Looking for locations to go to in Kazakhstan? Look no additional than this complete information to the world’s ninth-largest nation.
From the ultra-modern capital Nur Sultan (previously generally known as Astana) to alpine Almaty, desert Aral and the Caspian resort of Aktau, there is sufficient to hold avid adventurers occupied for a while.
As effectively as being a mecca for outside fanatics, Kazakhstan gives lots for these seeking out extra attention-grabbing destinations alongside the outdated Silk Road and in Central Asia.
The nation is house to the Baikonur Cosmodrome the place manned area missions begin off, a former Soviet nuclear testing website at Semipatalisnk, and the gulag complicated at Karaganda.
Read on to search out out extra.
Current Travel Restrictions for Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan’s land borders opened once more on eleventh April 2022. This means touring Central Asia and exploring the Silk Road is sort of again to its pre-pandemic routines (except a PCR check or proof of vaccination).
From eleventh April it’s doable to cross from Kazakhstan into Kyrgystan, Uzbekistan, and Russia and vice versa.
However, if you’re planning on touring to/from Kazakhstan and neighboring nations, you should definitely examine the final updates on the land borders.
- Almaty (Kazakhstan) to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)
- Almaty (Kazakhstan) to Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
The land border with China stays closed as China has not reopened for tourism and can seemingly not accomplish that till 2023.
Update September 2021: Kazakhstan has reintroduced its pre-pandemic visa-free journey regime for residents of most nations.
About Kazakhstan Tourism
Kazakhstan tourism is in its infancy by worldwide requirements, however with its extraordinarily hospitable folks, meals to die for and various Silk Road panorama of steppe, desert, and mountains, this former Soviet republic can’t keep a secret endlessly!
Kok Tobe cable automotive
The nation’s infrastructure is continually enhancing with new roads and high-speed trains reducing touring instances significantly. For instance, the journey from the Chinese border used to take over ten hours on horrible roads however now takes simply six hours on a brand-new freeway.
However, exterior of the cities, transport to points of interest and scenic spots could be tough. The finest solution to see the nation is to rent a automotive. Although it’s doable to get round with shared taxis and marshrutkas, it’s not straightforward for those who don’t converse Russian or Kazakh.
Places reminiscent of Big Almaty Lake, the Kolsai Lakes, and Charyn Canyon will not be linked to Almaty by common public transport, so it is going to take somewhat work to get there (however shall be completely price it)!
Top Places to Visit in Kazakhstan
Aktau
Top Aktau Attractions
- Caspian Beaches
- Lighthouse
- Mangistau
Aktau Beach on the Caspian Sea
You could also be shocked to be taught that Kazakhstan has its personal seaside resort! Aktau is a small metropolis on the shores of the Caspian Sea (actually a big inland saltwater lake). An amazing place to chill off in summer time!
As Aktau is a really (VERY) great distance from wherever, it is just price visiting for those who plan on exploring the area, such because the landforms at Mangistau, or you might be touring throughout the Caspian to or from Baku in Azerbaijan.
Almaty
Top Almaty Attractions
- Zhenkov Cathedral
- Kok Tobe
- Zhibek Zholy
- Medeu Ice Rink
Zhenkov Cathedral, Almaty
Almaty is the mountainous former capital and beating coronary heart of Kazakhstan. A winter playground and residential to Central Asia’s premier ski resort, leafy Almaty is unquestionably top-of-the-line locations to go to in Kazakhstan!
The structure of downtown Almaty is much more Russian than Central Asian, with brightly coloured wood homes, Soviet statues, and Orthodox church buildings.
The heart is house to an enormous array of modern bars, cafes, and eating places serving the whole lot from conventional Kazakh to French, Georgian and Japanese!
Almaty makes the right base for heading off into the wilderness of the Ile Alatau National Park for mountain climbing, tenting, snowboarding, and extra. The first mountain trails are solely a twenty-minute bus trip from the middle of city!
