Looking to explore Kazakhstan, home to the vast and diverse landscapes of the steppe and the fascinating nomadic traditions and culture of Central Asia, but you are unsure where to start? You are in the right place.
With this itinerary, I will take you across this beautiful and vast country, visiting some of the best places in Kazakhstan from the vibrant city of Almaty and the futuristic city of Astana to exploring the Kolsai Lake, Kaindy Lake, and Charyn Canyon, some of the most magnificent natural spots in the country, all in a period of 10 days.
Without further ado, here is the ultimate 10-day backpacking itinerary for Kazakhstan. Let's begin by looking at all the places we will be visiting in this itinerary with the map below:
- Kazakhstan Itinerary Map
- 10 Days Backpacking Kazakhstan Itinerary
- Kazakhstan Travel Video
- When to Visit Kazakhstan?
- How to Get to Kazakhstan?
- How to Get Around Kazakhstan?
- How Much Money Do I Need for 10 days in Kazakhstan?
- Is it Safe in Kazakhstan?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for Kazakhstan?
- What to Pack for Kazakhstan?
- Further Reading for Central Asia
Kazakhstan Itinerary Map
| ☀️ Day 1-3: | Almaty |
| ☀️ Day 4-5: | Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes, and Charyn Canyon |
| ☀️ Day 6: | Shymkent |
| ☀️ Day 7: | Turkestan |
| ☀️ Day 8-10: | Astana |
10 Days Backpacking Kazakhstan Itinerary
Day 1 - 3: Almaty (3 nights)
Our itinerary begins in Almaty, one of the liveliest cities in Central Asia surrounded by the snow-capped mountains of the Tian Shan mountain range with a ton of cool things to do that will completely change your perception of Kazakhstan you had before.
We start off our first day in Almaty at Zenkov's Cathedral, probably one of the most impressive structures, if not the most impressive in the entire city. It is certainly one of my favorite attractions thanks to its colorful exterior and elaborate designs that stand out from the rest of Almaty's greyish, Brutalist-style buildings.
The architectural style of the Zenkov Cathedral is predominantly Russian Orthodox, with Byzantine influences. It features beautiful ornate details, colorful domes, and intricate woodwork, unlike the other buildings you will see in Almaty. Its colorful exterior definitely lightens up the whole place for me.
- Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon Small-Group Tour (15 hours)
- Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes + Charyn Canyon private 2-day tour (2 days) 🏅 Top Pick
- 4-Day Altyn Emel Park + Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes + Charyn Canyon jeep-tour (4 days)
Not too far from Zenkov's Cathedral, you will also find the 28 Panfilov Guardsmen Monument, an impressive brutalist-style monument commemorating the heroic actions of a group of soldiers from the 316th Rifle Division during World War II.
Located right next to the monument, you will also find an impressive wooden structure of the Museum of Musical Instruments, a museum featuring Kazakh folk instruments & other musical instruments from this region, which is another great place to check out before we continue our journey.
Located just north of Zenkov's Cathedral, you will find the Green Bazaar, one of the oldest markets in the city that is always bustling with people and shopkeepers selling all kinds of products from electronics to fresh produce like raw meat and vegetables.
Even if you are not into shopping, the Green Bazaar will offer you a chance to really be immersed in the local culture. You can witness the lively interactions between vendors and customers, and perhaps even get to try some local street food or traditional snacks that are often offered by shopkeepers trying to woo customers.
As evening approaches, you are going to want to go up to the top of Kok Tobe Hill, a prominent hill located not too far from Almaty that offers an incredible view of the city from above as well as its surrounding snow-capped mountains. The perfect place to experience sunset over Almaty.
Situated at an elevation of about 1,100 meters (3,600 feet), Kok Tobe is connected to Almaty via a cable car and you can catch one from Kok Tobe Hill Gondola Station right from the city center which makes it so much easier to get to without a car.
The roundtrip ticket for the gondola is around 5,000 KZT which is reasonable. The facility is well-maintained and even though there are a lot of people queuing at sunset, it didn't take long for me to get on one and be at the top in no time.
Up there, you will also find an amusement park equipped with a Ferris Wheel, a spinning carnival ride, and even a tiny zoo full of different kinds of animals like deer, llamas, and many types of colorful birds you can admire up close.
