Welcome to

Kazakhstan

STEPPE SKIES, SILK ROAD CITIES AND TIEN SHAN LAKES

Alpine lakes, nomadic memory and futuristic architecture.

7
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTIES
14
NATIONAL PARKS
15
UNESCO BIOSPHERE RESERVES

In Kazakhstan, distance is part of the story: a horizon widens, a blue dome appears, and the road becomes the thread between them.

Follow the horizon

Kazakhstan rewards travellers who give its scale room to breathe. Almaty opens onto the Tien Shan and the lakes of Zhetysu, Astana frames the northern steppe with bold contemporary architecture, while Turkistan, Baikonur and Mangystau carry Silk Road, space and desert stories into entirely different landscapes.

CURRENT PLANNING NOTE

Every journey is confirmed against current entry requirements, seasonal access, weather conditions and transport schedules before booking and departure.

BEST SEASON
MAY–JUNE AND SEPTEMBER
SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE
TIEN SHAN LAKES, STEPPE HERITAGE AND SILK ROAD CITIES
ROUTE STYLE
PRIVATE ROAD JOURNEYS WITH SELECTED DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

Kazakhstan

in context.

Explore more of Asia

The country’s scale favours a small number of well-chosen bases rather than a continuous road itinerary. Combine Almaty and the mountain southeast with one contrasting extension—Astana and the northern steppe, Turkistan and the Silk Road south, or Mangystau’s desert plateau—using a domestic flight where distance would consume the journey.

Mountains, steppe and desert on a continental scale.
The essence

The Trans-Ili Alatau rises behind Almaty; Zhetysu holds Charyn, Kolsai, Kaindy and Altyn-Emel; the north opens into grassland and lake country; Mangystau ends in chalk cliffs and Caspian horizons.

Landscape
Tien Shan to Mangystau
Heritage
Nomadic and Silk Road
Ideal pace
10–14 nights
Match the season to the route.
When to go

Late spring and early autumn suit many classic combinations. Mountain trails and high lakes are most dependable in summer, while winter supports city breaks, skating and skiing around Almaty and Burabay.

Mountain routes
June–September
Steppe and Silk Road
April–June, September–October
Winter
December–March
Hospitality begins at the table.
Culture

Tea, baursak, besbarmak and shared dishes introduce Kazakh hospitality, while yurt craft, feltwork, music, horsemanship and eagle traditions connect contemporary life with nomadic memory.

Welcome
A shared dastarkhan
Craft
Felt, leather and silver
Languages
Kazakh and Russian
Fly the long distances; slow down on arrival.
How to travel

Use Almaty, Astana or Turkistan as practical bases, link remote regions by selected domestic flights, and allow private road days for canyons, lakes, villages and desert landscapes.

Stay style
City hotels and guesthouses
Movement
Flights and private transfers
Pacing
Two to four nights per base

THE PRACTICAL EDITION

Kazakhstan

reference notes.

01

Essentials

02

Plan well

03

Health & safety

04

Culture & etiquette

18 concise notes for a better-informed journey.

01

Essentials

The fundamentals to orient your journey.

Capital & gateway

Astana; Almaty is the main southern gateway

Time zone

UTC+5 nationwide

Languages

Kazakh is the state language; Russian is widely used

Currency & payments

Kazakhstani tenge (KZT); cards are common in cities, but carry cash for remote areas

Electricity

220V · 50Hz · types C and F

02

Plan well

 Timing, entry and movement across the country.

Climate

Kazakhstan has a strongly continental climate: summers can be hot, winters severe, and mountain weather changes quickly.

Entry & visa

Kenyan ordinary-passport holders currently require a visa. Visa requirements can change, so final requirements should be verified from official immigration or embassy sources before booking.

Getting around

Domestic flights save time between distant regions; use vetted private transfers and experienced local drivers for mountain, steppe and desert routes.

Mobile & internet

Coverage is reliable in major cities and variable in remote valleys, parks and desert areas; keep offline copies of documents and maps.

What to pack

Bring layers, sun protection and sturdy footwear; add cold-weather equipment, rain protection or trekking gear according to season and altitude.

03

Health & safety

Practical precautions for confident travel.

Altitude & exertion

Build acclimatisation and rest into mountain days, especially above Almaty and around high lakes.

Weather & distance

Carry water, warm layers and offline navigation on remote routes; conditions and driving times can change quickly.

