Nomad Yurt, 60 year old

This is a truly exceptional travel experience. The Yurt is on the outskirts of Almaty, easily accessible yet feels isolated and secluded. It’s located on a beautiful garden on which the fruits and flowers have been growing for over half a century. The soil is special here: and that will hit home when you eat its produce. You’ve never had apples or apricots or plums or pears like these. It has a serene atmosphere, a mountainous backdrop with the occasional neighing horse or mooing cow or buzzing bee. The Yurt itself is a unique and luxurious experience, and a lesson in Nomadic culture and behaviour. The owner, Zhanna, is an incredibly wise multilingual 16th generation Nomad. She can tell you stories about her people’s centuries-long history from Siberia to Kazakhstan, or the impact that Chinese exports are having on Kazakh society. She is a brilliant conversationalist and host, and her hospitality was remarkable. It’s hard not to be hyperbolic about this place. There isn’t a Novotel or Sheraton on this planet that will provide the experience you will get here.

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Zhanna and Denis were wonderful, kind, and warm hosts. We loved learning about their lives as well as the history, growth, and future vision for their apple and pear farm. The authentic yurt was beautifully decorated, and comfortably warm with a vintage Soviet wood fire stove. The window overlooking the city of Almaty was a nice touch we don’t usually see in other yurts. In the morning, we woke up to birds chirping and were fondly greeted by their friendly pets - Ginger, Grey and Black. Breakfast was delectable, full of homemade apple goodies and homegrown vegetables. The shower and bathroom were in great condition—very clean with hot water. Inshallah that we return with friends for apple season! The Taipa Tam homestay was an excellent example of Kazakh hospitality.