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

Ride into Kazakhstan’s steppe, then stay beside the horses. This two-day ranch experience pairs hands-on horse care with long rides, a historic mausoleum, homemade Kazakh meals, and pickup anywhere in Astana. I especially like the chance to ride Kazakh horses, Orlov Trotters, and English Thoroughbreds, and the fact that no previous riding experience is required. The main caution is the accommodation: one recent booking praised the room and sunrise views, while another found the ranch room poor enough to leave early.

The price is $315 per person, including transport, a private group, all meals, guiding, horseback activities, and a sauna. That can be good value if you want an active cultural stay rather than a polished hotel retreat. Alima and her team received warm praise for patient instruction, excellent food, and genuine care, but you should confirm the room standard and exact riding plan before paying.

Five things to know before you book

• The mausoleum ride is the cultural centerpiece: You reach the Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum on horseback, linking Kazakh history with the open steppe.
• You can ride several types of horse: The ranch works with Kazakh horses, Orlov Trotters, and English Thoroughbreds.
• Beginners are welcome: Staff teach basic horsemanship, riding technique, feeding, grooming, and horse care.
• Food is part of the experience: Expect homemade Kazakh dishes, including pilaf, beshbarmak, manty, baursaks, salads, kumis, desserts, and tea.
• The stay is active but not roughing it entirely: You get a private sauna, meals, transport, and modern comforts mixed with ranch life.
• Accommodation needs clarification: The experience has produced both glowing and sharply negative impressions of the room.

Arriving at Taiburyldyn Shabysy Ranch

Your experience begins with pickup in Astana or at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport. That is useful because the ranch is outside the city, and arranging your own transport could add cost and hassle. The provider says transfers to and from Astana are included, along with transport connected to specified museum and city visits.

At Taiburyldyn Shabysy Ranch, the first task is meeting the horses during their morning feeding. This is a better introduction than being placed straight into a saddle. You learn how the animals behave, help with feeding, and start to understand that ranch riding involves care and routine, not only scenic photos.

The staff teach basic horsemanship before your first ride. That matters for beginners, especially anyone who has only ridden on a guided beach or tourist trail. You can also take part in hippodrome training sessions, where the focus is on riding technique and control.

The horses are a major part of the appeal. You may work with Kazakh horses, Orlov Trotters, and English Thoroughbreds. These breeds give the program more variety than a simple pony ride, though your exact horse and training schedule will depend on the ranch’s plans and your ability.

Your first ride across the open steppe

The opening ride takes you around the peaceful area near the ranch. It is a gentle way to put the morning instruction into practice, with time to settle into the saddle and learn how your horse responds.

The scenery is the reason to come here. The steppe gives you wide horizons, clean air, river country, changing vegetation, and a sense of space that is difficult to find around a major city. The experience also includes rides near local lakes and along the Nura and Ishim rivers, although the exact route can change with the season and conditions.

You should bring comfortable clothes and shoes, plus rain gear. This is not a ride where you can count on indoor shelter every hour. Weather on the open steppe can affect comfort quickly, so layers and protection from rain are sensible even when the forecast looks kind.

A useful point for first-time riders: the schedule is not just a long saddle session. Feeding, grooming, and horse care are built into the visit. That gives you a closer look at daily ranch work and helps explain the partnership between rider and horse.

Lunch in a yurt, then the Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum

In summer, lunch is served inside an authentic yurt. That setting adds real cultural value, since the meal becomes part of the place rather than a pause in a standard tour restaurant. In other seasons, you eat at the ranch.

The food is one of the strongest parts of the experience. Meals are prepared by a local cook and included in the price. You can expect traditional dishes such as pilaf and beshbarmak, along with salads, bread, homemade desserts, and kumis. Vegetarian meals are available, but tell the provider ahead of time.

The cooking element goes beyond eating. You may learn to make manty and baursaks, giving you a practical connection to Kazakh home cooking. Baursaks are small fried pieces of dough commonly served with tea, while manty are filled dumplings. These simple kitchen activities can be as memorable as the formal sightseeing.

After lunch, you ride to the Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum. Kabanbai Batyr is one of the most beloved figures in Kazakh history, and reaching his memorial on horseback gives the visit a strong sense of place. You are not simply transferred to a monument, shown around, and returned to a vehicle. The ride makes the steppe part of the historical experience.

Do keep expectations measured. The information provided does not specify the length of the mausoleum visit, the exact interpretation offered on site, or whether a detailed guided explanation is guaranteed in every language. English, Russian, and Kazakh guiding is available, but it is sensible to ask how much historical commentary will be included.

Sunset riding, dinner, and the private sauna

The first day ends with dinner and cultural stories at the ranch. Then comes an evening ride as the sun lowers over the steppe. This is likely to be one of the most atmospheric parts of the stay, particularly if you enjoy quiet scenery more than packed sightseeing schedules.

Back at the ranch, you can use the private sauna, have homemade dessert, and drink tea. That combination matters after a day in the saddle. A sauna is a welcome comfort, but it does not turn the ranch into a luxury resort. The accommodation is described as comfortable and furnished with traditional touches and modern amenities, yet the room quality has not been consistent for everyone.

One booking praised a room with wide views of sunrise, sunset, horses, and dogs. Another described the accommodation as poor and left before the planned finish. Those accounts point to a practical step: ask for current photos, confirm whether the room is private, and clarify bathroom arrangements before booking if comfort is important to you.

The animals around the ranch are also part of the atmosphere. One highly positive account mentioned friendly dogs and cats, wild animals, and a strong sense of daily life on the property. You should see this as a working family ranch with tourist facilities, not as a standardized hotel.

