Travel to Kazakhstan — everything you need to know
When to go to Kazakhstan?
- May–Jun — Steppe spring : The steppe awakens into a carpet of wildflowers. Pleasant temperatures, ideal for national parks and the mountainous regions of the south-east.
- Sep–Oct — Golden autumn : Beautiful autumn colours in the Tian Shan mountains around Almaty. Still mild temperatures, perfect for hiking.
- Jul–Aug — Hot summer : High summer temperatures (35–40 °C in the south). Pleasant in Almaty and the mountains, bearable in Astana.
- Nov–Mar — Siberian winter : Extreme cold (−20 to −35 °C in Astana). Ski season at Shymbulak (Almaty). For fans of snowy landscapes and winter nomadic traditions.
Weather in Kazakhstan
Check the weather city by city, starting with Astana (Nur-Sultan).
- Astana: daytime highs from -8 to 27 °C depending on the season, 28 mm of rain per month on average.
- Almaty: daytime highs from 1 to 31 °C depending on the season, 56 mm of rain per month on average.
What to do in Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world, a vast expanse of golden steppes, ochre deserts and snow-capped mountains stretching from the Caspian Sea to the edge of China. Cradle of the nomadic Kazakh civilisation, it preserves an age-old tradition of herding, hospitality and equestrian culture while boasting the futuristic skyscrapers of its ultramodern capital Astana. The Silk Road cities — Turkestan, Taraz — bear witness to another history, that of caravans and empires.
Almaty
Almaty, the former capital and largest city of Kazakhstan, is a lively metropolis nestled at the foot of the Tian Shan mountains, whose snow-capped peaks rise above 4,000 metres over the city's green parks. The country's most cosmopolitan and lively city, it offers a rich cultural life, varied cuisine and immediate access to the grandiose mountain landscapes of Ala-Archa. The Shymbulak ski resort, just 20 minutes from the centre, is one of the best in Central Asia.
Highlights : Ile-Alatau National Park — Tian Shan mountains at the city's gates, Shymbulak ski resort — skiing at 2,200–3,200 m altitude, National Museum of Kazakhstan — Kazakh history and culture, Zeleny Bazar market — flavours and colours of Central Asia.
Astana
Astana (formerly Nur-Sultan, then Astana again), capital since 1997, is one of the most futuristic and astonishing cities in Asia: an ultramodern metropolis rising from the Kazakh steppe, built from scratch through unprecedented political and architectural will. The world's most famous architects — Norman Foster, Kisho Kurokawa — have left their mark on a cityscape of glass, steel and spherical forms that contrasts sharply with the surrounding nomadic traditions.
Highlights : Baiterek — iconic 97 m tower, symbol of the new capital, Palace of Peace and Reconciliation — Norman Foster's pyramid, Khan Shatyr — Norman Foster's giant tent-shaped mall, National Museum of Kazakhstan — the country's largest museum.
Turkestan
Turkestan is the most sacred city in Kazakh Central Asia, whose Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi — a masterpiece of Timurid architecture commissioned by Tamerlane at the end of the 14th century — ranks among the region's most important Islamic monuments. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the mausoleum with its immense turquoise dome towers over a city that was for centuries one of the main spiritual and trading hubs of the Silk Road.
Highlights : Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi — UNESCO-listed Timurid masterpiece, Hilvet underground bathhouse — medieval hammam from the 12th–14th centuries, Arystan-Bab necropolis — mausoleum of Yasawi's spiritual master, Azret Sultan Mosque — one of the largest mosques in Kazakhstan.
Charyn Canyon
Charyn Canyon, nicknamed the 'Little Grand Canyon', is one of Kazakhstan's most spectacular natural landscapes: red and ochre sandstone formations carved by the Charyn river over 150 kilometres, with walls rising up to 300 metres high. The Valley of Castles, with its rock formations shaped like towers and battlements, is especially photogenic at sunset.
Highlights : Valley of Castles — rock formations resembling medieval fortresses, Charyn river gorges — rafting between ochre cliffs, Sogety ash forest — a botanical relic predating the ice ages, Sunset viewpoint — panorama over the red cliffs.
Travel budget for Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is moderately cheap for European travellers. Astana and Almaty are the most expensive cities, with standards close to Eastern Europe. Rural regions and the steppe are very affordable. The tenge has lost value in recent years, which benefits travellers.
- Backpacker : 35–55 €/j — Hostels, local restaurants, trains and buses. Very affordable outside the big cities.
- Comfort : 75–130 €/j — Comfortable hotels, private transport, quality restaurants in Almaty and Astana.
Practical tips for travelling to Kazakhstan
- Flight from Paris : 6–8h via Moscow, Istanbul or Dubai. Air Astana offers connections from European hubs. Direct Paris–Almaty flights are rare but do exist.
- Visa : French citizens are exempt from a visa for tourist stays of up to 30 days. No formalities required — just a valid passport.
- Currency : Tenge (KZT). ATMs available in all cities. Visa/Mastercard accepted in hotels and tourist restaurants.
- Language : Kazakh is the official language, Russian is the lingua franca. English is not widely spoken outside Astana and Almaty. Learning a few words of Russian makes travelling easier.
- Electricity : Type C/F (European), 220V — no adapter needed for European devices.
- Health : No mandatory vaccines. Tap water not recommended in rural areas. Excellent hospitals in Almaty and Astana. Health insurance strongly recommended.
- Safety : Generally safe country for tourists. Watch for pickpockets in Almaty's markets. Border areas with Russia and China should be avoided without special authorisation.
- Nomadic culture : Not to be missed: traditional cuisine (beshbarmak, koumiss, kurt), a yurt stay, the Nauryz national holiday (21 March) and the equestrian sport of kokpar (Kazakh polo).
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