After you are done at Kok Tobe Hill, you can retreat for the day and start your second day by visiting the Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a great place to dive deeper into the unique identity of the once-nomadic people of the steppe.
The museum's collection encompasses a wide range of artifacts and exhibits that highlight the rich history, culture, and heritage of Kazakhstan from different periods starting from prehistoric all the way to modern-day Kazakhstan. I definitely did not expect to see prehistoric fossils or mammoth skeletons here!
Not too far from the State Museum, you will find the Golden Warrior Monument, a soaring obelisk honoring Kazakhstan's independence featuring a golden warrior atop a winged leopard, representing freedom, progress, and the aspirations of the Kazakh people.
Although the monument is nothing special, what I like about it is its spacious area that allows me to see the beautiful snow-capped mountains that surround the city as well as the 2 distinct Brutalist skyscrapers that flanked the monument on both sides.
You can spend the rest of the day enjoying Almaty's incredible cafe culture or you can travel further and visit places like First President Park and the Botanical Garden, and learn why they called Almaty the City of Gardens.
If you have managed to align your visit with the Spirit of Tengri music festival which is often held on one of the weekends in June, you are going to have a hell of a time in Almaty.
The "Spirit of Tengri" is a musical and cultural project that celebrates the rich heritage and traditions of the nomadic peoples of Central Asia, particularly the ancient Turkic and Mongolic cultures.
At the event, you will be able to witness local bands performing some really unique performances that blend traditional sounds with modern arrangements, creating a fusion of styles and genres.
You can check the exact date from their official website before planning the trip. The event is free for everyone and it takes place at the square right in front of Kok Tobe Hill gondola station.
Getting from Almaty to Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes, and Charyn Canyon
To get from Almaty to Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes, and Charyn Canyon, you are going to have to rely on this overnight organized tour that will take you from Almaty to these places without you having to worry about the logistics and stay overnight in Saty.
Keep in mind that the shared group tour is only available on Monday every week so be sure to align your visit carefully. You can check their group tour schedule here.
If you are traveling with other people and you want to organize a private tour, you can also book the private tour here with a maximum of 15 people and you can book it any day you want.
Day 4 - 5: Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes, and Charyn Canyon (1 night)
Next up, we are going to visit Charyn Canyon and Kolsai Lake on the first day and Kaindy Lake on the second day while spending the night in Saty with a guided tour that you can book here.
If you are interested in joining a group tour to Charyn Canyon, Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes, make sure to plan your visit on a Monday as the tours only run once per week. Additionally, it is advisable to book at least a week in advance as these tours tend to get booked out pretty quickly. You can book the tour from here.
If you are traveling with other people, you can organize a private tour from here and you can travel any day you wish. With enough people, it will be as affordable as going on a shared group tour.
Since many of these places are remote and often time, you have to drive off-road and cross a river a few times, going with an organized tour is the best way to do it unless you rented your own 4WD and you know what you are doing. I saw a few cars getting stuck on the river crossing to Kaindy Lake and they had to be tolled off by another truck.
With the tour, you will be picked up at the pick-up spot around 8 AM and you will be driven to Charyn Canyon, a stunning natural landmark often referred to as the "Grand Canyon of Central Asia" with plenty of hiking trails and viewpoints you can tackle.
The canyon features a variety of unique geological formations, including towering cliffs, deep gorges, and intricate rock formations shaped by wind and water which makes for a great place to do some hiking.
For the hike, you will have around 1.5 hours and you can choose whether to hike the ridge or go down the canyon, and hike at the bottom. I chose the ridge as I think it would be more epic to see the canyon from above but both are pretty cool to see either way.
If you choose to walk at the bottom, the path will end at a river and you can take a shuttle pick-up truck back to the beginning if you do not want to walk back. There is no shade anywhere in the canyon so be sure to carry enough water and apply sunscreens before you start hiking.
After you are done at Charyn Canyon, you will be driven to Saty for lunch. This is also the place you will be spending overnight so you can get settled in before we continue on to Kolsai Lake.
Kolsai Lake is a massive lake surrounded by beautiful mountains with plenty of hiking opportunities as well as boating and horseback riding if you wish to explore the area in style.
