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Kazakhstan is one of the most underrated and overlooked travel destinations. No complaints; this is not the first country that pops up when it comes to travelling abroad. And flipping that is the goal of this blog!
It is a country that is largely absent from the mainstream travel destinations! From endless plain lands that stretch for miles without interruptions to alpine mountains with dense forests and high-altitude lakes! The unexpected diverse landscapes make it genuinely surprising.
The perfect example for all of this is the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Kazakhstan. The imaginary triangle includes the Kolsai Lakes, Charyn Canyon and the Altyn-Emel National Park. Together, these 3 destinations showcase the country’s most iconic natural landscapes. This guide explores those highlights in detail!
Buckle up because we are going to visit extremely remote places that call this country their home! And also the other best things to do in Kazakhstan!
Kok Tobe
A hill in the city of Almaty that rises at an elevation of 1100 m, offering panoramic views of the city. In Kazakh, Kok Tobe means “Green Hill”, which is somewhat right. As summers make the hill all green, and winters transform it into a grey, snowy hill.
Residents of Almaty and tourists choose to visit this hill for leisure and recreational purposes. That’s because the top of the hill has a mini amusement park up there, known as “Kok Tobe Park”.
Things to do at Kok Tobe
| Amusement park | Upside-down house |
| Mini zoo | Glass Labyrinth |
| Playground | Beatles monument (with audio) |
| Walk paths | VR experiences |
| Tree tops ropes course | Cafés |
How to Reach Kok Tobe
- Cable Car: Take a cable car from the cable car station in Almaty to the hilltop. It is a 6-9 minute ride in a glass cable car.
- Bus: Catch the bus no. 99 or 95 from Omarova Street or Dostyk Avenue, which drives up to Kok Tobe.
Tip: All rides at this park have separate costs, which can be checked on the Koke Tobe’s website.
Kok Tobe Timings:
- Mondays, Wednesdays & Sundays: 11 am – 9 pm
- Tuesdays: 1 pm – 9 pm
- Thursdays: 11 am – 11 pm
- Saturdays: 11 am – 10 pm
Cable Car Timings: 10 am to 10:45 pm
Cable Car Ticket Cost: (Two-way)
- Adults (12+ years): KZT 8000 (1420 INR approx.)
- Kids (6-12 years): KZT 3000 (532 INR approx.)
Bus Timings:
- Weekdays: 11 am to 12 am
- Weekdays: 11 am to 1 am
Bus Cost: (approx.)
- Adults: 1,500 – 3,000 KZT (266 – 532 INR)
- Kids: Around 700 KZT (124 INR)
Medeu Ice Skating Rink
Did you know Medeu claims the title of the world’s highest ice skating rink?
Elevated at 5,548 ft in the Tian Shan Foothills, this rink spreads across the size of two football fields with the ice upto 7.5 ft thick, deeper than most swimming pools!
Hundreds of people ice skate on the Medeu rink every day. Some are professionals, while others are beginners, skating with the help of skating aids (devices that provide stability and balance while skating).
The on-site booking office handles slots, with assistants for amateur skaters. It’s a top winter thing to do in Kazakhstan, blending thrill and scenery.
Gear rental services are available, including
- Skates
- Helmets
- Elbow protection
- Knee protection
- Skating aids
How to Reach Medeu Ice Skating
- Bus: Head to the Almaty-2 railway station, and take bus no. 12. This bus travels through Almaty, with the final stop at the Medeu Ice Skating Rink.
- Medeu Timings: 8 am to 12 am
- Medeu Cost: (approx.)
- Adults: 1,500 – 3,000 KZT/hour (266 – 532 INR)
- Kids: Around 1000 KZT (177 INR)
- Gear Rentals: Around 1000 KZT (177 INR)
Charyn Canyon National Park
Kazakhstan’s own Grand Canyon, Charyn Canyon, is located 200 km from Almaty.
Being approximately 200 million years old, these canyons are about 900 ft deep with the River Charyn flowing at the bottom. The peaks of these sedimentary rocks can also reach up to 900 ft in the air!
Charyn Canyon Park is home to multiple rare species of mammals, reptiles, fish, birds and even trees like the ‘Sogdian Ash Tree Grove’ (one of the oldest ash tree species on the planet).
