kazakhstan travel itinerary

Backpacking in Kazakhstan – 1,2 and 4-week itineraries

By Joan Torres 16 Comments Last updated on April 25, 2024

Despite being the 9th largest country in the world, Kazakhstan is a country that not many people are aware of and, until now, it has only attracted the attention of the most intrepid travelers.

For some reason, after hermetic Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan is the most off-beat country in Central Asia.

When I was thinking about it, I came to the conclusion that, whereas people visit  Kyrgyzstan for trekking , go to Tajikistan to drive the Pamir Highway and travel to Uzbekistan for its stunning architecture, it seems that, since Kazakhstan has a little bit of everything, travelers don’t really know why you should go there.

However, the way I see it is that, if you allow enough time to visit it, you will see that, given its dimensions, Kazakhstan is a country full of contrasts and a different world from the rest of Central Asia (and the Earth), which range from the strangest things in the world, such as the Aral Sea, the Russian town of Baikonur, the extravagant capital of Astana (today called Nur-Sultan), and even a desolated town where the USSR used to test nuclear weapons, to striking mountains and epic train journeys through the endless Kazakh steppe.

Kazakhstan is one of those destinations which you really don’t expect because, in addition, this oil-rich country is also the most developed of all the Stans, home to a cosmopolitan city named Almaty, which is, by far, the most European city in the whole of Asia.

I strongly believe that this should be at the very top of everyone’s bucket list and that’s why, after spending one full month backpacking in Kazakhstan , I decided to share with you 3 different Kazakhstan itineraries , which are adaptable to any kind of traveler and duration of trip.

In this Kazakhstan travel guide you will find:

Table of Contents

• Quick travel tips
• 1-week itinerary
• 2-week itinerary
• 4-week itinerary
• More resources

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Quick tips before planning your Kazakhstan itinerary

Despite being such a big country, the climatic conditions across the country don’t change as dramatically as in other countries, like Iran or Pakistan , for example. This means that, across the whole country, winters will always be very cold and summers very hot. However, as a general rule, north Kazakhstan will always be colder than the south.

I visited it during the month of November and, whereas the south was pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 5 to 20ºC, the north was much colder. I think that, unless you really want to explore the north or do some serious trekking, backpacking in Kazakhstan can be done all year round.

Language – Kazakh, a Turkic language, is the official language in the country. Nevertheless, Russian is the second language for pretty much everyone in the country and, in places like Almaty, is the predominant language in the city. I strongly recommend learning some Russian or, at least, the Cyrillic alphabet before your departure as, outside of Almaty, nobody speaks English.

Moving around by train – The old Soviet train is the best way of backpacking in Kazakhstan. You can go to practically anywhere in the country and it is an experience by itself.

For more information, including how to buy tickets, types of trains, routes, etc., read: How to travel by train in Kazakhstan .

Trekking – The eastern part of Kazakhstan is a prime trekking destination.

I recommend you read my guide to trekking in Central Asia

Recommended books for backpacking in Kazakhstan

Here are the 3 most popular options but, if you want to get deeper into the region, here’s my list of the best books on Central Asia

Kazakhstan travel guide by Bradt

This is the most complete and up-to-date guide about Kazakhstan. I love Bradt because, unlike other guides, they always give such detailed local insights, as well as many tips for the independent traveler.

Central Asia Book Guide by Lonely Planet

If you are planning to go backpacking across all Central Asia, it might be a good idea to just buy the regional book.

Once in Kazakhstan

If you are looking for good literature and get some political context, this is the one I would recommend, as it tells the story of all the struggles of Kazakhstan when it became an independent country

Backpacking in Kazakhstan – Ultimate travel itinerary

Kazakhstan: 1-week itinerary.

Here’s what you can do in Kazakhstan in a week.

Map of the places to visit in Kazakhstan in 7 days

Day 1, 2, 3 – Almaty – The European capital of Asia

Welcome to Almaty, the most cosmopolitan city in Central Asia.

Almaty was the last stop of my 5-month journey through Central Asia .

From backpacking in Kyrgyzstan to traveling the Pamir Highway and the Wakhan Valley , trekking the Fann Mountains in Tajikistan, traveling all across Uzbekistan and going across the Kazakh steppe, from west to east, after eating tonnes and tonnes of plov , shashlik , lagman , when I was about to shoot myself, Almaty was like a dream come true.

With an endless offer of Western-style cafés, gourmet markets and loads, loads of pubs, cool bars, and a nice craft-beer scene, I stayed in Almaty for around 8 days and it is one of those cities where you could live for a very long time.

In fact, I was thinking about moving here but, due to circumstances, I ended up moving to Georgia .

There aren’t many sites as such to visit in Almaty, but it is a city to be enjoyed through the amazing social life and Soviet-era buildings.

However, you can’t skip visiting the Zenkov Cathedral , a Russian Orthodox church built in 1904 and one of Almaty’s main landmarks; the Green Market , one of the very few accessible places to experience the traditional Almaty and, of course, Panfilov Park , a very beautiful park where a group of 28 Soviet soldiers died fighting against the Nazis.

There is actually a really nice monument in their memory. Almaty is, definitely, the highlight of your Kazakhstan travel itinerary.

Read: A guide to the Pamir Highway

Where to stay in Almaty

Almaty has a very wide range of both hotels and hostels but here are my recommendations.

Backpacker Hostel – Europeans Backpackers Hostel – I stayed here during my whole stay in Almaty. This is the ultimate hostel for budget travelers, including cyclists and people traveling by van. The hostel is, basically, a house, in a very quiet street but, at the same time, very close to the city center. The Wi-Fi is superb and the living-room is filled with extremely comfortable couches.

Budget Hotel – Silk Way – This budget hotel is run by some very hospitable women. The location is unbeatable and, given the facilities of the rooms, it looks more like a mid-range hotel but it is actually very cheap. The best option for budget travelers that prefer the comfort of a hotel, rather than a backpacker hostel.

Mid-range Hotel – D’Rami – With a very simple, but very new, furnishings, this is another well-located hotel, very comfortable and perfect for older couples and families.

Luxury – Rixos Almaty – Built in one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, Rixos is the preferred choice for luxury travelers.

Day 4, 5, 6 – The Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy

If you want to visit all the lakes properly, you will need 3 days, at least. Note that, if you go by public transportation, you may need one additional day, but it will all depend on how you manage your time.

The Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kandy are part of the “Golden Triangle”, a trio of major natural attractions in southeast Kazakhstan, which also include Charyn Canyon and the Altyn-Emel National Park.

They are a system of three lakes, nestled in the hills of the northern Tien Shan Mountains. The lakes are so clear that on a sunny day, the surrounding forests, hills, and mountains are mirrored in the water!

The first lake lies at an altitude of 1,000 meters and it’s the only lake that is accessible by car. The other two lakes (2500 and 2700 meters) can only be reached on foot.

It’s an 8-kilometer walk from the first lake to the second one, around 3 hours of hiking.

The third lake is an additional 5-kilometer hike.

You can visit the first two lakes in one day but it takes, at least, two days to hike all the way to the third lake and back.

Lake Kandy is located in the same region as the Kolsai Lakes and is a true artwork of Mother Nature and one of the top things to do in Kazakhstan !

This lake was formed in 1911 after an earthquake triggered a landslide that broke the natural dam surrounding a spruce tree forest.

The water submerged the forest and formed a magical looking lake that is now nicknamed ‘The Sunken Forest’.

