Kazakhstan · GUIDED

The 12 Best Guided Tours in Kazakhstan

12 tours  ·  from $31 a head

Every trip has one free day too few. These 12 guided tours justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.

Astana City Tour: Explore Night City with a Certified Guide - Hotel pickup begins the evening with little fuss
Evening Experiences, Guided, Tour Reviews, Tours in Astana, Tours in Kazakhstan

Astana City Tour: Explore Night City with a Certified Guide

1.Astana City Tour: Explore Night City with a Certified Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 90 reviews · 4 hours · from $49Our pick

Spend four hours seeing Astana after dark with a local English or Russian-speaking guide. Damir, Arsen, Abay, and other guides lead small private-style groups by air-conditioned vehicle, stopping at Baiterek Tower, the Grand Mosque, Khan Shatyr, and more. Hotel pickup, drinks, Wi-Fi, and return transport are included.

“A superb and pleasant tour experience, one of the best ones so far. The guide is very knowledgeable, kind and has a lot of stories to tell! Highly recommended!”

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Almaty: Guided Bar Crawl with Shots - Smart ways to prepare for the night
Almaty Food and Drink Tours, Drinking Tours, Guided, Tour Reviews, Tours in Almaty, Tours in Kazakhstan

Almaty: Guided Bar Crawl with Shots

2.Guided Bar Crawl with Shots

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 43 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $31Best value

Join an English or Russian-speaking guide at Bee’s Knees in central Almaty for a 3.5-hour Saturday night out. You’ll visit up to four bars, receive a welcome shot at each stop, play group games, meet other adults, take digital photos, and finish at a nightclub. Drinks and food beyond the included shots cost extra.

“Fantastico con Guide esperte ed attente ad ogni esigenza. Complimenti”

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Guided, Museums, Soviet History Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Astana, Tours in Kazakhstan

Astana: Back to USSR – Gulag Museum with Certified Guide

3.Back to USSR – Gulag Museum with Certified Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 32 reviews · 1 day · from $169

Travel from Astana to Karaganda and Dolinka with an English-speaking guide such as Abzal, Kadyrbek, or Sultan. Visit the KarLag Museum for a two-hour account of Stalin-era forced labor camps, eat a traditional Russian lunch, and see Soviet monuments linked to coal mining, space travel, and political history.

“As a whole I think this tour is well planned and very convenient for travellers staying in Astana and wishing to see Karlag. My friendly guide and driver Abzal was very informative and great company for the drive to Karagandy. Once at the Museum my tour guide Maria took great care in delivering highly detailed and well researched information about the camp and the people who were held there. She answered every question I had, even the very tricky ones. After the museum Abzal joined for lunch at a traditional Russian restaurant and we toured the city stopping to view sold Soviet era statues. I would highly recommend this tour…”

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Astana: Back to USSR Gulag Museum with Certified Guide - The road from Astana to Dolinka
Guided, Museums, Soviet History Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Astana, Tours in Kazakhstan

Astana: Back to USSR Gulag Museum with Certified Guide

4.Back to USSR Gulag Museum with Certified Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · 1 day · from $165

Travel from Astana to Dolinka with guide Damir or another English or Russian-speaking guide for a thoughtful look at Karlag, the USSR’s second-largest Gulag camp. After the 2.5-hour museum visit, tour Karaganda’s Soviet landmarks, see Lenin’s statue, and stop for lunch before returning.

“Simply great. This was my 3rd tour with the company, which completed everything that should be seen in and near Astana. A very smooth ride to the museum, where I got a chance to learn a lot about the system of Gulags. Then Damir gave a tour of Karaganda city, which a combination of a fairly modern and Soviet city. Our lunch at a Russian restaurant was the cherry on top. Many thanks to Damir and Discover Astana!”

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Astana City Tour: Certified Guide+Winetasting+All Inclusive - Assumption Cathedral and a change of visual mood
Almaty Food and Drink Tours, Guided, Tour Reviews, Tours in Astana, Tours in Kazakhstan

Astana City Tour: Certified Guide+Winetasting+All Inclusive

5.Astana City Tour: Certified Guide+Winetasting+All Inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 14 reviews · 8 hours · from $129

Spend eight hours touring Astana with an English- or Russian-speaking guide, usually Damir, in a private vehicle. Visit Bayterek Tower, the National Museum, the Grand Mosque area, Atyrau Bridge, Assumption Cathedral, and more. Lunch is included, and the flexible final stop may include a winery or a short trip beyond the city.

“A day full of stories about the history and culture of Kazakhstan. The chance to visit the local winery is especially charming! On top of that Damir’s driving during the day felt seamless and very comfortable unlike the local taxis haha. Recommended!”

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Almaty Private Guided Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour) - Panfilov Park and the memory of the 28 Guardsmen
Guided, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours in Almaty, Tours in Kazakhstan, Walking Tours

Almaty Private Guided Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour)

6.Almaty Private Guided Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9 reviews · from $54

See Almaty with a private English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, or Russian-speaking guide. Visit Panfilov Park, Republic Square, Arbat, Green Bazaar, and the Central Mosque, with optional museum planning and a possible Kok-Tobe finish. Guides such as Tatyana, Marat, Madi, and Zhanar offer history, local tips, and flexible pacing.

