Trip from Almaty to Turkestan by Private Minibus
To the holy sites of Turkestan with a large group or your family, in one vehicle. A private 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver who knows the long road through Taraz and Shymkent.
from 250,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip
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.
Round trip
The price covers the drive there and back. If you stay for several days, the driver waits on site or comes back for you on your departure date. We’ll price that option for your dates.
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 drive pilgrim groups and families from Almaty to Turkestan in a 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver, from 250,000 ₸ for the whole minibus, round trip. We pick everyone up at one convenient point, stop for rest and prayer, and take you right to the mausoleum.
Turkestan is the spiritual capital of the Turkic world and one of the main pilgrimage destinations from Almaty. People come to the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to honor the memory of the Sufi teacher, pray at the holy sites and show their children the history. It is a long way: about 870 km each way.
You leave Almaty early in the morning, on your own schedule. The minibus has air conditioning, a media system and reclining seats, which makes the long distance easier. Prices for other long-distance routes are on our prices page.
Almaty to Turkestan: the road and stops
The route runs west along the highway through Taraz and Shymkent: about 870 km and roughly 10–11 hours on the road, including stops. It is a long drive, so most groups leave Almaty early in the morning and stay overnight in Turkestan or Shymkent. Along the way there are cafés, gas stations and places to rest and pray; the driver knows the reliable spots and plans the breaks around your group.
The train to Turkestan takes the better part of a day, and a scheduled bus takes about 13–14 hours in a shared cabin on a fixed timetable. Your own minibus takes your group from your door in Almaty right to the mausoleum, leaves when it suits you and waits on site for the whole trip.
What to see in Turkestan: the Yasawi Mausoleum and nearby holy sites
The main shrine is the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in the late 14th century on the orders of Emir Timur over the grave of the Sufi poet and preacher who founded the Yasawiyya order. Inside is the famous Taikazan, a huge bronze cauldron cast from an alloy of several metals. Turkestan has long been known among the people as the “second Mecca.”
Near the town is the Mausoleum of Arystan Bab, Yasawi’s teacher: by long tradition, pilgrims visit him first and only then go on to Turkestan. Nearby lie the ruins of ancient Otrar, one of the cities of the Great Silk Road. Turkestan itself has changed noticeably in recent years: a modern tourist complex has appeared with a square, fountains and evening shows, so the trip easily combines a pilgrimage with an unhurried walk around the renewed town.
When to go and what pilgrims should know
Turkestan stands in the steppe, and the climate is extreme: from June to August daytime temperatures approach 40 °C, there is almost no shade by the mausoleum, and the stone of the square gets scorching hot. In the heat, people visit the shrines early in the morning or toward sunset; there are fewer people then, too. The most rewarding time is April–May and September–October: warm but not exhausting. Winter is windy and quiet, but there are no lines. Watch the calendar as well: during Ramadan, on religious holidays and in school vacations the flow of pilgrims grows noticeably and hotels are booked up early, so it is best to settle the date and overnight stay a couple of weeks ahead.
Entry to the complex grounds is free, but museum rules apply inside the mausoleum: opening hours, guided tours and fees for certain rooms change from time to time, so check the schedule before you leave, especially if you are aiming for a particular time. Shoes come off in the prayer rooms; women need a headscarf and modest, covering clothes, and men need long pants. Bring cash: donations, water and souvenirs at the complex are usually paid for in cash. And pack plenty of water for the ride: in the south it goes faster than you would think when leaving Almaty.
A pilgrimage to Turkestan as a group
Most people travel to Turkestan as a family or a religious group: to pray at the shrines, pay their respects and spend time in a place that is special for believers. Minibus rental with a driver is the most convenient option here: everyone together, at a calm pace, with air conditioning in the heat and the chance to stop for prayer or let the elders rest. And nobody has to change vehicles with their bags in the sun.
We build the route around your program: just the Yasawi Mausoleum, or with stops at Arystan Bab and Otrar; one long run, or with an overnight stay and the return through Shymkent. On the way it is easy to add a stop in Taraz at the Aisha Bibi Mausoleum. The driver stays with the group for the whole trip and drives you between the sites.
Turkestan: how the trip works
A long road, no connections
Almost 870 km in one minibus, with stops for rest, food and prayer along the way.
Suited to pilgrim groups
A family or a religious group travels together: to the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi and the holy sites around Turkestan.
Morning departure, your route
An early start from Almaty, an overnight stay in Turkestan or Shymkent: we build the trip around your group.
Arystan Bab and Otrar on the way
By tradition, pilgrims first visit the Mausoleum of Arystan Bab; we’ll add it and the ruins of Otrar to your route.
Turkestan: trip price
from 250,000 ₸ — for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip
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 Turkestan: a private minibus instead of a scheduled bus
Your group travels in our minibus with a driver, from your door to the destination. Distance: ~870 km; drive time: ~10–11 hours.
Your own AlaGo minibus
- from 250,000 ₸ 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.
Where else we drive from Almaty
Turkestan: frequently asked questions
How much is a trip from Almaty to Turkestan by minibus?
From 250,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip. Tell us the number of days and which holy sites you want to visit. We’ll give you the exact price right away, by phone or on WhatsApp.
How long is the drive from Almaty to Turkestan?
About 870 km and roughly 10–11 hours one way, including stops. It is a long drive, so the trip is usually planned with an overnight stay in Turkestan or Shymkent.
Can we book a minibus for a pilgrim group?
Yes, we drive both pilgrim groups and families. The Toyota Hiace takes up to 13 people, and we will plan the route with visits to the Yasawi Mausoleum, Arystan Bab and Otrar, as you wish.
Where can we stay overnight on the way?
Most people stay in Turkestan itself or in Shymkent on the way. We will help you plan the stop, and the driver already knows good places to rest and pray.
What is on the route — just the mausoleum or other holy sites too?
Whichever you prefer. You can keep it to the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, or add Arystan Bab, the ruins of Otrar and a walk around the renewed town; we’ll put the program together for you.
How many seats does the bus to Turkestan have?
The cabin has 13 seats, and luggage for the long road rides in a separate compartment. All 13 can travel light; if everyone has a large suitcase or bulky gear, we take up to 9 passengers.
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.