Kazakhstan
A land for wanderers



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.
Hidden gems in Kazakhstan
Shymkent
Wander through fields of tulips in Aksu-Zhabagly
Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve, in the mountains south of Shymkent, has excellent guides and a pioneering homestay programme that will see you overwhelmed with well-intentioned Kazakh cooking. The amazing fauna and flora is, however, the real reason to visit and you should try to time your trip to coincide with the blossoming of tulips. It is nothing short of a dream to see wild horses roam across the rainbow fields during April and May.
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Wander through fields of tulips in Aksu-Zhabagly
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Kazakhstan tours


Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan Unwrapped
Explore the lakes and landscapes of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
10 days


The Silk Road Trail
Explore Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan
21 days

Best of Central Asia (Fall itinerary)
Experience the people, history and nature of the 'Five Stans
26 days From $7,160 pp

Historical Cities of Central Asia
Following in the footsteps of Marco Polo
15 days From $5,220 ppKazakhstan travel companies



