Introducing: Kazakhstan
Colossal Kazakhstan is something of a sleeping giant when it comes to tourism profile, but its natural appeal and additional airlift could see it stir, says Andy hoskins
Few countries can truly claim to be off the beaten track, but Kazakhstan makes a strong case. The landlocked former Soviet state is the ninth-largest country in the world yet welcomes very few tourists and is not widely featured by UK tour operators.
vast tracts of windswept and uninhabited steppe cover much of the country, and it is this wilderness and an abundance of natural wonders that form a key part of the country's appeal to visitors. Adventure opportunities and unusual cultural experiences are plentiful – from exploring the wilderness on horseback to overnighting in a yurt or sampling fermented horse milk – while the contrasting cities of Astana, its capital city, and Almaty, the former capital, add further interest.
“travelling in this part of Central Asia is not just a trip through historic cities and mountains dotted with yurts, but a journey through time,” says exodus Product Manager tom Harari. “it’s an adventurer’s wonderland. the remains of the Soviet era, the rise of islam, the great Persian and Mongol invasions are all around.”
today, Kazakhstan is the largest and richest of the Central Asian 'Stans' thanks to its reserves of oil and minerals, and its wealth is most evident in the modern capital city, Astana. Gleaming new skyscrapers are in abundance, but the most striking structure of all is the Bayterek tower, topped by a golden, globeshaped viewing platform.
in the south of the country, where the featureless plains give way to the imposing, snow-capped tian Shian mountains, is the former capital, Almaty. With its tree-lined streets, museums, cafe culture and lively nightlife, it would not look out of place in Western europe.
Among notable sights are the Green Market and Panfilov Park, home to the colourful Zenkov Cathedral – constructed entirely of wood in the early 1900s – and a number of Soviet-era monuments, including a World War ii memorial.
Into the wild
the two cities provide access to a range of national parks and scenic wonders, with the rich birdlife of Korgalzhyn Nature reserve (west of Astana) making it a hit with 'twitchers'.
in the south east, meanwhile, Almaty is within striking distance of the 50-mile-long Charyn Canyon; the barren and rugged Altyn emel National Park and its 'singing dunes'; and the stunning blue Kolsai and issyk lakes – the latter being considerably easier to access.
Almaty's location at the foot of the tian Shan mountains means that winter visitors can hit the ski slopes within a 30-minute drive of downtown Almaty.
Some 500 miles to the west is turkistan, a historically important trade and religious centre. its most famous monument is the 14th century, turquoise-domed mausoleum of scholar Khawaja Ahmad Yasavi, unrivalled in Kazakhstan.
Further west still is Baikonur Cosmodrome, the world's oldest and largest space launch facility. once a secret missile testing site, it was where tim Peake launched into space in 2015.
Access all areas
travelling to Kazakhstan has never been easier. UK passport holders can visit visa-free and stay for up to 30 days until the end of the year. the best time to visit is April to october.