Almaty to Taraz by Minibus with a Private Driver
From Almaty to Taraz with your whole group or family, along the western highway, with no changing vehicles and no long waits at the station. A private 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver who knows the long highway to the south of the country well.
from 110,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, one way
Pickup at your address · passenger insurance · available 24/7
Our drivers don’t speak English. Phone calls are in Russian or Kazakh, so WhatsApp works best: write in English and we’ll reply using a translator. Need an interpreter? We can arrange one for an extra fee, agreed in advance.
How the trip works
Pickup at your door in Almaty
You choose the address and time: home, office, hotel or airport. When you book, we name the vehicle and give you the driver’s phone number; the driver arrives early and helps with the luggage.
The minibus is yours
The 13-seat Toyota Hiace travels with your group only. The price is for the vehicle, so the bigger the group, the less each person pays. If there are more than 13 of you, you can book a second minibus, or we do two runs in a row on a short route.
Driver, fuel and road included
The driver’s service, fuel, toll sections and pickup in Almaty are all in the quoted price. Paid separately, if your route needs them: national park entrance fees, ski passes, a local off-road vehicle, paid parking and pickup outside the city.
One way
The price is for the one-way drive. If you need a ride back, waiting time on site or a trip of several days, send us your plan and we’ll price that option.
Luggage: 13 traveling light, up to 9 with suitcases
Bags and gear go in a separate compartment. If everyone has a large suitcase or a stroller, we take up to 9 people; with skis and snowboards, 9–10. Tell us what you’re bringing when you book.
Payment: cash, Kaspi or invoice
Trips in the city and nearby are paid after the trip. Long intercity trips and trips of several days need a partial prepayment to hold the date, the rest before departure. Companies get an invoice, a contract and closing documents.
We will take your group from Almaty to Taraz: a 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver, from 110,000 ₸ for the whole minibus one way. We set off early in the morning, take the western highway with no changing vehicles and drop you at the address you need in Taraz.
Taraz is one of the oldest cities in Kazakhstan: in 2002 it celebrated its 2,000th anniversary, it has been called Aulie-Ata and Dzhambul, and in the Middle Ages it was a major trading center on the Great Silk Road. From Almaty to Taraz it is about 500 km on the western highway, and the drive takes roughly 6–7 hours each way.
Departure is usually planned for the morning so you reach the city in daylight and have time for the Aisha Bibi and Karakhan mausoleums. The cabin has air conditioning and a multimedia system, and the seats recline; on a six-hour drive you feel the difference.
Taraz by the western highway: travel time and what’s on the way
The route runs west on the highway through Uzynagash, the Kordai Pass, Merke and Kulan; the same road continues on to Shymkent. The distance to Taraz is about 500 km, with a net driving time of roughly 6–7 hours including short stops. It is a long drive, so departure is usually planned for the morning: that way the group reaches Taraz in daylight and has time to see the city the same day.
Along the way there are gas stations and roadside cafés where it is easy to take a break, grab a bite and stretch your legs; the driver will point out the reliable places. The route to Taraz does not cross any national border and runs entirely within Kazakhstan, so no border documents are needed: an ID document is enough.
What to see in Taraz: mausoleums and the Silk Road
Taraz is often called an open-air museum city. The main shrines are the Aisha Bibi Mausoleum, in the village of the same name about 18 km from the city, and the Karakhan Mausoleum in Taraz itself. Both date from the Karakhanid era and are about a thousand years old, and many old legends of love and loyalty are tied to the name of Aisha Bibi. The Babaji Khatun Mausoleum stands next to Aisha Bibi as well.
In the city center there is the Ancient Taraz archaeological park (Kone Taraz), excavations of a medieval town right in the open air. The Great Silk Road passed through Taraz, and its caravan past can still be read in the look of the old city. Seeing the main sights usually takes a day; if you want to see everything without rushing, it is convenient to stay overnight in Taraz, with the minibus and driver close at hand. Some groups continue from here by minibus to Turkestan, farther west, to the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi.
When to go and what to keep in mind on site
The best times to go to Taraz are April to May and September to October: it isn’t hot, the days are bright, and you can explore the mausoleums at a leisurely pace. In July and August daytime temperatures here reach nearly 40 °C, so sightseeing is split between morning and evening, and the midday hours are left for lunch and rest in the shade. In winter there is one bottleneck on the route, the Kordai Pass: in heavy snow it is sometimes closed until the road crews finish their work. We check the highway conditions before departure and shift the start time if the pass is closed.