Medical planning

Travel insurance should cover planned activities, remote-area evacuation and any winter or trekking elements.

Food & water

Use safe drinking water and allow time to adjust to rich meat and dairy dishes.

04

Culture & etiquette

The fundamentals to orient your journey.

Hospitality

Accepting tea or a small taste of food is appreciated; hosts may refill a cup frequently as a gesture of welcome.

Homes & sacred places

Follow the host’s lead about removing shoes and dress respectfully at mosques, mausoleums and memorial sites.

Photography

Ask before photographing people, ceremonies, eagle handlers or interiors.

Food culture

A dastarkhan is shared generously; baursak, besbarmak, plov, manty and fermented dairy drinks vary by region and family.

Holiday Factory reconfirms entry rules, route access, weather, transport and local operating conditions for every itinerary before booking and departure.

Regions that change the scale

Each region deserves its own pace: alpine southeast, modern steppe capital, Silk Road south, Altai east, Baikonur’s space heritage and the sculpted deserts of the Caspian west.
Almaty and Zhetysu Regions
01
Base in Almaty for leafy streets, markets and mountain access, then continue by road to Charyn Canyon, Kolsai and Kaindy lakes, the Singing Dune and the open landscapes of Altyn-Emel.
A solo traveller hiking the Singing Dune in Altyn-Emel National Park
Akmola Region and the Northern Steppe
02
Astana’s contemporary architecture pairs naturally with Burabay’s pine-fringed lakes and the wetlands of Korgalzhyn, where wide horizons define the north.
Pine-fringed lakes and granite hills in Burabay National Park, viewed from Bolektau
Turkistan and Jambyl Regions
03
The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the archaeology of Otyrar, Shymkent’s bazaars and Taraz’s Silk Road memory form the cultural spine of southern Kazakhstan.
Visitors arriving at the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in Turkistan
East Kazakhstan and Abai Regions
04
Oskemen and Semey open routes towards the Altai, Katon-Karagay, mountain lakes, forested valleys and literary history associated with Abai.
Two friends trekking beside Yazevoe Lake in Katon-Karagay National Park
Mangystau Region
05
Aktau is the practical base for Bozzhyra, Torysh, Tuzbair, underground mosques and the pale escarpments of the Ustyurt Plateau beside the Caspian.
A guided four-wheel-drive arrival beneath the white cliffs of Bozzhyra in Mangystau
Kyzylorda Region
06
Kyzylorda, the Syr Darya and Baikonur add Aral Sea history, steppe settlements and spaceflight heritage; access to Baikonur requires advance arrangements and current permissions.
A fishing boat crossing Lake Kamystybas in the Syr Darya delta

DON'T MISS

Sunrise among Charyn’s stone towers

Enter the Valley of Castles early, before the heat and day visitors build, then pause at the rim as the low sun draws out the canyon’s red, amber and ash-grey walls.

PACKING NOTE

Pack for altitude, sun and long horizons

Use light breathable layers for warm lowlands, a warm mid-layer and rain shell for mountain weather, sturdy closed footwear for canyon and desert surfaces, and winter equipment when the route includes snow or sub-zero conditions.

Kazakhstan beyond the city gateways

Read the destination story

A SIGNATURE PRIVATE JOURNEY

Twelve nights across mountain, steppe and Silk Road

A focused first journey links Almaty’s mountain hinterland, Astana’s northern steppe and Turkistan’s living heritage. Domestic flights protect time between regions; private road days reveal canyons, lakes, villages and archaeological landscapes at a pace that leaves room for local meals and interpretation.
4 nights

Settle into Almaty, explore its markets and architecture, then use full road days for Charyn Canyon and the Kolsai–Kaindy lake country.

Almaty and the Tien Shan
3 nights

Fly north for Astana’s contemporary landmarks, then add Burabay or the Korgalzhyn wetlands according to season and interests.

Astana and Akmola Region
3 nights

Fly to Turkistan or Shymkent for the Yasawi mausoleum, Otyrar, regional bazaars and a locally guided reading of southern history.

Turkistan and the Silk Road South
2 nights

Protect the itinerary with realistic transfer time, a flexible weather buffer and the final city stay required by international flight schedules.

Route buffer and departures

Let Kazakhstan widen your idea of a holiday.

Plan Kazakhstan with a specialist