Almaty Travel Forum

Looking for a dry, pleasant June destination linked by a discount airline from Dubai

I am spending the Spring in Iran, and in June I am changing flights in Dubai to somewhere dry, and pleasant serviced by one of the discount airlines operating in the UAE.

My research shows Air Arabia flies to

Almaty, Kazakhstan (near beautiful Kyrgyzstan)
Lebanon
Nepal

All three of these destinations appeal to me but Nepal's rainy monsoon season begins in June, and I don't want to be there when it's raining.

Lebanon, and Kazakhstan have the nicest weather during summer, but I think Canadians need a visa to go to Kazakhstan, like a real visa (pre-arranged at the Kazakh embassy either in Tehran, or Dubai). Also, it sounds difficult to arrange, and really expensive. Does anyone know the cost of 1 month tourist visa for Canadians going to Kazakhstan? I am only interested in Almaty, and then I want to cross the border to Kyrgyz, then Uzbek, and Tajik. I'd like to do a little circle, and end up back in Almaty again, only because Air Arabia flies from there. I could also be interested in a land crossing entering Tibet, but I don't know if that's possible for foreigners. Regarding a Kazakh visa, perhaps a 3 day transit visa is enough? See Almaty, and then hop the border to Bishkek?

Air India Express flies Dubai to Amritsar, India, and I know India is HOT in June, but if I start in Amritsar, and head NORTH to Kashmir, maybe there is an international border/crossing (along with land transport) to Tibet? Of Course, then I need a Chinese visa/permit, and where to get that in Amritsar, or Kashmir?

If I go to India, I prefer to go high in altitude because it is June, and I don't want to be at sea level, especially in a big city like Mumbai or Dehli. I just hope Northwestern India is relatively dry in June.

Ok so Air Arabia, or Air India Express, and there are a couple other airlines flying to really HOT places like Phillipines, but since it's June, I didn't include any tropical destinations.

So, please let me know which destination you think is best for June, and then from there, into the Summer.

Lebanon, Almaty, Kazakhstan, or Nepal (rainy?) on AA
or Northwestern India on AIA

I also have the option of entering Turkmenistan, or Armenia by road after Iran (I think June could be a good time in either place), but Turkmenistan doesn't seem to have any Couchsurfers, which is how I travel. No hotels, ever.

Let me know your thoughts about June.

Hi

I am currently in Almaty and I would say your plan to visit here is a great one. There are mountains and lakes on your doorstep. The city itself is worth a wander around too.

If you get a 72hr transit visa you will need to provide proof of onward travel and visas if required.
sadly yu are also going to require avisa for both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan as well as Tajikistan. All a bit of pain really.

If you wan tany more info on Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan give me a shout and I'll be happy to help.
Andy

hi, I am looking forward to the natural landscape photography, if I go in June, my trip is all via bus/train, starting in Iran, where I will get my Turkment transit visa, then to Ashghabat for the Uzbek tourist visa, to Tashkent for the Tajik tourist visa, Dushanbe, and Kyrgyzstan is visa on arrival for Canadians (the only one), and finally Bishkek, to get my Kazakh tourist visa, then to Almaty, and from Almaty, Air Arabia takes me out.

How's the summer weather?

Hi,

My name is Alisher. I'm Kazakh living in Almaty (however planning to move to Europe and than to South America soon). Read your message and would like to help with some advices. First of all, unfortunately you do need visas for all Central Asian countries. The easiest way to do Kazakh visa obtained at the airport is to do business visa. Just talked to one travel agency that assists foreigners obtaining it. you need to fill in application form (got it but can't attach it to this message), email or fax them copy of your passport and pay them USD200 to arrange you visa through Kazakh Foreign affairs office (they are using their links in it as officially it will take much longer to obtain the visa). Once you've been approved, you will get visa upon arrival to Almaty Airport
I give you email address of a guy from "IT PLus" Travel agency who's name is Islam -visa@itplus.kz who can assist you in all visa issues.

Can send you application form to your email. Pls write me on alisher2000@yahoo.com for any questions you have

rgds,
Alisher

200 dollars to enter Kazakh for 1 or 2 weeks, no thank you.

Your itenerary looks fantastic. It should be an amazing trip.

I have not been in the region in the summer, but it can get pretty darn hot. But most transport for long distance travel appears to have air-con, whether it works or not is another matter ;-) There are usually plenty of places to pick up water while travelling so that's OK.

The good thing around Almaty is that if it istoo hot in the city, you can be in the mountains in 40mins where it will feel much nicer.

Good luck with the planning and visas, I am very jealous of your plans.

All the best
Andrew

hi! Kazakhstan is ok in june! +25C and sometime rainy.
visa cost is 60$ in KZ consulate in Dubai if u have an invitation letter. without it they won't accept ur papers! to obtain an invitation from KZ u need sombdy there to send it to u. it will take abt a month for u to wait, the processing is abt a month in Ministry of Internal Affairs or in police in KZ for an invitation letter.
the better is to apply through an agent in Dubai. the last time it cost me abt 190$ for KZ visa for 1 month.
yes, Air Arabia the best to Astana and Almaty! cheapest! abt 450$ return ticket. there is one more from Abu Dhabi, think Al Jazeera or smting like that.
u will enjoy Almaty with mountains Medeo and beatiful newly build Astana!
cheers......
in common

Alisher! almost all western nationalities require a PRE-arrival visa to KZ! exept CIS, Turkey, Iran, Mongolia and some more neighboring countries!

song99!
u do not need an invitation letter if u're from west europe, USA, Canada etc..
just walk in to KZ consulate in Dubai (04-2242462), submit ur pass, photo, and fill in the form and abt 60$ visa charge, and get ur visa ready the next day, sometimes the same day! i checked!
for further details: http://portal.mfa.kz/portal/page/portal/mfa/en/content/consular/visa_info

Canadians don't need a letter of invitation for a single entry tourist visa, so you certainly don't need to go through an agency. Be careful which land border you use as some of them don't register you with OVIR so you have to go to the office and do it within 72hrs. Arriving at a main airport gets it done automatically. I think the land border to Kyrgyzstan near Almaty is OK, but the one nearest to Shymkent not. Almaty itself is very polluted now and the traffic jams have to be seen to be believed. Shymkent is very nice and the air drier. Have a great time!