Kazakhstan, land of vast horizons
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Explore Kazakhstan, a jewel of Central Asia.
Discover breathtaking landscapes and a rich culture.
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Kazakhstan: an adventure in the heart of Central Asia
Off the beaten path:
Generally speaking, in Kazakhstan, as soon as you venture more than 10 km away from a railway or bus station, you will be off the beaten path. From a tourism perspective, the country is still in its infancy, and while hordes of businessmen already explore the region for its gas and oil resources, countless tourist treasures remain hard to access. In the Aktau region, many fortresses and underground mosques are still awaiting their archaeologists. In the Altai Mountains, there are hardly more than 200 visitors per year, most of whom are researchers or bird enthusiasts. Added to this are regions that have long been off-limits, such as Semey, due to nuclear testing, Baikonur for rocket launches, or Karaganda for the gulags. These are stops where you will be among the first Westerners to set foot, enriching any stay with a unique sense of discovery. The trade-off will be arming yourself with patience to get there: infrastructures are in their infancy and tourists can expect little help from local agencies except when it comes to booking tickets.
Between Nomadic Traditions and Russian Influences
In Kazakhstan, although located in Central Asia, one does not really leave the Russian influence. The vast steppes are Kazakh, but the cities retain a Russian character. This duality offers the unique opportunity to navigate between two worlds and cultures. The transition is subtle, with a strong Russian presence in the north and in Almaty, while the Kazakhs dominate the steppe. This is one of the reasons why President Nazarbayev moved the capital to the north.
Among the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, Kazakhstan maintains close ties with Moscow. Russian remains an official language alongside Kazakh. The cities, although they have regained their original names, retain a marked Russian influence. Some neighborhoods are more reminiscent of Moscow or Saint Petersburg than the traditional image of nomadic territories.
Lovers of the Steppe
Here is your paradise on earth. The steppe covers 82% of Kazakhstan's 2.7 million square kilometers. Knowing that the country's average density is 6 inhabitants per km², lovers of solitude and vast infinite spaces will have no trouble deciding to leave. By train, it is possible to cross the country in three days without seeing a single person through the window, apart from the small stopover villages.
To fully enjoy this and walk a small part of it, you will nevertheless need solid organization or the support of a reliable local agency, as no tourist infrastructure has yet developed in what constitutes the very clear majority of the country.
A Country of Contrasts and Discoveries
If Central Asia is the most landlocked region in the world and the most distant from any free sea, Kazakhstan, on the other hand, has two seas on its borders. The Aral Sea, which it shares with Uzbekistan, is tending to rise from its ashes. However, even with the current efforts, it will take many years for it to return to the level of the 1960s, if that is even possible one day. Beach tourism in the Aralsk region thus remains unlikely. On the other hand, the Caspian Sea offers opportunities. Around Aktau, some beaches are beginning to organize with hotels, sun loungers, and parasols, particularly appreciated in summer when the thermometer can rise up to 50°C.
Remnants of the Cold War
History enthusiasts will find their happiness in Kazakhstan thanks to the numerous sites to visit, each being a unique testimony of the Cold War and the development of the USSR. The Baikonur Cosmodrome evokes the race to the stars, the Semipalatinsk quadrilateral that to armaments, Aralsk tells the story of the disappearance of the Aral Sea, and Karaganda houses memories of the gulags. Many agencies have understood that the dramas that have struck these regions can now constitute a major tourist asset. Although organization and security make access to places like Baikonur or Kurchatov difficult, these visits remain possible and, of course, captivating.
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