Read: Packing list for trekking in Central Asia

How to get to Kolsai Lakes from Almaty

The cheapest way to go independently is by taking a local shared taxi to Kegen, which departs from Sayahat Station and costs 3,000TEN (9USD). Tell the driver to drop you off at the intersection with Saty.

From there, it’s another two hours’ drive to Saty, so you can hitchhike or take another shared taxi for 2,000TEN (6USD). Once in Saty, ask your driver to drop you off at the entrance of the park (which will cost you another 1,000TEN), try to hitchhike there.

How to get to Kandy Lake from Kolsai Lakes

Lake Kandy is only 36 km from the first Kolsai lake, so the route to get there is pretty much the same. Instead of going all the way to Saty, you have to turn left at the intersection, about 1km before the village.

From there, the road towards the lake is very rough, so you’ll need to catch a ride with a 4×4 to get there.

If you’re lucky, you’ll meet a friendly driver who will bring you there for free. If the driver asks for money, it shouldn’t be more than 1,000TEN (3USD).

Where to stay in Kolsai and Kandy Lake

There are several accommodation options, including camping sites and homestays. For more information, read this article: A guide to Kolsai and Lake Kaindy

Day 7 – A day trip to Charyn Canyon

If you are planning to go there by public transport, try to wake up before sunrise because it is quite a long journey! Otherwise, you should stay there overnight or go on a tour!

Often nicknamed the Kazakh Grand Canyon, w hen you stand on top of the cliffs and overlook the valley, you would indeed think that, for a second, somehow, you ended up in Arizona instead of in the southeast of Kazakhstan!

This canyon is part of the Charyn National Park, which stretches 154km along the Charyn River, one of the deepest rivers of the Northern Tien Shan mountains.

Charyn’s red sandstone cliffs are sculpted into the most wonderful shapes and shades that vary from deep orange to light brown.

The most famous part of the canyon is “The Valley of Castles”, named after the fantastical shapes that the cliffs resemble.

It’s possible to visit the most beautiful parts of Charyn Canyon in one day.

However, if you can spare a couple of days, it’s a fantastic experience to camp in the canyon and visit the whole area on foot or by driving around.

Read: Iran 1-month itinerary

How to get to Charyn Canyon from Almaty

It takes about 4 hours to get from Almaty to Charyn Canyon. You can get there on a tour but you can also go independently, although it’s a bit of a hassle if you don’t have your own transportation.

The easiest way to get there by yourself is by taking a shared taxi from the Sayahat bus station to Kegen, the nearest village to the canyon for 3000TEN (9USD).

Ask the driver to drop you off at the intersection with Charyn Canyon. From there, it’s another 10 km of walking or you could always try to hitchhike.

For more information, including accommodation options and other tips, read: A guide to Charyn Canyon

For more inspiration, check this amazing video from my friends Cynthia and Nico from Journal of Nomads :

Backpacking in Kazakhstan – Two-week itinerary

This is my suggested two-week travel itinerary for Kazakhstan. Please note that, if you want, you could replace Turkestan and Aksau with Astana (Nur-Sultan), which I have added on the longer itinerary.

I didn’t give it a priority because I am not a big fan of soulless cities (perhaps, because I lived in Dubai for 3 years?), so I think that the other two places are far more interesting.

Kazakhstan 2-week itinerary map

Day 8, 9 – Shymkent – Traditional Kazakhstan

If you are backpacking in Kazakhstan for more than a week, after visiting Almaty and its striking surroundings, you should get on a train going west, to the city of Shymkent.

Being the most developed country in Central Asia , it is sometimes hard to experience the real traditional life in Kazakhstan.

This is not the case of Shymkent though, one of the oldest cities in Kazakhstan, used as a caravanserai and a trading center during the Silk Road times, in the 12th century.

In Shymkent, you will find the largest bazaar in Kazakhstan and one of the most important in Central Asia, consisting of loads of narrow alleys where it is extremely easy to get lost.

In my opinion, Shymkent is a place worth spending 1 or 2 days in, as there is not much to do besides the bazaar.

However, it is a great base from where to go to some very rewarding mountains, and home to the best homestays in the country.

Read: Uzbekistan – 3-week itinerary

Where to stay in Shymkent

Budget Guest House – House Hostel – A very accommodating house and a lovely woman are what all travelers say about this house. It is a bit far from the city center but there is a bus just next to the guest house passing every 5 minutes and, besides, it is located right next to Aini, the bus station that marshrutkas to Aksau depart from.

ShymHostle – A wonderful accommodation with spacious rooms, garden and a terrace. Superb location, accommodating staff and best place to stay.

More mid-range option – Altair Hotel – This place is the most popular hotel among mid-range options, frequented by travelers from all over the world. People like the super spacious rooms, the breakfast, and the very kind staff.

Day 10, 11 – Zhabagly and Aksu Nature Reserve

From glaciers to snow-capped mountains, alpine forests, canyons, and steppe, the Aksu Nature Reserve is an amazingly geographically diverse area, besides being the oldest Nature Reserve in Central Asia, established in 1929.

The lovely tiny village of Zhabagly is the gate to the national park and a place where you will see a sort of evolved Central Asian nomadic life, in the way that they are still farmers who live from their livestock but, unlike the nomads you meet when you travel in Kyrgyzstan , they have a more developed infrastructure, more expensive cars and, basically, they are no nomadic anymore but they live in this village all year long, some of them living in really nice houses.

Visiting Aksau Nature Reserve

The biggest downside of Aksau is that you cannot visit it on your own but you must always go with a ranger. For this, when you arrive in Zhabagly, you should go to the headquarters office, where you can arrange your ranger and transportation for the next day.

When I went there, I said that I wanted to go there on my own and, unexpectedly, they took it in a very bad way and told me to leave. I told them to please calm down, that I was just asking if it was possible but no way, you need to go with a ranger.

Unfortunately, I don’t really remember the prices, but I can recall that it was very affordable, around 20USD, including transportation and the ranger. However, I decided not to go, as I was there on my own and didn’t feel like spending the whole day with a non-speaking English dude looking after me.

Instead, I decided to stay in Zhabagly, which was beautiful enough to spend 1 or 2 days in, doing a few short hikes and taking photos of all the Kazakh farmers and their livestock. There were loads of horse farms and that is because this village is famous for its horse meat.

Read: How to travel by train in Kazakhstan

How to get to Zhabagly and Aksau Reserve from Shymkent

Marshrutkas leave for Zhabagly from Aina bazaar, located here: 42.327384, 69.630521 . It is a 2-hour ride and the first one is supposed to leave around 9-10am.

However, since I went there on a Monday, the only day of the week that the bazaar is closed, I remember that I waited for almost 3 hours for the marshrutka to be filled.

Where to stay in Zhabagly

There are quite a few homestays in Zhabagly, so you should be fine if you just show up there. The one I stayed at was recommended by the lovely woman from House Hostel and it was great. I paid around 15USD, with three meals included and a very comfortable, private room.

Day 12, 13 – Turkestan – The most impressive architecture in Kazakhstan

Located 170km from Shymkent, it is very easy to get to Turkestan on a train.

The spiritual capital of Kazakhstan, Turkestan is home to the most important pilgrimage site and monument in the country, the Mausoleum of Khodja Ahmed Yassaui, a UNESCO listed Heritage Site.

With turquoise domes and blue tiles, this building has the same style as many other buildings in Iran and, especially, in Uzbekistan.

The Mausoleum is definitely stunning but, to be very honest, since I was coming from Uzbekistan and had already been traveling in Iran , I was not that impressed but please, just take my statements with a grain of salt.

