Silk Road Unique Archeological Sites Otrar & Sauran
About this tour
A two-day tour of the only active open-air archaeological sites in Central Asia, the ancient ghost cities of Otrar and Sauran. Both cities played a key strategic role in the region during the heyday of trade on the Great Silk Road. The history of ancient Otrar is associated with the invasion of Genghis Khan's troops and his siege in the 13th century. The history of Sauran is more associated with the formation of a nomadic state - the forerunner of the Kazakh Khanate.
The tour is conducted from Shymkent or Turkestan. This tour includes also the world-famous burial complex of Arystan-Bab, as well as the Great Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in Turkistan city.
Activities included
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Shymkent to Otrar
Day 1 Shymkent/Turkistan - Arystan Bab burial complex - Otrar archeological site Pick up from the hotel in Shymkent/Turkistan. Transfer to Arystan Bab burial complex (120 km). Two hours of interesting stories of ancient history of the region. Arrival in Arystan Bab medieval mausoleum complex. Arystan Bab mausoleum is a number one among all holy places in Central Asia. Transfer to archeological settlement of ancient Otrar. Open-air in a desert excursion of the ancient city and its many archeological sites. Transfer to Turkistan city. Visiting Mausoleum of Hodja Akhmed Yassawi and complex of medieval historical places. H.A. Yassawi was great Poet and Sufi. Tamerlane the Great two hundred years later was initiator and author of construction of Grand Mausoleum. Masterpiece of medieval architecture. UNESCO and World heritage cite. Evening walk around the local landmark Caravan Sarai. Overnight in the hotel
Day 2: Turkistan to Sauran
Day 2 Continuing excursion around the Great Mausoleum of H.A. Yassawi. Visiting ancient underground Sufi Mosque. Old medieval bathhouse for pilgrims and other sites of the complex. Lunch in Turkestan city in local national cafe. Tandoor is ancient technology of baking bread of turkic people. Transfer to Sauran ghost city - 60 km from Turkistan. Sauran is an open-air archaeological site in the desert. An hour-long excursion of the citadel ruins and surrounding desert walls.
What's included
English- speaking guide and transportation services, as well as entrance tickets are included into the price of the tour.
Food and accommodation of the tour are not included into the price of the tour.
What to know
This tour can be customized. Please get in touch with me.
Route & locations
Shymkent to Otrar