13 Best Things to Do in Kazakhstan: Epic Adventures Await

Kazakhstan drags you in through endless steppes lit by golden dusk and jagged mountains capped with snow no matter the season. On any gust, echoes hint at Silk Road caravans long gone. A landlocked stretch hiding 13 solid things to do in Kazakhstan. Certain picks rev up your heartbeat; others ease you into ways older than memory. Ruins that thrill? Trails that challenge? Flavors that surprise? These details shape your journey across a quiet corner of Central Asia. Get SimCorner eSIM for your Central Asia trip.

Kazakhstan Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences

Kazakhstan gives experiences that stick with you. Step back in time; nomadic clans once roamed these lands, following ancient trade paths. Each journey feels like slipping into a 4000 year old story. The Scythians thundered across golden steppes; meanwhile, Mongol armies shifted borders. Along the Silk Route, merchants swapped silk and herbs, trading stories beneath endless starlit heavens. These top things to do in Kazakhstan blend history and thrill.

You will see eagle hunters way up in the Altai mountains, experienced riders training big golden eagles to hunt foxes on horseback. Yet this tradition has stayed the same since the Huns ruled. Visit autumn festivals across eastern Kazakhstan. You will catch the sound of 15-foot wings slicing air as birds dive fast to grab prey on the move. These old traditions, dating back to the times of Genghis Khan, have been recognized by UNESCO today.

Spending a night in a soft felt tent beneath the stars near Tamgaly's old rock art is not far from Almaty. Scenes carved around 3000 BC display trance dancers with mythical beasts swirling beside them. These images are etched into reddish stone walls, bold and clear. Walk across calm hills for two whole days heading to the sacred site of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in Turkistan. This ancient holy place features broad turquoise domes, blending Persian flair with heartfelt regional customs. Every instant in Kazakhstan feels like brushing up against living tales.

Top Tourist Attractions

No visit to Kazakhstan skips the nation's major draws, untamed landscapes sitting next to striking urban scenes. These key best things to do in Kazakhstan mix excitement with wonder, but each in its own way. These standout things to do in Kazakhstan stand out for visitors.

Charyn Canyon is about two hours by car from Almaty. Its tall, reddish cliffs plunge down 300 meters, while a vivid blue river snakes between stone pillars locals call, ‘Castles’. Erosion shaped these features across countless ages. Hiking here works well for quick trips during daylight. You can try a brief walk or push further on a tougher trail stretching 12 kilometers. Put on sturdy footwear while bringing lots of water; about three liters ought to do it.

Big Almaty Lake is just 15 km from the city, sitting high at 2,510 meters. Glaciers melt into vivid blue water that shows the snowy peaks of Tian Shan like a mirror. Hang out here; bring food, take pictures, or stroll quiet paths through pine trees full of crisp scent. Meanwhile, in Nur-Sultan (formerly known as Astana), you will spot the eye-catching Bayterek Tower rising 97 meters. That is meant to symbolize fresh starts. Up top, inside the gleaming sphere 100 meters up, you can see everything around. Getting in sets you back 500 Kazakhstani tenge, roughly a buck from the U.S.

Lake Kaindy near Saty feels raw and untamed. In 1911, a quake dragged spruce woods below the surface. Today, bare trunks rise from crisp water like ghosts. Their reflections create dreamlike scenes pulling visitors from far off. Places like this show Kazakhstan's range: silent alpine peaks mixed with cityscapes that look ripped from Dubai.

Kazakhstan Bucket List Experiences

Explorers head to Kazakhstan for crazy experiences found nowhere else. Stuff on your Kazakhstan bucket list here hits harder than anything similar. These bucket list things to do in Kazakhstan thrill adventurers.

Snowboard fresh powder near Kolsai Lakes when winter hits. Glide through fluffy snow beside frozen falls, way up at 2,800 meters. Traverse camel-back over the well-known Singing Dunes of Altai, close to Rakhmanov Springs. These sunlit dunes climb as high as 150 meters. It blasts a noisy 105-decibel tone once wind strikes it. This surreal ride across dunes lasts two days; costs around eighty bucks per day in U.S. currency.

Ice climbing in Big Almaty Gorge, part of the Tian Shan range, goes down during winter months, January through March. You are looking at around 150 bucks from the U.S. for a guided trip. If you are into steep descents, heli-skiing deep in the Altai offers drops near two grand in vertical. Or skip that; go splash through Class III waves on the Ili River just outside Almaty. Take a horse ride outside Astana; gallop across wide meadows, almost like folks did ages ago.