Entering the Mausoleum costs 500TEN (1.50USD).

The complex is very close to the main central square, which is connected to many pedestrian alleys where the local life is going on.

When I was there, they were celebrating a traditional, local festival, where everybody was playing music and dancing in their traditional dress.

Where to stay in Turkestan

There are not many accommodation options in Turkestan:

Budget Guest House – Otyrar Gostinitsa – After wandering for a while, this was the only decent budget place I found. I didn’t like it, basically because the staff weren’t nice and the rooms not very very clean. However, it was cheap and just a 10-minute walk from the main square. Location: 43.299915, 68.259925

A nicer place – Hotel Khanaka – I came here one day for breakfast and to steal some Wi-Fi and it looked like a very nice place, besides being one of the only options which you can actually find online. This is the best option for mid-range travelers.

Backpacking in Kazakhstan – 4-week itinerary

If you are backpacking in Kazakhstan for 4 weeks, it makes sense to modify the order of the itinerary.

Kazakhstan 1-month itinerary map

Day 1 to 7 – Almaty, Charyn Canyon and Kolsai and Kandy Lakes.

(explained before)

Day 8, 9, 10 – Astana (Nur-Sultan) – The weird capital

In 2019, Astana was renamed after its former President Nur-Sultan

Kazakhstan travel tip – On the fast train, it is a 12-hour ride, so take the night train! The slow train takes 24 hours so, if you are on an ultra-budget, 3 days for Astana (Nur-Sultan) won’t be realistic.

Astana (Nur-Sultan) is Kazakhstan’s city of the future. 

The city’s name means capital city in Kazakh and the capital of Kazakhstan was moved from Almaty to Astana (Nur-Sultan) in 1997 and has served as such since. With just over a million residents, Astana (Nur-Sultan) is a Central Asian hub for modern architecture enthusiasts.

World-famous architects have designed several of the city’s buildings, giving it a futuristic and almost otherworldly feel.

The city is slowing coming into its own and has world-class restaurants, specialty coffee shops, and an array of sightseeing opportunities for visitors.

By the way, this is the second coldest capital city in the world, so plan accordingly for your visit!

In Astana (Nur-Sultan), you will find plenty of sights scattered around the city that will pique your interest.

Be sure to check out Baiterek , the city’s symbol and where you can even take a ride to the top and get a nice glimpse of the city.

Khan Shatyr is a mall and entertainment center that will, inevitably, be one of the most unique places you’ll ever step foot in. The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation is also a can’t-miss place in Astana (Nur-Sultan), as it is in the shape of a pyramid and lights up colorfully at night.

For more information, check my Astana travel guide

How to get to Astana (Nur-Sultan)

By train, you can get to Astana (Nur-Sultan) from pretty much everywhere in the country, Almaty and Shymkent being the easiest places. The fast train from Almaty takes around 12-13 hours and the slower one takes up to 24 hours.

Check out routes and timetables at Ticket.KZ . A ticket from Almaty to Astana (Nur-Sultan) will likely cost you anything from 15USD for a platzkart sleeper on the slow train to 60USD for a VIP place on the fast train. 

For more information, read: Should you travel to Astana (Nur-Sultan)?

Where to stay in Astana (Nur-Sultan)

Budget Hostel – Hostelland – I can assure you that, for this price, you will never ever be in such a nice hostel, with such clean rooms and modern facilities. The staff are super friendly and you will always find a very international atmosphere.

Mid-range hotel – Brown Hotel – For families, couples and any mid-range traveler, this is an extremely well-located hotel, right in the new city of Astana (Nur-Sultan), that serves some of the best food you will ever taste in Kazakhstan.

Luxury – Rixos Hotel – For luxury travelers, in Kazakhstan, I like recommending Rixos because they are always placed in the most beautiful building of the city, besides having an unbeatable location.

Day 11 to 17 – Shymkent, Zhabagly, Aksu Reserve and Turkestan

(explained before but note that you can easily go from Astana (Nur-Sultan) to Shymkent on a direct night train)

Day 18, 19 – Baikonur, a Russian town, home to the Cosmodrome

Baikonur is history and that is why, here, you find the  Baikonur Cosmodrome , which is the Russian equivalent of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This is nothing else than the place where both the dog Laika and Yuri Gagarin (the first human in space) were launched.

Unfortunately, you can only visit the Cosmodrome on an organized tour, with prices starting at 700USD, and the permit takes a few months to process.

Moreover, visiting Baikonur town is technically not allowed.

By the way, Baikonur is administered by Russia, meaning that they use the Russian ruble and pretty much everybody is ethnically Russian.

How to get to Baikonur from Turkestan

From Turkestan, you should take a train to Tyuratam, a small village which is a few kilometers away from Baikonur.

Tyuratam is 530km from Turkestan and the journey takes 10 hours. If you don’t manage to take a night train, there are a few budget hotels where it is legal to stay in Tyuratam so, you can go to Baikonur on the next day.

Day 20, 21, 22 – Aralsk, the port without a sea

Aralsk is only a 4-hour train journey from Baikonur.

In 1960s, when Kazakhstan was part of the USSR, the Russians decided to divert the two major rivers that fed the Aral Sea to irrigate an arid land to produce cotton and become one of the top world’s cotton exporters.

As a consequence, over the decades, the Aral Sea shrank almost completely, becoming an actual desert.

It is very unfortunate to think that the worst environmental disaster that ever happened on Earth is, sadly, a tourist attraction in Kazakhstan and, actually, the one Kazakhstan is famous for.

Nevertheless, I also think that, if you are sensitive enough, there is nothing wrong with coming here with the intention of learning and showing your respect.

The most important city by the Aral Sea, on both Kazakh and Uzbek sides, used to be Aralsk, a big center for the fishing industry, composed of tens of factories and a real industrial zone that used to even have a train stop.

Today, Aralsk is a hopeless town that has a port without sea and a huge abandoned industrial zone.

And also visited it on the Uzbek side and wrote a full guide: A guide to Moynaq and the Aral Sea in Uzbekistan

Where to stay in Aralsk

The famous creepy Aral Hotel , which used to be the only option in town, is now closed.

Instead, there is a one called Altair Hotel right next to the train station, hosting all kinds of people, from backpackers and any kind of independent traveler to Kazakh businessmen that bring prostitutes to their room, at least in our experience.

It is a very weird place but rooms are clean and they even have a budget dorm. They serve an OK dinner and Wi-Fi works perfectly.

For more information, including things to do and how to go to the ship graveyard, an article is on its way.

Day 23, 24, 25 – Atyrau, the European / Asian border

Atyrau is a 20-hour train journey from Aralsk, so it is your own decision to assess whether the long journey is worthwhile or not.

The city of Atyrau is another strange place in Kazakhstan. On the one hand, it is very rarely visited and most travelers you will meet there are people overlanding to Russia.

On the other hand, it is a very wealthy city, like nowhere else in the country and it is the main town the Ural goes through, which is the official border between Asia and Europe.

If you go over any of the many bridges in the city, you can switch continents in a matter of seconds.

Other than that, Atyrau is home to some of the largest oil reserves in the country, so now you understand why the town is so developed.

It has a wide offer of Western-style cafés and international pubs filled with expats working in the oil industry and banks, loads of banks.

For me, Atyrau was sort of a cultural shock as this was my first actual destination after crossing from Uzbekistan and spending 4 months traveling is really remote destinations in Central Asia .