Things to do in Charyn Canyon
Hike to the famous ‘Valley of Castles’ (rock formation that looks like castle towers).
Check out the other parts of the canyons, like the ‘Moon Canyon’ (lunar-like craters) and ‘Red Canyon’ (fiery red hues)!
Photo-hunt the huge double-humped ‘Bactrian Camel’ and the mountain goat ‘Siberian Ibex’ with long, curvy horns.
Visit the Ashen Groove trees area.
Hike to different viewpoints by following Google Maps Street View to watch the sunset.
Stay overnight at glamping resorts in the desert.
You can camp in the area with personal camping gear. Make sure to find a search spot away from the cliffs.
Step out after sunset to enjoy gazing at trillions of stars above you!
Tip: The canyon has shuttles that are known as ‘mashrutka’ that run through the trails.
How to Reach Charyn Canyon?
There is no direct public transportation to and from Charyn. The only two ways to reach Charyn Canyon are by taking your own private vehicle or joining a tour group.
Caryn Park Entry Fee: (Approx.)
- Person: 1000 KTZ (177 INR)
- Vehicle: 500 KTZ (88 INR)
(The fee is collected outside the ‘Valley of Castles’. The other canyons are free to access.)
Pro Tip: Most people consider taking a day tour to the Charyn Canyon from Almaty. However, making it a 2-day trip will let you explore the site and get the full experience of the canyon.
Baikonur Cosmodrome
A remote spaceport that is around 1,100 km away from both Almaty and Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana. The site is also huge, spanning across 6,700 sq km; that is larger than New York and Singapore!
Baikonur is in Kazakhstan, but the spaceport is under Russian control. Part of the Soviet space programme, it has been a historical site.
Sputnik 1 in 1947 and the first human in space in 1955 were launched from this very station.
Things to do in Baikonur Cosmodrome
- Watch a live launch
- Check out the several launch pads
- Visit the Yubileyniy aerodrome (An area of runways, helipads and control facilities)
- Museum of Cosmonautics
- Climb down at an underground command post
- Buy from Baikonur’s own souvenir shop
How to Reach Baikonur Cosmodrome?
The best way to reach Baikonur is to catch a flight to the nearest airport in Kyzylorda. From there, transportation needs to be arranged for 250 km of travel.
Things to Remember
Visiting the Baikonur Cosmodrome can be quite tricky with expensive tickets and paperwork, but it is possible to get in!
Baikonur is highly restricted for entry. One cannot enter individually but only along with travel companies that are Russian-approved. Only around 40 companies have the licence from Roscosmos (Russia’s National Space Agency).
Companies like Space Russian Tours, Advant Tour, Photo Safari & Baikonur Cosmodrome Tour are allowed inside the cosmodrome.
The application must be done 1 month before the visit. All the visitation access will be taken care of by the tour company.
Every visitor needs to submit their passport copy, visa and personal details.
The duration of the trip can be anywhere between 2 and 5 days.
The cost of the trip can be between 600 and 6,000 USD (54,163 to 5,41,632 INR). It depends on the company, the package, and the facilities provided.
The mobile network at Baikonur is basically nonexistent. However, an unstable signal from the telecommunication company called ‘Beeline’ will be available.
Ascension Cathedral
Also known as the Kenkov Cathedral, this is one of the most beautiful churches. It is located inside Pantilov Park, which has the colourful church at the centre.
The church is entirely made of wood, and no nails were used! This 183 ft Ascensino Cathedral is the 2nd-tallest wooden church in the world.
The exteriors of the church give a French building vibe with the major yellow paint on the walls, along with other colours of green, red and black.
However, the interiors of the church are completely different but equally beautiful as the exteriors. As soon as you step inside, you’ll see gold everywhere! Gold walls, gold pillars, gold candle holders. Some are gold-painted, while others are gold-plated.
There’s a small shop by the main entrance offering religious souvenirs.
Fun Fact: Iron bolts were used to add earthquake-proof flexibility. The Cathedral’s seismic “basket” survived the 1911 earthquake!
Note: Dress modestly before entering. Everyone must have their shoulders and knees covered. Women must cover their heads with a scarf (scarves can be borrowed for free from the church).