For extra info see this Almaty Travel Guide
Around Almaty
Big Almaty Lake
- Journey time from Almaty: approx 40-minute drive
Big Almaty Lake
A phenomenal alpine lake excessive above town. The good place for mountain climbing and summer time picnics. There is a close-by observatory too. Be conscious that the lake could be very near the border with Kyrgyzstan so heed all warning indicators and border guards (nothing to fret about).
How to get there: take a taxi, or bus and hike.
Charyn Canyon
- Journey time from Almaty: an approx three-hour drive
Charyn Canyon is situated within the desert near the Chinese border. The 154-kilometer canyon follows the Sharyn River and kinds a part of the Charyn National Park. At its deepest, the canyon is 300m (nearly one thousand ft) deep.
How to get there: self-drive, be part of a tour or take a shared taxi from Sayahat Bus Station in Almaty.
Shymbulak Ski Resort
- Journey time from Almaty: approx one hour (30-minute bus and 30-minute cable automotive)
Shymbulak Ski Resort within the Mountains above Almaty
Shymbulak (Chimbalak) is a ski resort within the mountains above Almaty. It could be very straightforward to get there by bus from the middle of town stopping on the backside of the Shymbulak cable automotive.
How to get there: take bus 12 from Dostyk Avenue (reverse Hotel Kazakhstan), then a Cable automotive from Medeu to Shymbulak.
Aralsk
Top Aralsk Attractions
- Desert
- Camels
- Rusting Boats
Aralsk, Kazakhstan
Once a thriving fishing port, the small city of Aralsk has seen higher days. You will see extra camels than ships right here now because the Aral Sea has moved some 40km away because of Soviet damming.
Aralsk is likely one of the extra attention-grabbing locations to go to in Kazakhstan for many who are curious about darkish tourism. There isn’t an ideal deal to see, and the lodging choices are frankly horrible, however if you need actual “off the beaten path” journey, then give it a go!
Karaganda
Top Karaganda Attractions
- Soviet Murals
- Karlag Gulag
- Russian Architecture
Karaganda, Kazakhstan
Karaganda is a small metropolis within the north of Kazakhstan a number of hundred kilometers south of the capital Nur-Sultan. The metropolis is house to some attention-grabbing structure, artwork, and residential of the Karlag gulag complicated.
Kolsai Lakes
Nur-Sultan
Kazakhstan’s shiny new capital Nur-Sultan (previously Astana) is the enterprise and monetary heart. Due to its northern location, Nur Sultan is the second coldest capital on the planet (after Ulaanbaatar).
Shymkent
Shymkent, Kazakhstan
Laidback Shymkent is a small metropolis near the border with Uzbekistan.
Turkistan
Turkistan is house to a few of Kazakhstan’s most spectacular medieval Islamic structure from the Timurid empire, making it one of many prime locations to go to in Kazakhstan.
Zharkent
Picturesque Zharkent is a small village on the border with China. Here you will discover wood cottages paying homage to Siberia sitting within the shadows of the close by Tian Shan Mountains.
Getting round Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is a really giant nation and the distances between cities could be big. The nation advantages from a complete rail community.
Trains in Kazakhstan
The outdated Soviet-era trains are progressively being changed by sooner extra fashionable wagons, full air-conditioned carriages, bar, and eating automobiles.
Prices are typically low-cost by western requirements however tickets can promote out so it’s at all times finest to guide a number of days prematurely. You should buy tickets on the station or on-line on the official Kazakh Railways web site.
Sample fares and journey instances for Kazakhstan Trains
- Almaty to Nur-Sultan (Astana) 15 hours 9,000₸ ($20)
- Almaty to Shymkent 11 hours 8,000₸ ($18)
- Nur-Sultan (Astana) to Karaganda 4 hours 3,000₸ ($7)
- Nur-Sultan (Astana) to Aktau 30 hours 14,000₸ ($32)
- Shymkent to Aral 14 hours 8,000₸ ($18)
- Shymkent to Aktau 28 hours 10,000₸ ($22)
Buses in Kazakhstan
Buses are one other nice solution to journey and are barely cheaper than trains. As the roads will not be all paved, the journeys can take for much longer.
