Winter Soviet Georgia and Kazakhstan train tour
Kutaisi - Tsaltubo - Nursultan - Semey - Pavlodar - Ekibaztuz - Almaty
· 5.1. Meet and greet at Georgia´s Kutaisi Airport. Visiting one of the most colourful markets with Soviet souvenirs like hammer and sickle or map of the old Soviet Union and Georgian flag, in the Caucasus in the city of Kutaisi, followed by the Soviet architecture sites - the mosaics, statues, murals, the old cable car, and the old town excursion. We will have a closer look at the outskirts of Kutaisi for a local market experience, a Soviet housing tour, and dinner in a great Georgian restaurant.
· 6.1. Morning drive to Tskaltubo spa, one of the most famous radon-carbonate spa resorts in the USSR, visited by Stalin, which closed after its fall in 1991. The city and resort were built in Stalinist style, now abandoned and inhabited only by the Abkhazians who fled the war in the 90s. After this urbex experience, we fly to the capital of Kazakhstan - Nursultan - region of Central Asia, which is sometimes called South Siberia. The country of endless steppe, as it is shown on the Kazakhstan flag.
· 7.1. Get ready for the real cold weather and welcome to the bizarre city of Nursultan (Astana), built by the former president and dictator Nursultan Nazarbaev. We will visit the Khan Shatyr shopping mall, designed like a yurt, the Bayterek tower with the former president's handprint that we need to touch for happiness, and we will have the tastiest Lagman in the Astana Grand Mosque. Afternoon, we will move to the Soviet part of the city, followed by a night train to Semey.
· 8.1. We arrive 50 kilometres near the Russian border in the former military town of Semey. This place is like a time machine. We will stay in the Soviet hotel Semipalatinsk. Today we will have a closer look at the 15-meter-high monumental Lenin statue, local mosaics mainly dedicated to sports, and the house of a russian writer Dostoevsky, who lived here for 2 years. Also, we will visit the local market, the river Irtysh, and a Nuclear test site memorial for the victims of nuclear testing.
· 9.1. In the morning, we take a train to the city of Kurchatov, welcomed by the Soviet propaganda poster. We will visit the Soviet era closed city of Kurchatov, where the headquarters of the Nuclear test site were located. 465 nuclear bombs were detonated here between 1949 and 1989. We will have a look at the local nuclear centre, abandoned theme park, and Soviet blocks of this sleepy, half-abandoned town. Evening train to the city of Pavlodar.
· 10.1. Pavlodar was one of the key cities in the Soviet Union with its arms and heavy industry. It is one of the oldest cities in Kazakhstan, founded in the 9th century. We will have a look at the Soviet and Tsarist architecture in this very Russian-influenced city. We will visit the Irtysh River embankment and the Mashkhur Zhusup Mosque with a very interesting design. The city is known for its nicely patterned “panelki”. Evening train to Ekibastuz.
· 11.1. The biggest coal mine of the USSR and the world was located here in Ekibastuz. Today we will have a tour through this forgotten industrial town built by the gulag prisoners. The 130-meter-high, highest brick chimney in the world, Soviet housing and architecture, and the dark atmosphere of this place are very unique. Also will have a closer excursion near the coal mine run by ArcelorMittal. Evening train to Astana.
· 12.1. Morning flight to the former capital, Almaty. Here we will visit the Green bazaar, and do a “mosaic, sculpture, and reliefs hunt” followed by the city center and the outskirts of the city visits. Afternoon, we will head to the Cable Car to Koktobe for a Soviet theme park with beautiful views of the city and the mountains. Dinner in a local restaurant.
· 13.1. Flying home from Almaty after this industrial 9-day in the Post-Soviet space.
Possibility to continue traveling to Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan. We will help with anything necessary.
Is the Winter Soviet Georgia and Kazakhstan train tour not for you?
Check our Soviet Armenia 7-day tour here.
