One day in Turkestan: an itinerary in the best order
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 1 of 6 free; 5 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 5 h 30 min · 09:30–15:04
- Start and finish
- Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi → Keruen Saray
- On foot
- ≈ 24 min in total
- Transport
- none — all on foot
- Lunch
- around 12:22
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn. In the evening Keruen-Saray is lit up.
The plan, stop by stop
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Turkestan09:30–15:04 · 6 places · 5 h 30 min
Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
· 1 h · 5,000 ₸ foreigners, 2,000 ₸ CIS
- 3 min on foot
Hilvet Underground Mosque
· 20 min · 5,000 ₸ foreigners · 2,000 ₸ CIS
- 3 min on foot
Turkestan Oriental Bathhouse
· 20 min · 5,000 ₸ foreigners · 2,000 ₸ CIS
- 3 min on foot
Mausoleum of Rabiya Sultan Begim
· 15 min · Yasawi zone ticket · 2,000–5,000 ₸
- 3 min on foot
Turkestan Citadel Walls
· 45 min · Reserve ticket: 5,000 ₸ for foreigners
- Lunch · 1 h
- 12 min on foot
Keruen Saray
· 1 h 30 min · Free
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
1 of 6 are free; 5 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi | 45 | 1 h | 5,000 ₸ foreigners, 2,000 ₸ CIS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Hilvet Underground Mosque | 40 | 20 min | 5,000 ₸ foreigners · 2,000 ₸ CIS |
| 3 | Turkestan Oriental Bathhouse | 40 | 20 min | 5,000 ₸ foreigners · 2,000 ₸ CIS |
| 4 | Mausoleum of Rabiya Sultan Begim | 45 | 15 min | Yasawi zone ticket · 2,000–5,000 ₸ |
| 5 | Turkestan Citadel Walls | 44 | 45 min | Reserve ticket: 5,000 ₸ for foreigners |
| 6 | Keruen Saray | 42 | 1 h 30 min | Free |
| Total | 4 h 10 min | 1 of 6 free |
Tips for each stop
- 1
Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. Start with the main sight: Timur's unfinished 14th-century mausoleum, UNESCO-listed. 2,000 ₸ for CIS citizens, from 8:00.
- 2
Hilvet Underground Mosque. A half-underground mosque-cell 2–3 minutes south of the mausoleum. 2,000 ₸ for CIS citizens, 5,000 ₸ for others.
- 3
Turkestan Oriental Bathhouse. A half-underground 16th-century hammam, a small museum since 1979.
- 4
Mausoleum of Rabiya Sultan Begim. An octagonal tomb with a turquoise dome from the late 15th century, on the Yasawi area ticket.
- 5
Turkestan Citadel Walls. A 16th–19th-century mud-brick wall with a tower and the East Gate.
- 6
Keruen Saray. Finish at a tourist complex built like a caravanserai — free to enter the grounds.
Who this route is for
- First time in Turkestan with one day
- A trip from Shymkent
- On foot
- Otrar, Sauran and Arystan Bab are out of town, by car
- Summer days are very hot
Spring and autumn. In the evening Keruen-Saray is lit up.
What to see in Turkestan in one day
Everything stands around the Yasawi mausoleum: Hilvet, the bathhouse, the Rabiya Sultan Begim mausoleum and the citadel are 2–3 minutes apart. Keruen-Saray is 10–15 minutes to the east.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.
Tickets
The Yasawi mausoleum is 2,000 ₸ for CIS citizens; Hilvet and the bathhouse are 2,000 ₸ for CIS citizens and 5,000 ₸ for everyone else. The mausoleum is open daily 8:00–18:30. Prices for non-CIS visitors are higher — check at the desk.
What to wear
The mausoleum and Hilvet are shrines: cover shoulders and knees; women need a headscarf.
What else to see near Turkestan
The Arystan Bab mausoleum and the Otrar site are to the south, Sauran to the north and Ukasha-ata in the hills. You need a car.
How to do it right
- The Yasawi mausoleum is open 8:00–18:30.
- Dress modestly for the shrines.
- Ticket prices depend on citizenship — carry your passport.
- Kazakhstan uses the tenge (₸). Cards are accepted almost everywhere; bazaars are easier with cash.
- In summer start early: the afternoon is very hot.
Questions
Is one day in Turkestan enough?
For the Azret-Sultan reserve, yes. Otrar, Sauran and Arystan Bab need another day by car.
What to do in Turkestan in one day?
The Khoja Ahmed Yasawi mausoleum, Hilvet, the bathhouse, the Rabiya Sultan Begim mausoleum, the citadel and Keruen-Saray.
Can I see Turkestan on my own?
Yes: everything is together in the reserve, on foot.
When is the Yasawi mausoleum open?
Daily 8:00–18:30.
How much are the tickets?
2,000 ₸ per site for CIS citizens; Hilvet and the bathhouse are 5,000 ₸ for others.
Who built the Yasawi mausoleum?
Timur began it in the 14th century; it was never finished.
How do I get to Turkestan?
From Shymkent by train or car, 2–3 hours; Turkestan also has an airport.
Is it good with kids?
Yes: walks are 2–3 minutes, and Keruen-Saray is lit up in the evening.
Is it good in summer?
Yes, if you start early.
What should I wear?
Shoulders and knees covered; women need a headscarf.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Azret-Sultan State Historical and Cultural Reserve
- Wikipedia: Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
