Testimonials

Testimonials

Ardjan, our 3 weeks in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan went smoothly. No problem at all, agreements always kept, accommodation OK wherever, interesting program......A thank you is in order. Regards, Satisfied Johan and Lies.

Johan Declercq from Gent, Belgium, on his three week tour in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan for two persons in September 2023.

We had a very nice trip. As for the guidance (guide, driver), excellent people, who spoke good English and with whom you can have a good conversation about anything and everything. As for the accommodations. The first accommodation in Almaty was by far the least. An old dated hotel, where we were unlucky to be without water for a day. The room was clean, but that was it. The mattresses were probably as old as the hotel. The breakfast, location and staff were excellent. For a next trip I would suggest choosing an alternative to this. The other accommodations were good, friendly staff and we enjoyed everything. It was a beautiful and varied trip, both in terms of nature and culture. Although Astana was a bit of a culture shock, we had to switch from the farmer to the modern world. But again an excellent guide who made everything right.

Gerrit van Dam from Hengelo, The Netherlands, on his Highlights of Kazakhstan tour for two persons in August 2023.

Dear Ardjan, our holiday is over. How we enjoyed this beautiful country! Everything was top notch. In Astana we had a very nice guide and driver. The nice thing about this guide was that we also talked about normal life in Kazakhstan, in addition to the sights and history. In Almaty we also had a very nice driver (for a week), who also loved to do things and regularly accompanied us (only if we wanted it) on walks. The Singing dunes, Aktau mountains, the blue mountain lakes at Saty etc. were magnificent. We were also happy to have extra days in nature. The stay at Saty was super. The food very good and so nicely served with wooden plates. The endless plains also made a big impression on me.
The train journey from Almaty to Turkestan was also very nice. We had a two-person cabin with private toilet and shower. That was amazing! There we enjoyed the mausoleum and all the sights and regularly had our picture taken with old women (including very small women from Uzbekistan). The people are very nice and spontaneous. The driver/guide was also a great man, who knew a lot about the history.
The last few days in Jabably were fun too. Nice people who ran the guest house. Unfortunately, we had a little less luck there with the weather. We had beautiful weather every day, but in Jabably we got wet once (which was also nice, because then the mountains are surrounded by clouds and this resulted in beautiful pictures) and the last day the program could not continue because of the rain. The guide offered to go to a museum first, then to visit his village and a school, and then have lunch at his house. That was also quite an experience. At the school we almost felt like we were king and queen. The children were allowed to ask us questions in English, in order to practice their English. They found that quite exciting, but also very nice to take a picture with us as tourists. The lunch at the guide's house was also really nice. This way you get a little more insight into how people live and live.
All stays were very good too. One a bit more luxurious, the other a bit simpler, but everything had its charms. All accommodations were neat and clean and the food was always good. The only thing we didn't like was a breakfast of buckwheat porridge, but that's personal (haha). Of course it is also nice to see and taste what regular meals are and then we eat an extra sandwich if it is less your taste. But otherwise the meals were really good.
As you can read, we really enjoyed the country, the people, etc. In this way I want to thank you for arranging. It was really super organized!!

Anja Jongejan from The Netherlands on her two week trip for two persons in Kazakhstan in May 2023.

Extensive personal advice and a fantastic well-organized tour through beautiful Kazakhstan. What really stood out was the attention to detail. This already started with the program and it proved time and again on the spot. From reception at the airport to a small shift in the program that allowed us to do and see just that little bit more. The tour was very varied and showed us a lot of different nature. With the bonus that our driver spoke good English and arranged nice extras on his own. We will probably go to Central Asia again and then come back for another booking.

Family Bakker from Haarlem, The Netherlands, on their ten day travelling period in and around Almaty in August 2022.

Hi Ardjan, we have just returned from a fantastic 14-day holiday in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. It was a unique destination and experience!!! Advertising for this will certainly be made to family and friends. One downside: Almaty was disappointing. For the rest of the holiday: 10/10!

Martine and Fraukje from Belgium on their 16-day adventure in Uzbekistan & Kazakhstan in September 2019

Hi Zhaniya, thanks for a very nice trip in Kazakhstan. We were very impressed with nature and the diversity in the landscape! Nurlan was a good guide & driver and could certainly speak English well enough to make jokes during car journeys and dinner. We had a really nice time with him. The car itself was also very comfortable. I had asked myself to extend the standard trip by one day, in retrospect I would have kept it on four days. Our (walking) pace was higher than expected.The best thing we found ourselves was the hike in the Aktau mountains, a very special experience, because we were all alone. We also found the homestay in Saty highly recommended, really friendly and hospitable people and good food. So we had a great holiday, thanks again for organizing it!