To be very honest, I was not expecting such a modern city.

Where to stay in Atyrau

Being an oil-rich town, Atyrau has very few budget options but plenty of nice hotels.

Budget Hostel – Joy Hostel  – It is a very OK place if you are on a budget but don’t expect much of it.

Mid-range hotel – Mini Hotel Venezia  – A very cute hotel that brags about serving some of the nicest Italian food in town. It is one of the top mid-range options in Atyrau.

Luxury – Sultan Palace Hotel – One of the most famous hotels in town, located in a very nice building, this is a good option for travelers looking for real comfort.

The rest of the days – It depends. What is your plan?

You want to go back to Almaty – Great, it is a 3-day journey, so you are pretty covered.

You are traveling to Uzbekistan – For this, you should take a train from Atyrau to the border town named Beyneu, which is a 12-hour train journey. For more information, read: Kazakhstan – Uzbekistan border crossing at Beyneu

You are traveling to Azerbaijan – Fantastic. Take a train to Aktau (around 16 hours) and wait for the ferry. Don’t forget to check my 2-week Azerbaijan itinerary .

You are traveling to Russia – WOW, I am so jealous. Well, it’s very easy. There are daily direct trains with Volgograd as the final stop.

After Russia, you can visit either Ukraine , Moldova or Belarus .

More resources for visiting Kazakhstan

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

All guides and articles for traveling in Kazakhstan destination

• Travel Guide to Astana
• Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan border crossing
• Train Guide in Kazakhstan
• Travel Guide to Kazakhstan

Travel Itineraries to other countries in Central Asia

• Kyrgyzstan Itinerary
• Travel Guide to Tajikistan
• Uzbekistan Itinerary
• Pakistan Itinerary

This is everything you needed to know for planning your itinerary for backpacking in Kazakhstan . If you have any other suggestions o questions, kindly post them in the comment section. Thanks!

16 comments

You are spot on Joan when you say it is a different world than the rest of Central Asia. I see this without stepping foot in the country; all its richness and range and wildlife and history. Delightful.

Kazakhstan is a country with very weird places but truly awesome. Cheers Ryan!

Interesting post! Thanks for sharing!

Kazakhstan sounds like such an interesting and untouched country! I would love to visit as I travel around Asia 🙂

cheers, you definitely should!

Thanks for all the info . I will be there for 14 days in April. VG site. Whats the beer like?

the local beer is nothing special. Just regular lager/pilsner. In Almaty, you can find a few craft beer places though

Great read! You said you eventually ended up in Georgia. How would you compare Tbilisi and Almaty?

Hard to say. Both cities are great but I personally prefer Tbilisi. It’s cheaper, there are much more things to do and it doesn’t get cold in winter. Almaty on the other hand is relatively more modern, meaning that they have more food choices for example. In Tbilisi, the non-Georgian isn’t that good, but I believe this will change. As per nightlife, Tbilisi is really awesome. not sure about Almaty, as just went to a few bars. In terms of language, in Almaty they speak Russian, so this is an edge if you want to learn Russian, whereas in Tbilisi not.

Thanks for sharing. Would it be okay to hike and camp around Almaty in mid-August temperature wise?

yes of course, it will be hot

I was talking to a guy who visited the country 20 years ago. He said a lot of the military and cops were all over the place and very corrupt if you are American. Expecting money as bribes. is this still True today?

Hi, If you plan to visit Almaty, I recommend going to Assy plateau. It takes 2 days, but the beauty of this place and starry sky is awesome. The best period to visit – from June to August, May and September is still ok. Other monthes it might be too cold to camp here.

Hey! I’m leaving soon to Almaty and am thinking about staying in the European backpackers. I’d like to visit the golden triangle but don’t have a car. I see Backpackers hostel does offer tours but would you recommend waiting to see if another guest is going around the same time?

I am sue this is something you can book last minute, so I’d wait until I get in the hostel and talk to other backpackers

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Kazakhstan Itinerary: how to spend 2 weeks in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is the ninth biggest country in the world and it is no surprise that when you are preparing a Kazakhstan itinerary for your upcoming trip there are a lot of options and though choices to be made.

While Kazakhstan is most famous for its empty steppes where nomads on their horses roam, there is also a huge variety of landscapes in the country. Kazakhstan’s nature is really outstanding. Did you know for example that there are alpine meadows, glittering mountain lakes, impressive desert formations, rocky canyons and quirky cities combining modern architecture with their Soviet heritage.

Kazakhstan is an excellent destination if you love culture, adventure and the outdoors. The Altay and Tien Shan mountains offer plenty of hiking opportunities and the area of Almaty is perfect to make a roadtrip around some of Kazakhstan’s best national parks .

With so much things to do in Kazakhstan it’s hard to choose. This post will help you in planning your Kazakhstan itinerary and will give you some sample itineraries for inspiration.

My Kazakhstan itinerary

In my first Kazakhstan itinerary I travelled for 3 weeks throughout the country making a circle from Nursultan (Astana) to Shymkent to Almaty and back. This trip I only used public transport and therefore only visited towns and cities that I could reach by train or bus.

My second trip in 2019 was part of a larger 3 month trip in Central Asia starting in Nursultan (Astana) and Karaganda with a stop to celebrate Nauruz in Shymkent and ending with a roadtrip around Almaty. This time I also rented a car to see Almaty’s spectacular natural parks.

When planning your own Kazakhstan itinerary your mode of transport is one thing that has a big impact of what is possible. If you are a budget traveller and prefer to travel by public transport your limited to the bigger cities and some natural attractions nearby that are reachable by bus. This way there are still a lot of things to see and do in Kazakhstan.

If you rent a car or have your own transport you will have a lot of freedom and flexibility, but remember that the distances are huge.

Kazakhstan itinerary 1: the highlights of Kazakhstan (10 days)

This first Kazakhstan itinerary includes the three most interesting cities for foreign travellers. This trip is perfect for backpackers that prefer public transport. Travel in between the cities would be by train and the daytrips I mention from the cities can be done by bus.

Day 1 & 2 : Astana

I started my Kazakhstan itinerary in Astana. Former president Nazarbayev relocated the capital in 1997 to a small town in the north where he built a completely new city to show off Kazakhstan’s oil wealth.

Whether you like the futuristic capital or not, it is an interesting start of any Kazakhstan itinerary. The capital will give you a better understanding of the country and it’s politics.

Nur-sultan is a surreal experience and the city has some interesting museums. On my second visit I saw how it is slowly developing its own unique atmosphere and I liked it much more than my first time.

Things to do : The biggest attractions in Astana are the futuristic buildings along the 2 kilometer Nurzhol boulevard. Two days should be enough to get a good sense of the city including a visit to the older part of town and one or two museums.

I can also recommend a visit to Alzhir in Malinovka. A former gulag from the Soviet times for the wives of political enemies of the state. It makes for an easy half day trip from Astana.

Add an extra day to your Kazakhstan itinerary if you would like to visit the Borovoe National Park or Korghalzyn Nature Reserve. An important site for birdwatchers where you can spot pink flamengoes if you are lucky.

Read more about Astana in my post on the best things to do in Astana

Accomodation: Hello Inn Budget Hotel Astana

How to get there : Budget airline Wizz Air is now flying from Budapest to Astana with incredibly cheap tickets. Other airlines also have pretty good offers. For onwards travel there are frequent trains to Karaganda and daily nighttrains to Shymkent and Almaty.

