The Land of Kazakhstan is Blessed by the Mother Nature

The territory of Kazakhstan is awesomely one of the blessed countries by the nature in form of snow-clad mountains, singing sand dunes, glittering lakes, challenging glaciers, grazing steppes, and preserved wildlife sanctuaries. The country shares its borders with the Russian Federation, the Caspian Sea, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China.

Inhabited in the southeast and east of the Republic, the country is the frequently throng land of the nomads since centuries. My friends and I booked our holidays with the help of a guided tour to the most famous places here.

Kazakhstan Tourist Attractions

South Kazakhstan

This is the focal point of the Central Asian history and culture. Amazingly, it seems that all four vital seasons can be felt here in just 24 hours. The most strange attraction here is the thousands of miles desert whose part is known as the ‘Singing Barkhan’ that is the sand dune stretching 3 km at the height of 80 m that upon shifting produces a singing sound. Other visiting scenic sights here are the snowy peaks and glaciers of the Tien Shan range.

In this range at the southeast expanding over 1,500 km, do not miss the stunning mountainous scenery at the highest peaks – Pobeda Peak (7,439 m) and Khan-Tengri Peak (7,010 m). I was soaked in the marvel of the giant Inylchek Glacier that was some 60 km in height and its sparkling Mertzbakher Lake. Lastly, do not miss the mystery of the three blue mountain lakes designated as the ‘pearls of the northern Tien-Shan’ in the Kungei Alatau range along with the Kolsai Lakes.

Almaty

This is the former capital city of broad avenues, fresh fountains, parks and squares, and splendid mountainous scenery. Here, we explored the Panfilov Park famous for its tallest wooden building made only from a nail, the Zenkov Cathedral previously an exhibition hall, St. Nicholas Cathedral, New Square where national ceremonies and parades are held, nearby City Hall – the president’s home, and the Obelisk of Independence.

The museums we enjoyed here are the Museum of Kazakh National Instruments, the Central State Museum, and the State Art Museum especially for wondering at the collections of traditional rugs, jewelry, and clothing.

Speaking about the baths, the Arasan Baths at the west of Panfilov Park is simply welcoming with the Eastern, Finnish, and Russian saunas.

We entered the new Almaty Ballet Theatre to view a ballet or orchestral performance. Lastly, we found the Almaty Natural reserve located in the Tian Shan Mountains to spot snow leopards, jeirans, gazelles, arkhars, and the unique Tjan-Shan fir tree.

If you are interested in winter sports, go to the nearby tall Zaili Alatau Mountains and approach its winter sports complex of Chimbulak for skiing. This complex conducts many outdoor activities all round the year. Skating is also popular in the nearby Medeu ice-skating rink, which is the biggest speedy rink on the planet.

Central Kazakhstan

Consecrated with far stirring places, we explored one of the largest lake on the planet known as the Lake Balkhash that is proportionately saline and fresh. Then, we discovered some archaeological and ethnographic sites of Bronze Age, Early Iron Age, and New Stone Age in the Karkarala Oasis.

Next, we headed towards the Bayan-Aul National Park that has rock pictures, stone carvings, shining tidy lakes, and pines affixing the rocks. Lastly, we were lucky enough to see the Baikonur Cosmodrome that is at 5 km from the Leninsk city and 230 km from Kzil-Orda. This cosmodrome rivals Cape Canaveral where we saw space launches. What we were unaware was the fact that it was perhaps this site from where Yuri Gagarin took off to explore the space, the world’s first cosmonaut. Today also, spaces launches still take off from here.

West Kazakhstan

This is the crossroad where the continents Europe and Asia shake hands in the basin of the Caspian Sea. Here, we were stunned to see the Karagie Depression that is the second lowest on the planet at 132 m beneath the sea level. The nearby Ustiurt reserve is the chalk-cliffed one that is the largest in the country. Offering some architectural heritages, I could discover the subterranean cross-shaped Shakpak-Ata Mosque made from rock somewhere in the 12th to 14th century.

Astana

This is the capital of the country since 1997 as it tactical location is more reachable by the Russian Federation and that there is less danger of earthquakes in comparison with Almaty, the old capital. The natural reserve of Kurgaldjino is the home of the pink flamingo and 300 plants, while the other reserve of Naurzum is full of salt lakes, forests, old pines, sands, salt-marsh beds, meadows, and extinct animals such as the hisser swans and grave eagles.

East Kazakhstan

This area is full of snow-clad peaks, forested ravines, and eye-catching cedar forests. We first headed towards the Lake Marakol that is the answer of the Central Asia to the Russia’s Lake Baikal. Then, we explored the Semipalatinsk city located at a distance of 30 km from Siberia, which was once a Russian exile where Dostoyevsky was sentenced so and holds his house. This house is converted into a museum that exhibits notes for Crime and Punishment and The Idiot.

We lastly took a tour of a few worth visiting museums – the Abai Kununbaev Museum and the History Museum. If you have time, do not miss a visit to the Ust-Kamenogorsk town – the land of mines and the passage to the Altai Mountains. At Ust-Kamenogorsk, you can grab the opportunity to view the ice hockey games.

Altai Mountains

Here, we visited two natural reserves namely, the West-Altai and Marakol. The West-Altai natural reserve holds 16 types of forests, 30 different mammals, and 120 varied birds. On the other hand, Marakol, in the southern base, houses 232 different kinds of birds, 59 various animals, and over 700 types of plants.

Best Time to Visit

One can visit the country at any time during the year, but with full information and arrangements. However, the preferred time in the year is from May to September. If you are looking out for trekking, then July, August, and September are the ideal months best for the southeastern and eastern mountains.

Kazakhstan Accommodations

In Almaty:

• Hyatt Regency Hotel – 5 star
• Intercontinental Hotel – 5 star
• Hotel Kazakhstan – 4 star
• Tien Shan Grand Hotel – 4 star
• Ambassador Hotel Kazakhstan – 3 star

In Astana:

• Intercontinental Hotel
• Rixos President Hotel
• Soonkar Hotel Kazakhstan