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Located at the heart of Eurasia, Kazakhstan is a land rich with influences from its nomadic heritage, Soviet past, and contemporary developments. It features the world's largest expanse of endless steppe, characterized by rolling mountains, vibrant wildflowers, and tranquil towns. You can traverse the countryside on a modern version of the Orient Express, passing through landscapes once roamed by freedom-loving tribes who first domesticated horses.
Flanking this vast territory from the Caspian Sea to China are cities that showcase both historical remnants and striking modern architecture. Expansive national parks burst with a spectrum of natural colors throughout the seasons.
The resilient people of Kazakhstan are eager to share their national values with the world, welcoming visitors with genuine hospitality.
History
Kazakhstan has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era, and during the Neolithic period, its climate and terrain were ideal for a nomadic lifestyle.
The region played a pivotal role in the Eurasian commercial Steppe Road, the precursor to the terrestrial Silk Roads. Archaeological evidence suggests that the first domestication of horses occurred in Kazakhstan's vast steppes. In 329 BC, Alexander the Great and his Macedonian army engaged the Scythians in the Battle of Jaxartes, now known as the Syr Darya river along Kazakhstan's southern border.
Political consolidation began with the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, which established administrative regions that eventually came under the Kazakh Khanate's control.
During this time, a nomadic lifestyle centered around livestock thrived. By the 15th century, a distinct Kazakh identity emerged among the Turkish tribes, leading to the Kazakh War of Independence and the khanate's assertion of sovereignty from the Shaybanids. This period also saw the development of the Kazakh language, culture, and economy.
At its height, the Khanate controlled parts of Central Asia and influenced trade. However, in the early 17th century, internal rivalries weakened the Khanate, and the Khiva Khanate seized the opportunity to annex the Mangishlak Peninsula. The region later fell under Russian dominion after further conflicts with the Kokand Khanate and the Emirate of Bukhara.
In the late 19th century, an influx of settlers from the Russian Empire began colonizing present-day Kazakhstan, creating tensions over land and resources that led to resentment against the colonial authorities.
On December 5, 1936, the Kazakh Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic became the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, separating from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.
Kazakhstan declared independence on December 16, 1991, becoming the last Soviet republic to do so.
Abai Qunanbaiuly
Born in 1845 as Ibrahim Qunanbaiuly in East Kazakhstan's Chingiz Mountains, Abai was nicknamed "Abai" meaning "the clever, the insightful," reflecting his intellectual prowess.
He studied at both a madrasah and a Russian regional school, beginning to write poetry at the age of 13. His passion for literature drew him to the works of renowned European poets and writers, such as Alexander Pushkin and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, whose works he translated into Kazakh.
Despite his distaste for administrative duties in his tribe, Abai’s encounters with exiled Russian intellectuals in the early 1880s shaped his worldview and led him to write prolifically in his 40s. His poems and philosophical writings gained recognition, and he became a respected figure among Kazakhs and neighboring peoples.
Abai's critique of traditional, patriarchal social structures earned him enemies among the elite, leading to slander and attacks against him. His contributions to Kazakh literature and culture are considered profound, as he introduced many previously unknown literary genres and forms.
In modern Kazakhstan, Abai is celebrated as a national symbol. His works have been translated into over 60 languages, and several institutions, including the Kazakh National Pedagogical University and the Abai Opera House in Almaty, bear his name. The Abai Qunanbaiuly Literature Museum in Semei commemorates his legacy.
Horses in Kazakh Culture
Excavations in Kazakhstan revealed that horses were domesticated in the region approximately 5,500 years ago, significantly predating other ancient civilizations. This discovery indicates that people in this area were riding and milking horses much earlier than previously thought.
Horses play a central role in Kazakh culture, with traditional equestrian sports like Kökpar and culinary staples such as kumys (fermented mare's milk) and kazy (horsemeat sausage) being integral to Kazakh identity.
Research points to the Botai civilization as the first to domesticate horses, and this equestrian heritage remains vital to Kazakh culture today. UNESCO has recognized the traditional Spring Festival rites of Kazakh horse breeders as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Modern Kazakhstan continues to embrace its equestrian roots with new hippodromes and equestrian centers, while horse riding remains a popular activity in national parks.
Kazakhstan's rich history and equestrian culture highlight its significance along the legendary Silk Road and underscore the enduring impact of its nomadic heritage.