Taxis in Kazakhstan
It’s additionally doable to take taxis lengthy distances and you will discover folks at transport hubs providing rides to different cities.
You will discover taxis ready at prepare stations and long-distance bus stations reminiscent of Sayram in Almaty. To hail a cab on the road, merely maintain out your hand towards the site visitors. Any automotive generally is a potential taxi and you will need to agree on a value earlier than getting into.
You may use the Yandex Taxi app (much like Uber) for those who converse Russian or Kazakh.
Getting to and from Kazakhstan
To get to and from Kazakhstan and neighboring nations, listed below are three of the most typical methods:
- Almaty to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)
- Almaty to Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
- Almaty to Urumqi (China)
Money and Costs in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is an affordable nation by world requirements and ranks 334th out of 376 cities worldwide (which is 70% decrease than the USA).*
Accommodation and transport (if touring between cities) are the 2 greatest prices related to a visit to Kazakhstan, however with an abundance of low-cost motels, hostels and transport strategies, it’s doable to journey the nation on $30 to $50 per day.
*supply: numbeo.com
Kazakhstan Travel Tips
Kazakhstan has loads of hostels within the bigger cities. In the smaller cities, it’s doable to get a lodge room for c5,000 tenge ($12.00). In Zharkent I had a complete suite for this value.
The outdated gradual trains can value as much as 60% lower than a ticket on the brand new quick trains and are completely comfy for an in a single day journey exterior of the summer time (no air-con).
Long-distance buses make an excellent different to the trains and ply most of the identical routes.
Food and Drink in Kazakhstan
Lamb Shashlik on the Kok Tobe Cafe in Almaty
Kazakh delicacies is strongly influenced by the nation’s nomadic previous. Kazakhstan’s nationwide dishes are meat-heavy with horse, mutton, and lamb, however there are many vegetarian choices within the bigger cities.
Dishes reminiscent of beshbarmak (boiled horsemeat or mutton) are highly regarded, however it’s the ubiquitous shashlik (grilled chunks of meat served with dill and onions), that you will discover nearly all over the place.
Dining out in one in every of Almaty’s many street-side eating places or cafes is the spotlight of any journey to the nation and the standard of the meals could be very excessive. In the bigger cities, you could find cuisines from around the globe together with Chinese, French, Georgian, Italian, and Japanese to call a number of.
Eating out in Kazakhstan is cheap by western requirements and an excellent meal with drinks can value lower than $10. Head to one of many many bazaars reminiscent of Green Bazaar in Almaty or Ayna Bazaar in Shymkent for an actual style of Kazakh elements at their freshest and most colourful.
Kazakhstan Weather
The Kazakhstan climate can differ vastly relying on the place on this huge nation you might be. The inside is an arid land consisting of desert and steppe.
Due to the geographic location removed from any seas (the Caspian and Aral are technically lakes), the nation has sizzling summers and really chilly winters.
The capital Nur-Sultan (Astana) is the second coldest on the planet after Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia and sees common winter temperatures of round -14c. The common winter temperature for Almaty is round -4c.
Nur-Sultan sees milder summers as a consequence of its northern location, and Almaty has sizzling and sunny summers with the occasional thunderstorm.
Safety in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is a really protected nation with little or no crime reported in opposition to foreigners.
However, the tough landscapes throughout the nation imply that you ought to be well-prepared earlier than setting off. Read extra about Central Asia journey and, as at all times, guarantee you will have correct Travel Insurance when touring.
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Steve Rohan is a author from Essex, England. In 2015 he moved to China to show English the place he lived for over six years. He has lived and taught within the cities of Harbin, Luoyang, Sanya, and spent a number of months in Hong Kong, earlier than returning to England in 2022. He has visited over 60 nations up to now and often opts for overland journey. Steve has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Central Asia, and East Asia, and is now residing the digital nomad life on the street.