What is included in the price:
accommodation with breakfast in 3* hotels and 2 night trains (breakfast included)
English speaking guide
domestic flights and trains
Koktobe cable car entrance
Special dinner of Georgian and Kazakh food
local surprise at the end
What is not included in the price:
flights and visas ( we will recommend the easiest and most economical ways)
personal expenses
travel insurance
What to bring with you: warm jacket, warm shoes, scarf, warm pants
Kutaisi - Tsaltubo - Nursultan - Semey - Pavlodar - Ekibaztuz - Almaty
· 5.1. Meet and greet at Georgia´s Kutaisi Airport. Visiting one of the most colourful markets with Soviet souvenirs like hammer and sickle or map of the old Soviet Union and Georgian flag, in the Caucasus in the city of Kutaisi, followed by the Soviet architecture sites - the mosaics, statues, murals, the old cable car, and the old town excursion. We will have a closer look at the outskirts of Kutaisi for a local market experience, a Soviet housing tour, and dinner in a great Georgian restaurant.
· 6.1. Morning drive to Tskaltubo spa, one of the most famous radon-carbonate spa resorts in the USSR, visited by Stalin, which closed after its fall in 1991. The city and resort were built in Stalinist style, now abandoned and inhabited only by the Abkhazians who fled the war in the 90s. After this urbex experience, we fly to the capital of Kazakhstan - Nursultan - region of Central Asia, which is sometimes called South Siberia. The country of endless steppe, as it is shown on the Kazakhstan flag.
· 7.1. Get ready for the real cold weather and welcome to the bizarre city of Nursultan (Astana), built by the former president and dictator Nursultan Nazarbaev. We will visit the Khan Shatyr shopping mall, designed like a yurt, the Bayterek tower with the former president's handprint that we need to touch for happiness, and we will have the tastiest Lagman in the Astana Grand Mosque. Afternoon, we will move to the Soviet part of the city, followed by a night train to Semey.
· 8.1. We arrive 50 kilometres near the Russian border in the former military town of Semey. This place is like a time machine. We will stay in the Soviet hotel Semipalatinsk. Today we will have a closer look at the 15-meter-high monumental Lenin statue, local mosaics mainly dedicated to sports, and the house of a russian writer Dostoevsky, who lived here for 2 years. Also, we will visit the local market, the river Irtysh, and a Nuclear test site memorial for the victims of nuclear testing.
· 9.1. In the morning, we take a train to the city of Kurchatov, welcomed by the Soviet propaganda poster. We will visit the Soviet era closed city of Kurchatov, where the headquarters of the Nuclear test site were located. 465 nuclear bombs were detonated here between 1949 and 1989. We will have a look at the local nuclear centre, abandoned theme park, and Soviet blocks of this sleepy, half-abandoned town. Evening train to the city of Pavlodar.
· 10.1. Pavlodar was one of the key cities in the Soviet Union with its arms and heavy industry. It is one of the oldest cities in Kazakhstan, founded in the 9th century. We will have a look at the Soviet and Tsarist architecture in this very Russian-influenced city. We will visit the Irtysh River embankment and the Mashkhur Zhusup Mosque with a very interesting design. The city is known for its nicely patterned “panelki”. Evening train to Ekibastuz.
· 11.1. The biggest coal mine of the USSR and the world was located here in Ekibastuz. Today we will have a tour through this forgotten industrial town built by the gulag prisoners. The 130-meter-high, highest brick chimney in the world, Soviet housing and architecture, and the dark atmosphere of this place are very unique. Also will have a closer excursion near the coal mine run by ArcelorMittal. Evening train to Astana.
· 12.1. Morning flight to the former capital, Almaty. Here we will visit the Green bazaar, and do a “mosaic, sculpture, and reliefs hunt” followed by the city center and the outskirts of the city visits. Afternoon, we will head to the Cable Car to Koktobe for a Soviet theme park with beautiful views of the city and the mountains. Dinner in a local restaurant.
· 13.1. Flying home from Almaty after this industrial 9-day in the Post-Soviet space.
Possibility to continue traveling to Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan. We will help with anything necessary.
Is the Winter Soviet Georgia and Kazakhstan train tour not for you?
Check our Soviet Armenia 7-day tour here.
