written by Gilly Pickup
updated 17.01.2019
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written by Gilly Pickup
updated 17.01.2019
Located in Central Asia, hugged by Russia on its northern border and China to the east, Kazakhstan is huge. The ninth-largest country in the world, it has truly diverse landscapes, a gripping history and a culture rich enough to rival any destination worldwide. Here’s everything you need to know before your first trip.
Highlights of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
Discover the highlights of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan on this compact trip. Explore part of the Uzbek Golden Triangle with Bukhara and Samarkand before heading to the cosmopolitan city of Almaty. The Kazakh capital awaits with plenty of adventures in the surroundings.
customize ⤍Along The Great Silk Road
Explore all the highlights of Central Asia: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan await you in this 3 weeks trip. Learn about the history, enjoy breathtaking nature and experience local traditions and culture. It's time to discover the Silk Road with an expert guide!
customize ⤍© Mathias Berlin/Shutterstock
The other city you shouldn't miss is Astana. This shiny, new capital is packed with ultra-modern buildings, many designed by British architect Sir Norman Foster. One such building is transparent, tent-shaped Khan Shatyr. Impressive from the outside, the interior boasts shops, entertainment venues, a monorail, boating river and even a beach resort.
There’s the Bayterek Tower too, an exhibition space and observation tower shaped like a tree, topped with a gold mirrored sphere. It is 97m high to represent 1997, the year that Astana became the country’s capital. Another of Foster’s creations is the pyramid-shaped Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, home to an opera house, a museum and conference facilities.
Bayterek Tower © Anton Petrus/Shutterstock
In the Tamgaly region, you can see thousands of Iron Age rock carvings. In the country’s south, you can visit the Baikonur Cosmodrome – it was here that Russian Soviet pilot Yuri Gagarin was launched into space in 1961, the first human to make the journey.
Wildlife lovers should head to the Ak-Zhaiyk Reserve – a wetland habitat for migratory birds. It’s a great place to spot pink flamingos, pelicans, spoonbills and ibis, and the river delta hosts the endangered Russian beluga sturgeon, sought after for its caviar eggs. Kazakhstan’s abundant wildlife also includes red bears, snow leopards and the Steppe Eagle, a symbol of the country, which appears on the national flag.
© Torsten Pursche/Shutterstock
The sauna is a popular pastime here too. Some modern sauna complexes are equipped with billiards and even karaoke machines.
© Aureliy/Shutterstock
However, if you’re vegetarian you won’t go hungry. Thick vegetable soups, salads and rice dishes abound. For the sweet toothed, desserts and cakes are also plentiful and delicious.
Beshbarmak © Nykonchuk Oleksii/Shutterstock
If you prefer to go it alone, the slow but clean trains are a popular way of traversing Kazakhstan’s huge distances. For those wanting to get around more quickly, the domestic network of national carrier Air Astana includes services to 13 destinations throughout the country.
© aleks333/Shutterstock
Air Astana offers return flights between London Heathrow and Astana. They also arrange tailor-made packages, which include city tours of Almaty and Astana and a seasonal bonus, such as a visit to the Arasan Baths or a day skiing at Shymbulak.
Header image by Mariusz Kluzniak via Flickr
written by Gilly Pickup
updated 17.01.2019
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