The Aisha Bibi and Babaji Khatun mausoleums stand outside the city, about 18 kilometers away: with your own vehicle it is a short detour, but without transport it is awkward to get there, and that is worth keeping in mind when planning the day. Ancient Taraz is an open-air excavation with almost no shade and uneven ground underfoot, so comfortable shoes and a hat will be more useful than a camera. Opening hours and entrance fees change from time to time, and the museums are usually closed one day a week; it is best to check the current schedule the day before. The mausoleums remain places of reverence: women will find a headscarf useful, and modest clothing is more appropriate here than beachwear.
Taraz by minibus, train or marshrutka
Trains and scheduled buses run to Taraz, but each option has its downsides: a rigid timetable, getting from the station to your address and a long ride in a shared carriage or cabin. Your own Toyota Hiace leaves when it suits you and takes you to the exact address you need in Taraz: your hotel, your relatives’ home or straight to the mausoleums.
For a family or group of 8–13 people, minibus hire with a driver is the most relaxed way to cover this distance: everyone rides together, with a driver who has driven to southern Kazakhstan many times.
Taraz: how the trip works
No changing vehicles on the way
We pick you up at your door in Almaty and drive you straight to Taraz on the western highway.
An early morning start
We leave at dawn so you reach Taraz in daylight and, if you like, still have time for the Aisha Bibi and Karakhan mausoleums the same day.
Luggage without the squeeze
Suitcases, bags and gifts for relatives ride in a separate compartment; if everyone has a large suitcase, we take up to 9 passengers.
A side trip to Aisha Bibi
The Aisha Bibi and Babaji Khatun mausoleums stand about 18 km from the city, a short detour in your own vehicle.
Taraz: trip price
from 110,000 ₸ — for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, one way
The driver and fuel are included. We quote the total before departure; it only goes up if you decide to extend the waiting time.
All intercity trips from Almaty →Customer reviews on 2GIS
“Efficient and fast — a clean bus with a driver arrived on time.”
“Excellent — they provided a minibus with a driver very quickly.”
Toyota Hiace: cabin and luggage
All photos
- 13 passenger seats
- Air conditioning and heating
- High roof
- Soft reclining seats
- Electric door
- Luggage compartment
These photos show a 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a high roof and a wide aisle between the seats. We took them ourselves: the cabin, the seats and the luggage compartment.
13-seat cabin
Luggage compartment
Almaty to Taraz: a private minibus instead of a scheduled bus
Your group travels in our minibus with a driver, from your door to the destination. Distance: ~500 km; drive time: ~6–7 hours.
Your own AlaGo minibus
- from 110,000 ₸ for the whole minibus with a driver.
- Leave when it suits you, even at 5 a.m.
- We pick you up at your door and drive you to the address you need.
- Luggage, strollers and gear ride in a separate compartment.
Why a scheduled bus is less convenient
- It leaves only on a timetable.
- You have to get to the departure point and from the arrival point on your own, with your bags.
- Luggage goes in a shared hold, and oversized bags and gear usually cost extra.
- You get off at a bus station or the last stop.
Tell us the date and how many of you are traveling. We’ll quote the trip and tell you right away whether the minibus is free; WhatsApp or a phone call is quickest.
Read before your trip
Where else we drive from Almaty
Taraz: frequently asked questions
How much is a minibus from Almaty to Taraz?
From 110,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, one way. Tell us the pickup address, the date and whether you need the way back. We’ll give you the exact price right away, by phone or on WhatsApp.
How far is Taraz from Almaty, and how long is the drive?
The distance is about 500 km on the western highway. Net driving time is roughly 6–7 hours each way, with short stops for rest and fuel.
How many passengers fit in the minibus for the trip to Taraz?
The cabin has 13 seats, and suitcases and gifts ride in a separate compartment. All 13 can travel light; if everyone has a large suitcase or bulky gear, we take up to 9 passengers. One minibus is enough for a large family or group.
Can I book a one-way trip or a round trip?
Whichever suits you. The price shown is for a one-way trip, but you can also book a return transfer from Taraz, a trip with waiting time or a route with an overnight stay; we will work it out around your plan.
Will we have time to see the Aisha Bibi and Karakhan mausoleums?
If you leave Almaty early in the morning, you are in Taraz by the afternoon and can see the first sights if you like. A proper visit to Aisha Bibi, Karakhan and Ancient Taraz is better planned for the next day; for that, people book a trip with an overnight stay.
What time should we leave Almaty for Taraz?
Most groups leave early in the morning: the drive takes 6–7 hours, and an early start gets you to Taraz in daylight. But we work 24/7 and can bring the minibus at any time that suits you.
Tell us where and when
We’ll bring a Toyota Hiace minibus with a driver to any address in Almaty at the time you need. Available 24/7.
Our drivers don’t speak English. Phone calls are in Russian or Kazakh, so WhatsApp works best: write in English and we’ll reply using a translator. Need an interpreter? We can arrange one for an extra fee, agreed in advance.