Burabay day trip: Maral farm, cheese tasting, horseback ride

Feed marals, taste local cheese, and ride through Burabay's forests in one day from Astana

A full-day tour from Astana to Burabay combines a maral farm visit, cheese cellar tasting with local wines, horseback riding through forest trails, and a traditional lunch at a local family's house. The 10-hour itinerary includes pickup and return transport from Astana, baursaks and tea or coffee for the road, professional photography, and all tastings and meals. Children from age 2 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Burabay nature and local culture tour

• Pick up in Astana
• Stop for baursaks and tea or coffee
• Travel to Burabay
• Visit maral farm and feed marals
• Tour local cheese farm and taste cheeses and wines
• Enjoy traditional lunch
• Horseback ride through Burabay landscapes
• Return transfer to Astana with photoshoot

The experience

The day starts with pickup in Astana and a two-hour drive to Burabay. Before leaving the city, you'll stop for baursaks, a traditional Kazakh snack, with your choice of tea or coffee, both included and packed for the journey. The road itself is part of the experience: you're moving from the capital into the countryside where the itinerary actually unfolds.

Once in Burabay, you'll spend time at a local maral farm nestled in the landscape. Marals are the graceful deer that roam Kazakhstan's wilderness, and here you feed them and learn about their role in the region's natural heritage. The farm sits in quiet countryside, a direct contrast to Astana. From there, you move to a cheese cellar run by one of Kazakhstan's top cheesemakers: the only one of its kind in the country. You'll taste a variety of locally made cheeses paired with local wines, then sit down to a hearty lunch made with fresh, local ingredients at the cheesemaker's family home. All tastings, wines, and the meal are included.

The afternoon brings a leisurely horseback ride along a trail that winds through forests and climbs into the scenic foothills surrounding Burabay. The pace is unhurried, suited to all fitness levels. On the return journey to Astana, a photographer documents the day, and you'll have water, mint candies and wet wipes for comfort. The entire outing (transport, snacks, tastings, lunch, the ride, and the photos) is covered in the tour price.

What’s included

• Private transportation from Astana with return pickup.
• traditional baursaks with tea or coffee for the road.
• maral farm visit.
• cheese cellar tasting with local wines.
• traditional lunch at a local family's house.
• leisurely horseback ride through Burabay's forests.
• professional photography throughout the day.
• bottled water and mints for the return journey.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturday and SundayDepartures at 07:00, 08:00 and 09:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (17 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 85 years) · Youth (6 to 16 years) · Child (2 to 5 years)

GroupUp to 10

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by IP Bizhanova

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a full day free and want to combine horseback riding with visits to a working maral farm and Kazakhstan's only cheese cellar: all in one trip from Astana.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 16 years); Child (2 to 5 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is a maral and what do I do at the farm?

Marals are graceful deer native to Kazakhstan's wilderness. At the farm, you feed them by hand and learn about their life and their importance to the region's natural heritage.

Is the horseback ride suitable if I've never ridden before?

Yes. The ride is described as leisurely and is suitable for all physical fitness levels, so beginners are welcome.

What kind of cheeses and wines will I taste?

The cheese cellar offers a variety of locally made cheeses paired with local wines. The cheesemaker, who built the cellar himself, selects the pairings, and all tastings are included in the tour price.

How long is the drive from Astana to Burabay?

The journey takes over two hours each way. You'll stop for baursaks and refreshments before heading out, and the return includes a photoshoot during the drive back.