Almaty and Shymkent are around 700 kilometers (435 miles) apart, which doesn’t seem like too great a distance in the world’s largest landlocked country. The main decision for this journey is whether to fly or go overland, and if you go overland, the train beats the bus every time. Trains are cheaper than flying, and you can do it overnight, sleeping through most of the journey instead of using a day of your trip on travel, although, you know, sometimes travel is part of the fun. Flights are quicker, obviously, but once you’ve added the transfers to and from the airport at both ends, the time savings disappear, and the hassle factor goes up. Overnight trains are always a win for me. Here’s how to go from Almaty to Shymkent.
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In this guide on traveling from Almaty to Shymkent, I’ve covered the four transport options that make sense for this route: flight, train, bus, and private transfer, and what each one depends on. Which is best for you comes down to your budget, how much time you’ve got, and whether an overnight train sounds like an adventure or a hassle. My guide to overnight trains in Kazakhstan and what to expect is here.
Where is Shymkent?
Shymkent is Kazakhstan’s third-largest city, down in the south of the country, close to the border with Uzbekistan. Most people come here for one of two reasons: to cross the border into Uzbekistan, or to use Shymkent as the springboard for Turkestan, one of the most important religious sites in the Turkic world.
Why go to Shymkent?
Shymkent is Kazakhstan’s oldest city, and it’s worth a stop in its own right, and not just a stepping stone. Read my Shymkent Travel Guide for what to actually do once you’re here. It’s also the natural gateway to Turkestan, one of the most important religious sites in the Turkic world, so most people passing through Shymkent are either heading there next or crossing the border into Uzbekistan. I’ve covered the border crossing here, in my guide on going from Shymkent to Tashkent.
How to Go from Almaty to Shymkent
There are four realistic ways to cover this route, and here’s how each of them works.
The Almaty to Shymkent Bus
The bus to Shymkent from Almaty is the cheapest way to travel, and it’s also the one I’d steer you away from. It takes a minimum of 12 hours, and that’s before you account for waiting time, because it isn’t a direct service. There’s one bus a day from Almaty to Taraz, a journey of around 9 hours on its own, and once you’ve changed there, it’s another 3.5 hours from Taraz to Shymkent. All in, budget 13 hours or more, plus however long you’re stuck waiting for the connection in Taraz. It’s not recommended. If you decide to try this, then check bus timetables to Taraz here, and buy your onward ticket at the Taraz bus station once you arrive.
The Almaty to Shymkent Train
To my mind, the train is the better overland option, by miles. The journey times go from around 11 to 15 hours depending on which of the usually 11 daily services you book, with departures spread right across the day and into the small hours. As with the rest of Kazakhstan’s train network, you’ll find both Soviet-era carriages and the newer Talgo trains on this route; read my full guide to trains in Kazakhstan for how the classes actually differ between the two.
The fares vary by class and by how far ahead you book, with advance tickets sometimes up to 30% cheaper than the on-the-day price. As a rough guide, expect to pay somewhere around US$18 to US$20 for platzkart, US$25 to US$35 for a kupe berth, and US$40 to US$45 for SV/Lyux, though these do change, so check the current pricing here.
Book via 12Go.asia, or through tickets.kz. The Kazakhstan trains website also has booking options, but it rarely lets payments with foreign cards go through.
Almaty to Shymkent Flight
Three airlines fly this route nonstop: Air Astana, FlyArystan and SCAT, between Almaty (ALA) and Shymkent (CIT). Between them there are around 44 flights a week, so roughly 6 a day, with departures from the small hours through to late evening. The flight itself takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes. You can see the options for flights here.
Arrive at Almaty International Airport at least 1.5 hours before your flight for check-in and security. There’s more on getting to Almaty Airport from the city in my guide here. Once you land in Shymkent, allow another 30 minutes to collect your luggage, unless you’re traveling carry-on. From Shymkent airport, a taxi or rideshare into the center takes around 20 minutes, depending on traffic. It’s about 11 kilometers (6.8 miles)from the airport to the city, and you can also take the 12, 12a, and 12b buses. Check flight times and prices here.
Almaty to Shymkent Private Transfer
At around 700 kilometers (435 miles), this is a long drive, but a highly doable single-day one. It’s roughly 8 hours behind the wheel, unlike the 1,200-kilometer haul up to Astana where a private transfer stops making sense. You can prebook and prepay online through Daytrip.com, which lets you build in stops along the way, although there isn’t a huge amount to see en route. Budget around US$500 for up to 4 people, but it’s door to door.
Tips for Traveling from Almaty to Shymkent
Here’s the quick version if you just want the verdict for your own trip.
The Quickest Way to Get from Almaty to Shymkent
The quickest way to get from Almaty to Shymkent is flying, at just 1 hour and 25 minutes in the air. Don’t forget to add on the transfers to and from the airport at both ends, though. Check prices of flights to Shymkent from Almaty here.
The Easiest Way to Go to Shymkent from Almaty
The easiest (and best) way to go to Shymkent from Almaty is, for me, the train. You get on, you sleep, you arrive, no airport queues at either end. If you’d rather trade that ease for speed, the flight is the other easy option, just budget the extra transfer time. You can compare travel times and costs here.
The Cheapest Way to Go from Almaty to Shymkent
The cheapest way to get from Almaty to Shymkent is technically the series of buses via Taraz, but I really don’t recommend it given the length and the awkward change. The train is the sensible budget option, and if you want a decent private cabin, it’s often actually cheaper than flying once you compare like for like.
The Best Way to Go from Almaty to Shymkent
The best way to go from Almaty to Shymkent is the overnight train. Go for a more private cabin if you can, for a far more comfortable night’s sleep. Book it on 12Go.asia.
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Final Words on How to Go from Almaty to Shymkent
The route between Almaty and Shymkent is one where the overland option holds its own against flying, which isn’t true everywhere in Kazakhstan (I’m talking heading to the far north!). It’s under 90 minutes in the air, and there are enough daily departures that you won’t be stuck waiting around. But if you’ve got a night to spare, or want to save on accommodation and have an adventure at the same time, then the overnight train is the one I’d point you toward. It’s cheaper than flying once you account for the airport transfers. Whichever way you choose, you’ll be well placed to carry on to Turkestan from here, or to cross the border into Uzbekistan if that’s next on your route.
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