{"id":7075567,"date":"2026-10-04T11:27:17","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T11:27:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7075567"},"modified":"2026-10-04T11:27:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T11:27:17","slug":"turkestan-sauran-otrar-3-silk-road-ruins-in-kazakhstan-compared","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7075567","title":{"rendered":"Turkestan, Sauran &#038; Otrar: 3 Silk Road ruins in Kazakhstan, compared"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"dpsp-post-pinterest-image-hidden\" style=\"display: none;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Silk-Road-ruins-pin-3.jpg\" data-pin-description=\"Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar compared: Why Otrar is the Silk Road ruin in Kazakhstan I recommend if you are not going to travel in Uzbekistan.\" alt=\"Text: Silk Road ruins in Kazakhstan: Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar, compared, with tips and recommendations.\" class=\"dpsp-post-pinterest-image-hidden-inner perfmatters-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Silk-Road-ruins-pin-3-150x150.jpg\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"dpsp-post-pinterest-image-hidden\" style=\"display: none;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Silk-Road-ruins-pin-2.jpg\" data-pin-description=\"Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar compared: Why Otrar is the Silk Road ruin in Kazakhstan I recommend if you are not going to travel in Uzbekistan.\" alt=\"Text: Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar: 3 Silk Road ruins in Kazakhstan. Images: 3 photos of 2 of the sites.\" class=\"dpsp-post-pinterest-image-hidden-inner  dpsp-post-pinterest-image-hidden-single perfmatters-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Silk-Road-ruins-pin-2-150x150.jpg\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span id=\"dpsp-post-content-markup\" data-image-pin-it=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Turkestan\u2019s modest tourism industry is mostly based around a UNESCO site: the <a href=\"https:\/\/worldheritagesites.net\/mausoleum-of-khoja-ahmed-yasawi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi<\/a>. But Turkestan \u2013 sometimes spelled as Turkistan \u2013 was a stop on the so-called Silk Road, and the ruins of its Silk Road city are right near the mausoleum. We visited the ruins and the mausoleum, but also, on our quest to see lots of Silk Road sites, we visited two other medieval-period Silk Road cities near Turkestan as day trips: <strong>Sauran<\/strong> and <strong>Otrar<\/strong>. Both of these are also in ruins, and both are about an hour\u2019s drive away.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"674\" data-pin-description=\"Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar compared: Why Otrar, an hour from Turkestan, is the Silk Road ruin that I recommend.\" alt=\"A very large brick building with a huge brick arch at the front and a blue dome in its center behind the arch.\" class=\"wp-image-88403 perfmatters-lazy\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Khoja-Ahmed-Yasawi-mausoleum-in-Turkestan.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Khoja-Ahmed-Yasawi-mausoleum-in-Turkestan.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Khoja-Ahmed-Yasawi-mausoleum-in-Turkestan.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Khoja-Ahmed-Yasawi-mausoleum-in-Turkestan-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Khoja-Ahmed-Yasawi-mausoleum-in-Turkestan-768x518.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. Making a purchase through an affiliate link will mean a small commission for this website. This will not affect your price.<\/em> <em><a href=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/cookie-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Privacy policy<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<nav class=\"wp-block-kadence-tableofcontents kb-table-of-content-nav kb-table-of-content-id88354_d64d73-2d kb-collapsible-toc kb-toc-toggle-active\" role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Table of Contents\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What was the Silk Road?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Silk Road is often portrayed as just that: a road. In reality, it was a number of different routes. Not only that, but the routes shifted and changed over the centuries because of political developments or shifts in goods that were transported.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What products moved along the Silk Road?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is common knowledge that this trade route was the way that silk from China \u2013 for centuries the only place it was produced \u2013 made its way to the Mediterranean and Europe. That is true, and this movement between China and Ancient Rome, Egypt and Greece started as early as the 1st century BC. It lasted, with many shifts and changes, until about the 15th or 16th century, when the Western powers explored ways to move goods by sea instead, allowing them to avoid the territory of the Ottoman Empire.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it wasn\u2019t just about silk. Lots of other goods moved along the routes: tea, spices, lacquerware and porcelain moved west while things like wine, gold and horses moved east. It also wasn\u2019t just between Europe and China. Lots of goods went shorter distances. For instance, dates and nuts from what is now called the Middle East went to China.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" data-pin-description=\"Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar compared: Why Otrar is the Silk Road ruin in Kazakhstan I recommend if you are not going to travel in Uzbekistan.\" alt=\"Text: 3 Silk Road ruins in Kazakhstan: are they worth visiting? With tips and recommendations. Images: 3 images from 2 of the ruins.\" class=\"wp-image-88422 perfmatters-lazy\" style=\"width:400px;height:auto\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Silk-Road-ruins-pin-1.