Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Explorer with Shymkent Otrar and Turkistan Mini Tour Extension - Private Tour

The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.

If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.

To enter Kazakhstan, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least one blank page. British Citizens do not require a visa to visit Kazakhstan.

To enter Kyrgyzstan, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least two blank pages. British Citizens not require a visa to visit Kyrgyzstan.

Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.

We strongly advise you check your destinations- Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.

Border Crossing:

Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan Should take approximately 30 minutes though delays do occur. You will need to exit the bus with your bags for passport control. The driver may not be allowed to exit the bus or assist.

Please note that if you are travelling on the Main Tour only, we will require your passport information at least 30 days prior to departure. If you are travelling on the Shymkent Extension also, then passport information will be required at least 45 days prior to departure. Failure to provide this information could result in an impact on the tour.

You will be given proof of stay at each hotel that you visit during your tour. Please keep these forms together with your passport should immigration control want to see these on departure.

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.

This tour is accessible to most people with a good level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves climbing of steep stairs and getting on and off coaches and boats. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.

Kazakhstan: The currency in Kazakhstan is the Kazakhstani tenge (KZT). We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK but cash machines are available in all the major cities to withdraw money in the local currency. Credit and debit cards are accepted in major cities and hotels, but smaller establishments tend to only take cash. Make sure to have small bills as change is not always available.

Kyrgyzstan: The currency in Kyrgyzstan is the Kyrgyzstani som (KGS). We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK but cash machines are available in Bishek to withdraw money in the local currency. Credit and debit cards are accepted but only at some of the larger hotels, shops and restaurants in Bishek as the country is predominantly a cash economy.

As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels.

You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry, any meals not included in the itinerary as well as drinks and any additional snacks. Approximately £400-£500 per person will be sufficient for the duration of the tour.

Tipping It is at your customary to tip both your driver and guide. We would recommend to tip your guide approximately $6 per day and your driver approximately $3 per day. Tips are accepted in the local currency, however it is asked that if you do not tip in the local currency that you only pay with notes, as coins cannot be exchanged.

This is an escorted tour, meaning you will have the services of an English speaking guide throughout your tour ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.

For Private Tours or groups 4 and lower, you will be accompanied by a Driver and Local Guides on excursions. These Local Guides will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing.

This is an escorted extension, meaning you will have the services of an English speaking guide throughout your tour ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times. This may be the same or a different guide to the main tour.

On the overnight train from Shymkent to Almaty, a 2-bed compartment is the standard compartment type. Due to this, single travellers may be allocated a shared compartment with another passenger, and we cannot guarantee the availability of same-gender sharing. However, we understand that privacy is important to some passengers, and for this reason, we also offer a limited number of private cabins at an additional cost.

Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to guest houses. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.

Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Lunch and Dinner (when included) will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.

Vegetarian and Vegan options are not always available, please request prior to departure and our suppliers will do our best to arrange this. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.

It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way. Bottled water will be available at shops and hotels.

On arrival in Astana, you will be met by the representative from our local agent, Dolores Travel Group. This representative will be holding a sign displaying “Mercury Holidays” and will then escort you to your transfer vehicle. Your national guide will be on hand 24 hours a day should you have any queries.

If you need to contact your representative during your stay the details are: Dolores Travel Group 104A, Kichik Beshagach str. Tashkent, 100025, Uzbekistan

Telephone Number (office): 00998 78 1208883, Telephone Number (mobile): 00998 99 858 8894 (Anna)

Emergency contact information:

Office: 00998555158883.

In Kazakhstan please contact Mariya Pyanykh: 0077017360941

In Kyrgyzstan please contact Yana Kugatova: 00996 550 973 818

E-mail: avishnevskaya@dolorestravel.com

Emergency contact information for your extension: Mariya Pyanykh - Mobile: 007 701 736 0941

• Sunscreen, insect repellent, wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses in the summer months
• Warm clothing during the winter months
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Camera and charger
• Antibacterial hand gel
• Binoculars
• Small day pack for excursions
• Personal toiletries and first aid kit containing travel pills, rehydration powder, plasters, stomach settlers, antiseptic creams, aspirin etc
• Waterproof, lightweight jacket, lightweight clothing, sweater and swimwear
• Travel plug adapter – the electricity supply is 220V and plug type F