Kazakhstan Polygon April Tour – Secrets of the USSR

Monday 19th April – Almaty – Semey City

Morning

• Arrive at your convenience in Almaty – the largest city of Kazakhstan, which is well connected to many countries within the Stans, Middle East, Eastern Europe and Asia. For those on our Five Stans tour we’ll arrange your transfer to the airport for free.
• Pre-tour meeting held at 9:00am at the check-in counter inside the Almaty Domestic Airport Terminal.

Afternoon

• Board the morning flight departing at 11:20am to Semey city also known as Semipalatinsk city which is located in eastern Kazakhstan. This city is the oldest city of Kazakhstan. It was established as a fore post of the Russian empire in the time of so-called Great Game in 1717.
• After passing border control and collecting luggage, we will head out for a quick bite before our museum tour to provide context for the coming days sites.
• First stop is the Stronger Than Death Monument which was installed in remembrance of the devastating consequences of nuclear testing near Semipalatinsk from 1949 to 1989.
• Next is the Dostoyevsky Museum which is a deep dive into the life of this often-glorified, little-understood Russian icon. This is for all the literature fans and soviet buffs!
• Ending the day at the Abay Museum which is geared to Kazakhs honouring their sanctified literary icon, but also for visitors who have spent some time in Kazakhstan and are keen to understand it better.
• Transfer to the hotel, check in then head out for Beshbarmak – a traditional Kazakh dish, beshbarmak consists of boiled meat (usually lamb or horse meat) served with flat noodles and topped with onions.
• We’ll head to the supermarket for your chance to stock up on snacks for tomorrow’s trip.
• Overnight in Semey City.

Tuesday 20th April – Semey – Kurchatov

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Then begin our 2-hour journey to the underground test site (200 km).
• Upon arrival to the underground test site, you’ll hear an explanation to understand the industrial use of nuclear energy for political context and the race of nuclear arms.
• Here we will learn about the history of Soviet nuclear projects from 1962 to 1989, which were a defining feature of the Cold War era, shaping international relations and global security dynamics for decades.
• Enjoy some snacks and then suit up, putting on protective equipment and take a safety briefing to ensure we are well protected as we continue on.

Afternoon

• Our first stop is the atomic lake also known as the Balapan Lake. The creation of the Atomic Lake was a consequence of the Soviet Union’s extensive nuclear testing program, which included atmospheric and underground nuclear tests. This particular atomic lake was formed by an underground explosion of 140 Kilotons nuclear bomb back in 1965. To put it into comparison Hiroshima was 15 Kilotons.
• We will visit the two notable boreholes at the Semipalatinsk Test Site
• The first is Degelen Mountain Complex also known as the “Complex-116” which was used for a series of underground nuclear tests, including tests involving the detonation of nuclear devices at various depths underground.
• Next is Balapan Complex lake Borehole 116, it was used for conducting experiments involving the detonation of nuclear devices deep underground.
• Then we head to the Elevator silo of the underground laboratory which played a crucial role in facilitating underground research and testing activities contributing to the advancement of nuclear technology and the development of nuclear weapons during the Cold War era.
• Our final stop will be the Command Point (bunker), which once centralized control and command for nuclear testing activities at the STS, as well as the ICBM launchers and the supporting infrastructure required for missile operations.
• Transfer to hotel in Kurchatov to get refreshed then head out to a local café for dinner and drinks.
• Overnight in a Soviet hotel in Kurchatov that previously housed official visits from Moscow.

Wednesday 21st April – Kurchatov – Semey – Astana

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• Begin our excursion of Kurchatov which was named after the prominent Soviet physicist Igor Kurchatov who played a pivotal role in the history of the Soviet atomic project.
• We then visit the history of Soviet Atomic project and learn about the monumental scientific and technological endeavour that aimed to develop nuclear weapons.
• Next, we visit the former office of the KGB. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, many KGB archives have been declassified, shedding light on some aspects of its activities!
• Visit the guest house of Lavrentiy Beria, the head of the NKVD (Soviet secret police) and a key figure in the Soviet atomic project.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a nearby café trying some plov, also known as pilaf, a rice dish cooked with meat (usually lamb or beef), accompanied of course by tea – a staple beverage in Kazakhstan.
• The we visit the “Ghost Town” which are areas that have been left abandoned due to their proximity to the STS and the environmental contamination resulting from nuclear testing.
• Visit an abandoned long range bomber base!
• After our visit we will return to Semey City and have some dinner at a local restaurant and if we have time we’ll see a giant statue of Lenin in the central park
• Transfer to the railway station to board a sleeper train at 7:45pm to Astana city.
• Dinner, cards, and rest while taking in the scenes out of the window!

Thursday 22nd April – Astana

Morning

• Arrival into Astana City at around 8:20am
• Head to the hotel to drop off luggage and breakfast (breakfast not included)
• Embark on a city tour starting with the Main Republican Mosque, officially known as Hazret Sultan Mosque the largest in Central Asia and one of the ten largest mosques in the world. Here you’ll witness the serene atmosphere during prayer and survey the intricate interior details, including the prayer hall, domes, and lavish decorations.
• Go to the top of Astana’s most iconic tower, the Baiterek tower – standing 105 metres tall, the monument was built as a symbol of the transfer of the capital from Alma Ata to Astana in 1997.

Afternoon

• Lunch downtown and we’ll drop by the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center – opened in 2006, it is the largest yurt in the world. It is 90 metres high and covers over 10 football stadiums of space (stadiums, not fields!)
• National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan – when it first opened in 2014 it was the largest museum in Central Asia. The structure is made up of blue glass and white marble which depicts Kazakhstan’s history and culture from prehistoric times to the present.
• Visit the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation – this unique 62 metre high pyramid shaped building hosts the triennial Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
• Stop by Nur Alem – this stunning sphere was at the centre of Expo 2017 Astana, It is the largest spherical building in the world with a diameter of 80 and height of 100 metres. It has since then been converted to the Future Energy Museum.
• Farewell dinner at YPT’s favourite restaurant located near the central park
• Overnight in Astana Ibis Hotel

Friday 23rd April – Astana

• Breakfast in hotel and tour concludes.