Kazakhstan

My Kazakhstan travel summary:

Visited: November 2023, September 2024

Duration of visit: 10 days

Capital city: Astana

Population: 19 million (2024)

Kazakhstan travel blog reading time: 2 minutes

• Zenkov Cathedral and a vibrant café scene in Almaty, the capital of apples.
• Exploring Astana’s futuristic landmarks in rainy weather.
• Challenging vegetarian travel in a meat-based cuisine country.
• Connection with nature, diversity, multiculturalism, and religious openness.
• Nomad Games – experiencing traditional sports and Kazakh minority cultures.
• Hiking along the water pipeline to the picturesque Big Almaty Lake.
• Fast growth hasn’t improved English skills among citizens.

The Land of Wanderers reflects Kazakhstan’s nomadic heritage and the deep-rooted spirit of freedom in its culture. Kazakhstan’s people were among the first horse riders and lived as nomads, moving between regions.

Kazakhstan is the most developed Central Asian country, driven by its rich hydrocarbon and mineral resources.

The world’s largest uranium reserves, rising oil production, and high prices have boosted prosperity, especially in the rapidly developing capital, Astana.

The light blue color of Kazakhstan’s flag represents peace, tranquility, and well-being. Together with its memorable emblem, it reflects a country that is more than just one of the Stans or a former Soviet republic. Kazakhstan is a unique blend of people, ethnic groups, and religions that will continue attracting more visitors in the future.

I visited Kazakhstan twice:

• In 2023 Kazakhstan was the last country after exploring Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
• In 2024, when my primary objective was to attend the World Nomad Games in Astana.

The main difference between my Kazakhstan travel adventure and other countries in the region was that foreigners do not attract attention. People seemed less open to communication, mainly due to language barriers. I was surprised how many young people avoided speaking English beyond basic questions. Without Russian, communication would have been nearly impossible.

Astana became Kazakhstan’s capital in 1997 and has since grown into one of Central Asia’s most modern cities. Built from scratch within decades, it features world-class architectural landmarks designed by renowned architects.

Connection with nature, multiethnicity, multiculturalism, and religious openness gave me the impression of Kazakhstan as a model of multi-faith coexistence, where national traditions stand above religion.

Therefore, people can pursue a modern lifestyle where men and women have similar rights and responsibilities. With its natural resources and smart policies, Kazakhstan can continue developing and improving citizens’ quality of life.