Traditional Kazakh Clothing
Kazakh clothing reflects the extreme climate and nomadic lifestyle of the people, often embellished with intricate ornaments made from natural materials. While contemporary Kazakhs mostly wear Western attire, traditional garments are reserved for holidays and special occasions.
Common materials include fabric, leather, felt, and fur, with decorations involving embroidery and jewelry. Imported materials like silk and brocade are used for more formal attire, while everyday clothing is made from readily available resources such as wool and fur.
Traditional dress for women includes the koilek, a light, fluffy garment, and the shapan, an outer coat with various designs. Footwear typically consists of tight-fitting, heelless boots called ichigi or masi.
Headdresses are significant in Kazakh culture, indicating social status. Common men's hats include the kalpak and the fur-lined borik, while women wear a variety of hats, including the traditional bridal hat, saukele, known for its height and decoration.
The National State Museum of Kazakhstan showcases a wealth of traditional clothing, featuring garments worn by historical figures and prominent artists.
Territory & Nature
Kazakhstan spans both sides of the Ural River, marking it as one of the few countries that straddles two continents. Covering an area of 2.7 million square kilometers, it is the world's ninth-largest and largest landlocked country.
Its landscape stretches from the Caspian Sea to the Altai Mountains and includes diverse environments ranging from steppes to deserts. The Kazakh Steppe, covering a third of the nation, is the largest dry steppe in the world.
Kazakhstan experiences an extreme continental climate, with hot summers and frigid winters, particularly in Nur-Sultan, which ranks as the second coldest capital city globally. The country hosts numerous nature reserves and national parks, protecting a variety of rare and endangered species.
Common flora includes native wild apples and several rare tulip species, while notable fauna comprises wolves, foxes, deer, and even snow leopards. The Red Book of Protected Species documents a significant number of vertebrates and plants, showcasing Kazakhstan's commitment to preserving its natural heritage.
Kazakhstan's beauty is often underestimated, and much of the country remains unexplored. As a visitor, you could be among the first to witness the stunning steppes and mountains of this Central Asian gem.
Before planning your trip, it's essential to consider the weather. Kazakhstan's climate is quite predictable, with distinct seasons marked by its steppe landscape. Winters are cold, while summers can get quite hot, though precipitation is minimal throughout the year.
The ideal time to visit Kazakhstan is during the summer months, particularly from July to August, when the weather is pleasant. While it can be hot, it’s still manageable, making this an excellent period for hiking.
April to June and September to October are also good months for a visit, especially if you're traveling on a budget and prefer milder temperatures. The mountains are lush and vibrant during these times, and ski slopes may open in late September and October. Additionally, there are fewer tourists, allowing you to find discounted accommodation and tickets.
Spring is perfect for outdoor adventures, as the landscape comes alive. Summer temperatures can reach around 80°F, but hiking in the mountains is comfortable. During this season, you'll witness blooming flora across the mountains, making it an ideal time to trek.
Kazakhstan's mountains present unique opportunities for hikers. Pristine nature trails offer breathtaking views. Explore the Tien Shan or the Great Almaty Gorge for spectacular Kazakh scenery, including melting glaciers and the picturesque Big Almaty River. The Medeu and Shymbulak mountain complexes are also great for trekking and skating. For a unique experience, consider attending the 'Save Balkhash' biker festival, where you can enjoy fun activities while contributing to ecological protection.
Seasonal Overview:
Spring:
Summer:
Autumn:
Winter:
Best Time to Visit: Around September, the summer heat begins to fade, ushering in mild autumn weather. While temperatures remain pleasant, expect some rain toward the season's end, so packing a rain jacket is advisable.
Winters in Kazakhstan are extremely cold, with snow covering the landscape for about 100 days. Be sure to bring warm clothing if you plan to venture into the steppes, as sub-zero temperatures may not be ideal for everyone.
Kazakhstan is accessible via several international airports, with Almaty International Airport (ALA) and Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ) being the main entry points.
Several airlines operate flights to Kazakhstan, including:
Once you arrive, you can easily access major cities via domestic flights, buses, or trains. Almaty and Nur-Sultan have good transportation networks to help you explore the country.
Kazakhstan is known as one of the safest countries in the world. This vast, largely untouched nation boasts a diverse landscape, from wild, arid deserts to lush valleys, glacial lakes, and snow-capped mountains, alongside modern cities.
With its rich culture and stunning scenery, Kazakhstan is increasingly attracting foreign visitors. The tourism sector is on the rise, and the country is considered a very safe destination overall.