Timings: 7 am to 6 pm (Tourists are allowed after 10 am)
Green Bazaar
Most people would choose to miss markets while travelling in other countries. Surprisingly, to get an authentic experience without touristy scams, bazaars are the best way to attain a slice of everyday life!
Green Bazaar, also known as the Zelyony Bazar, is situated in Almaty. A clean and organised market where you can find everything that you might want!
Things you can buy in the Green Bazaar
| Fruits | Chicken |
| Vegetables | Beef |
| Dry Fruits | Fish |
| Honey | Local Souvenirs |
| Cheese | Food items |
| Chocolates | Traditional Kazakh Garments |
Apart from these everyday items, they also sell traditional food and souvenirs that are exotic to foreigners. For example, horse sausage, pig head, and cow thighs are sold in the meat section.
Meanwhile, Green Bazaar’s food section serves traditional
- Beshbarmak (Beef/pork with flat noodles)
- Tandyr Nan (Kazakh’s version of Tandoori Naan)
- Shashlik grills (Meat tandoori)
- Churchkhela (Georgian candy with nuts and dried fruit juice)
- The market also features cafes, a salon, a prayer room and a money exchange service with decent rates!
Pro Tips:
- Don’t forget to bring cash (Kazakh tenge), as not all the vendors will accept cards.
- Get ready to use the translator app on your phone to communicate in Kazakh and Russian.
- Try out the samples offered by the vendors.
- Don’t hesitate to haggle a little.
Timings: 9 am to 7 pm (Closed on Mondays)
Lake Kaindy
Snuggled up by the Tien Shan Mountains, Lake Kaindy is not your usual alpine lake. It is a lake with an underwater sunken forest!
An earthquake in 1911 struck the mountain and led to landslides of limestone rocks. These rocks created a dam as a natural barrier in a forest of fir trees. Over time, water filled the area, making the trees appear submerged.
The limestone gives the water a striking emerald and turquoise colour, adding to the beauty! I consider Kolsai Lake as “one of the must-visit places in life”.
How to Reach Lake Kaidy?
Just like Charyn Canyon, there is no direct public transportation access to this remote lake. It is best to hire a private car or join a guided group tour.
However, you can do it on your own with a few tricky steps.
Public Transportation:
Catch a bus from Sayakhat bus station in Almaty to Saty (the closest village to Kaindy Lake). It will take about 3-4 hours. Note that these buses are unreliable; ask the locals to confirm the timings.
Then, you can hire a ‘Buhanka Taxi’ (a classic Soviet 4×4 van) from Saty and drive to the Lake Kaindy entrance kiosk. Pay a fee to enter, after which the taxi will drop you off at the parking lot, which is about 7 km ahead of the entrance gate.
Note: The entire way is completely off-road, so buckle up for a bumpy ride.
Once you get off the Buhanka, another 30 mins uphill has to be covered to reach the lake. This can be done in three ways: hiking, horseback riding & jeep.
Hiking is great if you are fit enough and have time to spend. But do note that you’ll be walking along with the horses and the jeeps.
Horses are an option, but it’s best to skip this experience. The uphill terrain makes it uncomfortable, and the horses are not always treated properly.
Jeep is the best bet. It’s far more comfortable and saves a lot of time!
Note: A checkpoint before Saty village will ask foreigners for their passports. Don’t forget to carry your original document!
Cost (approx.)
- Entrance fee/person: 845 KZT (149 INR)
- Jeep/one way: 1000 KZT (176 INR)
- Horse/one way: 4000 KZT (705 INR)
Kolsai Lakes
Around 20 km from Lake Kaindy lie the Kolsai Lakes. This is a trio of lakes, located in the Northern Tien Shan Mountains.
The Kolsai Lakes are stunning with the backdrop of alpine mountains. Tall pine trees and rich flora and fauna. And as you hike to each lake, the altitude keeps rising, making the air crisper with each step you take!
- 1st Lake Kolsai – 1000 m (3280.8 ft)
- 2nd Lake Kolsai – 2500 m (8202.1 ft)
- 3rd Lake Kolsai – 2700 m (8858.2 ft)
The 1st lake doesn’t need much hiking, as it is very close to the parking lot. However, the 2nd lake needs about 3 – 4 hours of climbing through 8 km of forest. And the 3rd lake adds another 5 km further.
