British Heritage in Sary-arka

The main theme of this tour is the history of industrial development in Central Kazakhstan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when the region became an important center for copper mining and the development of the mining industry. Participants will learn about the legacy of mines and enrichment plants, the activities of the Spassky Copper Ore Company, the contribution of British engineers to the development of industry in Central Kazakhstan, and how the kaleidoscope of industrialization came to determine the fate of workers’ settlements and people. Museums and memorial sites that reveal both the cultural and tragic history of the region complement the route, allowing us to look at Central Kazakhstan as a space where industrial development, culture, and historical memory are fused together, flesh to flesh, blood to blood. In two days, we will not only see the industrial heritage of modern times, but also delve slightly into more ancient history, as Central Kazakhstan is one of the places where non-ferrous metallurgy first originated.

Program ot the tour

Day 1: Meeting with the guide and driver. From Karaganda we drive to the village of Uspenskoye (183 km, 2.5 hours). Visit to the Saken Seifullin Museum – story of the writer’s life, the history of his education in these places, excursion to the Uspensky mine ruins, story of the copper mining development and mines in the area (2 hours). Lunch afield (lunch box, hot tea). Transfer to the Sarysu ore-processing plant (20 km, 40 min). Tour of the plant ruins, story of the British engineer Wardell, history of the Spassk Copper Ore Company. Transfer to Aksu-Ayuly (85 km, 1.5 hours). Accommodation at the hotel, dinner.

Day 2: Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the Shet District Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum in the village of Aksu-Ayuly. Transfer to the Aksu-Ayuly-2 necropolis (4 km, 10 min). Tour of the Bronze Age necropolis, where you can see the graves of people who belonged to the culture of ancient metallurgists that mined copper and tin in these lands more than three thousand years ago. Return to Aksu-Ayuly (4 km, 10 min), lunch at a cafe. Transfer to Spassk (95 km, 1 hour 20 min), view from the hill where the Spassk Copper Smelter was located. Transfer to the Old Town of Karaganda (44 km, 1 hour). Short tour of the former center of the Karaganda coal mine, viewing the ruins and remaining industrial facilities. Return to the center of Karaganda (10 km, 20 min.). End of the tour.

Cost of the tour

Above mentioned prices include: all transportation along the route by car, driver and guide services, lunch, excursion to the Saken Seifullin Museum, excursion to the Shet District Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum

Above-mentioned prices do not include: travel expenses to Karaganda and back, accommodation in Karaganda