Day 3 & 4 : Karaganda

Karaganda is only 4 hours from Nursultan (Astana) and is an interesting stop if you travel from the capital to either Shymkent or Almaty.

The city in the heart of the steppes was not only the centre of the coal mining industry during the Soviet Union, but also the administrative centrer of the so called gulag system in Kazakhstan. Stalin deported most Volga Germans to Karaganda and built a labour camp just outside the city for other political prisoners that came from all over the Soviet Union.

Things to do : The main reason to visit Karaganda is the excellent Karlag museum in the former administration building of the gulag camp in Dolinka. It’s an easy daytrip from Karaganda with frequent buses from Karaganda’s bus station to Dolinka.

Karaganda itself does not have many things to do, but it is nice to walk around for an afternoon. I personally liked the city because of its Soviet murals on the buildings, quirky museums and monuments such as the Gagarin monument.

Accomodation: Hotel Chaika (where the Soviet cosmonauts used to stay)

Read more in my post on the best things to do in Karaganda

How to get there : From Astana there are frequent trains and marshrutka’s to Karaganda. For onward travel the high speed nighttrains from Astana to Shymkent and Almaty also stop in Karaganda making it easy to to continue your journey to either city.

Day 5 & 6: Shymkent & Turkestan

Shymkent in the south was at the heart of Kazakhstan’s silk road and is an interesting city to learn more about its history. The Southern region is also where the steppes end and the mountains begin. The perfect place for those that love nature and birdwatching.

Things to do : Shymkent itself is a pleasant city for an easygoing day with a lively bazaar and plenty of parks to relax. The real beauty of the area lies outside of Shymkent though. On your second day I can recommend a daytrip to nearby Turkestan to see the beautiful mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasaui.

Shymkent is also a good place to explore Kazakhstan’s spectacular nature in the South. Add 2-3 extra days in your Kazakhstan itinerary for the Aksu Zhabagly National Park or the Sairam Ugam Nature Reserve where in spring you can see the wild tulips in bloom. Both are relatively easy to visit for backpackers with public transport connections and several homestay options.

Read more in my post on the best things to do in Shymkent and my Turkestan travel guide .

Accomodation: Shymcity Hostel (great location, friendly people) or Hostel Sweet home

How to get there : There are daily night trains from and to Nursultan (Astana) and Almaty. From Shymkent it is also easy to cross the border to Uzbekistan . There are direct buses between Shymkent and Tashkent (4 – 5 hours).

Day 7 – 10 : Almaty

Almaty is my favourite city in Kazakhstan. First of all, its fascinating. Almaty is a city with a young population, but also one that still breathes it Soviet past. Even though it is no longer the capital of the country it remains the cultural heart of Kazakhstan.

The second reason I love Almaty is that it is surrounded by the snow capped peaks of the Tien Shan mountains. From Almaty it is incredibly easy to explore some of Kazakhstan’s most spectacular nature. With the mountains at your doorstep Almaty is an outdoors paradise.

Things to do : There are plenty of things to do in Almaty from the Panfilov park, the Zenkov cathedral, to the Arasan baths. While the city itself deserves 2 days to explore you can add several days to your Kazakhstan itinerary to get out into the mountains.

You can make day trips to Big Almaty Lake, Medeu ice skating ring, Chimbulak ski resort, the Charyn Canyon and the Kolsai Lakes .

Read more in my post about the best things to do in Almaty .

Accomodation: Almaty Backpackers hostel (great place to meet other people)

How to get there : There are daily night trains to and from Shymkent and Nursultan (Astana)

After Almaty you can also continue your journey to Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek is only 5 hours by bus from Almaty. Or you can make a roadtrip around Almaty to visit the most beautiful national parks in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan itinerary 2: a roadtrip around Almaty (one week)

This Kazakhstan itinerary can be added to the first itinerary as an extension in Almaty. This beautiful roadtrip requires your own transport but brings you to a diversity of spectacular landscapes including alpine meadows with deep blue lakes and singing sand dunes.

Almaty lies in the southwestern corner of Kazakhstan that borders China and Kyrgyzstan and is at the edge of the Tien Shan mountains. It is home to some of Kazakhstans most spectacular national parks such as the Charyn Canyon, the Kolsai Lakes and Altyn Emel.

Unfortunately public transport to these places is very limited. Although the Charyn Canyon and the Kolsai Lakes would be possible if you have a lot of time and patience on your hand, Altyn Emel is not. You can read my post about the Charyn Canyon and the Kolsai lakes on how to get there by public transport, but it is far from straigfhtforward and includes a combination of shared taxi’s and hitchhiking.

The cheapest option to visit the national parks around Almaty is to join one of the weekend tours of local travel agencies, but they tend to be rushed and in Russian only. Other tours that combine all three national parks are expensive and in my case it was actually much cheaper to rent a car.

Renting a car

After lots of investigation and from my own experience I can say that renting a car is the best way to visit the national parks around Almaty and totally worth the money. You can easily rent a car in Almaty, but be careful that your agency allows you to drive outside of the city. I rented my car through Hertz and had a good experience with them.

Road conditions : The road from Almaty to lake Issyk, Charyn Canyon, Saty and the Kolsai lakes is paved and in a good condition. In Altyn Emel National Park the roads are not paved, but not too bad either. A good car with high clearance is recommended here. The only part where you really need a 4 by 4 is the road from Saty to Lake Kaindy.

Insider tips : Try to avoid the Kolsai lakes and the Charyn Canyon during the weekends. On Saturday and Sunday there are a lot of organized weekend tours and it can get very crowded. This is much less so for Altyn Emel that is still more hard to get to without your own transport.

Day 1: Lake Issyk & Charyn Canyon

On your first day of this Kazakhstan itinerary you will visit Lake Issyk and the Charyn Canyon. You will start with the 2 hour drive from Almaty to Lake Issyk. Not to be confused with famous Issyk kul in Kyrgyzstan.

The lake has a rather tragic history. It was formed 10,000 of years ago when a mountain collapsed and created a natural dam. During Soviet times it became a favourite weekend spot for those from Almaty. Then in July 1963 one of the largest mudflows during Soviet times destroyed the lake and killed more than 100 people.

The lake was restored, but is still only half the size of what it once was. It no longer is the most popular holiday destination around Almaty. Tourists now prefer the Kolsai lakes, but in my opinion Lake Issyk is more beautiful.

Spent a few hours hiking around the lake and then have lunch in Esik town that has some good restaurants. At Anushka they have excellent shaslycks and salads. After lunch continue to the Charyn Canyon (3 hours).

Charyn Canyon

Once you arrive at the Charyn Canyon, park your car at the viewpoint car park and then walk the 2 kilometers through the valley of castles. A beautiful hike with impressive rocky formations. At the end of the hike you will find the eco lodge right next to the Charyn river. A great place where you can spend the night.

Although most people visit the Charyn canyon on a daytrip there are a lot of reasons to stay longer. First of all, because the canyon is at its most beautiful during sunset and sunrise. Most likely you will have the place all for yourself at that time. Second of all, because there is more to the Charyn canyon then the valley of castles alone. In fact, there are 3 more canyons nearby. Check my Charyn Canyon travel guide for more information.

Day 2: Charyn Canyon & Lake Kaindy

On the second day of your Kazakhstan itinerary enjoy the peacefulness and silence in the Charyn Canyon while the sun rises. Have breakfast at the eco lodge and then continue your journey to Saty (3 hours).