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Silk-Road-ruins-pin-1-683x1024.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Silk-Road-ruins-pin-1-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Silk-Road-ruins-pin-1-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Silk-Road-ruins-pin-1-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Silk-Road-ruins-pin-1.jpg 1000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Save this image to Pinterest for future reference!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Intangible things also traveled along the routes: the plague, for example, likely arrived in Europe from Central Asia. Knowledge too: scientific and philosophical ideas and, of course, knowledge about the cultures along the routes. Religions spread as well: Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, early Christianity and early Islam.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What was it like to travel on the Silk Road?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The other myth is that merchants traveled the whole route. Mostly they just did a section of the route and the goods were sold on from there, which meant many of the cities along the route were not just rest stops; they were trading centers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0It wasn\u2019t an easy or safe way to make a living. The routes weren\u2019t organized or secured in any way; they developed organically and trading posts and waystations (caravanserais) appeared along them. Caravans, with wagons and animals loaded up with valuable cargo, could be attacked by bandits or get caught up in local wars. The weather could be harsh: desert heat, sand storms, or lack of water could wipe out a caravan. And so on.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where is the Silk Road?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There were many, and they changed depending on wars and other events. At the moment two have been designated by UNESCO as World Heritage sites, but more are on UNESCO\u2019s tentative list. The routes extended from China to Europe by way of India, Afghanistan and Iran, or by way of Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan into Iraq and Syria and then on to Greece, Turkey and Italy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whatever route the caravans traveled, they had to stop often to rest, feed and water their camels, horses or donkeys, and also to buy and sell goods. Cities rose and fell along these routes, especially where routes crossed, and especially at oases because of their secure water supply. Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar were three such cities.<\/p>\n<p><center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1-QF8hjMlJtglsz_-CpTXQZn6_Z7hG0s&amp;ehbc=2E312F\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe><\/center><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kultobe in Turkestan, Kazakhstan<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Turkestan ruins have a single explanatory sign at the entrance. The site is called Kultobe, and it dates to between the 2nd century BCE and the 14th century CE. It includes the remains of a citadel, a temple, residential areas and streets. It also has fire altars, used by Zoroastrians.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ruins \u2013 in two sections \u2013 have been stabilized and it looks like they\u2019ve been rebuilt to some extent. An open-air section is mostly a warren of low foundation walls outlining buildings and streets. What I appreciate about it is that visitors cannot go walking among them. Instead, they walk wooden walkways above them and look down at the remains.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" data-pin-description=\"Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar compared: Why Otrar, an hour from Turkestan, is the Silk Road ruin that I recommend.\" alt=\"A view across a field with low walls outlining buildings, and the mausoleum in the distance.\" class=\"wp-image-88417 perfmatters-lazy\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/433-Turkestan-Kultobe-ruins.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/433-Turkestan-Kultobe-ruins.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/433-Turkestan-Kultobe-ruins.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/433-Turkestan-Kultobe-ruins-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/433-Turkestan-Kultobe-ruins-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Some of the open-air ruins, with the mausoleum in the distance. You can see some of the walkway over the ruins on the right.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the other hand, it also means that the ruins are exposed to the weather. They look, for the most part, like they\u2019ve been sealed off with plaster or concrete, which would certainly protect them, but also makes it hard to know what you\u2019re seeing. There\u2019s no signage anyway, so you can only guess as to what each structure might have been.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The other section has huge domes protecting it, open to the outside air around the bottoms, but preventing rain from hitting them. This section also has no signage, which is frustrating because the ruins are extensive. As a non-expert, I found it hard to tell what anything was.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Walkways in this section allow visitors to both climb above the walls and look down and to descend to the floor of the buildings. Some walls look like they might be their original height, and you can walk from room to room, along halls (or streets?) and through archways. When I walked around the maze of rooms under one of the domes, it seemed very likely to me that it has been completely refurbished. The mud daub that covers the walls is just too neat, and so are the arches. The lack of any explanatory signs meant, while it was fun to get lost in the maze of rooms, I learned very little about the ancient city that was here.