The following list highlights some of the best places to visiting in Kazakhstan. So if you are in Kazakhstan, I recommend visiting the following:
- Aksu-Zhabagly, Zhabagly, Kazakhstan
- Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan
- Tamgaly Petroglyphs, Tamgaly, Kazakhstan
- Charyn Canyon, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Baiterek, Astana, Kazakhstan
- First President Park, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Ile-Alatau National Park, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Hazrat Sultan Mosque, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
- Shymbulak, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Karkaraly National Park, Karkaraly, Kazakhstan
- Nur Astana Mosque, Astana, Kazakhstan
- Medeu, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Kolsai Lake, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Turkistan, Kazakhstan
1. Aksu-Zhabagly, Zhabagly
The Aksu Nature Reserve is the oldest known nature reserve in Kazakhstan. It borders the town of Zhabagly, on the border with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Tian Shan Mountains in their full splendour, rivers and glaciers where eagles, vultures, bears, lynx, wolves and leopards can be spotted. Apart from enjoying the local village life, it is worth coming here to trek through the mountains and connect with nature miles and miles away from civilization. It’s a most relaxing destination, and there’s not a lot of foreign tourism.
2. Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kyzylorda
Used for decades for testing missiles, rockets and supersonic aircraft, Baikonur is the Soviet, and later Russian, Cape Canaveral. It is the main launch site for Russian rockets and satellites. In the Space Museums you can see Soviet astronaut’s scapes, rockets, models of the MIR station and satellites, as well as the homes of Gagarin and Korolev, the engineer responsible for the Soviet space programme, while in the bazaar, you’ll find plenty of space-related souvenirs. If your visit coincides with a launch, you may be able to see a tremendous rocket launching a communications satellite into orbit.
3. Tamgaly Petroglyphs, Tamgaly
More than 5,000 petroglyphs on 900 hectares accumulated over 3,500 years of history from the Bronze Age to the 20th century dazzle here. The central area of Tamgaly is the most sacred. Here are the five main petroglyph groups, which together total 3,000 images. You will also see altars and enclosures with animal bones that are believed to have been part of rituals. It’s a good idea to hire a local guide to take you around the site for about two hours, but you’ll need to bring a translator. The Almaty region has harsh winters and hot summers, so it’s best to visit in spring and autumn.
4. Charyn Canyon, Almaty
It is one of the most spectacular sites in Kazakhstan for its extraordinary ochre-coloured rock formations. The impressive Charyn Canyon stretches for 154 km, but the most popular and most visited area is the 2 km long so-called Castle Valley, so called because its stone blocks are reminiscent of castle towers. In the Charyn Canyon there is a rock formation in the shape of a person with a raised right arm carrying an eagle. It is known as the guardian of the canyon. The colours the Grand Canyon takes on throughout the day range from scarlet to pink to orange at sunset, a truly magical moment.
5. Baiterek, Astana
The modern and impressive Baiterek building is the finest example of Astana’s architecture. A symbol of Kazakhstan’s creation of independence and prosperity as a sovereign state, it has quickly become the country’s best-known building and one of the capital’s main tourist attractions. This modern glass and concrete tower is more than 100 metres high, topped by a large golden sphere on a structure symbolising the 97-metre high tree, at which a viewing platform is situated. The view from the observation deck offers the visitor a splendid panoramic view of the city and inside there are restaurants and a large aquarium.
6. First President Park, Almaty
It is a perfectly maintained green area, visited mainly by students and employees of the area. In addition to the important government buildings in the vicinity, the site is an excellent starting point for a walking tour of Almaty’s main attractions. Note that, while some buildings are really interesting and photogenic, in this country you should be careful when photographing military or government offices if you want to avoid encounters with the police.