Saty is a little rural village with a number of homestays for those that want to see the Kolsai lakes and lake Kaindy. If you have a 4 wheel drive you can drive up to lake Kaindy by yourself. It’s a beautiful lake with a sunken forest. Like lake Issyk, this one was also formed after a natural disaster that created a natural dam.

The turn off to Lake Kaindy is right after the checkpoint when you enter Saty. If you don’t have a good car consider getting a taxi in Saty. Saty has plenty of homestays that can arrange taxi’s to lake Kaindy.

Day 3: Hike to the Kolsai Lakes

On the third day of your Kazakhstan itinerary you will explore the beautiful Kolsai Lakes. A series of lakes near the border with Kyrgyzstan. Only the first lake is reachable by car, but the second lake is an 8 kilometer hike. Walking up and down the second lake takes about 6 – 7 hours. Read more about this hike in my Kolsai lakes travel guide .

Day 4: Altyn Emel Sand Dunes

On the fourth day of your Kazakhstan itinerary you will be back in your car again. It’s 5 hours from Saty to the village of Basshi, the gateway to Altyn Emel National Park . At the National Park headquarters you need to buy the permits to enter the park and you can arrange accomodation and food.

From Basshi you can follow two routes by your own car that are both recommended. If you haven’t arrived too late it is still possible to do the short route to the singing sand dunes in the afternoon.

Day 5: Altyn Emel Aktau and Katutau

On your fifth day of your Kazakhstan itinerary you will continue exploring Altyn Emel National Park. Today you can follow the second route to the Aktau and Katutau mountains.

This route can easily take you all day. The landscapes are really out of this world and I can really recommend to spend some time at both Aktau and Katutau mountains walking around and taking in the scenery.

Bring enough snacks and water with you for the day and have some picnic in some of the most spectacular nature of Kazakhstan. If you are lucky you might spot some wild horses or other wildlife.

Day 6: Altyn Emel Beshatyr burial mounds

On your sixth day of your Kazakhstan itinerary you will do the third route in Altyn Emel National Park for which you first need to drive to Shengeldy (2 hours). This route har some ancient petroglyphs and Scythian burial mounds.

I was so impressed by Altyn Emel that I did the third route instead of the Tamgaly Tas petroglyphs. It isn’t the most spectacular part of the park, but you will have beautiful views over lake Kapchagai and I did see wild horses. The Terekty petroglyphs and Beshatyr burial mounds require a lot of imagination, but they are still quite impressive considering the age.

After this you can either return straight to Almaty or if you still have time make a quick stop at the Tamgaly tas petroglyphs.

Kazakhstan itinerary: off the beaten path

If you have more than three weeks you are lucky. There are endless possibilities to extend your Kazakhstan itinerary.

Consider the northeastern part of the country with the beautiful Altay mountains and the town of Semey Palatinsk that is known for the nuclear tests during the Soviet Union. Or visit the southwestern part of the country with the stone desert of Mangistau full of underground mosques and ancient necropolises.

In central Kazakhstan you can visit the Karkaraly mountains or take the train from Aktobe to Kyzylorda. There are some interesting stops such as Baikonur cosmodrome and Aral to see what is left of the Aral sea.

Do keep in mind that most of these destinations are really off the beaten path and are difficult to get to if you dont have your own transport.

Sustainable Travel in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is seeing more tourists every year. While Tourism is a welcome source of income it can also have negative consequences. Traveling sustainably in the country, involves conscious choices that minimize your environmental impact and support the local community.

Support the local community : You can support the community by purchasing goods and services from local vendors, artisans, and restaurants. It is better to try Kazakh cuisine that uses local ingredients rather than imported foreign foods. Kazakh food is not very vegetarian friendly, but there are a few vegetarian restaurants in the capital of Astana and Almaty.

Stay in small scale sustainable hotels : It is also better to stay in locally-owned guesthouses or homestays to support the local economy directly. These accommodations often have a more positive impact on the environment compared to large hotels. Where possible, I can recommend staying in a homestay for an authentic cultural experience. You might want to bring a small book with pictures of your family to break the ice.

You can try to look for guesthouses or homestays that prioritizes sustainable practices. That said, environmental awareness is still low. It’s up to you to use water sparsely, turn off lights, air conditioning, and heating when leaving your accommodation.

Use public transportation : Kazakhstan has a well-developed public transportation system with buses. Opt for public transport, whenever possible, instead of taxis or private cars to reduce carbon emissions. Avoid internal flights. The journeys on road might be long, but the views are spectacular.

Leave no Trace principle : Kazakhstan has lots of natural beauty and mountains. When hiking, stick to designated trails when they are there, avoid disturbing wildlife or picking plants, and leave no trace of your presence. Ensure you take all your trash back with you and dispose of it responsibly.

To avoid single-use plastics, invest in reusable items. For example, you can bring your own water bottle with a filter that you can refill at your accomodation. At last, use biodegradable and eco-friendly personal care products to minimize pollution of water sources.

Respect the culture : Besides environmental concerns it is also important to respect the culture. Kazakhstan is an Islamic country with a nomadic past that is just opening up to tourism. Therefore, learn about the local customs and traditions beforehand and be mindful of your behavior.

People will appreciate it, if you dress modestly, especially at religious sites. Learning a few basic phrases in Kazakh or Russian, can go a long way in building meaningful connections and to learn more about the local culture. Not everybody is happy to have their picture taken. When in doubt, ask permission.

Disclaimer : This post about planning your Kazakhstan itinerary contains affiliate links. If you buy any service through any of my links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. These earnings help me to keep Backpack Adventures alive! Thanks for your support!

9 thoughts on “Kazakhstan Itinerary: how to spend 2 weeks in Kazakhstan”

Voor het gemak even in het Nederlands. Als alles goed gaat, vliegen mijn vriend en ik komende herfst naar Almaty voor een vakantie. Wat fijn dat er dan sites zijn zoals deze en mensen die hem fantastisch vullen als jij 😉 Ik heb er al veel aan gehad en je blogs met veel plezier gelezen. We wilden graag met de trein op en neer naar Turkestan. We zouden een tussenstop via Tyulkubas kunnen maken en Aksu Zhabagly bezoeken. Ik vroeg me af of die tussenstop naar jouw mening de extra reisdag(en) en (reis/entree/gids)kosten waard is als je met eigen huurauto en tent al de “ronde van Almaty” doet, of dat geld en tijd dan beter besteed zijn aan de huur van een stevige 4×4 om verder “off grid” te gaan in de nationale parken daar en bijv. nog de Turgen George en het Assi plateau op de route mee te pikken?

Hoi. Fijn dat jullie wat aan mijn site gehad hebben. Jullie gaan met de herfst en de herfstkleuren een mooie tijd tegemoet. Als je toch al naar Turkestan gaat is de tussenstop in Tulkibas voor Aksu Zhabagly zeker de moeite waard, maar de ronde van Almaty is ook erg mooi. Moeilijke keus en ik snap jullie dilemma. Ik moet zeggen dat ik de omgeving rondom Almaty wel echt het mooist vond en erg gevarieerd, dus als ik persoonlijk zou moeten kiezen misschien toch het rondje Almaty.