Thomas & Lindsy from Belgium on their five-day trip from Almaty in September 2019

We have just returned from our three-day trip! It was amazing! Give them a big compliment there in Kazakhstan and especially Constantin, our driver did a fantastic job. He spoke English very well (and even knew a few words of Dutch). It was a great person, great ride and we have seen fantastic beautiful things!

Veerle Thys from Belgium on her three-day trip with four people from Almaty in July-August 2019

Hello Ardjan, we really enjoyed our 4-day trip to the mountains. Tau was a great guide. He spoke English well, was energetic, knew a lot about the area and was very pleasant to deal with. It went perfectly with my son. I found Kazakhstan very beautiful. It has increased my knowledge about the country and has given me a better understanding of the Kazakhs. Thank you for your advice and the organization!

Anke van Dam from The Netherlands on her five day trip with her son in Almaty Province in July 2019

Hi Ardjan, we came home last night after 18 fantastic days in Kazakhstan. Thank you for arranging everything so well for us. The hotels, the guesthouse in Saty, the yurt in the Charyn Canyon, the transportation to the hotels, everything was arranged perfectly. Sacha and Dina gave us a wonderful time around Almaty. We were very happy with the comfortable car where we had enough space for our group of six (with air conditioning ) and with the agile driving style of Sacha. Dina was the perfect guide for us: always friendly and busy, very good with the children and well-informed about the history and customs in Kazakhstan. The children meanwhile call her Aunty Dina, I think this says enough. She has succeeded in making Zhano even more proud of his roots than he already was. It is also great that her English is so good, a lot was understandable for the children too. Furthermore, we experienced the Kazakh population as very hospitable and nature was breathtaking.

Nele Hermie on her 18-days tour with six people in different parts of Kazakhstan in July 2019

Hello Ardjan, Zhaniya, I would like to thank you for a very nice and very well organized trip in Kazakhstan. We have had a great time and have had unforgettable impressions. The vast and empty landscapes of the steppe, the breathtaking views in the Aktau mountains and in the surroundings of the Kolsai lakes are a crazy experience. We were somewhat unlucky with the weather, but in the end one day of rain also had its charm. We therefore skipped horse riding in Kolsai, and arranged horse riding ourselves in the Turgen valley on the last day, which was also excellent. Fantastic beautiful views. Furthermore, it was really great to be so far from civilization, not to meet anybody, and to sit by an open fire every evening in the open air. Our guide, Nurlan, just spoke good English, and when needed my knowledge of Russian also helped. In any case, we had a very nice time, also thanks to Nurlan's expertise, because he took us to an insanely beautiful secret location in the Temerlik Canyon for the last night in the wilderness, which was the highlight of our trip. We are extremely satisfied customers, and thank you for your full portions for organizing this short br ak. A big compliment to your company, your service and accessibility. Good luck in the future, and who knows, someday. Regards! Borrit.

Borrit van Dis from The Netherlands on his five day trip with two friends in Almaty Province in June 2019

We have just returned from Kazakhstan and are very satisfied. We did the 9-day trip around Almaty with a group of 10 people. What a wonderfully interesting and exciting wide country is Kazakhstan and what a friendly hospitable people. We have seen a lot of beautiful nature and did varied things. We really enjoyed it to the full. Our energetic guide Dina was fantastic, the driver Igor drove very reliably and the Mercedes bus very effectively. We have received more than what we expected. Everything was arranged perfectly and was filled in flexibly. From the very first contact with Ardjan we felt heard in our wishes and plans. That went on for the entire trip. We were very well looked after and there was always good consultation with us. Very nice! That, in combination with the very nice weather made our trip unforgettable. Thank you! We enjoy and simmer for a long time, I expect. Regards Ria.

Ria van Schaaijk from The Netherlands on her seven day tour with 10 family members in May-June 2019

Dear Ardjan, we had a very nice trip in Almaty region with our great driver, Nurlan. The accommodation in Saty village was absolutely great - lovely people and amazing surroundings! All in all we do not have any reason to complain 🙂 We only had no lunch on our way back to Almaty as it was shown in the trip description, but it doesn't matter at all! It was very important for us to see a landscape and some points of interest BEFORE the mass tourism arrives - so we guess, that it was the right decision for us at the right moment! Thanks for all, Ardjan! Best regards.

