Astana: 2-Day 1-Night Ranch Stay & Tour Historic Mausoleum

This is the kind of trip that feels simple until you do it: steppe ranch life, plus a horseback ride to the Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum. You’re not just touring a place, you’re moving through the countryside on horseback, learning the rhythm of the ranch along the way.

What I like most is the food and the fact it’s properly Kazakh, homemade, and included for every meal. I also like the beginner-friendly instruction, since you get morning horsemanship basics, hippodrome-style training, and lots of time in the saddle.

One thing to consider is accommodation expectations. The ranch guesthouse includes modern comfort elements like a private sauna, but one unhappy review complained the lodging fell short, so it’s worth confirming what your room looks like before you pay.

Key things you will remember

• Horse time all day, not just a short ride, starting with morning feeding and continuing through trail rides and evening riding
• A mounted visit to Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum, which turns a historic site into a steppe experience
• Food that is a main event, including dishes like manty and baursaks, plus classic meals such as pilaf or beshbarmak
• Multiple horse types you may ride, including Kazakh horses, Orlov Trotters, and English Thoroughbreds
• Nura River scenery plus additional steppe riding around lakes and along Nura and Ishim areas
• A private sauna for the end-of-day reset, especially useful after colder weather rides

Step into Akmola Province, close enough to Astana to feel easy

This tour is based in Akmola Province, Kazakhstan, with transport included from Astana (and pickup at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport, NQZ). That matters, because ranch stays can feel logistically annoying. Here, someone handles the drive so you can focus on the actual experience.

Astana is where you land and organize your trip, but the ranch world is the point. You trade city noise for open steppe, barns, horses, and a pace that is more about daily tasks than attractions.

If you like nature with a side of culture, this works well. You get animals, big skies, real food, and a guided historical stop, all without needing special skills beyond being comfortable around horses.

Your 2 days, built around horsemanship and real ranch rhythms

Day one starts at Taiburyldyn Shabysy Ranch. You meet the horses and join the morning routine, including feeding. Then you get horsemanship basics and your first ride around the ranch area, which is a smart way to get your balance before the longer steppe day.

Lunch is Kazakh-style and feels seasonal. In summer, you eat in an authentic yurt, and in other seasons you dine at the ranch. Either way, the point is you’re eating as part of ranch life, not as a stop between activities.

In the afternoon, you ride to the Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum. The tour is guided and mounted, so you’re learning while moving through steppe terrain. For many people, that makes the history feel more personal, because you’re not arriving on a bus and leaving on a bus.

Day one finishes with an evening ride across the steppe as the light turns golden. Dinner comes next, then time to recover in the ranch’s private sauna, plus homemade dessert and tea. After that, you sleep on ranch time.

Day two begins with a hearty Kazakh breakfast, with freshly baked bread, homemade jams, and warm tea. Then you do an extended trail ride to practice what you learned and to see more of the steppe.

After your ride and horse bonding time, you’ll eat lunch featuring classic Kazakh choices like savory pilaf or tender beshbarmak, with salads and kumis. Then you shift from riding to ranch work, with learning and helping around horse care, grooming, and feeding. It’s one of those touches that turns the trip from a ride-only outing into something more hands-on.

The second day ends with a scenic tour along the Nura River, followed by another traditional dinner. When you’re ready, transport back to Astana brings the whole thing home neatly.

Riding Kazakh horses, Orlov Trotters, and Thoroughbreds

One of the best values here is that you get more than one type of horse in your experience. The tour lists Kazakh horses, plus Orlov Trotters and English Thoroughbreds, and you’ll have chances to ride and train with them.

Why that matters: each horse has its own feel. Even if you’re a first-time rider, you can still notice how different horses respond under a rider’s hands and body. That makes your learning more concrete, not just theoretical.

You should expect instruction to focus on technique you can use right away: basics of horsemanship, riding skills practiced during training sessions (including hippodrome-style sessions), and guidance while you’re mounted. The tour also explicitly says no prior riding experience is needed, and that matches what one recent rider praised as they learned from scratch.

Also, this is not a hands-off animal encounter. You get feeding and grooming time, so you’re interacting with horses as living partners, not scenery.

The horseback visit to Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum

Visiting the Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum by horseback is the signature moment. The mausoleum is one of the most beloved figures in Kazakh history, and the tour frames it as a guided, mounted experience.

What makes it work for you is the way the setting changes the vibe. You see the steppe from the saddle, you hear the guide talk while you’re moving through open terrain, and you arrive as part of the day rather than as a quick drop-off.

Seasonal conditions can also shape the feel. One rider highlighted that the ride to the mausoleum was fun in snow, which suggests winter can be beautiful, but also that the ground and weather may be less forgiving. Bring your best rain and cold-weather basics, and you’ll be happier.

Food on a ranch: manty, baursaks, kumis, and plenty of it

If your main fear is that a ranch tour will feed you something bland and fast, this is where you can relax. Meals are fully included, and cooking is done by a local cook. The tour also mentions cooking classes, including making dishes like manty and baursaks, which is a big deal if you like food as culture.

You can expect traditional meals across both days. Lunch may include dishes like pilaf or beshbarmak, with salads and kumis mentioned for the second day. Dinner is also traditional, and there’s homemade dessert at the end of day one.

The standout theme from strong feedback is that the food is not just decent, it’s a high point. One rider said it was the best experience and the best food they had in Kazakhstan, and another described the food as tasteful and homemade from natural ingredients.