You will have around 3 hours of free time at Kolsai Lake and you can choose to hike around the lake which will take about 2 hours and you will have to cross a river on foot (prepare to get your shoes wet), rent a boat for an hour for 10,000 KZT or 6,000 KZT to ride horses around the lake.
After you are done at the lake, you will be taken back to Saty and the guest house will provide you with dinner before you can retreat for the day.
For the next day, you will have breakfast at the Guesthouse before you are driven to Kaindy Lake, one of the most unique lakes you will see here with its crazy blue water and dead tree trunks formed as the result of a major limestone landslide triggered by an earthquake in 1911.
At the lake's parking lot, you can hike for about 45 minutes to the lake, take a shuttle van for 500 KZT one way, or you can choose to ride horses there for 6,000 KZT, both ways. The hike is pretty short and sweet so no need to go for the latter options in my opinion.
At the lake, you can hike around for 2 hours before you drive back to Saty for lunch and after that, you will have to pack your bags and make your way back to Almaty.
Along the way, you will be stopping at the Black Canyon for a brief stop as well as the Yellow Canyon for an hour hike before you arrive back in Almaty between 6 - 8 PM, completing our days exploring Charyn Canyon, Kolsai Lake, and Kaindy Lake.
Getting from Almaty to Shymkent
From Almaty to Shymkent, you can catch the night train from Almaty-2 Train Station which is the closest train station to the city center. Avoid booking a train leaving from Almaty-1 Train Station as it is located outside of the city and it can take more than 30 minutes to get there depending on the traffic.
You can look up the train schedule and book the ticket online from Tickets.kz. I highly recommend you get the 23:46 overnight train leaving from Almaty-2 Train Station. It is the fastest train of all, taking only about 10 hours and it has first-class berths which you share with one other person and it is equipped with a built-in bathroom which is very convenient.
And since you are going to be back in Almaty around 7 - 8 PM as the tour drops you off, you will have plenty of buffer time before you gotta catch the overnight train, in case of unforeseen delays.
Otherwise, you can spend some time at a cafe in Almaty until about an hour before your scheduled train and then you can take a YandexGo taxi to the train station. I wouldn't recommend being at the train station hours before your train because there is nothing to do there.
What I would recommend is to stay at Coffee Centre in Almaty. They are open until 1 AM and there are plenty of seats with power outlets so you can charge your electronics up until you take the overnight train. Not to mention, they have some really great coffee and meals there.
Day 6: Shymkent (2 nights)
Shymkent is the third largest city in the country and it is a great place to use as a base to explore Turkestan, one of the most beautiful historical cities in Kazakhstan.
After 10 hours on the train, you should arrive in Shymkent at 10 AM where you can settle at your accommodation, rest up, and spend the evening, strolling around Abay Park, a massive park located right at the center of the city.
For a great restaurant to have dinner at Abay Park, I highly recommend you check out Barvilla Restaurant, a nice and cozy restaurant with its own garden and outdoor seats, perfect for dinner and a glass of wine.
The price is a bit higher than average but you are really getting your money's worth here. I ordered a beef kebab and it was unlike any kebab I'd seen before and it was delicious!
After dinner, you can retreat for the night and prepare for your journey to Turkestan the next day as we will be spending the entire day exploring all the beautiful historical structures there.
Getting from Shymkent to Turkestan
Getting from Shymkent to Turkestan independently as a day trip is extremely easy and straightforward. All you have to do is hail a taxi with the YandexGo app from anywhere in Shymkent and go to Samal Bus Station. From there, you can ask the people working there where you can get a marshrutka/shared taxi to Turkestan (Туркестан) and they will direct you to the right platform.
For an air-con marshrutka, it will cost you around 1500 KZT and you will usually have to wait around 30 minutes for the car to fill up before it leaves. From then, it will take about 1.5 hours to get to Turkestan one way. Make sure you tell the driver to drop you off at the mausoleum before you get on the marshrutka. Just say "mausoleum" (мавзолей) and show them the picture and they should understand what you mean.
