About this experience
Each house in the Old Town is steeped in the history and culture of past centuries. You will learn how Almaty became part of the Great Silk Road, how it was built during the reign of the Tsar and the Soviet Union, and how it developed after gaining independence. You will also walk the streets where poets, singers, and writers lived, evacuated during the war years.
What to Expect
Past and Present of Almaty
We will start the walk at the Abay Opera and Ballet Theater. You will see the picturesque park next to it and the houses built by Japanese prisoners of war, where the Kazakh elite lived. Then you will walk through the alleys of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen Park and explore the memorial complex dedicated to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War.
"Local Arbat", Green Bazaar, and More
You will see the oldest building in the city - Zenkov Cathedral - and find out if it was really built without a single nail and how it managed to survive the 1910 earthquake. You will also visit the Museum of National Instruments and buy Eastern sweets at the Green Bazaar. On the way to the "local Arbat" you will see Kyzyl-Tan - the building of the former Vernen Trading House of the late XIX - early XX centuries.
Organizational Details
- The Green Bazaar is closed on Mondays. The Green Bazaar and the Ascension Cathedral are open from 08:00-18:00.
- Visiting the Museum of Musical Instruments is not included in the tour program.
- Entrance tickets to the Museum of National Instruments are paid separately - about 70 rubles per person.
- The duration of the tour is 2-2.5 hours, depending on your pace :)
- The remaining cost of the tour is paid in tenge on the day of the tour. The amount in tenge is fixed at the current exchange rate of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the day of order confirmation, we will inform you in the correspondence.
- Please dress according to the weather. In colder weather, wear warm clothes (hat and gloves). You will also need sunglasses (the sun in the mountains is strong even in winter), warm and comfortable shoes with a high sole (changes in altitude and high humidity). In warm weather, do not forget a headgear, comfortable shoes, and sunglasses.
- If desired, we can organize this tour with a coverage of the new center by car for 1-3 people (additional payment for transportation will be 2600 rubles).
