Vast, varied, and often misunderstood, Kazakhstan is a country of surprising contrasts. One moment you’re crossing an endless stretch of steppe beneath an open sky, and the next you’re sipping coffee in a modern city wrapped in glass and steel. It’s a place where ancient nomadic traditions still echo across the land, even as urban life pulses through cities like Almaty and Astana.
This is Central Asia’s giant: a land of silence and space, wild mountains and desert secrets, remote canyons and Soviet relics. From the eerie ship graveyard in the Aral Sea to the alpine lakes and peaks near Almaty.
I travelled across the country by train a lot, including a 55-hour journey from Almaty to Atyrau, which turned out to be a quite unexpected adventure.
Visa
Most nationalities can get a free 30-day visa on arrival. You can easily renew the visa by a quick visa run to another neighbouring country.
Quick Facts
Capital: Astana
Population: 21 million
Language: Kazakh (Turkic language) but Russian is widely spoken
Currency: Kazakhstani Tenge
Area: 2.725 million km2 (9th)
Best Time to Visit
Most of Kazakhstan is extremely hot in summers and very cold in winter. Therefore Spring and Autumn would be the ideal time to visit.
Summer is the best time to trek in the mountains.
Highlights
Transportation
The easiest way to travel around in Kazakhstan is by train. There’s a railway that connects all the major cities. For more remote places there are mini-buses or shared taxis.
Budget
I solo travelled in Kazakhstan for a couple of weeks in Autumn 2022 and spent an average of $25 per day.
Safety
Kazakhstan is an incredibly safe country and I always felt safe, even as a solo female traveller. Locals are extremely friendly and hospitable and will always help you with a smile.