one overnight stay at the ranch.

Is horseback riding experience required?

No. Prior riding experience is not required, and the team provides basic horsemanship instruction.

Which horses can I ride?

The ranch offers Kazakh horses, Orlov Trotters, and English Thoroughbreds.

Is transportation from Astana included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from any location in Astana, including Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport.

What meals are included?

All meals are included, including traditional Kazakh dishes, salads, desserts, homemade bread, jams, tea, and kumis. Vegetarian options are available.

Can I visit the ranch year-round?

Yes. The activity operates throughout the year. Summer meals may be served in a yurt, while meals in other seasons take place at the ranch.

Who should not take this activity?

The activity is not suitable for children under 10, pregnant women, people with back problems, people with mobility impairments, people with visual impairments, or people over 70.