Unique Things to Do in Kazakhstan (13 Best Activities)

Check out these unique best things to do in Kazakhstan. Picking from a solid lineup of 13 favorites, you will get culture, raw nature, or action, sometimes all at once. What makes each experience special? They are nothing like the usual tourist stuff. These top things to do in Kazakhstan deliver variety.

1. Eagle hunting in Altai: Learn from berkutchi with golden eagles, over 4,000 years old.
2. Hike Charyn Canyon: Explore "Valley of Castles" on 3 to 12 kilometer paths over 12 million-year rocks.
3. Climb Bayterek Tower: Views from 100-meter orb over Nur-Sultan for 500 Kazakhstani tenge.
4. Camp near desert carvings: Stars and 3,000-year stories for 100 United States dollars nightly.
5. Raft Big Almaty Lake: Kayak blue waters by Tian Shan for 50 United States dollars.
6. Khoja Ahmed Yasawi tomb: Free Timur-era exploration in Turkistan.
7. Camel trek Singing Dunes: Ride Altai sands humming at 105 decibels.
8. Paraglide Kolsai lakes: 120 United States dollars via SkyAlmaty for blue water views.
9. Snowboard Altai slopes: Chopper-accessed fresh powder.
10. Scale Tian Shan icy falls: January-March with guide for 150 United States dollars.
11. Horseback steppe gallop: 40 United States dollars hourly through grasslands.
12. Korgalzhyn Reserve: Northern lights over flamingo marshes, September-March.
13. Lake Kaindy: Drowned 1911 quake spruces in clear water.

Hidden Gems in Kazakhstan

Beyond crowded sights, off-the-radar gems pop up all over Kazakhstan. Locals and savvy wanderers swear by these lesser-known picks for things to do in Kazakhstan. These offbeat things to do in Kazakhstan offer quiet discovery.

Near Shymkent sits the Aksu-Zhabagly reserve, Central Asia's oldest protected area, set up in 1926. Every spring, mainly April through May, bright wild tulips bloom across open slopes. Hike trails that twist through rugged land where big argali sheep move freely. These animals have coiled horns measuring close to five feet side to side.

Batken Plateau, just shy of the Kyrgyz border, shelters secret mosques dug underground, built by 1800s rebels on the run from Russian soldiers. Inside these hollow chambers, traces of resistance still linger like whispers. Way across, beyond reach, stretch Saryarka's endless steppes near Karaganda, where bands of saiga antelope roam free. Their odd faces sport bulbous noses puffing out as they move.

Kin-Bulak Waterfall plunges 75 meters into mossy basins, hidden far inside wild woodland in eastern Kazakhstan. Getting there means rough paths, a sturdy off-road vehicle, plus plenty of time from Ust-Kamenogorsk. Remote corners such as this offer daring travelers peaceful trees, fresh streams, or secret sights few ever reach.

Kazakhstan Photography Spots

Capture amazing shots at prime spots across Kazakhstan; some could outshine Iceland or Patagonia. Because these sites deliver what photographers truly want when exploring things to do in Kazakhstan. These picture-perfect things to do in Kazakhstan inspire lenses.

By late afternoon, the sun hits the Valley of Castles at Charyn Canyon just right. The cliffs, towering about 300 meters, catch the light so they look molten. Shadows grow long by then, stretching across the rock faces.

Lake Kaindy's submerged trees glow faint when dawn hits. Naked stems poke above mist, standing still as silent posts. Use ND filters to slow the shutter; it helps smooth motion. The big lake near Almaty throws back the Tian Shan peaks in crisp azure shades. Top drone views pop around ten, after winds calm down. Over at Tamgaly, old stone etchings display countless ghostly figures along with animals scattered over open meadows. For this spot, a 16-35mm lens performs nicely.

Kazakhstan Culture and Food

Slide into daily Kazakh routines, where food has been molded by 3,000 years of roaming wide steppes. Dishes come served family-style, so passing bowls around is normal; meals stick to your ribs when cold winds blow. Doing these cultural things to do in Kazakhstan pulls you straight into the heart of it all.

Culture breathes in dombyra melodies. This twin-string hum echoes at celebrations,newborn moments, even quiet talks beneath night skies. Alongside ancient tales like "Aksak Kulan," it flows, sly and sharp, shared beside warm stoves within circular yurts.

Nauryz hits every year near late March, reviving age-old customs with kokpar. In this fast-paced horse game, folks race after a headless goat. Dozens of riders thunder across wide grasslands. People gather round for beshbarmak served on big wooden plates. Juicy pieces of cooked horsemeat mix with lamb and fat ribbons of pasta, drenched in rich broth heavy with onions, eaten straight with fingers.