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" data-pin-description=\"Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar compared: Why Otrar, an hour from Turkestan, is the Silk Road ruin that I recommend.\" alt=\"A red-clay space with arched doorways opening on to it and a staircase as well.\" class=\"wp-image-88416 perfmatters-lazy\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/430-Turkestan-Kultobe-ruins.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/430-Turkestan-Kultobe-ruins.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/430-Turkestan-Kultobe-ruins.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/430-Turkestan-Kultobe-ruins-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/430-Turkestan-Kultobe-ruins-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A rebuilt part of the ruins under one of the domes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is Turkestan worth visiting?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Turkestan as a whole has quite a few things to see and do. It might be worth visiting, but not especially to see the Kultobe ruins. Besides the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi and the Kultobe ruins, you can see:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A few other Silk Road period sites including a bathhouse, the Hilvat Underground Mosque \u2013 which didn\u2019t seem to be open when we visited \u2013 and the smaller Mausoleum of Rabia Sultan Begum nearby. <\/li>\n<li>The Karavan Saray, also nearby, is a huge shopping center, essentially, but it is very pleasant for a walk in the cool of the evening. There\u2019s a free light show on the canal next to it every night.<\/li>\n<li>You can also spend some money and see the Flying Theater show in the giant gold egg-shaped building next to Karavan Saray. It\u2019s a 4D production that\u2019s very light on information, though they do rush you through a token history ahead of taking your seat for the \u201cflight.\u201d It\u2019s fun, though, and shows some of Kazakhstan\u2019s stunning scenery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In other words, I think the ruins on their own are not worth a special trip, but if you\u2019re in the area anyway, you can visit it and several more sights within an afternoon. Or if you\u2019re in Shymkent, sign up for <a href=\"https:\/\/getyourguide.stay22.com\/rachelsruminations\/HeHWD1KXK2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">a day tour to Turkistan<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What should you know before visiting Turkestan?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll have to pay admission to the National Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve Aziret Sultan, which includes the Mausoleum and the ruins of Kultobe. Hang on to the receipt because you\u2019ll need to show it at the mausoleum and other parts of the park.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll be doing some walking between the sights within the park, so wear comfortable shoes and a hat and put on sun lotion. Parts of the park are prettily manicured and offer shade, but around the ruins there\u2019s no shade outside of the dome-covered part.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" data-pin-description=\"Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar compared: Why Otrar is the Silk Road ruin in Kazakhstan I recommend if you are not going to travel in Uzbekistan.\" alt=\"View of lots of low ruined walls.\" class=\"wp-image-88415 perfmatters-lazy\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/429-Turkestan-Kultobe-ruins.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/429-Turkestan-Kultobe-ruins.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/429-Turkestan-Kultobe-ruins.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/429-Turkestan-Kultobe-ruins-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/429-Turkestan-Kultobe-ruins-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Turkestan\/Kultobe ruins under one of the big domes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are wearing shorts, whether male or female, you\u2019ll have to put on one of the robes you\u2019ll find inside the mausoleum. Women should have their shoulders and knees covered, and wear a scarf to enter the mausoleum. Be quiet and respectful inside; many people come here for worship, not as a sightseeing trip. On the other hand, you can wear what you want in the rest of the park, as far as I could tell.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Book your Flying Theater tickets ahead or stop by when you first arrive at the park. It\u2019s not cheap. The light show on the canal, on the other hand, is free.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a splurge, book a night in the <a href=\"https:\/\/expedia.stay22.com\/rachelsruminations\/FaOs94aTtc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Karavansaray Hotel<\/a>, right in the shopping center. It includes free admission to the Flying Theater. If you\u2019re looking for something less expensive, there are plenty of <a href=\"https:\/\/expedia.stay22.com\/rachelsruminations\/YJlDT_qzjR\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">other accommodation options<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The paths in the park appear to be wheelchair accessible for the most part, but not everywhere, and you won\u2019t be able to go into many of the buildings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ruins themselves will only take about an hour to see, but if you want to see the other elements of the park and stay for the evening light show and\/or the Flying Theater, you could spend the whole day. You\u2019ll find plenty of things to eat at the Karavan Saray.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/expedia.stay22.com\/rachelsruminations\/pytgTqsujf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Find accommodations in Turkestan.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sauran, Kazakhstan<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sauran (sometimes spelled as Sawran), about an hour and a quarter northwest of Turkestan, was a thriving Silk Road city of 15,000 people from the 13th-18th centuries. It had huge defensive walls and two gates. In its center was a square, with a mosque and a madrassah along with living quarters and ritual spaces for Sufis.