What to Do in Kazakhstan: 25 Places by Region

The wooden Ascension Cathedral gives this central Almaty park its most recognisable silhouette, with coloured walls, towers and domes rising above the trees. Built between 1904 and 1907, it is still a working Orthodox church. Combine a park walk with a respectful look inside when services allow; the diocese's worship schedule is more useful than assuming fixed tourist visiting hours.

Medeu follows the Malaya Almatinka valley into wooded mountain slopes above Almaty. The regional nature park describes walking routes towards Shymbulak and a Student Trail towards the dam, giving you alternatives to a city sightseeing day. The sports complex is undergoing reconstruction, so plan for the valley scenery rather than skating, and check the latest road and parking arrangements before setting out.

This high mountain lake sits beneath the ridges of the Ile-Alatau, with a broad sweep of water enclosed by steep slopes. It offers a different landscape from the wooded Medeu valley, but access needs particular attention. At the time of checking, the national park reported the road closed to motor vehicles because of rockfall and road conditions; ask the park which approach, if any, is permitted before committing a day to it.

Charyn's Valley of Castles is a landscape of eroded rock walls, pinnacles and passages rather than one viewpoint. Look for the changing shapes along the designated route as well as the broad panorama from above. The national park has a visitor centre and controlled entry; choose your walking or guided transport option there, and carry water for an exposed canyon outing.

For a first visit, focus on Lower Kolsai, the forest-edged lake shown here, rather than trying to collect all the lakes in one outing. The national park treats routes towards the middle and upper lakes as separate mountain journeys. Follow the marked lower-lake trail and leave swimming out of the plan: the published route rules prohibit it. Saty is a useful base for this lake district.

Kaindy's standing spruce trunks mark a forest flooded after the earthquake of 1911. The pale timber rising through the water makes this a quite different stop from Kolsai, despite their shared national park. The route from Saty includes a checkpoint, parking and a walking section. New road works were reaching technical opening immediately before this guide was checked, so establish the actual access arrangements locally rather than relying on an older description of the drive.

UNESCO's Petroglyphs within the Archaeological Landscape of Tamgaly preserve images from successive periods, including the Bronze Age, across a rocky gorge in the Chu-Ili Mountains. The museum-reserve near Karabastau has marked walking paths and interpretation signs: take time to look at individual rock panels rather than treating the site as a roadside photo stop. When arranging transport, specify this Tamgaly; Tamgaly Tas on the Ili River is a different place.

A long sand ridge rises between the Kalkan hills on the right bank of the Ili, contrasting with the surrounding stony landscape. Moving sand can produce the sound behind the dune's name in suitable dry conditions; hearing it is a possibility, not a scheduled attraction. Start your park arrangements in Basshi and agree the route and required guide or ranger escort with the administration before entering.

Altyn-Emel's Aktau Mountains expose layers of pale and coloured sedimentary rock, cut into ridges and gullies. They reward looking at the folds and colour changes as much as the overall view. This is a separate, remote park excursion from the Singing Dune, with substantial driving involved; book the transport and permit around both destinations if you want to see them. The name refers to inland mountains in Zhetisu Region.

The great entrance portal and domed mass of Yasawi's mausoleum dominate this historical part of Turkistan. Commissioned under Timur and built between 1389 and 1405, the unfinished complex is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bring identification for the controlled entrance and allow time for the museum displays as well as the building.

Otrar, also known as Farab, was a medieval Silk Road centre near the meeting of the Arys and Syr Darya rivers. Its excavated quarters let you consider the layout of a city rather than a single surviving monument. Conservation and reconstruction continue, so distinguish restored masonry from excavated remains as you explore. Arrange this as its own excursion through the Otrar museum-reserve rather than confusing it with nearby religious sites.

Sauran's walls and archaeological remains stand in the open country northwest of Turkistan. The protected site spans several centuries of medieval and later history, with restoration adding another layer to what visitors see today. Its setting and surviving fortifications make a useful counterpart to Otrar, but the two require separate transport planning. Take water and sun protection for an open-air visit.

Aksu-Zhabagly protects mountain valleys and slopes of the western Tien Shan, with scenery extending well beyond its better-known canyon. The mountain landscape pictured here reflects that wider appeal. This is a strict nature reserve with organised routes, so choose an educational excursion through the administration in advance; staying in nearby Zhabagly does not by itself authorise entry to reserve trails.