Hoi. Bedankt voor je snelle antwoord. Ik was geloof ik niet helemaal duidelijk, sorry. Het rondje rond Almaty gaan we sowieso doen. Daarvan had je ons al overtuigd 😉 We hebben in principe genoeg tijd om allebei te doen. Als we Aksu Zhabagly niet doen, hebben we echter rond Almaty wat meer tijd om (zonder gids) off the beaten track te gaan, tweedaagse hikes te doen en op toplocaties onze tent op te zetten om er uitgebreid, buiten de piekuren van te kunnen genieten. Van het geld dat we uitsparen zouden we hiervoor een moderne (niet té vervuilende) 4×4 kunnen huren ipv een eenvoudige SUV/Crossover. Ik vroeg me daarom af of Aksu Zhabagly buiten het wilde tulpenseizoen echt iets heeft dat al die nationale parken rondom Almaty samen niet hebben? Een uniek landschap of betere kans op het spotten van bijzondere wildlife bijv.?

Hoi. Ook dan zou ik persoonlijk misschien toch gaan voor iets meer tijd rondom Almaty. Wat ik zei, daar vond ik de natuur net wat gevarieerder, zeker als jullie ook bv Altyn Emel erbij doen. En ik denk dat de herfstkleuren prachtig zijn bij de Kolsai lakes en de Turgen Gorge. Ik ben ook buiten het tulpenseizoen geweest en Aksu Zhabagly is dan nog steeds wel de moeite waard hoor. Maar omdat je niet zonder gids het park in mag, lopen de kosten wel snel op in Aksu Zhabagly. Wij hebben een dag lang met een gids in het park gewandeld en wilde berggeiten gezien en wolven horen huilen. Die hebben we niet elders in Kazakhstan gezien en gehoord. Wij waren toen zo’n beetje de enige toeristen en dat had ook zo zijn charme. Daarentegen hebben we in Altyn Emel weer wilde paarden en Perzische gazelles gezien. Wij hebben de roadtrip rondom Almaty met een SUV gedaan, wat prima was voor de Charyn Canyon, Kolsai Lakes en Altyn Emel. Maar het lijkt me echt gaaf wat jullie van plan zijn om daar echt off the beaten path te gaan. Zonder gids heb je natuurlijk veel meer vrijheid en hoewel het rondom Almaty best toeristisch kan zijn is het makkelijk om dat op de manier die jullie voor ogen hebben te ontlopen. Lastige keuze hoor, maar qua landschap is Aksu zhabagly wat dat betreft niet uniek, dus als ik zou moeten kiezen zou ik dan toch gaan voor de investering in Almaty.

Jij hebt echt fantastische dingen meegemaakt zeg. Hoe geweldig het me ook lijkt om wolven te horen huilen, de vrijheid en rust in Almaty is ons ook zeker wat waard . Het is aan één kant natuurlijk goed dat gidsen in Aksu Z. al vanaf dit vroege “toeristenstadium” verplicht worden gesteld. Het biedt de locals een inkomen en reden om de natuur te beschermen in plaats van te plunderen. Ook heb ik helaas maar al te vaak het verwoestende effect van “vrije” toeristen in natuurgebieden gezien… Echt offroaden doen wij daarom ook niet, maar met een 4×4 kunnen we wel de nomadenwegen pakken en de canyons verkennen. Altyn Emel gaan we zeker doen en onze tijd voor nemen nu. En na al het natuurschoon een paar uurtjes extra cultuurtijd in één van de steden (ipv reistijd) is ook niet weg. We gaan er van genieten! Super bedankt en mooie, verdere reizen gewenst zodra het weer kan (ik hoop van harte dat jij niet één van die mensen bent die al maanden ergens vast zitten… Zoja: sterkte. Het einde is in zicht)

Hi, great ideas and tips. Question: due to an opportunity I will go the first week of December to Almaty and Astana. From the things to do that you mentioned, which ones would be no possible. I appreciate your suggestions during this time of the year.

Hallo Ellis,

wij gaan over 2 weken naar Almaty en Astana en deze manier van rondreizen, hiken, is exact zoals wij een vakantie voor ons zien. Tentje mee. We hebben 3,5 jaar in Zimbabwe gewoon en ook in Afrika met onze destijds 4×4 veel rondgereisd. Waar kun je een goede 4×4 in Almaty huren? We hoeven niet off road maar dat je voor slechte onverharde wegen wat voorbereid bent is gewoon veel confortabeler in een 4×4.

Groeten Vincent en Janneke

Er zijn verschillende auto verhuur bedrijven in Almaty. Het is dus niet moeilijk om een 4×4 te huren in Almaty. Ik moet zeggen dat de wegen in Kazakhstan mij heel erg meevielen. Tijdens mijn eerste reis was de weg naar Kolsai lakes bijvoorbeeld nog onverhard. Tijdens mijn tweede reis liep er een nieuwe verharde asfaltweg tot aan het eerste meer. Een 4×4 is wel handig als je de nationale parken wilt bezoeken zoals Altyn Emel. Wij hadden een Toyota Duster gehuurd en die was daar wel echt nodig.

🙏 Thank you for sharing this wonderful information! Can’t wait to embark on this journey armed with your tips! 🌟

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4d kazakhstan itinerary – best of almaty and its surrounds.

With its diverse landscape, Kazakhstan has so much to offer — canyons, forests, mountains and lakes. This Kazakhstan itinerary is the perfect introduction to the Almaty region, covering the highlights that must not be missed during you trip.

Overview Of This Kazakhstan Itinerary

Trip essentials, day 1 – city tour, day 2 – trip to charyn canyon and kolsay lake, day 3 – kaindy lake and black canyon, day 4 – shymbulak, getting around kazakhstan, frequently asked questions.

Download Yandex, 2Gis and Google Translate

The main ride hailing app in Kazakhstan is Yandex Go and the app for maps is called 2Gis. Google Maps does work in Kazakhstan, but 2Gis is the preferred choice.

Apple Download Links: Yandex Go | 2Gis Android Download Links: Yandex Go | 2Gis

Also have Google Translate on hand as majority of the signs are in Kazakh or Russian.

There aren’t many Singaporean telcos that offer data roaming for Kazakhstan, not at a low cost at least. After some research, I found that Airalo offers a few eSim data packages for Kazakhstan, starting at US$4.50 for 1GB and it also comes with the option to top up during your trip if you need more data.

My experience with the eSim in Almaty city center was alright, it wasn’t the fastest and the connection was spotty at times, but it did its job. I also managed to have my laptop tap onto my mobile’s hotspot for a zoom meeting.

Though Kazakhstan is generally safe, you should still get travel insurance, especially with the current political climate. For this trip, I went with Tiq Travel Insurance as they pay out upon a 3-hour flight delay, even without submitting a claim. This was pretty important as we had transfer flights on this trip!

Ascension Cathedral

The Ascension Cathedral (also known as Zenkov Cathedral) is a Russian Orthodox cathedral made out of wood. Its distinctive bright colours make it one of the most stunning and unique piece of architecture in Almaty.

You can enter the cathedral, free-of-charge, but ladies are required to cover their hair. Scarves are provided at the entrance.

The ambience in the church was solemn and there weren’t many other tourists around. Photos are allowed but please be mindful as most visitors are there to pay their respect.

Opening hours: 7am – 7pm Address: Gogol St 40в, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan

Panfilov Park

Panfilov Park honours the 28 soldiers of an Almaty infantry unit who died fighting off the Nazis during World War 2.

From the Ascension Cathedral, which is located in Panfilov Park, it is about a 100m walk to where you will see a giant monument of that commemorates the guardsmen. You can also type “Memorial of Glory” if you’re using Google Maps to find your way.

Charyn Canyon

Charyn Canyon (also known as Sharyn Canyon) is often known as the Grand Canyon of Kazakhstan, with a unique blend of rugged terrain, towering sandstone formations, and a meandering river.

