Travel to Kazakhstan
A red canyon worthy of the American West, turquoise lakes below the Tian Shan spruces, a dune that sings in the desert and a steppe that never ends: that is the Kazakhstan worth dreaming about before you look for cheap flights to Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan in numbers
Capital
Astana
Population
About 20 M
Area
About 2.7 M km²
Currency
Tenge
Languages
Kazakh and Russian
High point
Khan Tengri
Continent
Asia
Time zone
UTC+5
Airports covered
1
Why visit Kazakhstan
Canyons, lakes, dunes and steppe in Central Asia's biggest country
Landscapes on a huge scale
The ninth-largest country in the world lines up red canyons, deserts, endless steppe and snowy mountains, with very few people per square kilometre.
The mountains of Almaty
At the foot of the Tian Shan, Almaty opens onto alpine lakes, spruce forests and trails within a day. You ski there in winter and hike in summer.
A nomadic culture
Yurts, kumis, beshbarmak and milky tea: the heritage of the steppe peoples is tasted at the table and celebrated at festivals such as Nauryz in spring.
Five UNESCO sites
The Khoja Ahmed Yasawi mausoleum in Turkestan, the Tamgaly petroglyphs, the Silk Roads corridor, the Saryarka steppe and the Western Tien Shan are World Heritage.
Landmarks
Almaty, Charyn, Kolsai, Altyn-Emel and Turkestan
Most trips start in Almaty, with one-to-three-day excursions to Charyn Canyon, the Kolsai lakes and Altyn-Emel park; Turkestan on the Silk Road and the northern steppe call for a separate journey.
Almaty and its mountains
Almaty sprawls at the foot of the Tian Shan, with shady parks, markets, cafés and a TV tower you can spot from Kok Tobe hill. In half a day you can reach the turquoise lake above the city, whose waters mirror snowy peaks for much of the year.
Charyn Canyon
About 200 km east of Almaty, the Charyn cuts through a red sandstone plateau for around 80 km. In the section known as the Valley of Castles, walls reach 150 to 300 m and turn copper at sunset. The Sogdian ash, a relic of the Ice Age, still grows here.
The Kolsai lakes
In the northern Tian Shan, close to the Kyrgyz border, a chain of stepped lakes nestles among spruce forests. People come for the lakeside walk, a night in a guesthouse and the fresh air, several hours by road from Almaty.
The Singing Dune of Altyn-Emel
In Altyn-Emel National Park, a long golden dune rises above a desert of ochre hills. The sand hums when it slides or when the wind picks up, hence the name. Late afternoon is best, when the light picks out every ridge.
Turkestan on the Silk Road
In the south, Turkestan holds the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a UNESCO jewel from the age of Tamerlane. The official tourism portal suggests a cultural route of about three days around the city, easy to combine with Almaty by plane.
Before you go
May to September for the mountains, April-May for tulips
| Area | Climate | Best time |
|---|---|---|
| Almaty and its lakes | Four distinct seasons; pleasant summers at altitude, snowy winters. | May to September, or December to March for skiing |
| Charyn Canyon and the south-east desert | Hot and dry in summer, mild in spring and autumn. | April, May, September and October |
| Kolsai and high mountains | Cool even in summer, storms possible, early snow. | June to September |
| Astana and the northern steppe | Extreme continental climate: hot summers, very cold winters. | June to August |
| Turkestan and the south | Very hot summers, mild winters. | April, May and October |
Mountain tracks can close because of snow or rain: check conditions before heading out. Follow flight prices before you lock in dates, as summer remains the busiest season.
Getting around
Domestic flights, night trains, cars with drivers and taxis
The country is huge: to link Almaty with Turkestan or the capital, a domestic flight is simplest, with Air Astana carrying most of the traffic. Night trains and buses suit shorter legs.
Around Almaty, Charyn, Kolsai and Altyn-Emel are visited on excursions or by car with a driver, since the tracks call for a suitable vehicle. Ride-hailing taxis cover the city.
Food and culture
Beshbarmak, kumis, milky tea and nomadic hospitality
Beshbarmak, horse or beef served over flat noodles, is the signature dish; add pilaf, soups, fresh bread and black tea with milk. Kumis, fermented mare's milk, is the national drink and worth trying once.
Welcome happens around the table: tea will keep coming. Kazakh is the state language and Russian the official one; in the cities, a few words of English usually get you by.
Flying to Kazakhstan
The Kazakh airport covered by SniperAir
Almaty International
Almaty's airport, the busiest in the country, about fifteen kilometres from the centre: allow around thirty minutes by road. The natural starting point for Charyn, Kolsai and the mountain lakes.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Kazakhstan
Which airport should I fly into for Kazakhstan?
Almaty (ALA) is the most practical gateway for the mountains, Charyn Canyon and Kolsai, and it is the airport SniperAir tracks for the country. The capital has its own airport, useful for the north.
When is the best time to travel to Kazakhstan?
May to September for the lakes and mountains, with wild tulips in spring and cooler days at altitude. Autumn is pleasant in Almaty and winter suits skiing. The north is very cold from December to February.
Is Kazakhstan expensive to visit?
The budget sits in the mid range. Excursions with a driver, guesthouse nights and domestic flights push up the total, while local meals stay affordable.
Do I need a visa for Kazakhstan?
Many countries, including those of the European Union, enjoy visa-free short stays, but rules change: check entry requirements on the authorities' official website before you go.
How long do I need in Kazakhstan?
Seven to ten days cover Almaty, Charyn Canyon, Kolsai and a nature excursion. Add three or four days for Turkestan and the Silk Road.
What travel precautions should I take?
Read the travel advice from your foreign ministry, pack warm layers for altitude, choose a vehicle suited to mountain tracks and check the weather before each excursion.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Kazakhstan gets cheaper?
Create a SniperAir alert profile with your departure airport and Almaty as the destination: we watch fares and notify you as soon as a matching opportunity appears. See how it works.
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