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"585\" data-pin-description=\"Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar compared: Why Otrar, an hour from Turkestan, is the Silk Road ruin that I recommend.\" alt=\"There is a jagged wall of eroded stone in the distance.\" class=\"wp-image-88406 perfmatters-lazy\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Sauran-wall-sunset.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Sauran-wall-sunset.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Sauran-wall-sunset.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Sauran-wall-sunset-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Sauran-wall-sunset-768x449.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Some of the remaining wall of Sauran, only repaired in a few places.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Sauran like today?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, not much remains. Some of the defensive walls still stand, very eroded, poking from hills of dust. One of the entrance gates has been rebuilt, illustrating how imposing the city must have seemed for the travelers as they arrived with their caravans. From the looks of it, the madrassah and the Sufi area are being rebuilt, or at least enough to suggest what they might have looked like.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As for the rest of the city, it appears that none of it has been excavated. The huge area inside the walls is a series of dusty hummocks covered with thorny shrubs. Beyond the new paved walkway from the entry gate to the central square, there are no informational signs and no paths.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"593\" data-pin-description=\"Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar compared: Why Otrar, an hour from Turkestan, is the Silk Road ruin that I recommend.\" alt=\"A bumpy sandy landscape with a brick gateway and partial tower.\" class=\"wp-image-88408 perfmatters-lazy\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suaran-entrance-gate.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suaran-entrance-gate.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suaran-entrance-gate.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suaran-entrance-gate-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suaran-entrance-gate-768x455.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The rebuilt entrance gateway. You can see the stone-paved path leading from it to the right.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our observations at Sauran<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We had the place to ourselves, other than a few men working on the madrassah restoration. Wandering along the inside of the wall, we picked our way between the thorny shrubs. The wall, in places, towered above us, and slopes of eroded dust separated us from it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we trudged along, stopping for pictures of the walls, we began to notice what was under our feet. The ground was littered with shards of pottery. Some had striations like they\u2019d been made on a potter\u2019s wheel. Some had traces of paint or glaze. We noticed quite a few bottoms of pots and one handle.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"718\" data-pin-description=\"Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar compared: Why Otrar, an hour from Turkestan, is the Silk Road ruin that I recommend.\" alt=\"A piece of pottery with a red stripe painted across it.\" class=\"wp-image-88405 perfmatters-lazy\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pottery-shard-at-Sauran.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pottery-shard-at-Sauran.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pottery-shard-at-Sauran.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pottery-shard-at-Sauran-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pottery-shard-at-Sauran-768x551.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A piece of pottery with red paint on it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I read after our visit that when the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi was built in Turkestan in the late 14th century, the tiles and brick came from Sauran. That explains the pottery shards we saw all over the site: it was a pottery production center.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It had been dry for weeks when we visited, and as we walked we raised puffs of dust with every step. I imagine that if it has rained recently, visiting Sauran would mean some slogging through mud.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is Sauran worth visiting?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having the place to ourselves during the \u201cgolden hour\u201d when the sun is low was pretty magical for us. It wasn\u2019t completely quiet; the wind was blowing and from time to time noisy cargo trains passed nearby. But we felt like explorers of a sort; finding pieces of pottery, figuring out what they might have been part of, dropping them again and looking for more. It made me regret I didn\u2019t study archeology.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the other hand, I had lots of questions about the place, and because it is still unexcavated and there was almost no signage anyway, I left with just as many questions.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" data-pin-description=\"Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar compared: Why Otrar, an hour from Turkestan, is the Silk Road ruin that I recommend.\" alt=\"Jagged wall on the left and more wall far in the distance on the horizon.\" class=\"wp-image-88407 perfmatters-lazy\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Sauran-walls.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Sauran-walls.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Sauran-walls.