Five reasons to see Kazakhstan – caviar, kebabs, a grand canyon, and its weirdly futuristic capital among them
Central Asia’s biggest country is full of pleasant surprises, whether it’s visiting ancient underground mosques, or admiring futuristic architecture, there’s something for everyone
Many tourists think of Kazakhstan as a “flyover” country on their way to or from Asia and Europe – so why should anyone stop in this, the biggest of the ’Stans? There are plenty of reasons to do so, from the quirky architecture of its new capital to a host of outdoor adventures.
There is also traditional food to try, such as delicious grilled lamb shashlik, and the national dish of beshbarmak (mutton, potato and pasta). If you are honoured enough to be a guest in a Kazakh family home, you could even be presented with a sheep’s head – specifically its ears, eyes and tongue.
Increasingly modern, confident and outward-looking, this surprisingly varied country is worth a place on your bucket list. Here are five reasons why.
1. Almaty, the old city
Kazakhstan’s old capital and still its main city, Almaty rarely freezes in winter – unlike Astana, which lies 1,000km to its north – and is a few degrees warmer than Astana all year. Dotted with hills and with the snow-capped Tian Shan mountains to the south, Almaty can be a disorientating place to get around, so take the cable car up to Kok Tobe. From here, underneath a television tower 372 metres (1,220 feet) high, you can get your bearings and even ride a Ferris wheel.
Visit at sunset to see the Tian Shan mountains turn orange and pink; if you here in winter, take a short cable car ride up to the Shymbulak Ski Resort for an Alpine-style experience at Central Asian prices.
Back in the city, visit Almaty's Kazakh Museum of Folk Musical Instruments for a chance to see a dombra (a traditional two-stringed lute) performance. If you’re lucky you might also catch an orteke performance, in which the dombra player taps his feet on a pedal and three carved wooden goat puppets attached to sticks leap into the air and appear to dance in time to the music.
2. Astana, the futuristic Kazakh capital
Built 21 years ago to shake off Kazakhstan’s Soviet history, Astana is the country’s shiny new showcase to the world. Getting most of the attention is the dramatic Bayterek Tower, which is supposed to represent a local myth about a “tree of life” cradling a golden egg.