Almaty

The most populated city in Kazakhstan and former capital, Almaty is surrounded by mountains, with streets lined by trees and parks scattered across the city.

The large, circular, Arasan baths are a great place to relax and popular tourist sites are the colourful Zenkov cathedral, located in Panfilov Park, Gorky Central Park and museums including Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Folk Musical Instruments.

The nearby snow-capped Ili-Alatau mountains make it easy to escape the crowds for hiking during warmer months, with roaming bears, shimmering lakes and a sea of firs. In winter, you can go skiing at Shymbulak resort, with a cable car to take you up the mountain.

Charyn Canyon is worth the trip out of the city, although smaller than the Grand Canyon, the red sandstone has been carved out by weather and offers spectacular views, with a river running through that attracts adventure sport enthusiasts for whitewater rafting and canoeing.