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Group Tour to Mangystau

5-Day Mangystau Group Tour

Set off on a magnificent jeep tour through the wonders of Mangystau, where the landscapes seem to belong to another planet. Prepare to be amazed by expansive canyons, dramatic cliffs, and uniquely shaped mountains and rocks.

Torysh, Kok-kala, Sherkala, Airakty, Karaman-ata, Ybykty, Tuzbair, Kyzylkup, Beket-ata, Bozzhyra

5 Days | Spring, summer, autumn | US$ 785

The Museum of the First President of Kazakhstan, Astana

The Museum of the First President of Kazakhstan, Astana

The Museum of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan distinguishes among numerous museums of Astana. To start with facts, the museum was initiated on 28 August 2004 by Nursultan Nazarbaev, the president of the Republic of Kazakhstan and in March 2005 opened its doors for the first visitors. The museum is located in the former residence of the head of state. Since then, the building is always crowded. Daily tourists and guests of the capital from different parts of the world try to pay a visit to this place – one of the main attractions of Astana.

There you can see unique archive documents, scientific materials, books written by Nazarbaev, gift collections, awards and many other interesting items revealing the work of the first president of the country and the newest history of Kazakhstan. In total, there are over 40 000 exhibits in the museum, and practically all of them have been preserved in the way they were during the activity of Nazarbaev in this building.

It is to give special attention to the items, gifted to the president by heads of other states with signatures and wishes. Some of these gifts are genuine masterpieces. For example, glaze painted porcelain chess set “Borodino” given by the President of Belorussia Aleksandr Lukashenko; collection of golden-plated stamps presented to Nazarbaev by the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Singapore, Sim Chok Lim; exquisite golden statue of Buddha from the Vice-President of the Buddhist Association; silver glass with amethyst from Mongolia.

The Museum of the First President of Kazakhstan in Astana, Kazakhstan
The Museum of the First President of Kazakhstan in Astana, Kazakhstan
The Museum of the First President of Kazakhstan in Astana, Kazakhstan

There is a hall dedicated to the school years of Nazarbaev. Among the exhibits are school items that once belonged to the President: pens, notebooks, notepads, pencils, writings, textbooks. In the hall of the state awards, one can see the Breastplate of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

One of the most unusual exhibits of the museum is the sports bicycle. It was this very vehicle that Alexandr Vinokurov gained victory with in 2006 on a world-known annual bicycle race “Vuelta” held in Spain. Impressive exhibits are also gathered in the hall of the weapon collection.

The museum has active scientific-research, informative-publishing and exposition-exhibition pedagogic programs. There are lessons-excursions for those studying in schools and higher educational establishments, lectures and meetings for scholars of science, history and education, non-traditional meetings, club discussions. One of the most important directions of the museum is the program of supporting children with limited abilities. The museum holds exhibitions, art-therapeutic seminars, competitions and other events for them.

For comfort of the guests, there is a café on the territory of the museum for a coffee break and a quick snack. The minor disadvantage for visitor is that filming or photoshooting inside the building is not allowed. The Museum of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan is located on 11, Beybitshilik Street – right in the center of the capital.