7. Ile-Alatau National Park, Almaty
Created in 1996 with the aim of preserving the mountain forest ecosystems near the Zaili Alatau mountain range, its territory is home to numerous rivers such as the Shilik, the Turgién and the Talgar. There are also a multitude of glacial and moraine lakes, such as the Great Almaty. Within the park coexist such diverse animal species as the white bear, the Siberian ram and the snow leopard. While the presence of the plant kingdom includes juniper and honeysuckle, among other species. The presence of the park encourages eco-tourism and prevents forest fires. Within the enclosure work is carried out for the conservation of the agro-biological variety of the ancestors of fruit-bearing plants such as grape, barberry and gooseberry.
8. Hazrat Sultan Mosque, Nur-Sultan
The mosque building is the best example of the combination of classical Muslim architecture and modern style. The total area of the religious complex exceeds 11 hectares. Up to 10,000 believers can pray here at the same time. It is a magnificent building with a white marble façade and traditional Kazakh ornaments. White and gleaming from afar, up close its spikes begin to play with different colours. Hazlet Sultan Mosque is one of the most beautiful mosques in Kazakhstan, a famous picturesque place in Nur-Sultan and the second largest mosque in Central Asia. Any travel agent or professional tour guide will recommend a visit to this unique structure.
9. Shymbulak, Almaty
It is the largest ski resort in Central Asia located in the upper part of the Medeu Valley in the Zailiisky Alatau mountain range, at an altitude of 2,200 metres above sea level. It is one of the most popular ski resorts in Kazakhstan, not far from Almaty, and from December to April it is the realm of winter sports. During the summer, these mountains become a paradise for hiking and cycling enthusiasts.
10. Karkaraly National Park, Karkaraly
Located in the east of the Karaganda region, the park is noted for its mountainous forest massifs, unique places of unspoilt natural beauty. A rocky chain runs through its approximately 90 000 hectares with peaks separated by gorges of up to 600 metres and landscapes as varied as high mountains, plains and river valleys. Natural formations such as Lake Shaitankop and the cave of primitive man, as well as the Kyzylkensh Palace, a Buddhist sanctuary dating back to mediaeval times, stand out.
11. Nur Astana Mosque, Astana
The Nur Astana Mosque is the second largest mosque in Central Asia after the Hazre Sultan Mosque and is an elegant decoration of the city. In the context of the surrounding modern buildings, the beautiful and magnificent architecture of this mosque blends strikingly with the futuristic city architecture. The size of the mosque is truly astonishing. Adorned on the eight skeletons supporting the dome, passers-by stop and stare. The words of the Qur’an are delicately incorporated into the intricate script. Inside the mosque is a madrasa (school) where they learn the basics of religion, the Arabic language and the Koran.
12. Medeu, Almaty
The complex is known for its huge ice rink, the largest of which covers 10,500 square metres of artificial ice and is open eight months of the year, from October to May. Training and competitions are held here for winter sports such as figure skating, speed skating, flexible hockey and more: Medeu has set more than 200 world records for men and women in various sports. The famous ski resort “Shymbulak” is located above the sports complex. From the Medeu stadium, you can go directly up to the modern Medeu – Shymbulak cable car, built for the 2011 Asian Winter Games.
13. Kolsai Lake, Almaty
The Kolsai Lake system consists of three lakes located within the Kolsai Lakes National Park, which was established in 2007. The entire area, located on the slopes of the Tian Shan Mountains, is very close to the border with Kyrgyzstan, with hiking trails starting at the Lower Kolsai Lake and ending at the northeastern end of Lake Issyk-Kul, the largest and most important lake in Kyrgyzstan. The Park’s main focus is nature conservation, which is why about 70% of the territory is completely protected and only about 15% is used for tourism and recreation. These lakes are truly wonderful, surrounded by dense coniferous forest and the panoramic views are truly beautiful.
14. Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Turkistan
The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmad Yasawi is a spectacular building located in the city of Turkestan. The mausoleum of Khoja Ahmad Yasawi is a building of pharaonic proportions. It is rectangular in shape, built with mortared and tiled brick and is crowned with the largest dome ever erected in Central Asia. The mausoleum of Khoja Ahmad Yasawi, on the other hand, contains a number of burials from the Kazakh Khanate period, including the tomb of Ablai Khan.
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