Sunday 1st September – Astana – Semey City 

Morning

• Arrive at your convenience in Astana – the capital city of Kazakhstan, which is well connected to many countries within the Stans, Middle East, and Eastern Europe.
• Optional to explore the city in the morning and be collected from a central hotel at 11:30am, alternatively meet at the airport.

Afternoon

• Board afternoon flight departing at 1:40pm to Semey city also known as Semipalatinsk city which is located in eastern Kazakhstan. This city is the oldest city of Kazakhstan. It was established as a fore post of the Russian empire in the time of so-called Great Game in Y’1717.
• After passing border control and collecting luggage, we will head out for quick bite before our museum tour to provide context for the coming days sites.
• First stop is the Stronger Than Death Monument which was installed in remembrance of the devastating consequences of nuclear testing near Semipalatinsk from 1949 to 1989. 
• Next is the Dostoyevsky Museum which is a deep dive into the life of this often-glorified, little-understood Russian icon. This is for all the literature fans and soviet buffs!
• Ending the day at the Abay Museum which is geared to Kazakhs honoring their sanctified literary icon, but also for visitors who have spent some time in Kazakhstan and are keen to understand it better.
• Transfer to the hotel, check in then head out for Beshbarmak – a traditional Kazakh dish, beshbarmak consists of boiled meat (usually lamb or horse meat) served with flat noodles and topped with onions.
• Overnight in Semey City.

Monday 2nd September – Semey City – Kurchatov

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel, make sure you do not miss it because snacking is not allowed on the premises of the Polygon site. 
• Then begin our 2-hour journey to the underground test site (200 km).
• Upon arrival to underground test site, we will take a presentation of the site, to understand the industrial use of nuclear energy for political context and the race of nuclear arms.
• Here we will learn about the history of Soviet nuclear projects from 1962 to 1989, which were a defining feature of the Cold War era, shaping international relations and global security dynamics for decades.
• Enjoy some snacks and then we will then suit up, putting on protective equipment and take a safety briefing to ensure we are well protected through our journey.

Afternoon

• Our first stop is the atomic lake also known as the Balapan Lake. The creation of the Atomic Lake was a consequence of the Soviet Union’s extensive nuclear testing program, which included atmospheric and underground nuclear tests.
• We will visit the two notable boreholes at the Semipalatinsk Test Site
• The first is Degelen Mountain Complex also known as the “Complex-116” which was used for a series of underground nuclear tests, including tests involving the detonation of nuclear devices at various depths underground.
• Next is Balapan Complex like Borehole 116, it was used for conducting experiments involving the detonation of nuclear devices deep underground.
• Then the Elevator silo of underground laboratory which played a crucial role in facilitating underground research and testing activities contributing to the advancement of nuclear technology and the development of nuclear weapons during the Cold War era.
• Our final stops will be the Command point (bunker) which centralised control and command capabilities for nuclear testing activities at the STS and the ICBM launchers to see necessary infrastructure to support missile launches.
• Transfer to hotel in Kurchatov to get refreshed then head out to a local café for dinner.
• Overnight in Kurchatov

Tuesday 3rd of September – Kurchatov – Astana

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• Begin our excursion of Kurchatov which was named after the prominent Soviet physicist Igor Kurchatov who played a pivotal role in the history of the Soviet atomic project.
• We then visit the history of Soviet Atomic project and learn about the monumental scientific and technological endeavour that aimed to develop nuclear weapons.
• Next, we visit the former office of the KGB. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, many KGB archives have been declassified, shedding light on some aspects of its activities!
• Visit the guest house of Laurenty Beria, the head of the NKVD (Soviet secret police) and a key figure in the Soviet atomic project.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a nearby café trying some plov, also known as pilaf, a rice dish cooked with meat (usually lamb or beef), accompanied of course by tea – a staple beverage in Kazakhstan.
• The we visit the “Ghost Town” which are areas that have been left abandoned due to their proximity to the STS and the environmental contamination resulting from nuclear testing. We will get to visit an abandoned long range bomber base!
• After our visit we will return to Semey City and have some dinner at a local restaurant!
• Transfer to the railway station to get a sleeper train at 19:45 to Astana city.
• Dinner, cards, and rest while taking in the scenes out of the window!

Wednesday 4th of September – Astana

• Arrival into Astana City at around 8:20am 
• Tour concludes with airport transfer. 
• For those who want to have extra time why not join us on 10th September for the World Nomad Games.

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