Once you are done in Turkestan, to get back from Turkestan to Shymkent, you can catch a taxi via YandexGo again to get to Merey Bus Station where you can then ask people there to direct you to cars going to Shymkent (Шымкент). It should cost you no more than 1200 KZT and takes about 1.5 hours to get back to Shymkent. Easy peasy! Total travel time is 3 hours both ways and costs less than 3000 KZT for the whole journey.
Day 7: Turkestan (Day Trip)
One of the highlights of visiting Turkestan is witnessing the incredible beauty of the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Muslims as well as the most famous landmarks in the city.
After you are dropped off by the marshrutka at the bus stop here, you can walk through Etno Park and you will be able to get a glimpse of the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi from afar.
The mausoleum features a massive, turquoise-colored dome that dominates the structure. It is one of the largest domes in Central Asia, with a diameter of approximately 18 meters (59 feet).
The facades of the mausoleum are covered with exquisite mosaic tilework arranged in geometric patterns, often forming star-shaped motifs and interlaced designs that are predominantly blue and turquoise in color, which showcase the unique characteristics of the architecture often found in this part of the ancient Silk Road.
The interior of the mausoleum is also as massive in scale as it is from the outside with a large main hall with an incredibly high domed ceiling connecting with several rooms holding small exhibitions you can check out. Although, I think the interior could use a little bit more maintenance.
Located right next to the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi you will also find another impressive structure called the Mausoleum of Rabia Sultan Begum, which is a much smaller mausoleum but still very impressive to see.
The Underground Mosque is another cool tourist attraction you should check out in Turkestan. Located not too far from the 2 mausoleums I mentioned earlier, the mosque is known for its unique architectural design, as it is built partially underground which is rather rare to see.
Another great place to visit while you are in Turkestan is Masjid Khoja Ahmad Yassavi, a beautiful mosque that blends the Timurid architectural style, characterized by the intricate tilework, and decorative elements, with modern design features like its massive proportion, creating a really unique piece of architecture that stands out from the rest of the structures here.
If you are looking for a place to rest from the heat, Karavan Saray is a great place to be as it is a massive shopping complex with many shops and restaurants as well as some really cool-looking structures that combines the traditional Timurid architectural style with the futuristic architectural style.
The Samruk Flying Theater is especially cool with its exterior reminiscent of a golden egg in a bird's nest while being surrounded by many large sandstone-colored buildings and arcades. It is definitely a great place to be if you are looking for a place to have lunch during your exploration here.
After you are done in Turkestan, you can then take a taxi to Merey Bus Station and catch the next marshrutka back to Shymkent and spend the rest of the day relaxing and preparing for our flight to Astana.
Getting from Shymkent to Astana
From Shymkent to Astana, it is very difficult to find an overnight train there as it often gets booked out months in advance so I recommend you take the flight instead. You can find cheap flights from here.
Shymkent International Airport is located just north of Shymkent and it can easily be reached via YandexGo Taxi. It is a small airport but it has free WIFI and a tiny cafe you can wait at.
Day 8 - 10: Astana (3 nights)
If you are ever wondering what the city of the future is like in Central Asia, Astana is where it's at, with its arrays of impressive futuristic structures, thanks to the Expo 2017 event that was held here, as well as the fact that the city was built from the ground up for the people. The city is the Dubai of Central Asia with its own charm that you have to see for yourself to believe.
One of the most iconic structures in Astana that I highly recommend you check out is Baiterek Tower, a cool-looking futuristic tower of independence that stands right at the heart of the city surrounded by beautiful parks and fountains, which is where we will begin our journey here.
The height of Baiterek is approximately 105 meters (344 feet), and at the top of the tower, there is an observation deck that offers an incredible panoramic view of the city.
For around 2000 KZT, you can take an elevator to the top and enjoy the breathtaking vistas of Astana's modern skyline, including its iconic buildings such as the Presidential Palace and the Khan Shatyr we will be visiting next.
After you are done with Baiterek Tower, you can spend some time and stroll along the vast Nurzhol Boulevard where you will find a beautiful spacious area with colorful flowers and stunning fountains right in the city center.
The park connects much of Astana's city center together all the way from the Presidential Palace to Khan Shatyr making it extremely easy to see everything in one go.
On the other end of the boulevard opposite the Presidential Palace, you will find Khan Shatyr, the largest tent-shaped structure in the world, and guess what is inside? A massive shopping complex!
