Long before Shymkent mattered, there was Sayram. Under the name Ispijab (Isfijab) it was described by Arab and Persian geographers of the 9th–10th centuries as a rich, walled trading city on the frontier between the settled lands and the steppe; Shymkent was one of its outposts. Local tradition claims an age of three thousand years.
Today Sayram is a suburb-town a few kilometres east of Shymkent, but it feels like a different world: Uzbek is the main language on the street, houses hide behind mud-brick walls, and the centre is still laid out around a crossroads where the four medieval gates once stood. It is dotted with small mausoleums, the most important of which belong to the parents of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi.
Top things to do at Sayram
Mausoleum of Ibrahim Ata
The domed brick tomb of Yasawi’s father stands on a rise at the northern edge of town, reached by a flight of steps. The building has been restored several times; the site is very old.
Mausoleum of Karashash Ana
In the centre of Sayram, the tomb of Yasawi’s mother is a small, graceful domed building and a much-visited place of prayer, especially for women.
The Khizr minaret and other shrines
A short, stout brick minaret survives from a medieval mosque associated with the prophet Khizr. Within walking distance are the mausoleums of Abd al-Aziz Bab and Mirali Bab, and the modern Friday mosque.
The bazaar and a plate of plov
Sayram’s market is one of the liveliest around Shymkent, and its teahouses have a reputation for plov, samsa and fresh non bread that draws people out from the city for lunch.
How to get to Sayram
- By taxi: 20–30 minutes from central Shymkent; an app taxi is inexpensive. Agree a waiting time or simply order another car back.
- By minibus: frequent marshrutkas run to Sayram from Shymkent’s eastern side; ask your hotel for the current stop.
- With a guide: ask the operator of a private city tour to include Sayram — many will.
Insider tips
- These are active shrines in a conservative town: cover shoulders and knees, and ask before photographing people.
- The mausoleums are spread out. Either hire a local taxi for an hour to link them or allow time to walk.
- Go in the morning, when the bazaar is busiest, and stay for lunch.
Best tours & tickets for Sayram
These experiences are the easiest way to see Sayram:
Private city tour from US$112 per group Shymkent: Private City Tour by Car with Local Guide
A half-day introduction to the city with a local guide and car: historic landmarks, parks and everyday streets, at your own pace. A new listing without reviews yet, but the only dedicated city tour — and good value when the price is shared between three.
- Citadel, squares and parks by private car
- Flexible route with a local guide
- Price is per group of up to three
Private day trip from US$290 per group Shymkent Day Tour from Tashkent
By far the most-reviewed Shymkent product: a private day trip from the Uzbek capital that handles the border crossing and shows you the highlights of the city before bringing you back to Tashkent. A neat way to add a second country to an Uzbekistan trip.
- Cross the Uzbek–Kazakh border with help
- Shymkent’s parks, squares and museums
- Price is per group of up to three
