Top 50 Best places you must visit in Kazakhstan
Top 50 Best places you must visit in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is a country in Central Asia, bordered by Russia to the north, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan to the south, and the Caspian Sea to the west. It is the world’s largest landlocked country and the ninth-largest country in the world in terms of land area. The country has a diverse landscape, ranging from flat steppes and deserts to the Tian Shan mountain range and the Altai Mountains.
Kazakhstan is a multi-ethnic country with a population of over 18 million people. The official language is Kazakh, and Russian is also widely spoken. The country’s capital city is Nur-Sultan (formerly known as Astana), and its largest city is Almaty.
Kazakhstan is known for its rich cultural heritage, which is a blend of various ethnic traditions. The country is also known for its vast mineral resources, particularly oil, and gas, which are major contributors to the country’s economy. Kazakhstan has made significant progress in economic development since its independence in 1991, and it is now classified as an upper-middle-income country by the World Bank.
Tourism is also becoming increasingly important to Kazakhstan’s economy, as the country offers a wide range of attractions, from historical sites to natural wonders. Some of the most popular tourist destinations include Almaty, Astana, Shymkent, Charyn Canyon, Big Almaty Lake, and Tamgaly Tas.
Here are The Top 50 Best places you must visit in Kazakhstan
1. Almaty
Almaty is the largest city in Kazakhstan and is situated in the southeastern part of the country, at the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. It was the country’s capital until 1997 when the capital was moved to Astana (now Nur-Sultan). Almaty is known for its beautiful natural surroundings, vibrant cultural scene, and modern amenities.
2. Astana (Nur-Sultan)
Astana, now known as Nur-Sultan, is the capital city of Kazakhstan. Located in the north-central part of the country, it became the capital in 1997, replacing Almaty. The city is known for its futuristic architecture, modern infrastructure, and cultural landmarks.
3. Shymkent
Shymkent is the third-largest city in Kazakhstan, located in the southern part of the country, close to the Uzbekistan border. The city has a rich history and is known for its cultural landmarks and natural beauty.
4. Aktau
Aktau is a port city located in the southwestern part of Kazakhstan, on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. The city is the capital of the Mangystau Region and has a population of over 190,000 people.
Aktau is known for its beautiful beaches and scenic coastal landscapes, as well as its rich cultural and historical heritage. The city has a long and fascinating history, dating back to ancient times when it was an important center of trade and commerce along the Silk Road.
5. Atyrau
Atyrau is a city in western Kazakhstan, located at the confluence of the Ural River and the Caspian Sea. It is an important industrial and transportation center and is known for its oil and gas industry.
6. Karaganda
Karaganda is a city located in the central part of Kazakhstan, known for its mining and metallurgical industries. It is also a cultural and educational center, with several universities and museums.
7. Taraz
Taraz is a city located in southern Kazakhstan, known for its rich history and cultural heritage. It was an important center of the ancient Silk Road and has many historic sites and monuments.
8. Kokshetau
Kokshetau is a city located in northern Kazakhstan, known for its beautiful natural scenery and recreational opportunities. It is a popular destination for outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, and skiing.
9. Kostanay
Kostanay is a city located in northern Kazakhstan, known for its industrial and agricultural heritage. It is also a cultural and educational center, with several universities and museums.
10. Kyzylorda
Kyzylorda is a city located in southern Kazakhstan, known for its rich history and cultural heritage. It is situated along the Syr Darya River and was an important stop on the ancient Silk Road.
11. Pavlodar
Pavlodar is a city located in northeastern Kazakhstan, known for its industrial and cultural heritage. It is situated along the Irtysh River and is an important center for transportation and commerce.
12. Semey
Semey, also known as Semipalatinsk, is a city located in northeastern Kazakhstan, known for its rich history and cultural heritage. It is situated along the Irtysh River and was an important stop on the ancient Silk Road.
13. Aktobe
Aktobe is a city located in western Kazakhstan, known for its rich history and cultural heritage. It is situated on the banks of the Ilek River and is an important center for transportation and commerce.
14. Taldykorgan
Taldykorgan is a city located in southeastern Kazakhstan, known for its natural beauty and cultural heritage. It is situated in the foothills of the Tian Shan Mountains and is an important center for transportation and commerce.
