Travel Information

The land of many nationalities

Kazakhstan is home to many different nationalities and faiths, all united by a common historical destiny. This variety of tradition, heritage and language is treasured by the Republic of Kazakhstan which believes there to be much truth in the Japanese saying: “You can survive without your relatives; you cannot survive without your neighbours.”

The people of Kazakhstan are proud of their diversity. Century after century, generation after generation Kazakhstan has always sought to encourage friendship and tolerance among its people.

Currently around 130 nationalities populate Kazakhstan. Around 54% are Kazakhs, 30% are Russian and the remaining 16% constitutes Ukrainians, Uzbeks, Germans and Tartars. The predominate religions are Islam and Christianity.

The state language of Kazakhstan is Kazakh, however the younger generations are becoming increasingly trilingual. Both Kazakh and Russian are used by the authorities and governing institutions of Kazakhstan. Kazakh is considered the language of the ancestors, Russian is widely spoken and English is enjoying a growing popularity as the language most commonly used to communicate with foreign visitors.

The city of the future

The capital of Kazakhstan is Astana, a city founded as a fortress in 1830. Having only become the country’s capital in 1997, Astana is a young but fast-growing modern city full of bright prospects, rich opportunities and dazzling ideas.

In 1999, in the Bolivian capital of La Paz, Astana received an honourable mention in UNESCO’s “Cities for Peace” awards. Astana continues to live up to this and is developing itself as “a model city of social wellbeing.”

Kazakhstan’s President, Nursultan Nazarbaev, is keen to ensure that Astana is a city in which innovative projects are realised. There are already many sites of interest in the Kazakhstan capital including:

• The Oceanarium, sometimes referred to as “a seawater drop in the steppe.”
• The world’s youngest opera theatre. Many international celebrities, including Dmitry Khvorostovsky, have already performed on its stage.
• The “Baiterek” monument, constructed from glass and concrete, towers above Astana offering a panoramic view of the entire city.

Astana is a city of future not only as a result of its unique architectural style, but also its open and hospitable nature. Astana has played host to the UN Secretary General and Pope John Paul II. The Kazakhstan capital is a place open to businessmen and tourists, artists and sportsmen.

The star called Almaty

Certain world cities stand out due to their iconic and memorable landmarks. The mere mention of San Francisco, for example, usually conjures an image of the Golden Gate Bridge. Paris similarly brings to mind the Eiffel Tower. For Kazakhstan, the city of Almaty offers an enduring image with its picturesque valley Medeo.

Thirty years ago, when Kazakhstan was one of the Soviet republics, Almaty was already considered a city of particular note and beauty. It is surrounded on all sides by mountains - the largest of which peak at 7,000 meters - which offer considerable protection from cold winds. This means Almaty’s climate is far more agreeable than that of neighbouring areas. Even when winter frosts of -50°C reign just fifty kilometres away, temperatures in Almaty remain at around 0°C. And in summer, as the evening breeze wafts through the city’s streets mixing with the aroma of local flowers, the heat of the Ili sands contrasts with the mild coolness of the city creating a climate that’s unusually mild for Mid-Eurasia.

Almaty is also a city that successfully brings together people of different cultures. Eastern and European traditions are closely interwoven here and the city’s inhabitants are open-minded and friendly. The city has a well-developed infrastructure, a solid standard of living, a strong economy and international quality recreational facilities.

Once seen, never forgotten

Despite being the ninth largest country in the world, Kazakhstan remains, for many people, an unknown and enigmatic place. Even the most well-travelled visitor will find many fascinations in Kazakhstan: mountain peaks covered with snow, vast highlands, deep rivers, parched deserts, endless fields covered with flowers and virgin forest reserves.

Kazakhstan’s natural beauty is outstanding. The Tyan-Shan, Tarbagatay and Altay mountains, located in the south, south-east and the west part of the country, gleam with snow and glaciered peaks. The Caspian Sea - sometimes referred to as the world’s largest lake - lies to the west and the Sary Arka steppe is home to the fascinating part fresh water, part salt water Balkhash Lake. Northern Kazakhstan offers similar areas of beauty and is home to hundreds of picturesque glacier lakes surrounded by the pine woods of Kokshetau.

It would, of course, take pages to detail all of Kazakhstan’s attractions. The rock paintings and sculptures in the Bayan Aul national park are particularly unforgettable while the Kurgaldzhino natural reserve offers more than 300 types of plants and the world’s most northern colony of flamingos.

Much emphasis is placed on the preservation of the country’s many natural reserves, national parks and their unique landscapes, fauna and flora. Kazakhstan is an excellent eco-destination. It is unspoilt, varied and beautiful.

Those looking for rest and relaxation, as well as impressive natural attractions, will enjoy the Kokshetau  natural park’s famous resorts and spas, therapeutic mudbaths and mineral water springs.

Cosmodrome and historical monuments

Kazakhstan is a veritable treasury of ancient architecture with tens of thousands of monuments of the past.

One of the most impressive of these is Akhyrtash, a half-finished construction situated in the south of the country. The story of this monument was already a mystery in the13th century and remains as such today. No one knows when, why or who started building this construction, which consists of some 100 rooms in an intricate layout. Some scientists believe it was built as a Buddhist monastery, others believe it to be a Nestorian monastery.

Also of interest are the underground mosques of Mangyshlak. These were built a thousand years ago and remain draught-free even when the doors and air-holes are opened.

Kazakhstan effectively blends its respect for the past with its desire to embrace the future. A highlight for many visitors is a space tour round the Baikonur Cosmodrome. This is the world’s oldest and largest operational space launch facility. The first artificial satellite and first human space flight with Yuri Gagarin were launched from here.

Welcome to Kazakhstan

It is not necessary to search the entire world for fascinating tradition, beautiful, pristine nature or a delicate mixture of old and modern: simply visit Kazakhstan. In Kazakhstan guests are made welcome as they experience the very heart of Eurasia.

For additional information, please see www.kazakhstan-tourism.com