A vast Central Asian country of wide open spaces, mountains, canyons, and remote grasslands, Kazakhstan offers an interesting mix of cultures and opportunities for activities such as skiing, trekking and horseback riding. Sparsely populated and mysterious Kazakhstan is the world’s 9th biggest country by size. While definitely not a major tourist destination, Kazakhstan is relatively wealthy and has a working infrastructure.
Large Central Asian country located between Russia in the North, Caspian Sea in the West, China in the East and Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in the South, Kazakhstan is home to diverse nature from taiga forests to deserts and snow-capped mountains. Kazakhs used to have a nomadic lifestyle that has now been modernized. Yet the traditional values of hospitality and respect are still highly regarded, making Kazakhstan a friendly place to visit for the few international visitors this oil-rich nation receives.
Varied attractions. Kazakhstan is home to the second-largest canyon in the world: Charyn Canyon is situated in southern Kazakhstan east of Almaty. Tamgaly area near Chimbulak is a World Heritage Site famous for its ancient rock drawings, and the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in the town of Turkestan, built in the 12th Century, is another one of the World Heritage Sites in Kazakhstan. Another interesting place to visit in Kazakhstan is the cosmodrome of Baikonur situated in Central Kazakhstan. This famous space center can be visited on a guided tour. There are also several beautiful mountain lakes in Kazakhstan, as well as some interesting nature reserves, of which Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve with its snow leopards and White-clawed Bears is the oldest and most visited.
How to get there. You can travel to Kazakhstan by air, by train, by bus or even by boat throughout the Caspian Sea. The main international airport in Kazakhstan is in the former capital city Almaty, but the new capital Astana also receives an increasing number of international flights to Kazakhstan from many cities in Europe, Russia and Asia. There are rail connections to Kazakhstan from Russia and China, including daily long-distance trains from Moscow to Almaty and several international bus connections. There are also irregular boat connections to Aktau in Kazakhstan across the Caspian Sea. You need a visa purchased in advance to travel to Kazakhstan.
Getting around. As the distances in Kazakhstan are big, flying is often the most comfortable way to travel in Kazakhstan.
Large Central Asian country located between Russia in the North, Caspian Sea in the West, China in the East and Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in the South, Kazakhstan is home to diverse nature from taiga forests to deserts and snow-capped mountains. Kazakhs used to have a nomadic lifestyle that has now been modernized. Yet the traditional values of hospitality and respect are still highly regarded, making Kazakhstan a friendly place to visit for the few international visitors this oil-rich nation receives.
Tourism attractions in Kazakhstan: cities, space centers & mountain resorts
Kazakhstan lacks large tourism destinations and famous sights, but there are nevertheless many places of interest around this vast country, including a few interesting cities, tranquil lakeside resorts, and mountain areas great for trekking or skiing. Almaty, previously known as Alma-Ata, is the biggest city in Kazakhstan and the whole Central Asia. It is a multicultural city with many cultural sights and possibilities for winter sports. The ski resort of Chimbulak near Almaty offers also good trekking possibilities. In the open grasslands of Central Kazakhstan, the brand new capital city of Astana is home to grand modern architecture and has been called “Manhattan on the steppe”.Varied attractions. Kazakhstan is home to the second-largest canyon in the world: Charyn Canyon is situated in southern Kazakhstan east of Almaty. Tamgaly area near Chimbulak is a World Heritage Site famous for its ancient rock drawings, and the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in the town of Turkestan, built in the 12th Century, is another one of the World Heritage Sites in Kazakhstan. Another interesting place to visit in Kazakhstan is the cosmodrome of Baikonur situated in Central Kazakhstan. This famous space center can be visited on a guided tour. There are also several beautiful mountain lakes in Kazakhstan, as well as some interesting nature reserves, of which Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve with its snow leopards and White-clawed Bears is the oldest and most visited.
Kazakhstan travel tips and information
Kazakhstan has a semi-dry continental climate with hot summers and very cold winters. The weather in Kazakhstan is usually sunny, but temperatures change rapidly from day to night. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Kazakhstan. Traveling in Kazakhstan can be quite hard in wintertime, and there is snow on the ground throughout the winter until April.How to get there. You can travel to Kazakhstan by air, by train, by bus or even by boat throughout the Caspian Sea. The main international airport in Kazakhstan is in the former capital city Almaty, but the new capital Astana also receives an increasing number of international flights to Kazakhstan from many cities in Europe, Russia and Asia. There are rail connections to Kazakhstan from Russia and China, including daily long-distance trains from Moscow to Almaty and several international bus connections. There are also irregular boat connections to Aktau in Kazakhstan across the Caspian Sea. You need a visa purchased in advance to travel to Kazakhstan.
Getting around. As the distances in Kazakhstan are big, flying is often the most comfortable way to travel in Kazakhstan.
Photo: Irene2005, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
There are domestic flights to many destinations around the country, but the local airlines are not considered very safe. Kazakhstan has a good railroad network and traveling by train is cheap albeit slow. Crime is common on long-distance trains. There are also bus and minibus routes between Kazakh cities. Public transport in the cities is handled by buses, trolleys, trams, and minibuses. There are plenty of inexpensive taxis around in cities of Kazakhstan, and local private drivers are also often willing to act as ones. Renting a car in Kazakhstan is quite expensive. You can try hiring a taxi for a day instead.
Visitor services. There is a growing number of hotels in Kazakhstan, many of which are aimed for business visitors, but also inexpensive small hotels are available. Budget accommodation can be found in private apartments. Restaurants are found everywhere with mainly Central Asian, Korean, and Chinese cuisine. English is not widely understood in Kazakhstan, although many young people and most tourism officials can speak some English. Some Russian or Kazakh language skills are needed if you are going to travel around Kazakhstan independently.
Safety. Kazakhstan is a friendly and relatively safe country, but pickpocketing and theft are not uncommon and armed robberies can occur in remote areas. Local police should be avoided as they are notorious for corruption.
Short history of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan has been inhabited since the Stone Age, and the area has been home to mainly tribes with nomadic lifestyle. Cities were later created along the ancient trade route of Silk Road. Native Kazakhs are a mixture of Turkic and Mongol tribes and were rarely united as a single nation. The Mongols invaded the area during the 13th Century AD. The area of Kazakhstan was conquered by Russia in the 18th Century and it became a Soviet Republic in 1936. Many parts of the country’s vast grassland areas were changed into cultivations during the 1950s and 1960s. This development caused a large scale immigration of Russians and other nationalities into Kazakhstan and Kazakhs became a minority.Kazakhstan gained independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, after which many Russians and Germans have migrated away and many ethnic Kazakhs from China, Mongolia, and Russia have immigrated back into Kazakhstan. The newly independent Kazakhstan has vast natural resources including minerals, oil, and natural gas, which now bring wealth for the country.
