Based on earlier reviews, Almaty City Tours seems to run an efficient tour business. Tour details were lacking or given out piece meal. I almost missed a crucial meeting with my interpreter who was to escort me into Baikonur. Nona was new to the job and never thought or was informed that she should hold up a sign with my name so I could identify her at the Tyuratam train station.
Fortunately she noticed the forlorn tourist trying to hail a cab and figured I was her missing guest. During the tour I and others repeatedly asked her for more information about scheduled events. She was clueless and apologized saying she did not know.
Our group was told to be ready by am for the tour bus. After an hour delay โ no explanation given โ we finally boarded.
We spent most of the morning viewing monuments and few rocket mock ups. Consequentially we only had 90 minutes to tour the crowded Cosmonaut Museum along with several hundred other sweaty tourists. Kazakh tour agencies need to stagger their visitor arrivals to avoid these congested scenario When we returned to our hotel at noon for a 2-hour lunch break, only then were we informed to pack our own meals for dinner. More advance notice would be helpful.
We never got to see the launch facilities but spent nearly an hour in the 30 degree sun waiting to see the cosmonauts board the bus from their hotel. Few got even a glimpse as the boarding happened in less than a minute through hordes of pushing tourist eager for a view.