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Sauran-walls-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Sauran-walls-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Here you can see more of the badly-eroded wall on the side and in the distance. One part of the left-hand wall shows some repair work or rebuilding.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What do you need to know before visiting Sauran?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll likely need to either rent a car or take a taxi. We rented a car from <a href=\"https:\/\/ronat.kz\/turkestan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">this company<\/a>. The problem with taking a taxi is that most people use Yandex in this part of the world. However, Yandex just does point to point, and since Sauran is in the middle of nowhere, you can\u2019t just call a Yandex to take you back to Turkestan again or, if you do, you\u2019ll have to wait a long time for them to arrive. You\u2019ll need, instead, to hire a taxi driver without using the app and negotiate so that the driver waits for you. Ask at your hotel if they know someone and what a fair price would be. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I looked Sauran up before we went and read several blog posts about it. Things have changed since any of the ones I read were written. They tell you to go past where the signs point to Sauran because that\u2019s the modern village. They say to go another 10 kilometers past those signs to find the ancient city.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not true. There\u2019s a new road now, and the signs that say \u201cSauran City\u201d are the ones to follow.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-border-color has-theme-palette-6-border-color has-theme-palette-8-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-width:1px\">Will you also be visiting Almaty? Read this: <a href=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/arasan-spa-almaty-kazakhstan\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"88148\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Arasan Spa: A naked, awkward and surprisingly great cultural experience<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wear closed shoes. We had sandals on and ended up covered in dust and a bit scratched up from the thorny shrubs. If it\u2019s rained recently, make sure you wear closed shoes that you don\u2019t mind getting dirty.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019d also recommend long pants. I had longish shorts on, but I wouldn\u2019t have gotten so scratched around my ankles if I\u2019d worn long pants.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do <em>not<\/em> take any of the pottery shards. They should stay until the place is excavated!<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is a parking lot in front of the entrance. As far as we could see, there is no fee to go in and no ticket booth. This could change in future if they restore any more of it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apply sun lotion and wear a hat and sunglasses if you visit in sunny weather. Bring water as well. The walking isn\u2019t easy once you get past the entrance. There are no toilet facilities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The entrance seems wheelchair accessible, but you won\u2019t be able to get further than however far the single paved path goes: probably just to the central square. With flat stones as pavement, it\u2019s still bumpy, but a wheelchair should be able to manage it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rest of the site is a series of bumpy hillocks with no paths to speak of other than a very rutted driving path used for the restorations at the central square. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It took us about an hour to walk along the wall to the side directly opposite the entrance gate, then cut straight back through the center.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Otrar, Kazakhstan<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Otrar (or Otyrar) has a similar story. About an hour south of Turkestan city, it is older, dating to somewhere in the first few centuries CE, but, like Sauran, its heyday was in the Middle Ages. The city of about 5,000 people stood on a hill \u2013 all around it is very flat agricultural land \u2013 and a high wall with three gates protected it. The area was an oasis because of the Syr Darya river, which allowed the construction of irrigation systems. It was, like Sauran, a center of pottery production.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" data-pin-description=\"Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar compared: Why Otrar, an hour from Turkestan, is the Silk Road ruin that I recommend.\" alt=\"A life-sized sculpture of a man leading a caravan of camels. In the background, a long wall.\" class=\"wp-image-88411 perfmatters-lazy\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/city-wall-at-Otrar.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/city-wall-at-Otrar.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/city-wall-at-Otrar.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/city-wall-at-Otrar-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/city-wall-at-Otrar-768x576.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The rebuilt wall of Otrar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Destroyed by Ghengis Khan in 1219 \u2013 including all of its inhabitants \u2013 Otrar gained importance again after his death. By the 15th century the city was part of Tamerlane\u2019s (Timur\u2019s) empire. In fact, Timur himself fell ill and died here in 1405. By the 17th and 18th century, the Silk Road had become less important. Once the Dzungars destroyed Otrar\u2019s irrigation system in the 17th century, the city slowly died.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Otrar like today?