Top Things to Do and See in Kazakhstan

Why Kazakhstan?

Kazakhstan stretches from the Caspian Sea to the Tian Shan mountains, mixing nomadic heritage, Soviet history and bold modern architecture. Distances are vast, so plan flights or trains between regions. Here are the highlights worth your time.

Marvel at Astana's skyline

The capital (officially Astana again) is a showcase of ambitious design. Climb the Baiterek Tower for views over the city, see the pyramid-shaped Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, and visit the tent-shaped Khan Shatyr mall. Entry to Baiterek is around 1,500 tenge.

Explore Almaty

The former capital sits against the mountains and is the country's cultural heart. Ride the cable car up Kok-Tobe hill, wander the Green Bazaar, and admire the candy-colored Ascension Cathedral in Panfilov Park, one of the world's tallest wooden buildings.

Skate or hike at Medeu and Shymbulak

Just above Almaty, Medeu is the world's highest Olympic-size ice rink at 1,691 m. A cable car continues to Shymbulak, a ski resort that becomes a hiking base in summer with sweeping Zailiysky Alatau views.

Stand inside Charyn Canyon

Often called Kazakhstan's Grand Canyon, Charyn Canyon lies about 200 km east of Almaty. Walk the Valley of Castles, a 2 km gorge of red sandstone towers carved over millions of years, then camp under the stars.

See the singing dunes of Altyn-Emel

Altyn-Emel National Park holds the Singing Dune, a 150 m sand mountain that hums in the wind, plus the colorful Aktau chalk mountains and ancient petroglyphs.

Reach the Kolsai Lakes and Kaindy

The three Kolsai Lakes sit amid spruce forests near the Kyrgyz border. Nearby, Lake Kaindy is famous for the eerie submerged spruce trunks rising from its turquoise water after a 1911 earthquake.

Visit Turkestan and the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi

In the south, the UNESCO-listed Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in Turkestan is a masterpiece of Timurid architecture and a major pilgrimage site.

Discover Big Almaty Lake

A short drive from Almaty, Big Almaty Lake is a vivid turquoise reservoir ringed by peaks at 2,500 m, one of the most photographed spots in the country.

Step back at the Baikonur and steppe history

History buffs can learn about the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the world's first and largest space launch facility, while the steppe around it tells the story of nomadic Kazakh culture.

Stay connected in Kazakhstan

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