Practical tip: if you’re vegetarian, the tour says vegetarian options are available. Make sure you tell the provider in advance so they can plan ingredients, especially for dumplings and breads where filling choices matter.

Accommodation and the private sauna reset

Your overnight stay is at the ranch guesthouse, described as having traditional aesthetics with modern amenities. The tour includes access to a private sauna, which is the kind of luxury that feels well earned after saddle time.

Still, read the situation realistically. One review was unhappy with the accommodation, describing it in very harsh terms and saying they had to leave early. That doesn’t guarantee your stay will match that story, but it is enough to justify one action from you: ask for up-to-date photos or specifics about the room you’d get.

If you go in expecting ranch simplicity rather than a hotel, you’ll be more comfortable. The sauna plus quiet nights can turn the experience into something peaceful, especially if you’re a nature person who enjoys being off-grid.

Guides, language, and why private matters here

The tour includes a live guide who speaks English, Russian, or Kazakh, and the group is private. That changes the learning experience because you can ask questions and get corrections without waiting for a crowd.

One rider specifically thanked Alima and the team for being kind, instructive, and attentive from arrival. That kind of care is what makes a first-time riding experience feel safe and enjoyable instead of stressful.

Private also helps with pacing. Ranch work and horse care have their own timing, so the day goes better when you are not constantly waiting for other groups.

Price and value: what you really get for $315 per person

At $315 per person for two days and one night, the price may look like it’s mostly “horse riding.” In practice, you’re paying for a packaged steppe day that includes:

• Guided horseback riding and horsemanship basics
• Training sessions and practice (including hippodrome-style skills)
• A mounted guided tour to the Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum
• Scenic riding, including a tour along the Nura River and rides tied to lakes and Nura and Ishim areas
• Meals for both days, plus dessert and tea
• A cooking class component (such as manty and baursaks)
• A private sauna
• Transfers from Astana and pickup or drop-off at NQZ

That’s a lot to compress into 2 days. If you tried to assemble it yourself, you would spend time booking transport, horse instruction, meals, and a guide. Here, someone has already built the rhythm of the ranch day and includes it in the price.

Your biggest “value risk” is expectation mismatch. If you expect a city-style itinerary with lots of additional stops beyond horses and ranch tasks, you might feel it is too focused. But if you want hands-on horse time, food, and a serious nature reset, it’s a strong bargain.

Who this tour is best for, and who should skip it

This is a horse-centered trip, so it fits best if you are comfortable with physical activity and riding. The tour states it is not suitable for children under 10, pregnant women, people with back problems, people with mobility impairments, people who are visually impaired, or people over 70.

For who it suits: nature lovers, people who enjoy animals, foodies, and culture seekers who are happy to experience history from the saddle rather than from a museum bench.

If you’re a total beginner, it still can work because the tour says no prior riding experience is required. One rider praised that the adventure felt beginner-friendly even as they learned with the horses.

If you have any mobility or balance concerns, treat this as a real decision point. You’re on horseback, you help with grooming and feeding, and you likely spend time outdoors in variable weather.

Practical packing tips for real steppe weather

The tour gives a simple packing list for a reason. Bring comfortable shoes, rain gear, and comfortable clothes. Rain matters because steppe weather shifts fast, and ranch surfaces can be wet or muddy.

Also, think about layers. Even if you’re not going in winter, Kazakhstan can surprise you. The best riders show up prepared, then they enjoy the ride more because they’re not thinking about being uncomfortable.

One more practical point: the tour states alcohol and drugs are not allowed, and explosive substances are not allowed. So plan on sticking to water and tea options while you’re out there.

Should you book Taiburyldyn Shabysy Ranch Stay and Mausoleum Ride?

Book it if you want a real ranch experience with horse time from morning feeding to evening rides, strong Kazakh food, and a guided mounted visit to Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum. The private sauna and included meals make it feel like more than a day trip.

I would only hesitate if room comfort is a deal breaker for you, or if you need photos taken and shared as part of the package. One unhappy review mentioned a disappointment about photos and criticized the accommodation, so it’s smart to ask the provider directly what they can do for photos and to confirm your lodging details before you commit.

If you’re the type who likes animals, steppe views, and learning by doing, this tour has the right mix. And if Alima and the team are anything like what riders described, you’ll likely feel looked after from pickup to last cup of tea.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

It’s a 2-day experience with 1 night included.

Where does the ranch stay take place?

The tour takes place at Taiburyldyn Shabysy Ranch in Akmola Province, Kazakhstan, with pickup and drop-off connected to Astana.

What is the price per person?

The price listed is $315 per person.

Is prior horseback riding experience required?

No. The tour says no prior riding experience is required.

What types of horses might I ride?

You can have opportunities to ride and train with Kazakh horses, Orlov Trotters, and English Thoroughbreds.

Do I visit the Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum by horseback?

Yes. The tour includes a guided mounted tour to the Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum.

Are meals included, and is there vegetarian food?

Yes, all meals are included, prepared by a local cook, including traditional dishes and desserts. Vegetarian options are available.

Is there a sauna?

Yes. You get access to a private sauna at the ranch.

Where do you pick me up in Astana?

Pickup is included: you can be picked up wherever in Astana, and there is also pick-up or drop-off from Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ).

Who is the tour not suitable for?

It is not suitable for children under 10, pregnant women, people with back problems, people with mobility impairments, visually impaired people, and people over 70.