Kazakhstan: Travelling

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Almaty (ALA)	16 km / 10 miles	USD 5-20 / 30 min	KZT 20 / 30-40 min	-	Available

Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country

Train reservation services

Website of the company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (consultable in English)

Major airlines

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical

In Almaty : Zenkov Cathedral surrounded by the Panfilov park, Saint Nicolas Cathedral, Arasan Baths, the Petroglyphs of Tamgaly, 170 km North-west of Almaty.

Astana is largely a new city, thus has even lesser number of "historical" monuments. The Seifullin museum, house of the Kazakh poet and writer born in 1894, and the monument for the Russian victims of the Gulag in Kazakhstan are to be seen.

Cultural

In Almaty : Museum of Musical Instruments, Central National Museum where animal art masterpieces of the steppes are found : Golden Man; Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Repression.

Nature

There is the picturesque valley of Medeo, just fifteen kilometers north of Almaty. Always in the neighborhood of Almaty: Mount Talgar and its natural reserve. 200 km from Almaty: Charyne Canyons, Keguen region (string of three lakes at Kolsay), Kaptchagai region: Altyn Emel regional park.

Kazakhstan boasts of other natural sites: Tamgaly (red rock), marble wall, Aqsu-Djabaghly natural reserve in the south of the country and its lakes: Lake Boshoe Almatinskoe in Shymbulaq region ; Lake Issyk-Kul ; Lake Balkhach (400 km north of Almaty)

150 km south west of Astana: the Kourgaldjno reserve. 200 km farther to the south: "Little Switzerland of Lake Bourabai" (or Borovoye) where swimming, fishing and hiking are popular.

Religious

In Almaty: Saint Nicolas Cathedral, Zenkov Cathedral, Grand mosque (constructed in 1999). In Astana: Mosque of Baiterek locality. In Turkestan: Mausoleum of Ahmed Yasawi and Mosques including a 12th century underground mosque.

Thermal

Beach

Aktau Station on the Caspian Sea : fully developed port.

Lakes of the "Little Switzerland of Bourabai" (or Borovoye).

Winter Sports

Tchimboulak Ski Resort in the Zailiiskii Alataou Mountains, in the neighborhood of Alamaty. Rink of Medeo.

Outdoor Activities

Shopping

In Almaty: Zelionyi Bazar, Meloman chain of shopping centres, Silk Way ; Akademkniga library.

In Astana : handicrafts in Talisman store ; Meloman shopping centre.

Tourism Organisations

Commitee of Tourism
Mayor of Astana

Health and Safety

Health Precautions

A certificate for vaccination against yellow fever is required for the travelers originating from the infected zones. Other recommended vaccinations: diphtheria, tetanus, polio, hepatitis A and B, typhoid and meningitis.

It is to be noted that Kazakhstan is one of the countries affected by the bird flue epidemic. Cases of Anthrax are regularly reported, tuberculosis is spreading and precautions are needed against ticks in the forest lands (Lyme disease).

It is strongly advisable not to drink water which is not potable from a tap.

For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions

Visit the website of WHO

Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference

It is %T:%M %A In Astana (GMT+6)

Summer Time Period

The average temperatures vary from 16^oc to 17^oc between May and September with a peak of 23^oc in July in Almaty which is situated at a height. Summer temperatures exceed 30^oc.