15. Zerenda
Zerenda is a town located in northern Kazakhstan, known for its beautiful natural scenery and historic landmarks. It is situated near Lake Zerenda, which is a popular tourist destination for its crystal clear waters and surrounding mountains.
16. Bayanaul
Bayanaul is a town located in northern Kazakhstan, known for its stunning natural scenery and historic landmarks. It is situated near Bayanaul National Park, which is a popular tourist destination for its beautiful lakes, mountains, and forests.
17. Burabay
Burabay, also known as Borovoe, is a resort town located in northern Kazakhstan, known for its stunning natural scenery and outdoor recreational activities. It is situated near Burabay National Park, which is a popular tourist destination for its beautiful lakes, mountains, and forests.
18. Charyn Canyon
Charyn Canyon is a natural wonder located in southeastern Kazakhstan, known for its stunning rock formations and unique landscape. The canyon stretches for over 80 kilometers along the Charyn River, and its geological formations date back millions of years.
19. Big Almaty Lake
Big Almaty Lake is a picturesque alpine lake located in the Tian Shan Mountains, about 25 kilometers south of Almaty, Kazakhstan. It is located at an elevation of 2,511 meters above sea level and is a popular tourist destination for its stunning natural beauty and surrounding mountain scenery
20. Tamgaly Tas
Tamgaly Tas is an ancient rock art site located about 170 kilometers northwest of Almaty, Kazakhstan. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the most important rock art sites in Central Asia, with over 5,000 petroglyphs (rock carvings) dating back to the Bronze Age.
21. Turkestan
Turkestan is a historic city located in southern Kazakhstan, about 160 kilometers north of Shymkent. It is considered one of the country’s most important cultural and religious centers, and it is home to several important historical and architectural sites.
22. Lake Kaindy
Lake Kaindy is a unique lake located in the Tian Shan Mountains of southeastern Kazakhstan. It is known for its stunning turquoise waters and submerged trees, which create a hauntingly beautiful underwater forest.
23. Altyn Emel National Park
Altyn Emel National Park is a protected area located in eastern Kazakhstan, covering over 4600 square kilometers of stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife. The park is known for its stunning rock formations, sand dunes, and unique flora and fauna.
24. Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is a medieval mausoleum located in the city of Turkestan, in southern Kazakhstan. It was built in the late 14th century in honor of the Sufi mystic and poet Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, who lived in the region in the 12th century.
25. Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve
The Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve is a protected area located in southern Kazakhstan, covering over 1300 square kilometers of stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife. The reserve is one of the oldest and most important protected areas in Central Asia, established in 1926 to preserve the unique ecosystems of the region.
26. Karkaraly National Park
Karkaraly National Park is a protected area located in the Karkaraly Mountains of central Kazakhstan. The park covers an area of 90,000 hectares and is known for its diverse landscapes, rich biodiversity, and cultural heritage.
27. Issyk Lake
Issyk Lake is a mountain lake located in the Tian Shan Mountains of southeastern Kazakhstan, approximately 70 kilometers east of the city of Almaty. The lake is situated at an altitude of 1,760 meters above sea level and covers an area of about 170 square kilometers.
Issyk Lake is known for its crystal-clear waters and scenic beauty. The lake is surrounded by snow-capped peaks and lush forests, making it a popular destination for hikers, campers, and nature lovers.
28. Karatau Mountains
The Karatau Mountains are a range of mountains located in southern Kazakhstan, in the Karatau district of the Zhambyl region. The mountains are part of the larger Tien Shan mountain range and are known for their unique geological formations, diverse wildlife, and stunning natural beauty.
29. Mount Shymbulak
Mount Shymbulak is a popular ski resort located in the mountains near Almaty, Kazakhstan. It is one of the most popular winter sports destinations in the country, attracting skiers and snowboarders from all over the world.
30. Medeu Skating Rink
The Medeu Skating Rink is a famous outdoor ice skating rink located in the mountains near Almaty, Kazakhstan. It is one of the highest ice rinks in the world, situated at an altitude of 1,691 meters above sea level.
31. Otrar
Otrar is an ancient city located in southern Kazakhstan, near the border with Uzbekistan. It is an important historical and cultural site in the region, with many well-preserved monuments and ruins that date back to the 9th century.
32. Aral Sea
The Aral Sea, once the fourth-largest lake in the world, is a saline lake located in the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. It was once a vital source of water for the region and supported a thriving fishing industry, but due to human activity, it has significantly decreased in size over the past few decades.
