Before I arrived in Almaty – the largest city in Kazakhstan – my friend Charlotte, who’s spending the…
Times visited: 1
Cities visited: Beyneu, Astana, Almaty
Towns and villages visited: Sagiz, Subarqudiq, Qandiagas, Nikeltau, Koibagar, Yesil, Atbasar, Basshi
UNESCO sites visited: 1/6
In March 2025, I finally made it to Kazakhstan – a country I’d yearned to visit for years. Despite being one of the largest countries on Earth, Kazakhstan still flies under the radar of mass tourism, which is surprising given its rich cultural heritage and stunningly diverse landscapes.
I spent nine days traversing this vast land, covering a staggering 3,500 kilometers by train. My journey began in the remote city of Beyneu, a sandswept outpost in the southwest where I appeared to be the only tourist in town. From there, I travelled across the endless steppe to Astana, Kazakhstan’s surreal and futuristic capital. The contrast was striking – going from dusty isolation to gleaming skyscrapers and bold architecture felt like stepping into a different world.
From Astana, I continued to Almaty, where I based myself for five days while visiting a friend. Together, we explored the city’s Soviet remnants, leafy avenues, and cozy cafés, and experienced Nowruz, a celebration of the spring equinox. But the highlight was a three-day tour to Altyn-Emel National Park, a place of raw beauty and otherworldly landscapes.
In just nine days, I experienced a kaleidoscope of Kazakh life: remote solitude, vast and empty horizons, the surreal intensity of Astana, and the jaw-dropping nature around Almaty. It may have been a whirlwind trip, but it left a deep impression – and only strengthened my desire to return.