Flag of Kazakhstan

Flag of Kazakhstan

  • Officially » Republic of Kazakhstan
  • Capital » Nur-Sultan
  • Almaty is Kazakhstan’s largest metropolis, and largest trading and cultural centre.

Facts

  • Population » 18 million
    • Kazakhs making up nearly two thirds of the population,
    • Ethnic Russians just under a quarter
  • Languages » Kazakh, Russian
  • Religions » Islam, Christianity
  • Life expectancy » 68 years (men), 77 years (women) (UN)
  • Currency » Tenge

Geography

  • Located in Central Asia
  • Area » 2.7 million sq km (1 million sq miles)
    • A huge country the size of Western Europe
    • Varied landscape:
      • Mountainous, heavily populated regions in the east
      • Sparsely populated, energy-rich lowlands in the west
      • Industrialised north, with its Siberian climate and terrain
      • Arid, empty steppes of the centre
      • Fertile south
  • Land borders with Russia in the north, China in the east, and Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan in the south while also adjoining a large part of the Caspian Sea in the southwest.
    • Kazakhstan does not share a border with Mongolia, although only 37 kilometres (23 mi) through Russia separates them
      • This short distance makes it necessary to have a dual/multiple entry Russian visa.

Notes

  • Camels may accompany overlanders in Kazakhstan
  • Former Soviet republic
  • Kazakhstan is oil-rich and has vast mineral resources
  • Hotels are often aimed at business people and therefore price
Map of Kazakhstan

Map of Kazakhstan (Source » France)

Maps

Tourism

  • Canadians can enter Kazakhstan without a visa for up to 30 days.
    • For stays longer than 30 days, Canadians must obtain either a single- or multiple-entry visa.
      • Single-entry visas allow visitors to remain in Kazakhstan for up to 90 days,
      • Multiple-entry visas are valid for up to three years with a maximum stay of 30 days per entry.
  • Kazakhstan Tourism

Experiences

  • Song-kul Lake – horseback riding and staying with nomadic locals
  • Tian Shan Mountains — great for hiking
  • Livestock market in Taraz – where hundreds of cattle and sheep are on sale
  • Pamir Mountains – running from the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan down to Afghanistan

Overlanding

  • Drive » Right side
  • You need to drive with your headlights on at all times in Kazakhstan
  • Kazakhstan requires you to have insurance
    • Available at most borders.
  • Torugart Pass may be closed during winter months.

Climate

  • Most of Central Asia is covered with deserts and mountains, so expect extreme weather; scorching summers and deadly winters.
  • Spring and autumn (May and September) are the best seasons to visit, as temperatures are milder and conditions not as harsh.

Government Tourist Advice

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