Kazakhstan Travel Forum

Hi there,

We're travelling overland from China into Kazakhstan, Hoegs Pass. We will be flying home ten days from then, from Astana. Finding it really hard to get a guidebook from here, we'd love any tips or recommendations on what to do roughly in that area. After China, we'd love a little bit of countryside and nature.
Thanks a lot,

Julie

Southeastern Kazakhstan is really full of beautiful countryside and nature, so you should have a good time there. Basing yourself in Almaty is a good way to get started. There are a lot of day and multi-day trips you can take from there. The mountains are right next to Almaty, so even if you stay in the city itself, you can do excellent hiking etc. within an hour's drive.

An acquaintance of mine is part owner of a really good travel agency that specializes in Central Asia. Their website has some good ideas on what to see in the southeastern part of Kazakhstan: http://www.fantasticasia.net/?p=23&travel=Highlights%20and%20tourist%20places%20in%20Kazakhstan

Having been to Astana (about 1.5 years ago) I can say that it is probably not what you are looking for in terms of countryside and nature. I'm not sure why you would fly out of there vs. Almaty--there are probably more flights from Almaty anyway--but if you have to go, I suggest minimizing your time in Astana. The city is half old (the former provincial capital of Akmola) and half new (the showplace of Kazakhstan's increasingly grandiose president) and neither half has much to recommend it, in my opinion. Most of the new buildings are seriously garish and hideous, and the old part of town was never anything to look at. The countryside around that part of the country is pretty dull.

Hi,

Thank you for your posting, which was very interesting. Would you know how Eastern Kazakhstan is in October as I wish to spend 3-4 weeks there?

Thank you.

Garland

Thanks very much for the info. Very useful. I've just had a look at the site you mentioned, it tickles the tastebuds. Reason for flying out of Astana is purely dates and prices. But we'll keep our time there short!
Thanks again.

Julie