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike Sauran, Otrar has been partially excavated and partly redeveloped. The three gates are modern rebuilds or replicas. A paved walkway extends across the center of the city, and as you walk it you pass several interesting sights. Most of the city, though, is just like Sauran: bumpy scrub-covered land, complete with pottery shards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some places are excavated and only restored to the extent of stabilizing the ruins or replacing stones to help visitors understand what was there. For example, a new roof protects what was once a bathhouse. Some tiled areas have survived, and you can see the small piles of bricks that once held up the floor, allowing heated air to circulate to heat the rooms.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"734\" data-pin-description=\"Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar compared: Why Otrar, an hour from Turkestan, is the Silk Road ruin that I recommend.\" alt=\"Ruins of the bathhouse with areas that are tiled.\" class=\"wp-image-88410 perfmatters-lazy\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bathhouse-at-Otrar.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bathhouse-at-Otrar.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bathhouse-at-Otrar.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bathhouse-at-Otrar-300x220.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bathhouse-at-Otrar-768x564.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">One section of the bathhouse ruins.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At another spot, a few residential buildings, excavated only to their top stories, make it clear why so little has been researched. Centuries of wind and dust have buried the houses six meters deep.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In other places, new buildings illustrate what the original structures might have looked like. Visitors can enter what was once a potter\u2019s studio, for example, or various residential buildings from several different centuries. These buildings of wood frames and mud bricks are covered in a plaster that appears to be a mix of mud and straw. It\u2019s not surprising that so few such buildings have survived the centuries. They\u2019d gradually erode to nothing.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"672\" data-pin-description=\"Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar compared: Why Otrar, an hour from Turkestan, is the Silk Road ruin that I recommend.\" alt=\"Ruins show just the outlines of buildings and their rooms, with the surrounding land several meters higher.\" class=\"wp-image-88412 perfmatters-lazy\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/excavation-at-Otrar.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/excavation-at-Otrar.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/excavation-at-Otrar.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/excavation-at-Otrar-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/excavation-at-Otrar-768x516.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Archaeologists have excavated this section of about 4 residential buildings, but not to their bases. You can see that the tops of these walls are several meters down from the surface.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is Otrar worth visiting?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I had mixed feelings about how this archeological site has been readied for tourism. While it certainly gave me a much clearer idea of how people in these cities might have lived, I hope they don\u2019t rebuild too much. The stabilized and protected ruins seemed more interesting and worthwhile to me. Building too many reproductions could turn it into a sort of Disneyland version of a Silk Road city. In any case, huge areas of the ruined city remain unexcavated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I do think it\u2019s worth visiting if you\u2019re in the area, and I\u2019d recommend it over Sauran or the ruins in Turkestan. The signage is distinctly better, and the replica buildings do help you to understand what these Silk Road stops might have been like.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" data-pin-description=\"Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar compared: Why Otrar is the Silk Road ruin in Kazakhstan I recommend if you are not going to travel in Uzbekistan.\" alt=\"A room with mud walls and a wood-beamed ceiling. A small hole in the floor.\" class=\"wp-image-88413 perfmatters-lazy\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/residence-interior-Otrar-1.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/residence-interior-Otrar-1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/residence-interior-Otrar-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/residence-interior-Otrar-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/residence-interior-Otrar-1-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A replica interior. The hole in the floor was for cooking and also heated the floor.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What do you need to know before visiting Otrar?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the best way to get there is by rental car or taxi. It\u2019ll take about an hour from Turkestan. When you turn off the highway, the side road will split. Even if your GPS says to go left, don\u2019t. Follow the sign to the right that says something like Otrartobe. That\u2019s the ruined city, not the modern-day village. You\u2019ll find a parking lot in front of the entrance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is an entrance fee to this one: 2000 tenge, as of this writing. That\u2019s the equivalent of about 4 euros. They accept card payments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can stay on the modern paved path for pretty much all of your visit, though you might want to step off it onto the dirt paths to see some of the excavated parts more closely. It was very dusty when we visited, so closed shoes made sense. If it has rained recently, stepping off the path will mean mud.