Day two: longer riding and real ranch work

The second morning begins with a traditional breakfast. Fresh bread, homemade jams, and warm tea provide a hearty start before the longer trail ride.

This extended ride lets you use the riding skills from the first day. The pace and route are not specified, so ask how many hours you will spend in the saddle and what happens if you find riding tiring. The program is aimed at beginners, but two days of riding can still be physically demanding for someone unused to it.

After riding, you return to feeding and bonding with the horses. Then you learn about grooming, horse care, and the daily rhythm of ranch work. This is where the experience earns its cultural claim. You get to see the ordinary tasks behind the polished idea of horseback adventure.

Lunch may include pilaf or beshbarmak, with salads and kumis. Because the meals are homemade, the food will likely feel more personal than a set menu designed for a large coach group. It also means the dining experience may be shaped by what the local cook prepares that day.

The afternoon includes another ride along the Nura River. River scenery gives the day a change of pace from the broad, dry openness of the steppe. The package also refers to rides along the Ishim River and to local lakes, but the published details do not promise every one of those locations during this two-day stay.

The final dinner closes the ranch portion of the trip. Afterward, you are returned to your chosen location in Astana. Having a ride back included is a real advantage, especially if you have an evening train, flight, or hotel check-in to manage. I would still avoid scheduling a tight connection because rural timing and weather can change.

What $315 buys you

At $315 per person, this is not a cheap riding lesson. It is a bundled two-day experience with transportation, overnight accommodation, meals, a private group, guided riding, horse care, the mausoleum visit, cooking activities, and sauna access.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise pay separately for:

• Airport or city transfers
• A one-night rural stay
• Several guided horse rides
• Meals and local cooking
• A cultural excursion outside Astana
• Instruction for a beginner

The value is weaker if you mainly want a comfortable room, a short photo ride, or a tightly timed historical tour. The price depends heavily on how much riding you do and how well the accommodation matches your expectations.

The overall rating is 3.9 from three verified bookings, so the sample is small. Two people gave five-star scores and praised the food, staff, horses, scenery, and patient teaching. One person gave two stars, objecting to the accommodation and feeling the experience did not justify the price. That split is important. The food and horse program appear to be the safest reasons to book, while the room is the biggest uncertainty.

Who will enjoy this ranch stay

I would recommend this to you if you want to slow down and take part in rural life. It suits nature lovers, food-focused visitors, horse enthusiasts, and anyone curious about Kazakh traditions beyond Astana’s city center.

It is also a good fit for a beginner who wants instruction rather than being expected to control a horse immediately. The positive experience from January 2026 is especially useful here: the rider described patient teaching, a snowy ride to the mausoleum, lovely horses, and a welcoming team. Winter can therefore be possible and striking, but you should be ready for cold conditions and ask what clothing or riding gear is supplied.

This is not suitable for children under 10, pregnant women, people with back problems, mobility impairments, or visual impairments. It is also not intended for people over 70. Those restrictions are sensible for an active ranch program, but you should discuss any health concern directly with the provider.

The private group format is another plus. You are not being moved around with a large crowd, and the staff can focus more closely on your riding level and horse care tasks. Group size is not specified, so ask how many people will share the program on your dates.

Practical tips for a smoother stay

Book 24 to 48 hours ahead when possible. The provider says the activity runs year-round and offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, with a reserve-now, pay-later option. Those terms help if your Astana plans are still moving, but confirm the current starting time because availability varies.

Wear clothes that can handle dust, horse contact, and changing weather. Comfortable shoes are essential, and rain gear should be in your bag even if you plan to ride in summer.

Ask these questions before you commit:

• What type of room is available for my date?
• Is the bathroom private?
• How many hours of riding are planned each day?
• Which horse breed is suitable for my experience?
• Will the mausoleum visit include an English explanation?
• Is the sauna private for my group?
• Can vegetarian meals be arranged?

Alcohol and drugs are not permitted, and explosive substances are prohibited. Flights to and from Astana are not included, and alcoholic drinks are also outside the package.

Should you book it?

Book this ranch stay if you want horses, homemade food, and open-country time more than polished accommodation. The combination of patient instruction, several kinds of horses, Kazakh cooking, river rides, and a mounted visit to Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum gives you a meaningful two-day introduction to the area.

Think twice if you need dependable hotel-standard lodging or a precise, tightly timed schedule. The conflicting accommodation experience is too important to ignore. Confirm the room details first, then book if the answer suits you.

For the right person, this is less a sightseeing checklist than a short taste of ranch life. You feed the horses, learn to ride, eat food made at the property, and return to Astana with dust on your boots and a better sense of how the steppe shapes Kazakh life.

FAQ

Is previous horseback riding experience required?

No. The program includes basic horsemanship instruction, riding technique, and hippodrome training. It is designed to accommodate people without prior riding experience.

What languages are available for the guided experience?

Guiding is available in English, Russian, and Kazakh.

What meals are included?

All meals are included, including traditional Kazakh dishes and desserts prepared by a local cook. Meals may include pilaf, beshbarmak, manty, baursaks, salads, kumis, homemade bread, jams, tea, and dessert. Vegetarian options are available.

Is transportation from Astana included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from any location in Astana or from Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, comfortable clothing, and rain gear. These items will help you manage riding, ranch work, and changing outdoor conditions.

Can I book this experience year-round?

Yes. The ranch stay is available year-round. Booking 24 to 48 hours in advance is recommended, and you can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund.