Swap the city for steppe on horseback. This 2-day ranch stay in Akmola Province pairs beginner-friendly horsemanship with a mounted visit to the Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum, plus Kazakh cooking and a private sauna.

I especially love how hands-on the riding teaching feels, with morning horse care, hippodrome-style practice, and real trail time instead of just sitting on a horse for photos. I also love the food—fresh bread, homemade jams, manty, baursaks, and heartier classics like pilaf and beshbarmak, all made by a local cook. One possible drawback: at least one participant felt the accommodation was disappointing, so if you’re picky about room comfort, plan to treat this as simple ranch lodging, not a city hotel.

Key Things You’ll Notice Fast

• Three horse types: Kazakh horses, Orlov Trotters, and English Thoroughbreds.
• Riding instruction built in: morning feeding, basic horsemanship, plus training sessions.
• A mausoleum ride on horseback: the day includes a mounted tour to Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum.
• Yurt lunch and cooking class time: manty and baursaks are part of the experience.
• Private sauna recovery: after rides, you get your own sauna time at the ranch.
• Included transfers from Astana and airport pickup: you don’t have to puzzle out the logistics.

Ranch Life Near Astana: Why This Feels More Real

This is a short escape from Astana that actually changes your day-to-day rhythm. Instead of a bus tour of sights, you get a “live it” feel: horses first, then riding, then meals, then a little steppe wandering again.

The setting matters, too. You’ll be in Kazakhstan’s wide-open steppe region around Akmola Province, with long views and sky that feels big enough to reset your brain. And because it’s a private group with a live guide in English, Russian, or Kazakh, you’re not stuck guessing what you’re seeing.

The best part is that the experience isn’t just scenery. It’s about learning the basics of being around horses, understanding how daily ranch work runs, and then seeing a major cultural landmark from the saddle.

Price and Value: What $315 Covers (and Why It Can Be Worth It)

At $315 per person for two days and one night, you’re paying for more than “a horseback ride.” The package includes guided horseback rides across the steppe, a guided mounted tour of the Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum, training sessions (including a hippodrome focus), ranch meals, a traditional cooking class, and access to a private sauna.

It also covers transfers to and from Astana (and airport pickup from Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport, NQZ, if you need it). When you add up guide time plus transport plus all meals, the price starts to make sense—especially if you’re coming from the city and you don’t want to spend days coordinating rides, food, and a rural guide yourself.

You should still be honest about comfort expectations. Based on one critical review about accommodation feeling subpar, this is best treated as a ranch stay where the “wow” is horses, food, and steppe air—not luxury bedding.

Day 1: Taiburyldyn Shabysy Ranch, Morning Horse Feeding, and Your First Ride

Your first day starts at Taiburyldyn Shabysy Ranch. Before you ride, you meet the horses and join morning feeding. It’s not just a cute introduction—it’s the first clue that this ranch life runs on routine, not on show.

You’ll get basic horsemanship and practical riding guidance, then set out on your first ride around the ranch area. Even if you’ve never ridden before, this tour is designed so you can learn while you’re doing, not after. That matters because the steppe isn’t a theme park ring—your body has to work with the horse.

Lunch follows, and where you eat depends on the season. In summer, you’ll have lunch inside an authentic yurt; in other seasons, you’ll dine at the ranch. Either way, you’re fed in the way rural Kazakhstan is actually fed: hearty, homemade, and meant to keep you moving.

Day 1 Lunch and Cooking Class: Manty, Baursaks, and Homemade Jams

One of my favorite parts of this kind of rural stay is that you don’t just get to taste the cuisine—you get to understand it. Here, the included cooking class includes dishes like manty and baursaks, so you see the logic behind the comfort food.

Breakfast on the second day also leans homemade, with freshly baked bread and homemade jams. That detail sounds small, but it’s a real taste of how food culture shows up when you’re not eating from a fast-moving restaurant schedule.

If you’re traveling with dietary preferences, vegetarian options are available. That’s a big deal on a ranch menu, where you might otherwise assume everything is meat-heavy.

The Mausoleum Ride: Kabanbai Batyr on Horseback

After lunch, you’ll head out on a scenic horseback tour to the Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum, one of the beloved historical figures in Kazakh history. This is the cultural anchor of the trip.

Approaching a landmark on horseback changes how you experience it. Instead of arriving after a long drive and rushing through photos, you’re already warmed up by movement and steppe air. You can breathe, look around, and then reach the site at a pace that feels human.

And yes, the timing can matter for mood. One participant specifically praised the ride to the mausoleum in snowy conditions, which is a nice reminder that winter riding is part of the year-round experience.

Evening Steppe Ride, Sauna Recovery, and Dessert Time

As the sun starts to set, the day doesn’t just end at the ranch gates. You’ll enjoy a serene evening ride across the steppe, watching the light turn gold and then fade.

Back at the ranch, you’ll unwind with a private sauna session. That’s a practical inclusion, not a gimmick—after saddle time, warmth and recovery feel good fast.

You’ll also have homemade dessert and tea. One of the nicest “small wins” in this schedule is that you’re not scrambling to find a meal afterward. Dinner and dessert are already built into the day, so you can relax instead of hunting.

Then you sleep at the ranch guesthouse for the night.

Day 2 Morning: Bread, Jams, and a Fresh Start with the Horses

Day two starts with a hearty Kazakh breakfast. Think freshly baked bread, homemade jams, and warm tea. It’s a simple way to start, but it sets you up for an active day.

You then move back toward the horses—feeding and bonding are part of the morning rhythm. This is where the tour rewards patience. You’re not just treating the horse like transportation. You’re learning how daily ranch interaction works.

Extended Trail Ride Through the Steppe

Next comes an extended trail ride through steppe terrain. This is the part where you use what you practiced on day one. Even as a beginner, you’ll likely notice that your balance improves quickly once you’re actually moving for real.

One review highlighted the “powered only by the horse” feeling for a beginner—meaning you can still experience distance and scenery without needing advanced riding skill. The key is that the instruction and care around the horses are part of the process.

Ranch Work Time: Horse Care, Grooming, and Daily Rhythm

After lunch, you’ll shift from riding to ranch work. You’ll learn essentials of horse care, including grooming and feeding, and you’ll get a taste of how daily operations run.

This part is easy to overlook if you only came for the rides, but it’s also where the experience becomes more meaningful. You start to understand that a ranch isn’t just a place with horses—it’s a routine system that keeps animals healthy and riders safe.

Day 2 Lunch: Pilaf or Beshbarmak, Salads, and Kumis

Lunch on day two includes authentic Kazakh dishes such as pilaf or beshbarmak, plus refreshing salads. Kumis is also mentioned as part of the meal.

This is where the tour leans into hearty, practical food. After riding and active work, you need meals that stick with you. And because meals are included, you don’t have to manage budgets mid-adventure.

Along the Nura River: A Quieter Kind of Scenic Time

Later, you’ll go on a scenic ride along the Nura River. This gives you a different feel from open steppe—more water, calmer views, and a sense of pace.

You’ll end the day with a traditional Kazakh dinner. Then you’ll be returned to your chosen location in Astana, so you’re not stuck in rural limbo at the end.

The Horses: What You Should Know Before You Sit In the Saddle

This tour is built around horseback riding with different types of horses: Kazakh horses, Orlov Trotters, and English Thoroughbreds. That matters because each horse type can feel different under you.

Good news: no prior riding experience is required. You’ll get horsemanship basics, and there are training sessions (including hippodrome technique work) before longer rides. So you’re not thrown into the deep end.

One thing I’d take from the positive reviews is the care shown around horses and the personalities involved. One participant described how each horse had its own character, and that horses weren’t treated like interchangeable equipment. It’s a small detail, but it affects how safe and respectful the day feels.

Accommodation Reality: Ranch Comfort, Not Hotel Comfort

Your overnight stay is at the ranch guesthouse. In one glowing review, someone loved the panoramic view from their room at sunrise and sunset, with horses and even dogs in view. That kind of setting can feel magical.

At the same time, a critical review complained that the accommodation felt poor, even likening it to an unpleasant mood. That doesn’t mean every room is like that, but it’s a reminder: you’re booking a rural ranch stay, so keep your expectations aligned.

If you’re sensitive to room conditions, ask for current details about the room standard before you go—especially if you’re traveling for comfort as much as for adventure.

Food at the Ranch: A Real Reason to Pick This Tour

If food is one of your main trip goals, this experience is strong. The itinerary includes traditional meals and also hands-on cooking time with dishes such as manty and baursaks.

More than once, the standout theme is that the food is homemade and deeply satisfying. One participant called it the best experience and food they had in Kazakhstan, and another described tasteful food made from natural ingredients. In practical terms, that usually means meals are fresh, not just convenient.

Also, because all meals are included, you don’t get stuck halfway through your trip wishing you had brought a snack. You’ll be fed before, after, and between the riding blocks.

Who This Is Best For (and Who Should Skip It)

This is a great fit if you want:

• Real steppe time, not just quick photos
• A ranch stay with horse care and daily rhythm
• Traditional Kazakh food and cooking class time
• Comfortable group learning with an English/Russian/Kazakh guide
• A private sauna to recover after riding

It’s not suitable for children under 10, pregnant women, people with back problems, mobility impairments, visual impairments, or anyone over 70. If you fall into any of those categories, this may not be the right match.

Also note: you’ll be active. Even with beginner-friendly instruction, you’re still riding and participating in ranch work.

Practical Stuff: What to Bring and How to Stay Comfortable

Pack for changing weather and comfort on the ground. Bring:

• Comfortable shoes
• Rain gear
• Comfortable clothes

The tour is year-round, so season matters. If you’re going in colder months, dress for wind and temperature changes, and remember that you’re outside at dawn and at sunset.

Also remember the rules: alcohol and drugs aren’t allowed. Explosive substances aren’t allowed either.

Finally, you may want to think about photos. One participant specifically complained about not having photos included, so don’t count on a photo package to be part of the deal.

Should You Book This Ranch Stay?

Book it if you want a short, intense Kazakhstan experience where horses are the center of the story, meals are included and well done, and you’ll enjoy learning through action—not through lectures.

Skip it (or choose carefully) if:

• You need hotel-level comfort from the overnight
• You don’t like physical activity that includes riding and ranch work
• You’re traveling within the non-suitable categories listed above

If you’re coming to Astana and thinking about how to add something truly different, this one makes a strong case. You’ll leave with that steppe-air feeling, stronger respect for the animals, and enough Kazakh food memories to last until your next winter.

FAQ

How long is the ranch stay and tour?

It’s a 2-day experience with 1 overnight stay at the ranch.

Where does the tour take place?

It’s based in Akmola Province, Kazakhstan, at Taiburyldyn Shabysy Ranch, with horseback routes that include rides to the Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum and along rivers such as Nura.

What is included in the price?

Included are guided horseback rides, a mounted tour to the Kabanbai Batyr Mausoleum, hippodrome training sessions, scenic rides (including along the Nura River), horse care experiences, traditional cooking class activities (like manty and baursaks), a private sauna, all meals, and transfers to/from Astana (plus airport pickup/drop-off from NQZ).

Do I need prior riding experience?

No prior riding experience is required.

What kinds of horses will I ride?

You have the opportunity to ride and train with Kazakh horses, Orlov Trotters, and English Thoroughbreds.

Is vegetarian food available?

Vegetarian options are available.

What language will the guide speak?

The live guide speaks English, Russian, or Kazakh.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, rain gear, and comfortable clothes.

Are alcohol or drugs allowed?

No. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed on this activity.

Who is the tour not suitable for?

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

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