With snow capped mountains, grassy steppes, and the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan has much to offer to those who want an off-the-beaten-track adventure. Its nomadic heritage can be traced back over 800 years; whilst this can still be seen today, the country is also home to (arguably) Central Asia’s most cosmopolitan city, Almaty.
Five Interesting Facts about Kazakhstan
1. The name Kazakhstan translates to “Land of the Wanderers” from ancient Persian and Turkic.2. It might be the ninth largest country, but its population density is a mere 18 people per square mile.
3. It is home to the world’s first and largest space launch facility.
4. The country’s national dish is beshbarmek, translating to ‘five fingers’ in reference to the traditional way of eating it.
5. If you’re invited into a local’s house, do not whistle! Many Kazakhs see it as a harbinger of poverty for them and their family.
Some Practical Info
- As well as Kazakh, Russian is very widely spoken in Kazakhstan, learning phrases from both will go a long way.- British and EU citizens do not require a visa for up to 30 days.
- Despite the country officially declaring itself secular, Islam remains the most prevalent religion.
- The best time to visit is in April-May in order to avoid both the searing heat and freezing cold.
Kazakhstan’s capital Nur-Sultan has undergone momentous change over the last 25 years; in 1997 it was moved from Almaty to what was then called Aqmola, in an attempt to centralise business in the country whilst simultaneously moving it away from the earthquake prone south. The city’s name was subsequently changed to Astana, meaning ‘capital’. At this time, it was little more than a sparse collection of buildings deep in the country’s interior.
Nowadays the city has been through redevelopment that renders it almost unrecognisable from its days as a dusty desert outpost. The skyline is a surrealist’s dream, with many buildings competing for ever-increasing levels of innovation and status. You can't fail to notice the Bayterek Tower, a 97m high monument symbolising a local story of the mythical bird Samruk laying her egg in the tree of life which then became the sun, a beaming metaphor for life. Take a lift up to the top, and be invited to place your hand in a gilded handprint of that of the first president Nursultan Nazarbayev and make a wish. As of March 2019, the city has been renamed to its current name 'Nur-Sultan' in his honour.
The sprawling Kazakh steppe calls to the adventurous. The sparse Eurasian terrain has lent itself to the tradition of hunting with eagles for over a millennia, stretching back far beyond the days of the region’s most famous (or infamous) son, Genghis Khan.
The Kazakh word for those who practice this form of hunting is qusbegi. 'Qus' means bird, and 'begi' means lord, so the term itself can be translated as 'lord of the birds'. The practice is still to found throughout the steppe region, and in winter months is especially important due to the hawk being easily visible against the snow. This symbiosis is so important to the country’s culture that the nation’s national animal - the golden eagle - holds centre stage on the flag, soaring beneath the blazing golden sun.
The Kazakh word for those who practice this form of hunting is qusbegi. 'Qus' means bird, and 'begi' means lord, so the term itself can be translated as 'lord of the birds'. The practice is still to found throughout the steppe region, and in winter months is especially important due to the hawk being easily visible against the snow. This symbiosis is so important to the country’s culture that the nation’s national animal - the golden eagle - holds centre stage on the flag, soaring beneath the blazing golden sun.
The very same vast empty spaces also led the USSR to build Baikonur Cosmodrome here all the way back in 1955, and use this remote facility for its space program. It’s the first operational space launch facility ever constructed. It was initially built shrouded with secrecy, but thankfully these days its doors are open to the public.
Baikonur was this very place where Yuri Gagarin was launched from on his Vostok 1 mission in April 1961. This mission was a first for humankind, and propelled him into the history books after making him the first ever person in space. The Cosmodrome museum is located nearby, and is a must visit for all 'cosmo-nuts', the Soviet's first spaceplane is open to view, and you can even sit inside the very same seats used by the pioneers in space exploration. The site is still in use by Russia today, who now lease the site from the Kazakh government at the cool price of $115 million a year. Although the Russians are currently building their own launch facility to try and change this.
Baikonur was this very place where Yuri Gagarin was launched from on his Vostok 1 mission in April 1961. This mission was a first for humankind, and propelled him into the history books after making him the first ever person in space. The Cosmodrome museum is located nearby, and is a must visit for all 'cosmo-nuts', the Soviet's first spaceplane is open to view, and you can even sit inside the very same seats used by the pioneers in space exploration. The site is still in use by Russia today, who now lease the site from the Kazakh government at the cool price of $115 million a year. Although the Russians are currently building their own launch facility to try and change this.
Whilst not world-renowned for its cuisine, Kazakhstan certainly has some interesting things on the menu for those who’re a little more adventurous in the kitchen. The national dish, beshbarmek is a nod to the nation’s nomadic past, and consists of noodles traditionally prepared with boiled horse meat. Lamb is also commonplace in the vast majority of restaurants. Kumis is another pastoral tradition that can be found throughout the country, and is a drink made from fermented mare’s milk. It has something of a sour and slightly fermented taste, and is certainly not a flavour that most palates are used to, but rest assured your taste buds will certainly not be bored in Kazakhstan.
Travel The Unknown’s Kazakhstan and Central Asia specialists can help you find the ideal tour somewhere amongst the five stans to scratch that travel itch. Have a look at some of our most popular tours below.