The building stands at a height of approximately 150 meters (492 feet) and it houses a large shopping mall with the center column used as a drop tower amusement ride which I think is pretty dope.
Khan Shatyr also includes a recreational space called "The Beach", which features a large artificial beach area complete with sand, palm trees, and a temperature-controlled environment. This beach area allows you to relax, sunbathe, and even enjoy water activities in a tropical setting, regardless of the outside weather conditions. Now, that is futuristic!
Next up, you can take a taxi and visit the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, one of the best and largest museums in the country which is a perfect place to learn more about the history of Kazakhstan. Out of all the history museums in Kazakhstan, this is the best one by far!
Inside, the National Museum, you will find a comprehensive collection of artifacts and exhibits that span various periods of Kazakhstan's history. The museum's permanent exhibition is divided into several sections, covering topics such as archaeology, ethnography, history, art, and natural history, spread out into the many rooms and floors of the museum.
One of the museum's main highlights is the "Golden Man" exhibit, which features the famous Golden Man (Altyn Adam) archaeological find. The Golden Man is an ancient Scythian warrior's burial suit adorned with gold and is considered a national symbol of Kazakhstan.
The museum is so big, you can expect to spend at least 2 hours to see the highlights or more if you wish to see all the exhibitions on display here, so be sure to spare some time for your visit.
There are several other tourist attractions around the museum that you can check out as well like the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, a pyramid-shaped museum promoting the value of peace, Hazrat Sultan Mosque, a lavishly decorated mosque that blends Kazakh and Ottoman architectural elements, and the cool-looking Shabyt Palace of Creativity.
During the evening, after sunset, be sure to go for a walk again at Nurzhol Boulevard and witness the Singing Fountain which performs every 10 minutes, and enjoy the lively vibe of Astana before you call it a day.
On our second day, we are going to visit the Grand Mosque of Astana, the largest mosque in all of Central Asia and among the largest in the world. It took me almost 5 minutes just to walk from the road to the mosque itself through its vast courtyard.
The grand mosque has 4 minarets standing at over 130 meters high and it features a massive central blue dome with a height of 83.2 meters and a diameter of 62 meters, the largest of its kind in the world.
If you think that these are all the record-breaking features of this mosque, you are going to be surprised that even the entrance door of the mosque is considered one of the tallest wooden doors in the world, standing at 12.4 meters with a weight of one and a half tons.
The interior of the mosque is as impressive as the exterior with the walls of the mosque decorated with colorful patterns, verses from the Koran, and prayers as well as Arabic calligraphy and inscription that is beautifully illuminated with yellow light installed under the surface.
Since it is located a little further from the city center, you can go there via YandexGo taxi and spend at least an hour or 2 before we continue on to our next destination.
After you are done at the Grand Mosque of Astana, you can either walk for about 30 minutes or take a taxi to Nur Alem Future Energy Museum, one of the coolest interactive museums to visit here.
This museum was the result of EXPO 2017, serving as the Kazakhstan Pavilion during the international exhibition EXPO 2017 with the theme "Future Energy" and they turned the pavilion into a museum dedicated to promoting sustainable energy and raising awareness about the importance of renewable resources and green technologies.
Inside the museum, you can explore multiple floors dedicated to different energy-related topics. The exhibits utilize state-of-the-art technology, interactive displays, and multimedia presentations to educate us about different energy sources, their environmental impact, and potential solutions for a sustainable future.
All the exhibitions are extremely well done and really go to show just how dedicated Astana is to becoming the city of the future for the entire region. It is really inspiring and also very fun to see all the cool interactive exhibitions inside as well as the impressive architectural wonder that is the museum itself.
It should take you at least an hour or 2 to walk through all of the exhibitions and floors. Once you are done, you can either hang out and have lunch at Coffee Boom, one of my favorite cafes in Kazakhstan before you head back to the city center and spend the rest of the day relaxing.
And that should complete our 10-day itinerary backpacking around Kazakhstan. Congratulations! You can spend the rest of the night enjoying the lively nightlife of Astana before you fly back home the next day.
Getting out of Astana
From Astana, you should be able to fly home via international airlines directly or you might have to transit to Almaty as it is the largest travel hub in the region.
