Quite prosperous and well-developed compared to some of its neighbors, Kazakhstan is a showcase for Central Asia’s untrammeled grandeur. Hikers, trekkers, wildlife-watchers, and photographers can revel in sublime steppe wilderness, while long traditions of nomadism, empire-making, and warmongering that have flavored this Silk Road frontier-crossroads intrigue those with a more historical bent.
Kazakhstan has some of Eurasia’s most beautiful landscape: stark Caspian Sea beaches, glacier-clad Tian Shan horns, the desert dunes of the south, and—most iconic of all—relentlessly unfurling steppes, the sort of topographic blank you might expect a thunderous horde to blacken at any second. As little-known as they are, Kazakhstan’s national parks and reserves can more than hold their own with any on Earth. Aksu Canyon in the Tian Shan Mountains of Aksu-Djabagly Nature Reserve, the singing sands of Altyn-Emel National Park, the granite hoodoos of Karkaraly National Park—there are some truly breathtaking geological landmarks on display. Depending on the region, you may glimpse some striking wildlife, too: steppe wolves, golden eagles, lynx, brown bears, red deer, great bustards, Caspian seals, and others.
Such romantic landscapes synchronize well with traditional Kazakh culture, woven as it is with Turkic, Sarmatian, Hun, and other ancient strands. Tough-as-nails ponies, trained hunting eagles, grassland yurts—these are indelible archetypes, but only one brand of Kazakh heritage, the stretch of which goes well beyond its geographic borders. Just as representative are ornate mosques and cathedrals as well as the glitzy commercial and entertainment districts of Astana and Almaty.
In short, Kazakhstan facilitates some freewheeling time travel with its marriage of big-city prosperity, devout religious customs, and animistic pastoralism. And with the expansive vistas and fresh air of its gorgeous backcountry, it’s a place that’ll make you feel on the cusp of great discoveries over each mountain pass or steppeland knoll.
10 things not to miss.
- Charyn CanyonVisit Charyn Canyon
- Eat in Almaty's apple countryEat in Almaty's apple country
- Astana's space-age skylineSee Astana's space-age skyline
- Aksu-Zhabagly Nature ReserveImmerse yourself in Tian Shan Mountains wilderness: wild-apple groves, the Aksu Canyon’s deep rend, the high haunts of snow leopards.
- Katon-Karagay National ParkMarvel at the scale of the Altai Mountains here, where rivers drain snowy peaks and wolves, argali, and snow leopards roam.
- Lake BalkhashThreatened by industry and climate change, this massive lake—one of Asia’s biggest—includes both freshwater and saline arms.
- Central Mosque of AlmatyBuilt of marble and tile and crowned by a regal dome, this is one of the country’s largest mosques.
- Zenkov CathedralAlmaty’s brightly colored Russian Orthodox cathedral ranks as the world’s second-tallest wooden building.
- Baikonur CosmodromeThe first manmade satellite (Sputnik 1) and manned spaceflight (Vostok 1) launched from this huge Russian facility on the Kazakh steppes.
- Tamgaly-TasThe “Written Rocks” of the Ili River feature enigmatic Buddhist inscriptions and petroglyphs carved into cliffs.
