KAZAKHSTAN
The ninth-largest country in the world, Kazakhstan covers a vast swathe of territory in Central Asia. While many people imagine it to be solely made up of endless, featureless steppe, dramatic mountains, canyons, lakes, and valleys can be found dotted about here and there.
Here are the lists of top 10 places to visit in Kazakshtan:
1. Almaty
The capital of the country until 1997, Almaty remains Kazakhstan’s largest city, as well as its cultural and commercial heart. As such, there is a very wealthy and sophisticated air about the place, with lots of trendy restaurants and bars for you to try out.With some great museums and historic sights dotted about here and there, there is a lot for you to see and do, and many people use it as a base from which to explore the region.
2. Aksu-Zhabagly
Established all the way back in 1926, Aksu-Zhabagly is the oldest nature reserve in the whole of Central Asia. Encompassing everything from lofty, snow-capped mountain peaks and glaciers to gushing rivers, sweeping valleys, and, of course, endless steppe, Aksu-Zhabagly really is a treat to explore.
3. Astana
Recently renamed Nur-Sultan in early 2019, Astana – as many Kazakhs still call it – is the nation’s ever-changing capital. Each year, enormous landmark buildings spring up, with each new addition more impressive than the last. Lying amid the country’s featureless northern steppe, Astana is one of the most modern and futuristic cities in Central Asia, with lots of towering skyscrapers.
4. Kolsai Lake
Lying around 250 kilometers away from Almaty, Kolsai Lake actually has three lakes to visit. Strung out along the Kolsay River that weaves its way among the forest-coated Tian Shan Mountains, the shimmering lakes are often referred to as the ‘Pearls of Tian Shan.’ There is an absolutely gorgeous but strenuous hike you can do that takes you all the way from the lower to the upper lake.
5. Karkaraly National Park
Located in Kazakhstan’s Central Highlands, Karkaraly National Park will delight nature lovers and outdoor aficionados alike. Covering a huge expanse of territory, the national park is home to a wide variety of fauna and flora, with foxes, deer, and wolves all residing within its endless forests.
6. Baikonur Cosmodrome
One of the only places in the world that you can watch a rocket being shot into space, the Baikonur Cosmodrome is well worth visiting if you are interested in the cosmos. Even if you aren’t, seeing a spacecraft take off really is an unforgettable experience. The largest space launch facility in the world, Baikonur is jointly run by the Kazakh and Russian governments. It was from here that Sputnik 1 and Vostok 1 – the first crewed spaceflight – were launched. As such, there is loads of history on show. Visitors can take a tour around the facility as well as the accompanying museum that has lots of captivating exhibitions, models, and memorabilia for you to enjoy.
7. Charyn Canyon
Breathtakingly beautiful, Charyn Canyon in the southeast of Kazakhstan certainly warrants a visit. When approaching from across the endless, featureless steppe, it is hard to imagine the incredible sight that awaits you. Snaking its way through the rock, the canyon stretches around 90 kilometers in length, with some parts reaching a depth of up to 300 meters.Its ruddy walls and rock formations are reminiscent of the landscapes found in Utah and Arizona in the States. Many people who visit Charyn Canyon say it is just as spectacular as the world-famous Grand Canyon.
8. Turkestan
Lying in the south of Kazakhstan surrounded by the Kazakh Desert, Turkestan is a unique city to visit, seamlessly blending traditional nomadic culture with the sedentary city life of nearby Uzbekistan. This makes it a captivating place to explore.The undoubted highlight is the gorgeous 14th-century mausoleum of Kozha Akhmed Yasaui, which looks like it would be more at home in one of Uzbekistan’s ancient Silk Road cities than in Kazakhstan.
9. Aral
A human-made ecological disaster of the highest order, the Aral Sea dramatically decreased in size from 1960 onwards. Disastrous Soviet-era state plans saw its waters diverted to cotton fields in the desert, where it immediately evaporated or seeped below ground. Once the fourth-largest body of fresh water in the world, the Aral Sea now stands at just a fraction of its former size, and it is only in recent years that a slow recovery has been made.
10. Tamgaly Petroglyphs
Depicting epic hunting scenes, majestic standalone figures, and a wide variety of different animals and wildlife, the Tamgaly Petroglyphs are fascinating. There are remarkably more than 5,000 of them for you to check out.With many of them dating all the way back to the Bronze Age, the site really is a special place to visit. Clambering around the scenic canyon’s many boulders and rock formations only to find yet another well-preserved and intricately carved petroglyph is an amazing feeling.