Sebastian from Frechen, Germany, on his four day trip for two persons in Almaty Province in July 2018

Hello Ardjan Langedijk, we have made a tour of Kazakhstan from 09-07-2018 until 13-07-2108. We have enjoyed a beautiful country. Our compliments to the guide Sergey. He did a great job, was quiet and had humor at his time. Because of the heat we were sometimes gone early in the morning, but he just kept going until the program ended. He skipped nothing and was open to a new excursion to Khorgos. In short, the guide and the tour is a must! Sincerely.

Ineke & Martin from The Netherlands on their five-day trip in Almaty Province in July 2018

We have just returned from a wonderful holiday in Kazakhstan! Ardjan has helped very well. He listened well, worked quickly, and always responded quickly and adequately to our questions, also on the road. We received two contacts for the trip (in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan respectively) who did a good job. We have had a wonderful holiday, and will definitely recommend you.

Tjemme van der Meer & Ineke Bil from The Netherlands on their short trips in Kazakhstan and in Kyrgystan with four persons in August 2018

Dear Ardjan, we had a very interesting and varied holiday. I am glad that we had the first week organized, because the 'Green ring Almaty' we could not manage on our own. We had a good driver (Konstantin), who explained everything we wanted to know in English. The trip was very varied: Almaty was very modern, multicultural, and well organized. The villages probably had their peak in the Soviet era. Nature is very beautiful, although you sometimes have to drive a lot for it. The stay in Saty pleased us the best, with nice walks around the Kayindi lake and the Kolsai lakes, and then delicious food at a Kazakh family. Many greetings.

Annemieke &Thomas from The Netherlands on their eight day tour 'Green Ring Almaty' in August 2018

Hi Ardjan, we are indeed back again. Had a great trip and enjoyed the open nature, friendly people and traveling itself. Thanks for organizing, it is amazing how everything went smoothly!

Koen van Dijk from The Netherlands on his 18-day trip 'Destination, the Shrinking Aral Sea' for two persons in July-August 2018

This summer we went on a tour in Kazakhstan, its was our introduction to the country. From travel reports on the internet we understood that some trips can not be done on your own. We found Kazakhstan Tours during our search on the internet. We wanted a tailor-made tour to the Aral Sea. Ardjan has made us a proposal in which we found ourselves perfectly fine. We have been to the Aral Sea with a good English speaking guide. On the way we stopped regularly and we also received a lot of information. A great guide. We stayed at a Kazakh family home and although we do not speak the language, this was a very nice and unique experience. We also watched the World Cup final football in the local pub, this was also very nice to experience. Our train departed at 6 o'clock in the morning, that was no problem at all. There was even a delicious breakfast prepared for us by the hostess, for which our compliments. We can therefore recommend Ardjan / Kazakhstan Tours to everyone.

Family Deurloo from The Netherlands on their four day trip for four persons to the Aral Sea in July 2018

It was a wonderful trip to and in Kazakhstan. Astana is a special city and fun to see and experience. In Shymkent we were nicely met by Ismail and drove past the cultural highlights. On the way we got camel milk. I should have politely refused that, it turned out later. The train journey from Turkestan to Tulkubas was very nice and comfortable. Akzu-Zhabagly is beautiful, our accommodation was fine and the Rustem guide was fun and informative. Then we took the Spanish train to Almaty. The Spanish train is considerably less stable than the Russian one, but still okay. Almaty is a beautiful city. Here we rented a car with which we went to Altyn Emel and Charyn Canyon. Beautiful landscapes. We ended in Almaty for another day and a half. We found it a very nice experience! Friendly people and a country worth travelling. Impressive landscapes. Thank you for your help and kind regards.

Ruud Limmen from The Netherlands on his 9-day trip for four persons in several parts of Kazakhstan in June 2018

Together with guide Timur we left Almaty to spend five days in the countryside. In a short time we have seen a very varied nature: from the dry and rugged White Mountains and Singing Dune to the beautiful Kolsai lake and an overnight stay in a yurt. The lack of many tourists and the friendliness of the people on the road make you secretly feel a bit of an adventurer in undiscovered territory. For lovers of nature, this tour is an absolute must!

Gwenda Alblus from The Netherlands on her nature trip from Almaty for two persons in August 2018

Good afternoon, we had a fantastic trip! Kazakhstan is a beautiful country, even more beautiful than expected. Everything was very well taken care of and arranged. Our guide Dina and the driver also deserve compliments. Always trying to please us. In short, it was great!!

Tini van Schaaijk from The Netherlands on their 9-day tour Green Ring Almaty for 10 persons in May-June 2018

June 2018, father and son on an adventurous trip. 8-day trip made self-drive 4x4. All perfectly arranged by Ardjan. Beautiful landscapes. Almaty - Charyn Canyon - Saty (Kolsai lakes) - Altyn Emel National Park (singing dunes and mountains). Compliment to the local guidance. Both on arrival and departure travel agent Assija was present with tips, all information (hotels, homestays, telephone numbers) and also when transferring the rental car.
A wonderful trip! Quite long days but definitely worth it!