The Yesil, also called the Ishim, gives Astana a riverside walking route away from its broad avenues. Visit Astana describes a central walk from the Kenesary monument along the embankment towards the city park and Atyrau pedestrian bridge; follow the open sections around any local works. Elsewhere in the left-bank city, Bayterek offers an observation deck, while Khan Shatyr is a shopping and entertainment centre. Keep those as separate city stops alongside your river walk.

Lake Burabay brings water, forest and granite outcrops together in a compact-looking landscape that still deserves an overnight stay. The park's marked routes include approaches towards Bolektau, where wooden steps and boardwalks have been installed. Base yourself in the Shchuchinsk–Borovoye resort area and choose a walk suited to your footing and the weather, leaving time to enjoy the lakeshore rather than spending the whole visit in transit.

Korgalzhyn's fresh and salt lakes form part of UNESCO's Saryarka World Heritage Site, together with Naurzum Reserve. The wetlands are important staging places for migrating waterbirds, making the seasonal life of the lakes a reason to visit alongside the open steppe scenery. Arrange the permitted excursion beforehand and ask what birds are present at your travel dates; flamingos are not a year-round guarantee.

Bayanaul in Pavlodar Region brings together rocky hills, pine woods and forest-fringed lakes. The regional route network includes rock formations, a cave and a botanical trail, while Lake Zhasybay has an established holiday base. Choose accommodation and a local walk together, giving this park its own stay rather than attaching it to an already full Astana day.

Pine woods and granite rocks rise from the surrounding steppe in Karkaraly, with lakes tucked into the hill country. One officially described outing heads towards Lake Shaitankol from the Berloga recreation base; the lake-and-forest scenery is part of the wider appeal of these hills. Choose a marked route with the park and allow a separate stay in Karaganda Region for the walking.

For this itinerary, approach Balkhash from its northern shore around the city of the same name in Karaganda Region. The broad water and low shoreline offer a change from enclosed mountain lakes. Nearby Chubar-Tubek and Torangalyk have established recreation areas accessible from the city; choose the beach or accommodation first, then arrange the local transfer. Judge swimming by current local conditions rather than the calendar alone.

Ulytau offers open mountain horizons in a region with its own national park and museum-reserve. Aulietau is one of the named walking routes, giving a specific starting point for planning beyond a general drive through the hills. Build the visit around Ulytau village or Zhezkazgan and agree a route appropriate to your fitness; a summit walk needs more preparation than a roadside viewpoint.

Rakhmanovskoye Lake, shown here, lies among high ridges and dense forest in the Katon-Karagay landscape of East Kazakhstan. It gives a specific focus to a journey into the Kazakh Altai, alongside the park's wider choice of valleys and walking routes. Discuss your route and entry arrangements with the park office, allowing time for the approach, and establish any additional border requirements before travelling.

Markakol's water, wooded shores and surrounding mountains make the lake itself the focus of a visit to this part of the Altai. It lies within a strict nature reserve, whose administration is based in Urunkhayka. Arrange one of the authorised routes through that office, combining the lake view with interpretation of the protected landscape. Plan the road journey and accommodation in advance rather than treating the reserve as an unrestricted camping stop.

Bozzhyra's pale limestone towers rise from the Ustyurt landscape, with a scale best appreciated in the broad views across the basin. The final approaches lack a conventional road, making this a journey for suitable off-road transport and local knowledge. Organise the outing from Aktau with a provider who can assess current ground conditions, and enjoy the viewpoints while staying back from cliff edges.

Torysh is known for rounded stone concretions scattered through the Mangystau landscape. Their shapes have a geological origin in sedimentary rock, rather than being carved monuments. Include the valley in a planned regional driving route, with time to walk among the formations. Download your arrangements before leaving and carry water: the national tourism portal warns that local connectivity is absent.

At Oglandy, Beket-Ata's mosque is cut into the pale rock, with a prayer room and the burial place of the religious teacher. The historical underground rooms are distinct from the modern visitor and pilgrimage buildings above. Reaching them involves a descending stair trail of roughly 1.5 kilometres, followed by the climb back. Allow for that effort, bring water and respect the requirements of this active pilgrimage destination.