A Short Travel Itinerary

This short journey fits 13 great best things to do in Kazakhstan in just ten days. Done cleverly, no waste. This itinerary highlights top things to do in Kazakhstan efficiently.

Day 1 kicks off in Almaty. Hike along Charyn Canyon during day two instead. By day three, swap boots for a kayak on Big Almaty Lake. After that, try paragliding close to Kolsai Lakes; pick option two, five, or eight. Nights are spent in dorm-style hostels costing about forty bucks per stay.

Days 4 to 5: Move on to Nur-Sultan. Scale the Bayterek Tower; after that explore constellations at Korgalzhyn Reserve (3, 12). The short rail trip runs about 8 hours plus sets you back around 25 bucks.

Days 6 to 7: Head to Turkistan or the Altai area instead. Visit the Yasawi mausoleum, chase eagle hunters on horseback, then crash in a yurt close to Tamgaly (sites 3, 5, 2). Flying there locally costs around eighty bucks.

Days 8 to 9: Move toward the east through Kazakhstan. Hop on a camel, glide over singing sand hills. Peek at the trees underwater in Lake Kaindy. After that, climb frozen rock walls up in the Tian Shan mountains (7, 13, 10). Need wheels? Rent an off-road vehicle, around $60 daily.

Day 10: Wide fields end here. Push the horses hard; dash across once winter bites, climb icy Altai slopes when temps drop (11, 9).

Staying Connected in Kazakhstan with SimCorner

Stable internet works well while moving through Kazakhstan's vast steppes or distant mountains. Thanks to live maps, getting around is easier, even when paths disappear. Instant translation clears up signs written in Kazakh or Russian. Grab a yurt booking right then so you do not miss out. Take pictures while hunting with eagles or standing on cliffs; send them instantly. If your connection drops, you could end up stuck out in the Altai wilderness or miss your scheduled horse trip.

Grab your phone, scan the QR code using SimCorner's eSIM; connect instantly. No need to hunt down stores, wrestle tiny SIM trays, pay sky-high roaming charges, prove identity for local cards, or keep topping up data. Enjoy endless internet across Kazakhstan, steady in Almaty, Nur-Sultan, mountain trails of Tian Shan, plus Altai travel zones. Go digital with an eSIM for hassle-free setup, or stick with a regular SIM if you would rather. Grab a Kazakhstan eSIM now. Browse SimCorner's options if you are heading elsewhere.

Things to do in Kazakhstan: FAQs

What things to do in Kazakhstan are worth checking out if you are visiting for the first time? The best things to do in Kazakhstan include eagle hunting in the Altai Mountains, strolling around Charyn Canyon, or scaling Bayterek Tower. Other favorites mean flying over Kolsai Lakes by paraglider or trekking on camels across the Singing Dunes. All combine nature action, cultural roots, and jaw-dropping views for journeys that stick.

When is the best moment for unusual things to do in Kazakhstan? Fall is ideal for one-of-a-kind things to do in Kazakhstan; hit the Altai during September or October for eagle hunting shows under clear skies and golden fields. Try spring if you want wild tulips blooming across Aksu-Zhabagly's open slopes. When winter rolls in, swap hiking for shredding snowy peaks on a board up in the Altai range as best things to do in Kazakhstan.

Which key places in Kazakhstan are easiest to get to for things to do from Almaty? Top places close to Almaty for things to do in Kazakhstan. Try Charyn Canyon; it is around three hours by car. Big Almaty Lake is only an hour off the city. For a whole day out, head to Kolsai Lakes, also about three hours from town. All these spots pack stunning nature but do not get packed with people.

What must-see things to do in Kazakhstan suit adventure fans? Kazakhstan's top things to do for adventure fans include flying over Charyn Canyon with a paraglider, climbing frozen cliffs in Tian Shan gorges, then swapping heights for horizons by galloping across endless steppes.

Name a few hidden places in Kazakhstan for things to do without big crowds. Explore tulip-filled meadows in Aksu-Zhabagly; not many know about them. Hidden cave spots used as old prayer halls lie across the Batken highland. Instead of busy tourist roads, take rough paths using strong cars.

Stay connected while exploring Kazakhstan’s vast steppes and Altai mountains because reliable internet is essential for navigation and safety. Avoid local SIMs that require tedious ID verification and registration, or expensive roaming fees that drain your budget. Choose SimCorner for the most affordable eSIM and SIM card and unlimited options. Compatible with all devices, we offer a hassle-free setup with no ID required, 24/7 support, and access to the best local networks for a seamless travel experience.