According to the US Department of State, Kazakhstan is classified as a Level 1 country, placing it among the safest travel destinations globally, even safer than Level 2 countries like France and Germany.
As tourism grows, many travelers report feeling secure while exploring the country. The locals are known for their hospitality and generosity towards foreigners.
While petty crimes like theft can occur, they rarely involve tourists. Female travelers often wonder about safety for women in Kazakhstan. Generally, men in Kazakh culture do not approach foreign women frequently, and instances of harassment are uncommon. It's typical for locals to strike up conversations by asking about your marital status, which is akin to inquiring about your job or education in Central Asian culture.
It's advisable to inform a friend about your plans and duration of your trip, especially since cell phone reception can be spotty in the mountainous regions around Almaty.
Road infrastructure has significantly improved in recent years, with new highways connecting major cities, making driving safer and more comfortable. However, keep in mind that gas stations can be few and far between.
Vegetarians may find it challenging to find meatless options in rural areas, though international restaurants in larger cities like Astana and Almaty typically offer vegetarian dishes.
While healthcare services in Kazakhstan have knowledgeable personnel, modern medical facilities may be limited outside major cities, and there are few English-speaking healthcare providers available.
In Kazakhstan, holidays are observed with great respect and joy. The Kazakhs have a love for celebration, whether it's a holiday, anniversary, wedding, or official event, often marked by lively music, concerts, delicious local cuisine, and large gatherings.
New Year: This internationally recognized festival is widely celebrated throughout Kazakhstan.
International Women's Day: Celebrated in early spring, this holiday honors the beauty and strength of women as nature begins to awaken.
Nauryz: An ancient holiday that has been celebrated for over 5,000 years, Nauryz signifies the arrival of spring and the renewal of nature. It falls on March 22, coinciding with the vernal equinox, and the Cossacks named the first month of spring in its honor.
Victory Day: This day is dedicated to remembering the heroes who sacrificed their lives. It is a day of respect, gratitude, and pride, particularly for Kazakhstan’s significant contributions during World War II, when the country supported evacuated businesses and refugees. On this day, veterans are honored with various concerts, parades, and awards.
Constitution Day: Celebrated on August 30, this day marks the adoption of the country’s fundamental law. Streets are adorned with balloons and flags, and festivities include exhibitions, concerts featuring popular artists, shows, and sporting events across the capital.
Independence Day: This is the most significant national holiday in Kazakhstan, commemorating the founding of the state with vibrant and joyous celebrations.
Ramadan Hait: This holiday symbolizes moral and spiritual purification, following a month of fasting that serves as a ritual of self-reflection and renewal.
Kurban Hait: One of the most important holidays in the Islamic world, Kurban Hait follows the month of Ramadan and focuses on community and charity.
People's Unity Day: Established in 1996, this holiday replaced the former International Workers' Day. Kazakhstan is home to over 150 nationalities, and this day celebrates the principle of “Unity in Diversity,” which is a cornerstone of the nation’s identity.
The Kazakh people have a rich heritage of traditions. From birth to old age and beyond, each stage of life is marked by meaningful celebrations, and even funerals carry significant symbolism.
Regrettably, many of these vibrant customs have faded over the past century. As Kazakhstan undergoes democratization, the journey toward true sovereignty continues, prompting the Kazakh people to rediscover their lost traditions. These include honoring the elderly, fostering patriotism, upholding honesty, and nurturing a love for humanity.
Traditionally, Kazakh cuisine is served to guests at a dastarkhan (a low table) set up in a yurt.
The yurt is a remarkable example of portable housing. An ingenious creation of the Eurasian nomads, it provides a comfortable and practical living space well-suited to the local environment and lifestyle. It can be easily disassembled—legend has it that a Kazakh woman can take one down in just half an hour—and transported by horses or camels. The yurt is constructed from three main components: an expandable lattice base (kerege), a dome formed by pillars (uyk), and a circular top (shanyrak).
Kazakh crafts, including harnesses, felt mats (tekemets), and items made from wood, bone, and metal, are often elaborately decorated. Headdresses, garments, bags, and saddlebags feature beautiful embroidery, while traditional designs and carvings adorn wooden vessels, large bowls, and ladles used for serving kumiss (fermented mare's milk).