The most straightforward path to explore the canyon, also known as the Valley of Castles, is about 2.5km long that leads you to the river. It is a relatively flat walk and can be completed in about 30 minutes one way. If you do not want to walk, you can also choose to take a van.

We walked one way and took the van on the return trip. The van cost about ₸500 one way. There is no proper queuing system in place for the van. Everyone has a queue number on the van ticket and you’ll just have to constantly check with the staff if you’re on the next van. The staff speaks Kazak and Russian, so the language-barrier may cause some problems, but our guide took care of everything for us.

To get a van ticket, find a staff wearing military-looking uniform. He will be hanging around the areas where the huts are, at the end of the path of the Valley of Castles. You will know when you get there as there will be many people hanging around/in the huts.

Charyn Canyon is a 3 hour drive from Almaty. If you’re unable to drive, its best to go with a tour group or to hire a private guide like we did as there aren’t any public transport options.

Tip: Wear a cap and bring water as it can get really hot in summer

Entrance fee: 730₸ (covered in the private tour)

Traditional Lunch At A Guest House

We stopped by Alban Guest House in Saty Village on the way to our next destination, and got acquainted with the local food like Manti and Barusak. The guesthouse was simple, but clean, and made for a really good toilet break. Alban Guest House also offers overnight accommodations but you’ll have to contact them directly to book.

Note: Food in Kazakhstan is heavily focused on horse meat, mutton and beef. You won’t be able to find pork as majority of its population is Muslim.

Check out Carrie’s detailed post about the food in Kazakhstan if you want to find out more!

Kolsay Lakes National Park

Kolsay Lakes (sometimes spelled Kolsai), is a hour’s drive from Charyn Canyon and just a short drive from Alban Guest House. There are 3 lakes, with the first lake being just a 500m walk downslope from the carpark. The second and third lakes are quite a hike away, so unless you have an extra day to spare, I would skip it.

We took a walk around the first lake and rented a peddle boat for ₸10,000/hour. It took us about an hour to peddle across the lake and back.

Tip: As the area sits on a high elevation of 1800m, bring warm clothes or a jacket, even in the summer. It gets chilly at night and when it rains.

Entrance fee: 806₸ (covered in the private tour)

Sleep @ Kolsay Lakes Town

We stayed a night at the lakes and chose Kolsay Lakes Town as our accommodation for the night. As there were 4 of us, we got the Junior Suite (≈ 67,000₸/night), which was small cabin but sufficient for a night. Kolsay Lakes Town was right by the first lake. We started our day at 7am the next day and had the whole area to ourselves!

Note: if you do choose to stay here, sleep in long pants as the sheets might be dirty, my friend had an itch the entire night.

The accommodation cost is not included in the private tour.

Kaindy Lake

Have you seen a forest in a lake? Because that’s what Kaindy Lake is — a forest frozen in water. Kaindy Lake was formed after an earthquake formed a natural dam, causing rainwater to fill the area and submerging the forest.

There are various paths to get to the lake and the paths do contain some steep slopes. It can also be very muddy and slippery when it rains, so wear proper trekking shoes with good grip!

Kaindy Lake is a short drive away from Kolsay Lakes. However, it is a rough, bumpy 20-minute drive from the main road to the entrance of the lake.

Tip: Take motion sickness pills if you’re prone to motion sickness.

If you’re doing a self-drive and do not have a 4-wheeler, you can take a van to where the hike starts. I’d still recommend getting a guide as it is not an easy lake to get to. There are few road signs and also few signs along the trail.

Black Canyon

On our way back to Almaty, we did a quick pitstop to view Black Canyon, which is a smaller canyon part of Charyn Canyon. Unlike the Valley of Castles we visited on day 2, you cannot walk through the canyon and can only view it from the roadside. To get to the Black Canyon viewpoint, you can use these coordinates .

You can also choose to see the Black Canyon together with the Valley of Castles as they are in close proximity.

Drive Back to Almaty

We stopped by Complex Zhibek Zholy on our way back to Almaty. There are a few Zhibek Zholy branches along the way back to the city and this is a great rest stop for road-trippers. If you do drop by, be sure to try the dry lagman, which is a traditional dish with Uyghur origins. Lagman is a thick hand-pulled noodle, usually made with meat and vegetables.

Shymbulak (also known as Chimbulak) is a ski resort 40-minutes from Almaty. Despite it being a ski resort, there are still activities available when it’s not snowing.

During the off-ski season, visitors can take the chairlift or cable car for a panoramic view of the area and hiking is a popular activity during the summer.

Tip: As Shymbulak sits at an elevation of 2,200m, it is advisable to spend some time in Medeu before heading over so that your body is able to acclimatise. Drinking more water also helps, as blood can thicken at high altitudes, so water helps “thin” the blood. Bring medication if needed, but it’s best to consult your doctor before the trip , especially if you’ve never visited a place of such high elevation!

Along the way to Shymbulak, you will pass by Medeu, where the world’s highest ice skating rink is located. However, it is only open during winter, so if you’re visiting during winter, you can skate at Medeu!

The Medeu Dam is also a popular spot for admiring the view.

Getting to Shymbulak

There are a few ways to get up to Shymbulak, but the most straightforward way is by cable car. Take a taxi or drive to the Medeu-Shymbulak station and purchase your cable car tickets there, around 500m from the ice rink. As the price of tickets changes, do check the Shymbulak website for updated prices.

Car/Self-drive

You can drive up to Shymbulak, but only if you have an electric vehicle (EV). The EV must also be registered. If your car is not an EV, you’ll have to leave your car at the Medeu.

You can get a taxi from the Medeu ice rink into Shymbulak and it costs 3,000₸ per taxi.

RealKZ does a great job at detailing the various ways of getting to Shymbulak, check out the guide on their website for more detailed instructions.

Taxis are the best transport option. It is very easy to get a taxi on the Yandex Go app and you often can get a car in less than 10 minutes. You can also pay via cash if you order a taxi on the app. Just make sure you have the exact amount as drivers often don’t carry cash since the country is majorly cashless.

Public Transport

In the words of my Kazakh friends — just don’t. The train system only covers a small area in Almaty. Public transport timings are also unreliable.

Driving is also a good option, but it can be tough to find parking space, especially around popular sites and restaurants.

When is the best time to visit Kazakhstan?

This largely depends on what you want to do. If you want to visit sites and do road trips comfortably, the best times to visit Kazakhstan would be the periods of April – May and September – October, when the weather is not too hot or cold. If you’re a fan of skiing or snowsports in general, I would recommend going in winter as Kazakhstan has great facilities for them.

How cheap or expensive is Kazakhstan?

A rough estimate of average daily expenses in Kazakhstan is around 23,000₸, or USD50, excluding accommodations.

Do I need cash in Kazakhstan?

Credit cards are widely accepted in Kazakhstan. In fact, the country has gone almost cashless. It is still good to carry some cash with you in case of emergencies. For example, we had to pay in cash for some toilets we visited during our road trip.

What is the currency is accepted in Kazakhstan?

The currency in Kazakhstan is the Kazakhstani tenge (₸). The most widely accepted currencies at currency exchanges in Kazakhstan are the American Dollar USD, Euro (EUR) and Russian Ruble (RUB).

What is the main religion in Kazakhstan?

Most identify as Muslims in Kazakhstan. As such you will also not be able to find pork in most eateries.

I hope you found this Kazakhstan Itinerary useful. If you have more spots to recommend, please drop them in the comments!

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored. There are affiliate links but all opinions remain my own.

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