Kazakhstan is the world’s ninth-largest country and the largest landlocked state, stretching from the Caspian shore to the Altai Mountains. The capital is Astana; Almaty is the cultural and travel hub. Kazakh is the state language and Russian is widely used; the currency is the tenge (KZT). International flights connect major cities with hubs in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Visitors come for wide landscapes, low crowd levels, and a growing network of national parks.

Expect big contrasts: open steppe and semi-desert in the center and west, high Tien Shan and Altai ranges in the south and east, and the Caspian Depression along the western edge. Major rivers include the Irtysh, Ili, Ural, Syr Darya, and Ishim; key lakes are Balkhash (part fresh, part saline), Alakol, and Zaysan. Landscapes shift quickly—chalk canyons and salt flats in Mangystau, granite hills and bird-rich wetlands in the Saryarka, narrow gorges and alpine lakes near Almaty. Distances are long, road trips are rewarding, and 4×4 access opens quieter areas.

For centuries the steppe was home to nomadic confederations, later shaped by Turkic and Mongol eras and the rise of the Kazakh Khanate. The Russian Empire expanded here in the 18th–19th centuries, followed by Soviet rule. Baikonur Cosmodrome—launch site of Sputnik and Gagarin—anchors the space legacy. Kazakhstan declared independence in 1991, developed new institutions, and moved the capital to Astana in 1997. Today, modern cities sit alongside living nomadic traditions and Silk Road heritage.

Nature leads: Charyn Canyon, Kolsay and Kaindy Lakes, Altyn-Emel’s Singing Dune, Aksu-Zhabagly Reserve, the Assy Plateau, and the chalk landscapes of Mangystau. Cultural highlights include the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in Turkistan and the Tanbaly petroglyphs (both UNESCO). Summer favors hiking and alpine valleys; spring and autumn bring mild weather across most regions; winter offers quiet canyons, frozen lakes, and skiing at Shymbulak. Travel typically combines SUV transfers, short trails, and village guesthouses or seasonal yurts.

Kazakh nomadic heritage—horsemanship, yurt craft, feltwork, and dombra music—sits within a diverse, multiethnic society. Hospitality is central, from tea rituals to festive dishes like beshbarmak, kumys (fermented mare’s milk), and fresh dairy. Traditional sports (kokpar, eagle hunting in select regions) and oral epic poetry remain visible at festivals. In cities, museums, galleries, and a lively café scene blend with bazaars and contemporary design.

Energy and mining are the backbone—oil, gas, and one of the world’s largest uranium outputs—complemented by metals, grain agriculture in the north, and livestock on the steppe. Logistics corridors link China and Europe across Kazakhstan’s rail and road network, while renewables are expanding in wind and solar corridors. Financial services, IT, and tourism are growing, with infrastructure upgrades improving access to parks and regional hubs.