Kazakhstan has been a popular destination with UAE residents since a couple of years and after visiting its neighbor Kyrgyzstan recently, I had to visit Kazakhstan. This Eid break, we went on a 4 day holiday to Almaty, the biggest city and the former capital.
We traveled by direct Fly Dubai flight from Dubai to Almaty. It took approximately 4 hours and 10 minutes. There are daily flights to Almaty from Fly Dubai and other airlines.
UAE residents can enter Kazakhstan Visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism or business. If your stay is longer than 30 days, then you’ll need to apply for a Kazakhstan visa.
About Kazakhstan
Republic of Kazakhstan is a landlocked country primarily located in Central Asia, with a small portion in Eastern Europe. The capital is Astana, its largest city and leading cultural and commercial hub is Almaty.
It is the largest country in Central Asia and the ninth largest in the world. Kazakhstan is most advanced of the ‘stans’ thanks to its abundant reserves of oil and other valuable minerals.
On our 3 nights and 4 days visit, we stayed at the luxurious and centrally located Rixos Almaty and explored the city and beyond.
What is the best time to visit Kazakhstan?
The best time to visit is from April-May(spring season) and September-October(autumn season). These months offer pleasant, moderate weather, fewer crowds and vibrant natural scenery.
Where to stay?
Whether it is luxury, mid-range or budget hotels, Almaty offers great options. We stayed at one of the best and premium hotels in the city- Rixos Almaty.
Getting Around
Almaty offers variety of transportation options like buses, trams, trolley buses, metro and taxis. You can also download ride-hailing apps like Yandex.
Things to do and see in Almaty
We kept Almaty as our base and took long day trips out of the city and also did a half day city tour of Almaty. In Kazakhstan, it is beyond the city that you’ll find greatest travel adventures, whether it is hiking or majestic mountains or stunning lakes or rugged terrain.
Day 1
After arrival we visited the Huns Ethno Village located 40 km from Almaty and got an intro to nomadic culture. We watched the equestrian show, cultural performances, engaged in archery and traditional bread making activities and tried the local cuisine. It was a half day tour.
Next stop was Kok-Tobe the highest point in Almaty, you can get a panoramic view of the city from all directions. We spent couple of hours at Kok -Tobe and headed back to our hotel. After freshening up, we took a stroll around the city center and had dinner at a lovely restaurant.
Day 2
Day 2 was a long and tiring day. We left the hotel at 6am and after 3 hours arrived at Charyn Canyon, a stunning natural wonder, known as the ‘Grand Canyon of Kazakhstan’. It features dramatic rock formations and breathtaking landscapes. We walked along the Sharyn River.
Next we arrived at the village of Saty, from there we had to take the UAZ to Kaindy Lake. It is known for crystal-clear waters, scenic mountain landscape and the submerged forest of Kaindy Lake. Our last stop was the picturesque Kolsai Lake. It took us 4 hours to get back to Almaty.
Day 3
After breakfast we spent half a day at Shymbulak Mountain Resort, a premier ski destination in Central Asia, located just 25 km south of Almaty. Situated in the Trans-lli Alatau mountains, the resort sits at an elevation ranging from 2,260 to 3,200 meters above sea level, offering magnificent views and variety of winter sports activities.
We spent the rest of the day seeing many sites and attractions in the city:
• The Green Bazaar
• Zenkov Cathedral
• The Park of 28 Panfilov Guards
• The Brand Store of the Chocolate Factory ‘Rahat’
• Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• Almaty Museum
• Big Almaty Lake
• Botanical Garden
Ended the day with dinner at the iconic Navat Restaurant and tried many local delicacies.
We had a short and intense trip to Almaty. Glad we could cover many places within 4 days. Almaty is great for a one-time short trip. The Republic of Kazakhstan is huge, maybe next time we get to plan and visit the capital Astana.
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