Leo and Ko van Loon from The Netherlands on their 8-day self-drive tour Green Ring Almaty in June 2018

As I promised, I am getting back to you regarding our holiday. It was fantastic. The balance between trekking and having a look was achieved. The final itinerary was a good balance.
Each section of Kazakhstan was unique, our local guides great, so knowledgeable and made sure our trip was fantastic. All guides were punctual, where a guide was due to be that's where they were. The drivers were very courteous and safe and good travelling companions. The train travel great, the people so friendly. It was amazing the conversations we had with locals without any common language. The family photos and a couple of kangaroo pictures broke the ice.
A storm which meant we couldn't camp overnight caused us to sleep in pilgrims hostel at one of the underground mosques. What an amazing experience, actually one of the highlights.
Tajikistan was also great, so incredibly beautiful and again the people lovely. Great guide and driver for the trip. Overall the accommodation was excellent, the standard differed in each location to match the location.
The only criticism was we had too much food, so well fed. The restaurants etc, great. For people wanting to experience these two countries this trip was perfect. Once again thanks.

Steve and Penny Beagley from Darwin, Australia, on their 27-day itinerary in Kazakhstan (including the Mangistau region) & Tajikistan in May-June 2018

Dear Ardjan, we have had a carefree and fantastic journey. The environment in both countries was even better than we had imagined and the people were much friendlier than expected (we had expected Russian 'friendliness'). We were also happy with our choice to travel without a guide, that is fine to do and gives a bit more freedom.
The overnight stays were very varied and sometimes had above expectation luxury. Food in the homestays was very good. Thanks to the fact that the overnight locations in cities & villages were located in central places we could immediately explore the neighborhood. The Baytur resort was disappointing with unfriendly staff and all the plumbing was leaking (we had a cottage, maybe the yurts are better).
Car rental was excellent, clear contract and good agreements. Overnight locations could have been specified in advance, for example with coordinates. We will definitely recommend you to friends who also want to travel in Central Asia. Maybe I will go on motorbike again through Kyrgystan and Tajikistan. Thank you for arranging. Sincerely.

Diederik Zuiderwijk from The Netherlands on his 21-day tour for two persons in Kazakhstan & Kyrgystan in rented cars in August 2018.

Hi Ardjan, we are already a few weeks back from our great tour through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, but still want to thank you so much that you have arranged everything so well for us. Everywhere we arrived, someone was already waiting for us to take us to our destination. The guides were very cordial and knew a lot about nature, buildings and history. Most drivers could also speak a little to very good English. Also the hotels and homestays were fine with a good breakfast and dinner. The only thing that could have been better were the beds. Especially in the Altyn Emel hotel I have hardly been able to sleep. The beds were so hard. The women who run the hotel there, however, were so friendly that they were forgiven. The hotel in Bukhara was the nicest hotel we had and the homestay in Saty village was the nicest place. Here we sat with a number of international tourists at the bonfire in the evening. All in all a successful holiday. Thanks for that.

Michel Koggel and Sacha Blum from The Netherlands on their 19-day tour in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in September 2017

Dear Ardjan, we had very nice day trip, thank you very much for organizing this tour for us. Best greetings also to our guide and driver, they were fantastic. With the best wishes.

Helgi Panderi from Estonia on her day trip with four people from Astana to the Borovoe in August 2017

We had a fantastic trip! Laughed a lot with guide Nurlan and had nice conversations about culture and politics with the second driver and guide. It was very nice to have an experienced driver, the traffic signs and especially the roads were a big challenge. We are very happy that we have visited lake Tuzkol, which is beautiful!! The same applies for the Assy plateau, that was a highlight too! Nurlan really did his best with cooking and it was delicious. His English was fine, enough to make a joke. You do not need more to keep the mood. The country really surprised us, I have been able to shoot a lot of nice pictures. And what a hospitality!! Thanks for arranging, a great experience. We will certainly go back to the region soon (Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia).

Nienke Wijnbelt from The Netherlands on her trips from Almaty and from Karaganda for two persons in August 2017

The trip was really great, everyone was pleasantly surprised! All parts were top, from Astana to skiing to the road trip! There were not any notable things gone wrong, so that is also nice to know:). Thanks for the good organization!

