Cheap flights to Kazakhstan from AED221*

Welcome to Kazakhstan, a vast country with a small population, big heart and boundless beauty. Covering 2,724,900 square kilometres of arid steppes and lush valleys, dramatic rock canyons and azure lakes, snow-capped mountains and singing sand dunes, the world's largest landlocked country is the richest of the Stans, both in terms of mineral resources and economic power. Its new capital, Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana) is a mirage of the future, with neofuturist high-rises, blue-and-gold-domed presidential offices and fresh energy flowing through its immaculate streets. If you’re into sprawling spas, hedonistic nightlife, humming bazaars and year-round adventures, Kazakhstan’s ex-capital, Almaty is the place to be. Perhaps the only thing the country lacks is masses of tourists. For now, that is. A major hub for discovering Central Asia, nomadic traditions, Russian space history and some of the world’s most stunning mountain peaks, Kazakhstan might not remain overlooked for long.

 

Travel to Kazakhstan to:

• Trek through the majestic Tian Shan mountains and take in the surreal beauty of the Big Almaty alpine lake.
• See what the future looks like in Nur-Sultan, a small provincial town which has been reborn as Kazakhstan’s futuristic capital.
• Immerse yourself in the colours and flavours of Central Asia at the Green Bazaar, Almaty’s central market and beating heart.
• Stretch out on a sun-drenched tropical beach on the top floor of the world’s largest marquee, Khan Shatyr.
• Hike the Charyn Canyon, Kazakhstan's answer to the Grand Canyon, and marvel at steep sandstone cliffs and ancient ash groves, or raft on the Charyn river.

 

A land steeped in history, vision and serene landscapes

Flanked by Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, as well as the Aral Sea and the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world with an incredibly varied cultural heritage. From as early as the Neolithic, nomadic tribes roamed the vast Kazakh steppe and left a lasting impact on the country’s identity, customs and culinary palate. Case in point: locals’ legendary hospitality, in a quite literal sense. On the steppe, every guest is thought to be a guest of God or, if the hosts are lucky, patron saint Kydyr-Ata himself in disguise, bringing luck and happiness in return for a warm welcome. Kazakhstan also played a major part in the Silk Road trade, has given us apples and was the first to tame horses. Plus, saw Yuri Gagarin take-off on the first manned spaceflight in history. Home to some 130 different ethnic groups and 17 different religions, the Land of the Wanderers has never lost its intrigue and rewards those amply who travel this path.

 

Visit the original Big Apple

Almaty might not be Kazakhstan’s first city anymore, but that doesn’t make it any less exciting for modern-day wanderers. Get a glimpse of the country’s very soul among the rainbow-coloured stalls of the Green Bazaar (Zelionyj Bazar) at the crossing of Zenkov and Jybek Joly streets. Haggle over farm-fresh produce, nuts, dried fruit, spices and honey from all across Central Asia. Eating apples is not just for keeping the doctor away here: Almaty, whose name literally means “full of apples”, is believed to be the birthplace of the modern apple. Try Aport, a local variety known for its giant size and delish sweet and sour flavour. Take a walk in leafy Panfilov Park and do stop at the stunning Ascension Cathedral, a 56-metre-high Russian Orthodox church made entirely of wood – but without any nails. Take a crash course in Russian, Soviet, Western European and East Asian art at Kazakhstan's premier art museum, the A. Kasteyev State Museum of Arts, followed by a well-deserved break in the lavish Arasan bath complex.

 

Welcome to the future

If you think Kazakhstan’s former capital isn’t a dusty, old museum town, just wait until you see the current one. Nur-Sultan, whose name hasn’t even turned one yet, strikes most visitors as one giant showroom of the oil-rich nation’s wealth and ambition. But there’s more to the story. In April 1998, the Kazakh government hired legendary Japanese architect, Kurokawa Kishō to turn the former Soviet prison camp into a forward-looking 21st-century capital. Today, Nur-Sultan is the symbol of modern, independent Kazakhstan and its rich cultural fabric. Enjoy a 360-degree view of the Kazakh capital from the 97-metre Bayterek observation tower, the city’s gleaming emblem. Shop ‘til you drop in Khan Shatyr, a yurt-inspired entertainment complex, which, among other things, boasts a top-floor tropical beach, with turquoise water and golden sand imported from the Maldives, plus summer temperatures guaranteed all year long. Don’t miss the ALZHIR Memorial Complex, a sobering homage to the victims of Stalinist repression.

 

Where beauty meets adventure

Kazakhstan is best enjoyed outdoors, be it on foot, horseback, bike, skis or what have you. Ice-skate 1,691 metres above sea level at Medeo, just 25 kilometres from Almaty or hit the slopes at Shymbulak, further up the Malaya Almatinka valley. Near the Chinese border, Kazakhstan’s mini Grand Canyon awaits hiking enthusiasts with burnt orange-hued cliffs and soul-stirring views. Carved out by sun and sand, wind and water, the 90-kilometre-long Charyn Canyon is part of the Charyn river valley that runs through the Charyn National Park right into the Ili river. Look for the Valley of Castles, where sandstone rocks resemble characters straight out of a fairy tale, having earned the spot nicknames such as Devil's Gorge or Ghosts Gorge. Find solitude among the mist-clad peaks of the majestic Tien Shan mountain range (Mountains of Heaven), stretching over to three other Stans, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, plus China. Do make your way to the Big Almaty Lake for an out-of-this-world lakeside experience and the bluest water you’ll ever see.