36 Hours in Turkistan: Highlights, Tips & Costs
36 Hours in Turkistan
It would have been so easy to skip Turkistan—especially after FlyArystan changed my flight, leaving me less than 36 hours in Turkistan to explore this former Silk Road stop. I’m so glad I didn’t. Visiting Turkistan ended up being a highlight of my time in Kazakhstan. And honestly, 36 hours felt just right to see the main highlights: a mix of ruins, mausoleums, and mosques—the core things to do in Turkistan when time is short.
- Table of Contents
Disclaimer: Buzzin’ Around the World strives to provide accurate and up-to-date information based on our research at the time of publication. We respect all applicable laws and fair use principles. If you believe any information is incorrect or violates regulations, please contact us at buzzinaroundtheworld@gmail.com.
Affiliate Links and Reviews: We use affiliate links to generate income and may receive a commission at no additional cost to you when you use our links. We strive for honest and transparent reviews, even for products which we receive compensation.
Content Creation: Our content is based on our own travel experiences. All photos are our own unless otherwise stated. We sometimes utilize AI tools to assist with tasks like generating titles, summarizing content, and improving organization.
For more information: For more information, please click HERE to visit our privacy policy page. We can be reached at buzzinaroundtheworld@gmail.com.
Getting to Turkistan on FlyArystan
Turkistan is easy to reach by plane, with multiple Kazakh carriers flying from both Astana and Almaty. I booked a flight on the discount carrier FlyArystan, which I used successfully for four domestic flights during my trip. When I searched for flights to Turkistan, this route made the most sense: fly from Astana to Turkistan and spend two nights before flying to Almaty.
About a week before arrival, FlyArystan bumped my Turkistan → Almaty flight back 24 hours. When I tried to rebook, there were no evening departures—the airport was closing for maintenance for 24 hours. I switched to a flight 24 hours earlier, which meant arriving in Turkistan around 4:00 pm and departing at 10:00 pm the following day.
Where to Stay: Best Hotel in Turkistan (Hampton by Hilton)
The best hotel in Turkistan is the Hampton by Hilton Turkistan. It’s within walking distance of all the major sights, including the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. The hotel is attached to a small grocery store and the Karavan Saray Entertainment Complex. From my room, I could literally see the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi.
I kept my room for two nights even though I stayed only one. That way I had a place to shower and change before my 10:00 pm flight.
Getting Around Turkistan (Walkable + Yandex Go)
Most of Turkistan’s main tourist sights were an easy walk from my hotel. For the airport runs, I used the rideshare app Yandex Go—search the App Store for Yandex Go Turkistan, that’s exactly what I used. The ride from Hazret-Sultan International Airport to my hotel was just under ₸5,000 (~$10) with tip.
First Impressions: Azret-Sultan Museum-Reserve at Night
With so little time, I jumped right into sightseeing. Even though it was getting dark, I walked the entire Azret-Sultan Museum-Reserve (Historic Yasi/Turkistan Complex), which is beautifully lit at night.
You can’t go inside buildings after dark, but I photographed the Mausoleum of Rabia Sultan Begum and the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, and grabbed night shots of the Turkistan Citadel.
Dancing Fountain and a Giant Döner Kebab
After walking the entire length of the Azret-Sultan Reserve, I watched the dancing fountain outside the Azret-Sultan gates and grabbed a two-foot döner kebab with help from Google Translate. Walking at night was a great way to escape the heat and daytime crowds—easily one of the iconic things to do in Turkistan in summer.
Touring Azret-Sultan by Day (Route & Logistics)
The next day, I spent the remainder of my time touring the exteriors and interiors of the mausoleums, mosques, and ruins of the Azret-Sultan Reserve. This section is focused on simple routes and logistics—there are plenty of resources that dive deep into history.
I started early to beat the 100°F heat. Entering through the Mussalla Gate, I walked the gardens to the Mausoleum of Rabia Sultan Begum, the smaller of the two domes.
Mausoleum of Rabia Sultan Begum
Entrance was free; it’s the final resting place of Rabia Sultan Begum and four family members. The interior of the Mausoleum of Rabia Sultan Begum is well kept and worth a look.
Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
Next up was the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi—Kazakhstan’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 2003). I circled the reserve to photograph it from every angle, then bought a ticket (around ₸500–₸2,000, prices vary by site and visitor category) to go inside.
Modest dress is required—knees and shoulders covered. There was restoration in progress, so I couldn’t see the dome from inside, but it was still worth entering.
Hilvet Semi-Underground Mosque
I continued to the Hilvet Semi-Underground Mosque. A QR code was posted for tickets, but it wouldn’t work on my phone, so I trekked back to the ticket office and—accidentally—bought a second ticket to the mausoleum instead of the Underground Mosque and Eastern Bathhouse. Lesson learned: it’s easier to buy your ticket directly from the ranger inside the Underground Mosque.
Eastern Bathhouse
A short walk away is the Eastern Bathhouse (hammam)—often referred to as the Oriental Bathhouse Turkistan in listings. Entrance was included with my Underground Mosque ticket. Built to serve pilgrims, it was in use until 1975 and includes rooms for hot water, cold water, and washing.
Gardens and Juma Mosque Area
I spent extra time in the gardens and around the Juma Mosque, where there are small shops and kiosks. By mid-afternoon I retraced my steps to the Mussalla Gate. Right before the gate is a great photo spot for the Khoja Ahmad Yassavi Mosque; as I raised my camera, the call to worship began and a flock of birds lifted off the dome.
Karavan Saray Turkistan Entertainment Complex
Leaving Azret-Sultan through the Mussalla Gate, I walked toward the Karavan Saray Entertainment Complex—often listed as Karavan Saray Turkistan on maps and guides. Along the way I passed the striking Uly Dala Eli (Great Steppe) building.
Another eye-catcher is the Altyn Samruk “Flying Theater.” Inspired by the Samruk bird myth, the golden-egg dome houses a ride film where seats tilt and glide as wind and mist simulate flight across Kazakhstan.
The Karavan Saray Complex has a variety of shops and restaurants. I stopped at the Magnum supermarket for drinks and a sandwich with chips for lunch.
Back to My Hotel, Then the Airport
I returned to the hotel to eat and rest, then showered before heading to the airport. I didn’t see everything in Turkistan, but in a short visit I felt like I hit the highlights—exactly what I wanted from my brief window in Turkistan Kazakhstan.
Turkistan Travel Tips
Sun protection: sunscreen, bucket hat, and a long-sleeved sun shirt—it’s hot and sunny.
Hydration: bring plenty of water. You can buy it inside Azret-Sultan, but it’s more expensive.
Night strolls: walk Azret-Sultan at night to see it beautifully illuminated.
Tickets: buy tickets at the sights; the main ticket office struggled to understand which ticket I wanted.
Turkistan Video Highlights
A no-narration, visuals-first walk through Azret-Sultan in Turkistan—Mussalla Gate, Rabia Sultan Begum, Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (UNESCO), the Hilvet underground mosque, and the Eastern Bathhouse—showing exteriors and interiors in a single half-day loop.
Turkistan Tours
I typically explore on my own when I travel and rarely hire tour guides. Turkistan is one location where I wish I had a local guide as there are is so much history to learn. When looking for packages, I only found a few extremely expensive Turkistan tours. Please note that I am an affiliate of Viator. If you purchase a tour using one of my links, I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no additional cost to you.