Kazakhstan

Dwarfing the rest of the Five 'Stans – twice the size of the other four combined – Kazakhstan is an enigmatic land, and not just for its colossal size. Combining Russian and Western influences, along with its deep nomadic traditions, this is a nation that was born on the steppe but lives very much in the modern world.

There are some interesting times to be had in the cities – not least Almaty, the capital Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana), and historical Shymkent. But the real draw here is the great outdoors. Charyn Canyon invites comparisons with the Grand Canyon and Altyn Emel National Park is the best place in Central Asia to see rare animals like ibex or wild donkeys against the backdrop of sand dunes and colourful mountains.