The first Kolsai Lake has tourist facilities, including a café and pedal boat rides in summer. The winters turn the water into thick ice, solid enough to walk on!
How to Reach Kolsai Lakes?
Follow the same instructions as Lake Kaindy. The best bet is to rent a car from Saty village and visit the Kolsai Lakes.
Tip: You can camp around the lake by paying a small fee at the entrance! Get your own camping gear.
Note: As mentioned above, carry your passport, as it may be checked at a checkpoint before Saty village. If you plan to hike from the 2nd to the 3rd Kolsai Lake, military officials may also ask for it. This is because Kolsai National Park lies close to the border with Kyrgyzstan.
- Cost (approx.)
- Entry Fee: 806 KZT (142 INR)
- Parking Fee: 100 KZT (17 INR)
- Camping Permit: 350 KZT (61 INR)
Altyn Emel National Park
Altyn Emel National Park is a humongous land covering over 6000 sq km and is around 240 km from Almaty. Flat land covered with nothingness for hundreds of kilometres.
It is also referred to as “Martian Landscape”!
However, there are three main attractions inside the UNESCO-listed Altyn Emel National Park.
Singing Dunes
A 3 km long and 492.1 ft high dune is situated inside the Altyn Emel Park. And yes, the dunes can make sounds.
There’s some science involved here. Sand with the right diameter, humidity, and silica content vibrates at about 450 Hz, creating sounds.
This sound is an eerie hum, buzz, static, and a low-frequency boom, which can travel for miles!
It is produced when the sand is disturbed by wind and gravity.
It is great to visit the dunes on a windy day to hear the sound, but if not, you can create one! Just sit on the top of the dune, legs up, and start sliding down. If the situation is right, you must hear the sound as well.
Tip: From the top of the dune, you get a panoramic view of the surrounding valley, the Ile River, and the Tien Shah Mountains!
Katutau Mountains
A small part of the Emel Park, these hills are extremely old. In fact, they are older than the dinosaurs!
Created over 250 million years ago, these rocks look like dried-up red clay. But in reality, they are rocks created by ancient volcanic lava, eroded by wind and water.
Doing one of the cool things to do in Kazakhstan, visiting the Katutau Mountains, will let you walk on the same rocks as the dinosaurs!
Aktau Mountains
Aktau mountains, also known as the rainbow mountains, is a must-visit attraction in Kazakhstan.
When you look at these hills from afar, you can notice all the colours of red, white, yellow, and green. These sedimentary rocks acquired these colours after being submerged by an ancient sea. To date, you can find fossils of early plants and animals!
How to Reach Altyn Emel National Park?
Just like the Kolsai Lakes, Altyn Emel National Park is pretty remote.
Either join a guided group trip or rent a 4×4 car with good ground clearance from Almaty. This will help you tackle the bumpy, remote dirt roads for 3-4 hours.
Timings: 8 am – 7 pm
(Timings change according to the daylight hours.)
Visit the official website to learn more about Aktau Mountains pricing.
Cost: (approx.) 1 Car Entry: 3539 KZT (624 INR)
Conclusion
Alright, we’re back to base from our virtual and imaginary trip to Kazakhstan. We hiked through the Tien Shah Mountains, went on the glass cable cars of Almaty, and followed the footsteps of dinosaurs in the Altyn-Emel National Park!
Next, it’s time to witness these geographical wonders in person. With many of the top things to do in Kazakhstan located in remote regions, we can help you travel smoothly and stress-free!
FAQs About Things to Do in Kazakhstan
1. What to do as a tourist in Kazakhstan?
As a tourist, you can explore key attractions in Almaty like Kok Tobe and Ascension Cathedral and also take day trips to the Northern Tien Shan Mountains.
2. How many days are enough for a trip to Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan is the world’s 9th-largest country, and many attractions like Kaindy Lake are remote. To enjoy hikes such as Kolsai Lakes properly, you’ll need multiple days, so we recommend spending at least one week in Kazakhstan.
3. How many days are enough for a trip to Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan is the world’s 9th-largest country, and many attractions like Kaindy Lake are remote. To enjoy hikes such as Kolsai Lakes properly, you’ll need multiple days, so we recommend spending at least one week in Kazakhstan.
