Is it a good idea to spend your summer vacation in Kazakhstan? The short answer from Kursiv LifeStyle is «Yes.» Here are the best destinations in the Almaty region, on the shore of the Caspian Sea and in the Burabay National Park.
The Almaty region mountains
After listening to all the ways that officials plan to boost the tourist industry in Kazakhstan and after President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed the cabinet to focus on just three resort areas instead of twenty, we have also started pondering tourism in Kazakhstan. According to the president, the Almaty Mountain Cluster is one of the most important directions in Kazakhstani tourism. The city of Almaty, also known as «the southern capital of Kazakhstan,» is a local cultural and tourist center that attracts thousands of tourists like a magnet. A new ski resort in the Turgen Gorge will greatly complement this potential and the state budget.
You can go to the Turgen Gorge (70 kilometers from Almaty) on a bus tour or just by car. This place is well-known for its waterfalls, woods and a complex of ancient tombs called kurgans.
Burabay National Park
The second tourist destination is the Burabay National Park, which is located 230 kilometers away from the capital city of Astana, often referred to as Kazakhstani Switzerland. The national park is famous thanks to its Blue Mountain, the Shchuchye Lake and crystal-clear air filled with the aroma of pines, which is considered to be very useful for one’s health.
Hiking lovers can go to Mount Bolek or the mystical Zhumbaktas.
Those interested in skiing can visit the National Ski Center, established in 2018 in Shchuchinsk.
It takes only 2.5 hours to get to Burabay from Astana by the Karaganda-Astana train. You can also get to this destination by plane or car via the highway from the capital city.
The Caspian Sea
The third location is the Mangystau region. Even though President Tokayev advises tourists to go to the shore of the Caspian Sea, the regional center Aktau (with a population of 200,000) has been experiencing serious problems with fresh water for years. However, there are plenty of opportunities for tanning on the beach, hiking along the rock trail and visiting the Melovoy Lighthouse.
The Mangystau region itself is rich with canyons resembling scenes from the blockbuster film Dune, along with ancient ruins and religious sightseeing attractions.
Aktau is reachable by various transportation: cars, buses, trains and planes.
Of course, there are many other beautiful places in Kazakhstan like the Lake of Balkhash, half fresh and half salty; the oasis of Bayanauyl with its rocky mountains and scenic lakes and epic Katon Karagay on the border with Russia and China that captures the imagination with its view of the Belukha Mountain, deep lakes, waterfalls and Rakhman healing springs. The national park of Katon Karagay is the biggest protected area in Kazakhstan.
For those who aren’t ready to fly, drive or sail there are several visit centers in the Almaty region: Turgensai, Ayusai, Gorelnik, Medeu, Charyn and Altyn Emel.
