Trip from Almaty to Turkestan by Private Minibus
To the holy sites of Turkestan with a large group or your family — no connections and no long train ride. A private 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver who knows the long road through Taraz and Shymkent.
from 250,000 ₸ approximate, for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip
Not a scheduled bus or a taxi: the whole minibus for up to 13 people — just your group · a driver with 20+ years of experience
The same terms for every destination — price per vehicle, not per seat
Pickup at your door in Almaty
You choose the address and time: home, office, hotel or airport. No bus station and no meeting the group “at the bus stop”.
The whole minibus — just your group
The 13-seat Toyota Hiace takes no other passengers. One person or 13 — the price is the same; we don’t sell individual seats or tickets. More than 13 people — we’ll find a partner minibus for your date; on short routes two runs in a row also work.
Driver, fuel and road included
Our regular driver with 20+ years of experience, fuel, toll sections and pickup in Almaty are all in the quoted price; you don’t pay extra per passenger. National park entrance fees, ski passes and a local off-road vehicle, if your route needs them, are not included.
Round trip
The round trip is one price. Waiting time on site and the driver’s overnight stay, if you travel for several days, are agreed when booking.
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, not per person. 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 — so it is easier to travel in your own minibus: no changing vehicles, stops for rest and prayer, and luggage in a separate compartment.
You leave Almaty early in the morning on your own schedule, not a station timetable: the minibus has air conditioning, a media system and reclining seats, which makes the long distance easier. The trip price is known before departure and is not recalculated per head, so for a family or a pilgrim group this is more convenient than the train and easier to budget than a ticket for everyone.
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. A family or pilgrim group does not have to share the road with strangers.
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. Nobody is squeezed into a shared bus or changing 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, and the price stays fixed for the whole minibus — no surcharge per pilgrim.
Turkestan: how the trip works
A long road, no connections
Almost 870 km in one minibus — no stations, no shared train car, 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 you, not a timetable.
Price for the whole Hiace
A pilgrim group pays for the whole vehicle for the trip to Turkestan, not per passenger. For a large group, this is cheaper than the train or a plane.
Turkestan: trip price
from 250,000 ₸ — approximate, for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip
The driver, fuel, toll roads and pickup in Almaty are included. Not included: national park entrance fees, ski passes, a local off-road vehicle, paid parking and pickup outside the city. 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.”
Real photos — not a manufacturer’s catalog
All photos
- Driver with 20+ years of experience
- Air conditioning and heating
- DVD · TV · MP3
- Soft reclining seats
- Electric door
- Luggage compartment
These photos show our own 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a high roof and a wide aisle between the seats. We took them ourselves: the cabin, seats and luggage compartment of this very vehicle. We have one minibus: this is the one that will come for you, with its own driver at the wheel.
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, with no timetables and no transfers. Distance: ~870 km; drive time: ~10–11 hours.
Your own AlaGo minibus
- from 250,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace — one price for the vehicle, however many people travel.
- Leave whenever you like — even at 5 a.m.; no waiting for a scheduled departure.
- We pick you up at your door and drive you right to the place, with no changes.
- Luggage, strollers and gear go in a separate compartment, not on your lap.
Why a scheduled bus is less convenient
- It leaves on a timetable, not when it suits you.
- 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, not at your address.
We don’t sell individual seats — the minibus goes out for your group only. Luggage travels in a separate compartment, and you choose the departure time and the stops on the way. We’ll give you the exact price for your dates — by phone or on WhatsApp.
Where else we drive from Almaty
Turkestan: frequently asked questions
How much is a trip from Almaty to Turkestan by minibus?
From about 250,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip. The exact price depends on the number of days, the overnight stay and which holy sites are on the route — we will work it out for your pilgrimage and let you know by phone or 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?
Whatever we agree on. 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 will discuss the program in advance.
How many seats does the bus to Turkestan have?
It is designed for 13 people and still has a compartment for luggage on the long road. A big family or a pilgrim group travels in one minibus from your door in Almaty all the way to Turkestan. All 13 can travel light; if everyone has a large suitcase or bulky gear, we take up to 9 passengers — tell us what you are bringing when you book.
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.