KarLag Museum and Karaganda Tour

Tour program

Perfect for history enthusiasts and those interested in the USSR and the Gulag labor camps, this full-day tour (about 10 hours) feels like stepping into a time machine, transporting you to one of the most haunting chapters of Soviet history.

Back to the USSR: Travel throught time to Stalin-Era Kazakhstan

Pickup in Astana

Convenient pick-up at your hotel, accommodation, or any location of your choice

Drive:

(3 hr)

Return to Astana

Drop-off at your hotel, accommodation, or any location of your choice

KarLag

Step into one of the darkest remnants of the Soviet era and uncover the stories, struggles, and lasting impact of Karlag. (1.5 hr)

Drive:

(45 min)

Lunch

Enjoy a delicious traditional lunch in an authentic Russian restaurant. (45 min)

Karaganda

Unveil the region’s past as you explore Karaganda’s Soviet monuments, architecture, and historic theatres. (1.5 hr)

Drive:

(2.5 hr)

1 person

2 people

3 people

4+ people

(per person – price varies by group size)

Special discounts available for kids!

$325 USD

$220 USD per person

$185 USD per person

$155 USD per person

After the museum visit, we’ll stop for lunch at an outstanding Russian-style restaurant in Karaganda, where you can enjoy traditional dishes such as borscht, pelmeni, and bliny.
Following lunch, we’ll explore Karaganda itself, a city that played a key role in the USSR as an industrial and cultural center. Once a major coal-mining hub, Karaganda still carries its Soviet legacy through its architecture, monuments, and public spaces. We’ll visit landmarks that highlight its rich industrial history, including monuments to miners, astronomy, and Lenin, as well as Soviet-era theaters that once made the city a vibrant cultural center. Throughout the city, you’ll also see Soviet murals and mosaics still adorning many buildings, offering a glimpse into the propaganda and artistic style of the era. This tour provides a thought-provoking and immersive look into Kazakhstan’s Soviet past while also offering a glimpse into modern Karaganda.

Our journey takes us to KarLag Museum, the former administrative center of one of the largest labor camp networks in Soviet Kazakhstan. Here, you’ll spend about two hours exploring an extensive collection of artifacts, documents, and life-like exhibits that depict the brutal realities of the Gulag system. The museum presents a deeply moving and detailed account of the forced labor camps, the untold stories of those who lived through them, and the lasting impact they had on Kazakhstan’s history and people. The exhibits are immersive and not for the faint of heart, offering a sobering look into one of the darkest periods of the 20th century.

Tour Duration: ~10 hours

Private pickup and drop-off

Comfortable private vehicle & expert guide

Bottled water for the journey

Lunch with authentic Russian cuisine (vegetarian options available)

Entry to and guided tour of the KarLag Museum

Guided tour of monuments in Karaganda