What is included in the price:
accommodation with breakfast in 3* hotels and 2 night trains (breakfast included)
English speaking guide
domestic flights and trains
Koktobe cable car entrance
Special dinner of Georgian and Kazakh food
local surprise at the end
What is not included in the price:
flights and visas ( we will recommend the easiest and most economical ways)
personal expenses
travel insurance
What to bring with you: warm jacket, warm shoes, scarf, warm pants
Kutaisi - Tsaltubo - Nursultan - Semey - Pavlodar - Ekibaztuz - Almaty
· 5.1. Meet and greet at Georgia´s Kutaisi Airport. Visiting one of the most colourful markets with Soviet souvenirs like hammer and sickle or map of the old Soviet Union and Georgian flag, in the Caucasus in the city of Kutaisi, followed by the Soviet architecture sites - the mosaics, statues, murals, the old cable car, and the old town excursion. We will have a closer look at the outskirts of Kutaisi for a local market experience, a Soviet housing tour, and dinner in a great Georgian restaurant.
· 6.1. Morning drive to Tskaltubo spa, one of the most famous radon-carbonate spa resorts in the USSR, visited by Stalin, which closed after its fall in 1991. The city and resort were built in Stalinist style, now abandoned and inhabited only by the Abkhazians who fled the war in the 90s. After this urbex experience, we fly to the capital of Kazakhstan - Nursultan - region of Central Asia, which is sometimes called South Siberia. The country of endless steppe, as it is shown on the Kazakhstan flag.
· 7.1. Get ready for the real cold weather and welcome to the bizarre city of Nursultan (Astana), built by the former president and dictator Nursultan Nazarbaev. We will visit the Khan Shatyr shopping mall, designed like a yurt, the Bayterek tower with the former president's handprint that we need to touch for happiness, and we will have the tastiest Lagman in the Astana Grand Mosque. Afternoon, we will move to the Soviet part of the city, followed by a night train to Semey.
· 8.1. We arrive 50 kilometres near the Russian border in the former military town of Semey. This place is like a time machine. We will stay in the Soviet hotel Semipalatinsk. Today we will have a closer look at the 15-meter-high monumental Lenin statue, local mosaics mainly dedicated to sports, and the house of a russian writer Dostoevsky, who lived here for 2 years. Also, we will visit the local market, the river Irtysh, and a Nuclear test site memorial for the victims of nuclear testing.
· 9.1. In the morning, we take a train to the city of Kurchatov, welcomed by the Soviet propaganda poster. We will visit the Soviet era closed city of Kurchatov, where the headquarters of the Nuclear test site were located. 465 nuclear bombs were detonated here between 1949 and 1989. We will have a look at the local nuclear centre, abandoned theme park, and Soviet blocks of this sleepy, half-abandoned town. Evening train to the city of Pavlodar.
· 10.1. Pavlodar was one of the key cities in the Soviet Union with its arms and heavy industry. It is one of the oldest cities in Kazakhstan, founded in the 9th century. We will have a look at the Soviet and Tsarist architecture in this very Russian-influenced city. We will visit the Irtysh River embankment and the Mashkhur Zhusup Mosque with a very interesting design. The city is known for its nicely patterned “panelki”. Evening train to Ekibastuz.
· 11.1. The biggest coal mine of the USSR and the world was located here in Ekibastuz. Today we will have a tour through this forgotten industrial town built by the gulag prisoners. The 130-meter-high, highest brick chimney in the world, Soviet housing and architecture, and the dark atmosphere of this place are very unique. Also will have a closer excursion near the coal mine run by ArcelorMittal. Evening train to Astana.
· 12.1. Morning flight to the former capital, Almaty. Here we will visit the Green bazaar, and do a “mosaic, sculpture, and reliefs hunt” followed by the city center and the outskirts of the city visits. Afternoon, we will head to the Cable Car to Koktobe for a Soviet theme park with beautiful views of the city and the mountains. Dinner in a local restaurant.
· 13.1. Flying home from Almaty after this industrial 9-day in the Post-Soviet space.
Possibility to continue traveling to Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan. We will help with anything necessary.
Is the Winter Soviet Georgia and Kazakhstan train tour not for you?
Check our Soviet Armenia 7-day tour here.
What is included in the price:
accommodation with breakfast in 3* hotels and 2 night trains (breakfast included)
English speaking guide
domestic flights and trains
Koktobe cable car entrance
Special dinner of Georgian and Kazakh food
local surprise at the end
What is not included in the price:
flights and visas ( we will recommend the easiest and most economical ways)
personal expenses
travel insurance
What to bring with you: warm jacket, warm shoes, scarf, warm pants