Bas Bangert from The Netherlands on his road trip for eight persons from Almaty in April 2017

Dear Ardjan, our tour was excellent and our tour driver (Sergey) was very helpful and kind. Overall a very good experience. Thanks for setting it up for us.

Mike O'Sullivan from New Zealand on his four day tour for two persons from Almaty in September 2017

We are back home in Atyrau now. Just wanted to let you know that we had a great time on our tour! Our guide, Ruslan, was great! His English was better than we excepted, and with my Russian, we were able to communicate easily. He was lots of fun and very informative. We ended up hiking from Kolsai Lake 1 to 2, which was tough but beautiful! We also loved staying at the guesthouse in Saty with Kamai and her family. I hope we get to bring some friends on a similar tour next year! Thanks again!

Jessica Hanslik, living in Atyrau, Kazakhstan, on her five day tour for two persons from Almaty in September 2017

Many thanks for compiling a varied trip, everything ran like clockwork (only exception was the return from Karaganda when we were unclear on the return arrangement and didn’t realise we had to purchase tickets and arrange our own taxi, it wasn’t a problem just confusing). The guides and drivers were very accommodating and were more than happy to make adjustments to meet our requirements. Vehicles were appropriate for the conditions and in most cases exceeded our expectations. Genuinely enjoyed the trip, from the cities to the country side, Kazachstan is an interesting blend of new, tradition and the unexpected. Never at any time did we feel threatened or unsafe. (Sheila).
Thank you for a very interesting trip - guides and drivers were lovely people who looked after us very well. We also enjoyed meeting some of your other clients who were sharing our accommodation. The hike up Mt Aksoran was a bit of a challenge- we hiked for 9 hours in baking heat and didn't make it to the top (maybe rethink that for older guests). Also the Karlag museum in Karaganda would have been interesting to visit but we didn't know about it at the time. At Kolsay lake we hired horses to take us up to Kolsay 2. Not for inexperienced riders but for us it was the highlight of the trip. We had a long evening in Almaty before our flight so we booked into a hotel for showers dinner and a rest - top marks to our driver Sasha who insisted on coming back for us at 11pm to drive us to the airport. Thanks again. (Ishbel).

Sheila Jackson and Ishbel Raffle from Scotland on their 18-day trip to Central and South Kazakhstan in September 2017

Thank you for booking the 2-day trip to Borovoe and the 4-day trip in Turgen. Borovoe was beautiful, but Turgen and surroundings were GREAT. The campsite of the Trekking Club in Turgen is well located and the facilities are good. And what can Inura cook well !! Our guide Maria spoke good English and she drove well on the bad roads. The car was very comfortable. Maria has given us a lot of information about the environment and life in Kazakhstan. Without a guide we had a much less good view of the country. The landscape is really stunning! On a next trip to this region we will definitely contact you again.

Simon and Ellen Geleijnse from The Netherlands on their two short trips to the Borovoe from Astana and to the Turgen Valley from Almaty in August 2017

We had a great time in Kazakhstan, and the hotel, Brimjan and guide were very good to us. The Expo itself was more than we could have hoped for – and we managed to fill all our time there with interesting things to see and do. Brimjan is a most conscientious, punctual, reliable and friendly driver – we were never kept waiting and he was always very helpful and thoughtful. On arrival it was clear that Kazzhol was not appropriate for a wheelchair user – with a flight of 12 or so steps to get into reception. This did cause us some consternation on arrival, but by the time we had returned from the city tour, the hotel staff had begun construction of a ramp! For the rest of the week when we needed to leave the hotel and on return several staff were summoned to help to get Cassandra in her wheelchair up and down the ramp (which was too steep to do alone). We thought the effort the hotel made for us was outstanding – and above and beyond what we would expect elsewhere. All of your travel arrangements went off without a hitch too. All in all – a great success – so thank you very much for your patience and efforts.

Cassandra and Mike Morris from the UK on their eight day trip to Astana and the EXPO in August 2017

Family Warmerdam from the Netherlands about their 10-day tour with two young children in South Kazakhstan April-May 2017

Dear Ardjan, it was Amazing! Incredible! Mind-blowing! Probably, equal to being in Space itself. I was proud of people. Thank you!

Svitlana Zagorodniuk from Ukraine on her 3-day tour to a manned space launch at Baikanur in April 2017

We returned this afternoon after a fantastic week. Thank you for your help, we had a great vacation. Carefree, everything was arranged. And we greatly enjoyed this special country with extremely friendly and hospitable people. If we get the chance, we'll be back to enjoy even more of this impressive country.

Monique Kruis from the Netherlands about her five-day trip for two people in Almaty Province in April 2017.

Contact