When to Visit Kazakhstan?
The best time to visit Kazakhstan is between May to September when the weather is nice and warm, great for doing outdoor activities, with a high chance of beautiful clear sky.
The summer between June and August is a great time to visit if you want to experience summer events like the Spirit of Tengri in Almay but it can get pretty hot sometimes.
If you prefer a cooler climate, April to May and September to October is also a great period as well. It can still be quite cold in places like Astana even in the summer months, thanks to its geography, so be sure to pack jackets for your trip.
I was in Astana in June and one day it was 30°C and the next, it went down to 10°C which caught me completely off guard, so be sure to pack layers for your trip no matter which period you choose to visit just in case.
If you want to join a group tour to Charyn Canyon, Kolsai, and Kaindy Lakes, make sure you align the day you want to visit with Mondays as they only run once a week. Also, be sure to book at least a week in advance as it gets booked out pretty quickly. You can book the tour from here.
How to Get to Kazakhstan?
From the US, you can fly to Almaty, the largest travel hub in Kazakhstan via airlines like Qatar and Emirates that often leave from big cities like New York, LA, or San Francisco, taking about 18 - 20 hours including the transiting time in the country of airline's origin.
From Europe, you can fly to Almaty via Air Astana which is a local airline and they are surprisingly great or you can fly via Qatar and Turkish Airlines which can take about 9 hours or more including transiting time.
From Asia, there are 2 direct flights per week from Bangkok directly to Almaty via Air Astana which take about 7 hours or you can rely on Emirates, Qatar, or Turkish Airlines to travel to Almaty.
To find a cheap flight to Kazakhstan, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
How to Get Around Kazakhstan?
By Trains: Trains are the cheapest way to travel long distances in Kazakhstan. There are several night trains you can take between big cities like Almaty, Shymkent, and Astana, all at a very affordable price of around 15,000 KZT for first class and below for other classes.
The train can take between 10 - 20 hours depending on which type of train you choose. They are as comfortable as night trains can be and it is a great way to see the countryside as you travel from one place to another. You can find the train schedule and book one online from Tickets.kz.
By Planes: You can also fly domestically between Astana, Shymkent, and Almaty via local airlines like FlyArystan and SCAT if you are looking for a fast and convenient way to get around the country.
There are several flights per day running between these 3 big cities costing between 50 to 100 USD and it should take no more than 1.5 hours to travel between each city. You can find cheap flights around Kazakhstan here.
By YandexGo Taxis: Once you get to the city, you can rely on YandexGo or Uber to get around wherever you want within the city limit at a very affordable price. I prefer YandexGo as it is cheaper and it is popular among the locals here. Plus, you can pay for everything via credit cards which is great for when you arrive at the airport and you want to get to your accommodation.
By Tours: Certain places like Kaidy Lake are best done with a tour group as the road to get there is not paved and you will have to drive across a river which is impossible to do without renting your own 4WD. There are several tours available you can choose from here.
By Rental Cars: You can also rent a car at the airports and drive around Kazakhstan but keep in mind that the road here is not the safest as I found local drivers to be rather aggressive and some roads are not the best to drive on. Although for this itinerary, you do not need to rent a car. If you insist on doing so, hit the link below to rent a car in Kazakhstan:
How Much Money Do I Need for 10 days in Kazakhstan?
From this 10 days itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here as follows:
Accommodation: For 10 nights in Kazakhstan, you can expect to pay around 54,186 KZT (120 USD) for accommodation considering you are staying in budget guesthouses or hostels.
Food: For 10 days, 3 meals a day in Kazakhstan, you can expect to pay around 63,000 KZT (139 USD) for food considering you eat out every day. It will be significantly cheaper if you buy your own groceries and cook yourself instead.
Transportation: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay around 98,000 KZT (217 USD) for trains, planes, and taxis across the country.
Activities: Depending on how much you want to do in Kazakhstan, you can expect to pay approximately 81,200 KZT (177 USD) for tours as well as entrance fees to tourist attractions around the country.
Total Budget for 10 days in Kazakhstan: 296,386 KZT (653 USD)
Is it Safe in Kazakhstan?