33. Bukhtarma Reservoir
Bukhtarma Reservoir is a large artificial lake located in the eastern part of Kazakhstan, near the border with China. It was created in 1960 as a result of the construction of a dam on the Irtysh River and is one of the largest reservoirs in Kazakhstan, covering an area of about 5,500 square kilometers.
34. Zailiysky Alatau Mountains
Zailiysky Alatau is a mountain range located in the southeast of Kazakhstan, near the city of Almaty. The range is part of the larger Tian Shan mountain system, which extends across Central Asia.
35. Ustyurt Plateau
The Ustyurt Plateau is a vast plateau located in Central Asia, covering parts of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
36. Baikonur Cosmodrome
The Baikonur Cosmodrome is a spaceport located in the desert of Kazakhstan. It is one of the world’s oldest and largest space launch facilities and has been used for numerous space missions since it was first constructed in the 1950s.
37. Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan
Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the central part of Northern Kazakhstan. The site is a vast area of steppe and lakes that covers over 450,000 hectares.
38. Lake Balkhash
Lake Balkhash is a large freshwater lake located in southeastern Kazakhstan. It is one of the largest lakes in Asia, with a surface area of approximately 18,000 square kilometers.
The lake is unique in that it is divided into two distinct parts by a narrow strait. The western part of the lake is shallow and has relatively low salt content, while the eastern part is deep and has a higher salt content.
39. Sauran
Sauran, also known as Sauran-Kazakhstan, is an ancient city located in southern Kazakhstan, near the city of Turkestan. It was once a major city along the Silk Road, and it played an important role in the history and culture of the region.
40. The Valley of Castles
The Valley of Castles is a unique geological formation located in the Charyn Canyon in southeastern Kazakhstan. It is a natural wonder that has been shaped over millions of years by the forces of erosion and weathering.
41. The Valley of Balls
The Valley of Balls, also known as Torysh, is a unique geological formation located in the Kyzylkum Desert in western Kazakhstan. It is characterized by its thousands of spherical rock formations, which are scattered across the desert landscape.
42. The Singing Dune
The Singing Dune, also known as the Dune of Aktau, is a unique natural wonder located in the Altyn-Emel National Park in southeastern Kazakhstan. It is a massive sand dune that produces a distinctive sound when the sand is disturbed by the wind.
43. Museum of the First President
The Museum of the First President, also known as the Nur-Sultan Nazarbayev Center, is a museum and cultural center located in the city of Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan. It is dedicated to the life and legacy of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the first president of Kazakhstan.
44. Palace of Peace and Reconciliation
The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation is a unique cultural center located in the city of Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan. The building was designed by the renowned British architect Norman Foster, and it was opened in 2006.
45. National Museum of Kazakhstan
The National Museum of Kazakhstan is the largest museum in the country and is located in the city of Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan. The museum was opened in 2014 and is housed in a modern building that was designed by a team of architects from Kazakhstan, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
46. Hazrat Sultan Mosque
The Hazrat Sultan Mosque is the largest mosque in Kazakhstan and one of the largest mosques in Central Asia. It is located in the city of Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan.
The mosque was completed in 2012 and was built in a traditional Islamic architectural style, with a large dome and four minarets. The mosque can accommodate up to 10,000 worshippers at a time and features a large prayer hall, an education center, and a library.
47. Kazakh Eli Monument
The Kazakh Eli Monument is a large monument located in the city of Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan. The monument was unveiled in 2006 and is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.
The monument is shaped like a giant handprint, with a large eagle at the top that symbolizes the country’s national spirit and identity. The monument is made of bronze and stands 97 meters tall, making it one of the tallest structures in Nur-Sultan.
48. Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve
The Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve is a protected area located in the central part of Kazakhstan, approximately 130 kilometers west of the city of Nur-Sultan. The reserve was established in 1968 and covers an area of over 300,000 hectares.
49. Zharkent Mosque
The Zharkent Mosque is an important historical and cultural monument located in the town of Zharkent in southeastern Kazakhstan, near the border with China. The mosque is also known as the “Mosque of Khodja Akhmed Yassaui”, named after the famous Sufi saint who lived in the region in the 12th century.
50. Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center
The Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center is a large shopping and entertainment complex located in the city of Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan. The complex was designed by renowned British architect Norman Foster and was completed in 2010.