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The paved path, like at Sauran, is bumpy but wheelchair accessible, and it covers more territory. However, the replica buildings often involve steps up or down, as do the side dirt paths. One of the gateways \u2013 on the far right path as you first enter after the ticket booth \u2013 is wheelchair accessible, but I don\u2019t think either of the other two is, so enter and exit that way. We saw a group getting a tour using a golf cart; I don\u2019t know what the rules are for using that, but it might be worth asking.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"630\" data-pin-description=\"Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar compared: Why Otrar, an hour from Turkestan, is the Silk Road ruin that I recommend.\" alt=\"An adobe building, one story, with several entrances.\" class=\"wp-image-88414 perfmatters-lazy\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/residences-at-Otrar.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/residences-at-Otrar.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/residences-at-Otrar.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/residences-at-Otrar-300x189.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/residences-at-Otrar-768x484.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A replica residential building, along a modern paved path.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As with visiting Sauran, apply sun lotion and wear a hat and sunglasses. Carry water with you. A toilet building stands outside the gate, next to the parking lot. Its women\u2019s section has both sit and squat toilets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We spent about an hour and a half at Otrar.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Will you be visiting other Silk Road cities? My recommendation<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While we enjoyed visiting Turkestan, Sauran and Otrar, there are other more intact Silk Road cities. Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva (Itchan Kala) are all in Uzbekistan. Not only are more of the medieval buildings intact and in good repair in these places, but these cities are much more tourism-ready than Turkestan, Sauran or Otrar. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/expedia.stay22.com\/rachelsruminations\/pytgTqsujf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Find accommodations in Turkestan.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So my recommendation is, if you\u2019re planning to travel in Uzbekistan as well, to skip these Silk Road ruins in Kazakhstan. On the other hand, if you won\u2019t be crossing into Uzbekistan, then by all means at least go see Otrar to get a small taste of Silk Road history.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group plan-travel\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 id=\"h-my-travel-recommendations\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">My travel recommendations<\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"h-planning-travel\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Planning travel<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/skyscanner.pxf.io\/c\/290536\/1027991\/13416?associateid=AFF_TRA_19354_00001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Skyscanner<\/a><\/strong> is where I always start my flight searches.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/index.html?aid=1338709\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Booking.com<\/a><\/strong> is the company I use most for finding accommodations. If you prefer, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stay22.com\/allez\/expedia?campaign=newsletter&amp;aid=rachelsruminations&amp;checkin=&amp;checkout=&amp;adults=&amp;children=&amp;link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.expedia.com%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Expedia<\/a><\/strong> offers more or less the same.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.discovercars.com\/?a_aid=RachelsRuminations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Discover Cars<\/a><\/strong> offers an easy way to compare prices from all of the major car-rental companies in one place.<\/li>\n<li>Use <a href=\"https:\/\/viator.tp.st\/6U4es1xo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\"><strong>Viator<\/strong><\/a> or <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/getyourguide.tp.st\/pF8JMkk8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">GetYourGuide<\/a><\/strong> to find walking tours, day tours, airport pickups, city cards, tickets and whatever else you need at your destination.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gettransfer.tp.st\/n7lNF8An\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\"><strong>GetTransfer<\/strong><\/a> is the place to book your airport-to-hotel transfers (and vice-versa). It\u2019s so reassuring to have this all set up and paid for ahead of time, rather than having to make decisions after a long, tiring flight!<\/li>\n<li>Buy a <a href=\"https:\/\/prf.hn\/click\/camref:1101lvoss\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\"><strong>GoCity Pass<\/strong><\/a> when you\u2019re planning to do a lot of sightseeing on a city trip. It can save you a lot on admissions to museums and other attractions in big cities like New York and Amsterdam.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ferryhopper.com\/en\/?aff_uid=rchlsrm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Ferryhopper<\/a> is a convenient way to book ferries ahead of time. They cover ferry bookings in 33 different countries at last count.<\/li>\n<li>I\u2019ve become an affiliate for\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/visitorscoverageinc.pxf.io\/9L3aJW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">VisitorsCoverage travel insurance<\/a><\/strong>, mostly because you should ALWAYS have travel insurance when you travel!\u00a0You may be young and healthy and never get sick, but the fact is, sh*t happens, and it\u2019s worse if you don\u2019t have insurance!