“Very informative and knowledgeable guide with time to give helpful tips for the city The tour was well planned and schedule was attained throughout I have no hesitation in recommending the guide and tour”

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Guided Night Time Tour of Astana in a Private Car - Khan Shatyr brings Norman Foster’s bold design
Evening Experiences, Guided, Private, Private Car with Driver, Tour Reviews, Tours in Astana, Tours in Kazakhstan

Guided Night Time Tour of Astana in a Private Car

7.Guided Night Time Tour of Astana in a Private Car

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $64

Spend about two hours seeing Astana’s brightest landmarks after dark in a private, air-conditioned car. An English-speaking guide such as Bau, Amir, or Leon may tailor the route to your interests, with stops at the Grand Mosque, Bayterek Tower, Khan Shatyr, the Palace of Peace, Hazret Sultan Mosque, and Atyrau Bridge.

“Bau was a fantastic tour guide and fun to spend the evening with. Astana is amazing to see at night, especially with all the landmarks beautifully lit. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the capital—it’s a great way to experience the city in the evening!”

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From Shymkent: Turkestan and Otrar Day Tour with Guide - The long road from Shymkent to Otrar
Guided, Silk Road and Turkestan Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Kazakhstan

From Shymkent: Turkestan and Otrar Day Tour with Guide

8.Turkestan and Otrar Day Tour with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 9 hours · from $160

Travel from Shymkent to Otrar and Turkestan with a private guide such as Islam or Daulet. Visit Silk Road ruins, sacred mausoleums, museums, baths, an underground mosque, a carpet museum, and Karavansaray. Transport, entry fees, and water are included, with optional 8D cinema and gondola rides.

“Attività interessante sia per la parte più archeologica (Otrar) che per quella più architettonica ((Turkestan). Bello anche il paesaggio: steppa, deserto, cammelli e altra fauna. La guida, Islam, è stata molto cortese e professionale e ci ha ben consigliato anche sl momento del lunch (opzionale) che abbiamo sprezzato”

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Guided Walking City Tour in Almaty - Kunaev Street and the layers of city planning
Guided, Tour Reviews, Tours in Almaty, Tours in Kazakhstan, Walking Tours

Guided Walking City Tour in Almaty

9.Guided Walking City Tour in Almaty

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5 reviews · from $60

Start at Almaty’s Zhibek Zholy metro station and walk through Panfilov Street, Stalin-era buildings, the 28 Panfilovcev Park, and the Green Bazaar. Your professional guide covers Silk Road roots, Soviet city planning, local disasters, and unusual architecture. The private tour begins at 11:00 and ends at the starting point.

“It was basically a tour about architecture and very little else. Was not what I expected from the tour description.”

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Almaty City Bike Tour: Guided e-Bike Tour of City Highlights - Kok Tobe Hill and the Tian Shan View
Almaty City Tours, Cycling Tours, E-Bikes, Guided, Tour Reviews, Tours in Almaty, Tours in Kazakhstan

Almaty City Bike Tour: Guided e-Bike Tour of City Highlights

10.Almaty City Bike Tour: Guided e-Bike Tour of City Highlights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $60

Join Cycling Almaty for a 2.5-hour guided e-bike ride through Almaty. Guide Dulat brings local stories to life as you pedal to Kok Tobe Hill, Ascension Cathedral, and Green Bazaar. The tour has a maximum of three people, wireless audio, free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead, and a return to Kudos Coffee.

“This tour is a can’t miss! In just 2.5 hours, we experienced a fantastic journey through the heart of the city, thanks to our nice and knowledgeable guide, Dulat. His storytelling was full of fascinating history, cultural insights, and fun anecdotes tRead more”

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Personalized guided Car Tours to Charyn Canyon & Kolsay Lake - Walking Into Charyn Canyon
Charyn Canyon Tours, Guided, Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Almaty, Tours in Kazakhstan

Personalized guided Car Tours to Charyn Canyon & Kolsay Lake

11.Personalized guided Car Tours to Charyn Canyon & Kolsay Lake

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews

Travel from Almaty by private car with a guide such as Sergey or Igor to Charyn Canyon and Kolsay Lake. Walk into the red canyon, then choose boating, horseback riding, swimming, or lakeside walking. The day lasts 12 to 15 hours, includes pickup and WiFi, and suits groups of up to three.

“It was an amazing experience to visit Charyn Canyon and Kolsai Lake. The drive was incredible and safe, while the natural beauty of the landscape was simply breathtaking. A must-visit destination to enjoy nature at its purest and most Read more”

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Astana Private Custom Walking Tour with A Local Guide - The Pyramid of Peace explains Astana’s grand ambitions
Guided, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours in Astana, Tours in Kazakhstan, Walking Tours

Astana Private Custom Walking Tour with A Local Guide

12.Astana Private Custom Walking Tour with A Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3 reviews · from $53

See Astana with a private local guide who shapes the walk around your interests. The route can include Bayterek Tower, Nur-Astana Mosque, the Pyramid of Peace, Astana Opera, the First President Museum, and Khan Shatyr. Mrs Bikhat earned praise for fitting the city’s key sights into a short tour, but confirm language and guide arrangements before booking.

“Excellent guide during City Tour - Mrs Bikhat show us in short time all nicest places in Astana. Big thanks”

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Where to go in Kazakhstan

Pick a canyon, a lake or a bazaar.