Kasteev Museum of Arts
Guided tours: decorative arts, Kasteev's works, Russian and Western European art.
The museum's collection includes over 4,000 exhibits from different eras and peoples: Western European and Russian art, art from the East and Soviet republics, as well as Kazakh fine and applied arts. We offer guided tours for each collection in a private format.
1. How the Nomads Lived: a tour of Kazakh decorative and applied arts This tour introduces the culture and traditions of nomadic civilization, immerses you in the unique way of life of the steppe people, and reveals the rich symbolism of signs and symbols encoded in ornaments. We'll explore the decorative arts collection: jewelry and leatherwork, embroidery and felt-making, wood carving and carpet weaving.
2. Kazakh Heritage: a tour of Abylkhan Kasteev's work This tour is dedicated to the memorial hall of Abylkhan Kasteev, the founder of Kazakh fine arts. During the tour we will: — learn about his life and work — explore the unique nomadic way of life through the lens of socialist realism — discover the rich diversity of fine art genres.
What our clients say
Real reviews from our clients
We loved the tour! Everything was well organized, from booking to payment. Started right on time. Special thanks to Oksana — she packed so much fascinating information into a short time and delivered it with real energy and emotion. (translated from Russian)
We really enjoyed it. I love how Oksana tells the stories — you can feel her genuine interest and passion for the characters, their stories, and history as a whole. (translated from Russian)
What a great way to spend the day — walking through Almaty’s Golden Square. I especially loved how Oksana highlighted the architecture of the historic buildings. (translated from Russian)
Loved the tour — learned a lot about Abilkhan Kasteev’s work, nomadic life, and social realism. Thank you for making it so educational! This was my third tour with you. (translated from Russian)
Loved the tour. Vitaly, thank you for all the fascinating details and the pride with which you spoke about Kazakhstan’s history and traditions. (translated from Russian)
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FAQ
— discover the stories and ideas behind each artwork
— understand the artistic movements represented in the collection
— hear fascinating details about Kasteev and the Kazakh art scene
— notice things that go unnoticed during a regular visit
the guide's preparatory work on creating the route, and the tour itself. The exact price varies depending on group size.
We explain architectural styles in simple terms — no professional jargon or complex terminology. When new words come up, we immediately break them down with clear examples.
However, in most cases guides may already be booked if you reserve at the last minute. We recommend booking in advance:
Day programs — at least a week ahead, ideally 2-3 weeks. Multi-day programs — at least a month ahead.
creative and marketing teams, companies with expats, teams focused on identity and branding. The tour helps:
better understand the city you work in, see how the visual environment is shaped, step outside the office mindset into an urban one. The route can be adapted to your company's goals if needed.
We have a shorter adapted program for children that we run for school groups. If you need the children's program, please let us know when booking.
Cancellation 168+ hours (7+ days) before the service — 100% refund. Cancellation 96-168 hours (4-7 days) before — 50% refund. Cancellation 48-96 hours (2-4 days) before — 30% refund. Cancellation less than 48 hours before — no refund.
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