Hospitality is a cornerstone of Kazakh culture. A host will feel uneasy if a guest isn't offered a drink or at least a cup of tea. Treats may include dried and fresh fruits (like grapes or melon), nuts, cakes, or baursaks (a type of bread). Guests might also be offered kymyz (fermented mare's milk). Tea and kymyz are typically served in a piala (Asian teacup) or a wooden bowl, and guests are usually given a place of honor at the table.
When invited to someone's yurt (tent-like residence), diners will wash their hands before the meal. A prayer is recited, and special respect is shown to the guest. Meals are generally eaten with the right hand or with a fork and knife, and tea is typically served after dinner.
A unique tradition in Kazakhstan is the dastarkhan, a feast for guests and special occasions that features meat dishes and dairy products. Appetizers might include smoked or boiled meat, zhuta (pasta filled with zucchini or carrots), and flatbreads. Following this, diners can enjoy vegetables, sorpa (rich broth), and shubat (fermented milk drink). For such feasts, a whole animal, usually a sheep, is slaughtered, and the oldest family member traditionally carves the head, which is considered a great honor.
Beshbarmak, a signature dish, involves boiling the meat and serving it alongside dough that has been cooked in the broth. Different animal parts are symbolically significant; for instance, ears are given to children for better listening, the eye represents the pursuit of wisdom, and the tongue encourages expressiveness.
Historically, Kazakhs were herders who raised qazaqi qoy (fat-tailed sheep), cattle, ayir tuye (Bactrian camels), and horses. These nomadic people depended heavily on their animals for transportation, clothing, and sustenance, primarily consuming mutton, milk, cheese, and grilled bread.
Kazakhs migrated according to the availability of water and pasture for their livestock, trading goods like grains, vegetables, and fruits in the more settled markets of Southern Kazakhstan. Their homes, cone-shaped tents known as yurts, were designed for easy setup and takedown, making relocation simple.
Kazakhstan is a vast country that spans from the Caspian Sea to the Altai Mountains and from the Urals to the Tien Shan range. This immense territory encompasses a variety of natural and climatic zones, resulting in a rich diversity of flora and fauna.
The flora of Kazakhstan includes 68 species of trees, 266 species of shrubs, 433 semi-shrub and semi-grass species, 2,598 perennial grasses, and 849 annual grasses. Approximately 500 of these species are endemic, meaning they are unique to Kazakhstan and found only in specific regions.
The predominant landscapes are steppes, semi-deserts, and deserts. However, the northern regions feature forest-steppe zones, while the Altai region is largely covered in true taiga forests.
Forests, including Haloxylon forests, account for only 4.2% of the country's territory. This includes birch and aspen forests in the north, island forests in the northwest and along the Irtysh River, as well as pine forests in the Kazakh shallow grounds and mixed coniferous forests in the Altai, Saur, Jungar Alatau, and Tien Shan ranges.
While the Kazakh steppes may appear sparse, they are home to resilient plants adapted to the harsh, dry climate, such as feathergrass, sheep fescue, Anabasis salsa, ferula, and wormwood. These plants typically have robust root systems and thick, bark-covered leaves. Steppe shrubs like haloxylon and turanga can form dense thickets resembling miniature forests.
Rare species like the Schrenk tulip bloom in a spectrum of colors, ranging from pure white to deep purple, as well as shades of red and yellow.
Many of Kazakhstan's rare plants thrive in specially protected nature parks and reserves, where they are closely monitored by experts.
The fauna of Kazakhstan is equally diverse. Numerous species are listed in the Red Book, including the snow leopard (irbis), saiga antelope, gazelle, and steppe bustard. Other rare animals include the Ustyurt beaver, urial, honey badger, Brandt’s hedgehog, and wild cats such as the manul, caracal, sand cat (Felis margarita), and the famed Asian cheetah.
In the desert and semi-desert regions of central Kazakhstan, you can find saiga and gazelle antelopes, as well as Ustyurt beavers, which thrive on the sparse steppe vegetation. Predators such as wolves, corsac foxes, and desert lynxes (caracals) also inhabit these areas. A variety of rodents and small mammals, including gophers, jerboas, and sand voles, are common as well.
Kazakhstan is home to many species of lizards and snakes, including those listed in the Red Book, such as the round-headed lizard, saw-scale viper, and cobras found in desert regions. Dangerous insects like the Central Asian scorpion and the Mediterranean widow spider can often be found hiding under rocks.
Overview
Travel season
Flights
Safety
Festivity
Traditions
National cuisine
Natural world