I found Kazakhstan to be very safe for solo travelers as the country doesn't get as many tourists which in turn resulted in little to no tourist scams happening around the country. I spent about 2 weeks traveling around the country independently and I found the people here to be extremely friendly despite them not speaking much English and I didn't experience anything out of the ordinary.
I found bus and marshrutka drivers to be trustworthy as they have never overcharged me for the bus ticket despite me not speaking the language and you can always rely on YandexGo to hail a taxi in most cities in Kazakhstan which eliminate the need to negotiate with overpriced and terrible local taxis at places like train stations and airports.
That said, it is always a good idea to exercise precautions by not leaving your belongings unattended, especially when in crowded places like bus or train stations, and ALWAYS keep an eye out for your belongings at all times.
Keep your hands in your pockets when entering or exiting crowded places to secure your phone and wallet. Other than that, you should be perfectly fine traveling around Kazakhstan independently.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Kazakhstan?
There are 3 major carriers in Kazakhstan, KCell, Beeline, and Tele2, that offer prepaid sim cards tourists can buy while they are traveling in Kazakhstan. That said, if you are looking for a more convenient way, I highly recommend you look into getting esims instead which is something that you can buy prior to your arrival in Kazakhstan.
If you have a smartphone that supports esims, I highly recommend you take a look at these esims. They have a variety of data packages, price points, and durations for you to choose from.
The setup is fast and instant and you can buy it prior to your trip so you don't have to scramble your way to get one at the airport after a long flight. The data speed is also equivalent to what you get with a local sim card with 4G speed across the entire country.
For more information on esims in Kazakhstan, click here: Check Kazakhstan's Available eSim.
What to Pack for Kazakhstan?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Kazakhstan:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Central Asia
Are you looking to dive deeper into Central Asia? Here are a selection of travel guides and itineraries for traveling in Central Asia:
- Looking for a comprehensive one-month itinerary and travel guide for Central Asia? One Month Itinerary For Central Asia
- Looking for things to do in Almaty, Kazakhstan? Check out the 10 Best Things to Do in Almaty.
- If you are staying in Almaty for a while and want to explore the city's culinary delights, be sure to check out our 10 Best Cafes and Restaurants to Try in Almaty.
- Want to get off the beaten path in Kazakhstan? Shymkent is an awesome place to visit. Here are the 9 Best Things to Do in Shymkent.
- If you want to witness the city of the future in Central Asia, Astana is definitely the place you want to be. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Astana.
- A great country to start your journey in Central Asia is Kyrgyzstan, as it is the easiest country to enter the region. Here's a complete 3-week itinerary travel guide to Kyrgyzstan.
- Bishkek, the capital city, is a great place to use as a base for you to obtain all tourist visas for the surrounding countries, such as Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, and the city has a ton to offer. Here are the 10 things to do in Bishkek.
- Kyrgyzstan is known for its mountains, and one of the best treks you can do is the Ala Kul trek. Here's a travel guide for trekking the Ala Kul trail and how you can do it in 2 days.
- The Pamir Highway is one of the best road trips you can do in your life and it begins in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, and ends in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Here's a complete guide on how to plan your Pamir Highway road trip.
- If Kyrgyzstan is known for its mountains, then Uzbekistan is known for its culture and architecture. With several ancient Silk Road cities, there is a ton to see in Uzbekistan. Here's a 2-week itinerary and a travel guide in Uzbekistan.
- Last but not least, one of the hardest countries to visit in Central Asia is Turkmenistan, and you will require a lot of planning before you can visit. Here's a complete travel guide with a one-week itinerary for Turkmenistan.
- You can watch all my travel videos from Central Asia here: Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.
- Looking for more travel guides for Central Asia? You can find more on my Central Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides, visit our All Destination Travel Guide page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
2 Comments
Hey, Thanks a lot for such detailed overview of the country. I intend to be there in mid march for 10 days which i understand will be lot cooler than summer - do all the activities you highlighted are doable during this time
Hey Amit,
Yes, the tours to places like Kolsai, Kandy, and Charyn Canyon run all year round but KEEP IN MIND, they don't run every day of the week (usually twice a week) so be sure to check the schedule on their website before booking your trip to Almaty.