Kazakhstan combines incredibly diverse landscapes, from deserts and steppes to mountains and canyons, with interesting Soviet history, delicious food, and some of the friendliest people I’ve met. Cities feel remarkably safe, and perhaps the biggest highlight of all is that Kazakhstan remains largely untouched by tourism.

Here’s how I spent 10 days exploring the country’s south and capital.

5 days in Almaty

Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, Almaty offers the perfect combination of urban life and spectacular nature.

My itinerary in Almaty:

• A 20-kilometre walk around the city’s main landmarks
• A 16-hour 4WD excursion to Altyn Emel National Park to discover the colourful canyons and the famous Singing Dune
• A day trip to Bear Waterfall and Issyk Lake
• A two-day group excursion to Kolsai Lake, Kaindy Lake and Charyn Canyon

I enjoyed Almaty so much that I dedicated an entire blog post to the city and its surroundings.

Train day

Kazakhstan is famous for its long-distance train journeys, so I decided to travel from Almaty to Turkestan by rail.

Practical info:

• Duration: 16 hours, from 08:55 to 01:05 (overnight trains are also available)
• Price: between €15 and €45. I opted for second-class sleeper accommodation, with four beds per compartment
• Booking: I couldn’t book directly through the railway company’s website, but had no problem using 12go.com

Food and drinks were available on board, and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. Between naps, hours of reading, some entertaining Google Translate conversations with my compartment neighbour, and endless views of the Kazakh steppe passing by, the time flew by.

1 day in Turkestan

Staying overnight in Turkestan was a last-minute decision. Initially, I had planned to visit on a day trip from Shymkent, but since I arrived late in the evening, I decided to treat myself to the Hampton by Hilton. At just €62, it was great value, and I woke up with the city’s main monuments right outside my window.

I spent a couple of hours exploring the magnificent Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, one of Kazakhstan’s most important muslim sites. The highlight for me was wandering through the ancient settlement of Kultobe almost completely alone.

I then continued around the city, stopping at:

• The Monument to the Kazakh Khanate
• Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Mosque
• Karavan Saray

To reach Shymkent, I shared a taxi with two Kazakh women. The two-hour journey cost only 3,000 tenge, making it one of the cheapest and easiest transfers of the trip.

2 days in Shymkent

I dedicated one day to exploring Shymkent, the birthplace of wild tulips, itself.

My walk took me along the pleasant Koshkar-Ata River and included visits to Ordabasy Mosque, the Independence Park and the ancient Shymkent Fortress.

For my second day, I ventured outside the city. There are numerous possibilities, including Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve, Sayram-Ugam National Park and the Western Tian Shan Mountains, all on private tours typically costing around €230.

I opted for a fascinating excursion with a private guide and driver that included:

• The Karatau Mountains
• The Holy White Mosque Cave
• Ancient petroglyphs hidden in the steppe
• A Paleolithic cave and a scenic river hike

From Shymkent, I took a short domestic flight to Astana. The journey lasted just 1 hour and 50 minutes and cost €86, including a 10 kg cabin bag.

2 days in Astana

Just like in Shymkent, I explored the city on foot in one day going from Baiterek to Zhetisu Park, followed by a long walk in the Presidential park, to the Hazrat Sultan Mosque and the Independence park before crossing back the river towards the Presidential palace.

For my second day, I traded futuristic architecture for Soviet history. Since there were no group options available, I booked a private tour to Karlag, the Museum of Memory of Victims of Political Repression.

The visit offered a sobering insight into one of the darkest chapters of Soviet history. Afterwards, my driver took me for lunch in a traditional Russian restaurant in Karaganda, Kazakhstan’s fourth-largest city, where Soviet-era architecture still dominates much of the cityscape. We visited a few landmarks before getting back to Astana.

Final thoughts

Between the dramatic natural scenery around Almaty, the spiritual heritage of Turkestan, the relaxed atmosphere of Shymkent and the futuristic skyline of Astana, the country offers incredible diversity.

Add in the warm hospitality and the fact that many places remain blissfully free from crowds, and Kazakhstan becomes a destination that deserves to be on your bucket list.

All recommendations are mine, no ads.

Trip done in April 2026.