Today, a press conference dedicated to the start of the expedition was held at the site of the Visit Almaty Tourist Information Center. The speakers were D. Tegenbayev, manager of the marketing, digitalization and communication department of Kazakh Tourism, A. Akhmedzhanov, expedition leader, B. Izmagambetov, guide to this project, and A. Zhumatayeva, a member of the press service of the Public Association “QazaqGeography.”

According to the organizers, the main goal of this project is to develop the potential of domestic and inbound tourism through an inventory of tourist facilities along the expedition, to develop proposals for improving infrastructure, as well as the development of new cross-border routes. Foreign guests will be interested to see the beauty and study the culture of the indigenous peoples of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The expedition will help interested guests to create a large-scale project for the conservation of endangered animals of the Red Book.

The expedition will make a serious contribution to the achievement of the tasks outlined in Nursultan Nazarbayev’s article “The Seven Faces of the Great Steppe” and to the implementation of the Rouhani Zhangyru program, within the framework of which the task was set to use the tourism potential of cultural and geographical objects of Kazakhstan.

After the press conference, a team of professionals went on a thirteen-day expedition tour in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The expedition includes journalists, photographers, film crews of television channels, travel bloggers and tour operators. Based on the results of the expedition, it is planned to identify the most optimal and interesting places and routes for the development of tours, which will be supported by accurate coordinates, high-quality photographs and video materials, as well as a detailed description. In the future, this information will be provided to domestic travel agencies and tour operators of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

The expedition team will go along the following route: Almaty – Big Almaty Lake - Issyk Gorge - Charyn Canyon - Kolsai - Karakol - Kaji-Sai - Tokmok - Suusamyr - Talas - Taraz - Akmeshit Cave - Sauran - Turkestan - Arystan-bab - Otyrar - Shymkent - Tashkent - Samarkand - Kazygurt - Merke - Tanbaly - Almaty.

Participants will start their unique journey with the sights of Almaty region and the city of Almaty: Big Almaty Lake, Medeo, Shymbulak ice rink, Charyn Canyon. Then they are waiting for the Kolsai gorge with its amazingly beautiful lakes, rightfully called the "blue pearl of the Tien Shan." On the third day, it is planned to cross the border with Kyrgyzstan. For three days, participants will visit and explore the administrative center of the Issyk-Kul region: the city of Karakol, the Jeti-Oguz Gorge, located in the floodplain of the same name on the northern slope of the Terskey Ala-Too Ridge, Barskoon Gorge with its amazing nature, where the team will make a halt in tents on the shore of Lake Issyk-Kul.

Next, participants will find Ancient Taraz, located in the steppe center of the Great Silk Road, in which trade routes between Asia and Europe converged. Here they will find an amazing number of historical monuments: the Karakhan mausoleum, castles of rulers, genuine masterpieces of ancient architecture - the mausoleums of Babaji-Khatun and Aisha-Bibi, the Akyrtas palace complex, the ancient Taraz archaeological park, which appeared on the site of the ancient settlement and others. And, of course, the archaeological monument in the open air, which is under the protection of UNESCO – the fortress of Otyrar. Pilgrims and simply tourists from different parts of Kazakhstan and abroad come here every day. Further, the participants will immerse themselves in the history of Samarkand and in other beauties of Uzbekistan. The finale of the expedition is scheduled for Sep. 1 in Almaty.