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"h-other-travel-related-items\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other travel-related items<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Get an e-sim!<\/strong> It\u2019s really awkward to have to rely on WIFI when you travel overseas. An e-sim is a great alternative to paying high roaming fees for your home provider. Both <a href=\"https:\/\/plans.gigsky.com\/QBFTBX\/2CTPL\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">GigSky<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/holafly.sjv.io\/c\/290536\/3856277\/24764\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Holafly<\/a> have worked well for me, so it\u2019s worth comparing them. Holafly offers unlimited data, but if you won\u2019t use that much, GigSky might be more cost-effective. For both companies, I\u2019ve sometimes needed help from their customer service to get the e-sim working, but both companies have great customer service, so it wasn\u2019t a big deal. Download either of their apps and activate it when you need it.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plans.gigsky.com\/QBFTBX\/2CTPL\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">GigSky<\/a>: use code <strong>RACHEL10<\/strong> to get a 10% discount. <\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/holafly.sjv.io\/c\/290536\/3856277\/24764\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Holafly<\/a>: use code <strong>RUMINATIONSRA<\/strong> for a 5% discount on a travel esim or, if you travel a lot, 10% off a Holafly plan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Another option is a portable <a href=\"https:\/\/wificandy.ie\/?ref=rachelsruminations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">wifi modem by WifiCandy<\/a>. It supports up to 8 devices and you just carry it along in your pocket or bag! If you\u2019re traveling with a family or group, it might end up cheaper to use than an e-sim. Use the code <strong>RACHELSRUMINATIONS<\/strong> for a 10% discount.<\/li>\n<li>I\u2019m a fan of <a href=\"https:\/\/shareasale.com\/r.cfm?b=2058059&amp;u=2216252&amp;m=126455&amp;urllink=&amp;afftrack=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\"><strong>SCOTTeVEST\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> jackets and vests because when I wear one, I don\u2019t have to carry a handbag. I feel like all my stuff is safer when I travel because it\u2019s in inside pockets close to my body.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"cp-load-after-post\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"sabox-authors\">\n<div class=\"saboxplugin-wrap\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"author\">\n<div class=\"saboxplugin-tab saboxplugin-tab-about\">\n<div class=\"saboxplugin-gravatar\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" alt=\"\" itemprop=\"image\" class=\"perfmatters-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/rachel-portrait-crop-scaled.jpg\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"fn\" itemprop=\"name\">Rachel Heller<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"saboxplugin-desc\">\n<div itemprop=\"description\">\n<p>Rachel Heller is a writer living in Groningen, the Netherlands. She is the owner and primary author of this website, Rachel\u2019s Ruminations, a travel blog focused on independent travel with an emphasis on cultural and historical sites\/sights. <a href=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more here<\/a> about her and about this website. All photos in her articles are her own, unless otherwise specified. Rachel also owns and operates a website about <a href=\"https:\/\/worldheritagesites.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">World Heritage travel<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Turkestan\u2019s modest tourism industry is mostly based around a UNESCO site: the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. But Turkestan \u2013 sometimes spelled as Turkistan \u2013 was a stop on the so-called Silk Road, and the ruins of its Silk Road city are right near the mausoleum. We visited the ruins and the mausoleum, but also, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7075568,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[152706,103054,236088,236089,201,132230],"tags":[11280,14759,236093,2683,36089,236092,1567,236090,236091,19286],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-7075567","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asia-travel","category-kazakhstan","category-ruins","category-silk-road","category-travel","category-unesco","tag-compared","tag-kazakhstan","tag-otrar","tag-road","tag-ruins","tag-sauran","tag-silk","tag-silk-road","tag-turkestan","tag-unesco"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Turkestan, Sauran &amp; Otrar: 3 Silk Road ruins in Kazakhstan, compared - Som2ny Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7075567\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Turkestan, Sauran &amp; Otrar: 3 Silk Road ruins in Kazakhstan, compared - Som2ny Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Turkestan\u2019s modest tourism industry is mostly based around a UNESCO site: the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. But Turkestan \u2013 sometimes spelled as Turkistan \u2013 was a stop on the so-called Silk Road, and the ruins of its Silk Road city are right near the mausoleum. We visited the ruins and the mausoleum, but also, [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7075567\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Som2ny Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-10-04T11:27:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/rachelsruminations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Silk-Road-ruins-pin-3-150x150.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"21 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7075567#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7075567\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b85e3c3dc0e1daea076524dc8810c371\"},\"headline\":\"Turkestan, Sauran &#038; 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