FlyerTalker7654

Some stunning scenery!! Wouldn't have thought Kazakhstan is so beautiful!!!

Isn't Almaty having a gas and oil boom at the moment? I could be wrong, but I think I saw a documentary on how Almaty is now becoming very developed and modern as a result??

Thanks for sharing. Very enjoyable read. ^

DanielW

Thanks, mad_atta. Yes, the mountain scenery was very beautiful. Just trying to sus out how to see some more of them now with a trip to Tajikistan.

Thank you, mkjr. The radar detector was completely silent on the gravel roads. It saved us a few times near Almaty though. It would start chirping away, and then a policeman with a radar gun and wide-brimmed hat would soon come in to view.

Yes, the scenery changed quite abit in a short distance. Would love to go back in winter and see it covered in snow too.

Cheers, grandgourmand. Yes, the manti and shashlik was very tasty, good solid central asian cuisine.

Many thanks for the compliments, 13900.

I booked my trip through a Dutch tour agency, which mean't I saved alot as I split the costs with the Dutch couple:
http://www.kazaktours.com/

Sergey has his own website though, if you would like to book direct:
http://kazaktourism.com/

Thank you, mpkz, although I wasn't quite as brave as you to go in the winter though.

Thanks, farbster. I actually just used SFO777's contact for a driver in Sri Lanka so our travel plans are bound to cross eventually.

Thank you, mike&co.

Many thanks, gaobest. Yes, quite a contrast with the satellite tv and longdrop loo.

I did a two week trip to Kyrgyzstan in 2013, and actually went over the border to Kazakhstan (for about 30 seconds) when we driving along the border (as the road briefly crossed it).

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...yrgyzstan.html

Thank you, netllama. Sergey's website here: http://kazaktourism.com/

You could probably head to Saty and see the lakes in the winter. I do know that Assy Plateau is closed during the colder months though.

Thanks, SgtRyan.

Yes, Almaty is quite a modern city, especially when compared to nearby Bishkek. Alot of cars too, traffic was pretty bad in some places! The airport was quite reasonable and I even saw a KFC too.

The new Kazakh capital, Astana, is apparently where they're doing the serious construction though, with lots of shiny buildings etc.

londonfog

I agree with 13900. Your TRs feature very interesting destinations. One word for this one
WOW!

DanielW

Many thanks, londonfog. Was a great break away from Dubai, and quite a contrast from the desert and hot summer here. Quite cheap too, only $400 for the airfare and not much more for the rest of the trip.

TOMFORD

Really really love your exotic adventures! Did you get to meet Borat by chance?

mpkz

I went again this summer (1 week Kz + 2 weeks Uzbekistan, trip report forthcoming when I'm less busy/lazy), doing the logical thing of visiting the cool mountains and everything in the winter and the insanely hot southern part of the country (Shymkent, Turkestan) in the summer.

Kazakhstan is a country that for some reason I'm drawn to visiting again even though I've seen "most" of what there is to see in terms of the big sights. Friendly people and interesting culture. A naturally very beautiful country as well, as your pictures really show.

oneworld82

Another awesome report DanielW! You made me miss Kazakhstan a bit today

MatthewLAX

^ Great report. Glad you had no border problems! (disclaimer - link to my blog)

Bretteee

Fantastic.

Makes me want to go. Except for the camping. Thanks.

HawaiiTrvlr

The pictures from your trip are incredible. Did you feel safe during your time there? No one demanding extra money from tourists, etc?

Where is your next adventure to?

snabbu

As hard as it is to pick out a specific shot from all the glorious images, this one takes the cake in my book.

Once again, a spectacular report.

DanielW

Great that you got to head back there, would love to see more of Kazakhstan too. Sounds like it was really warm when you went back too, our guide was saying Almaty got up to 35C the week before we went!

Many thanks, oneworld82. Hopefully the manti and shashlik evoked a bit of a Pavlovian response too.

Thanks, Matthew. I read that before I went and definitely made me a bit nervous! Apart from having to queue an inordinate amount of time, I luckily had no problems with customs though.

Cheers, Bretteee. My next two trips each include a night in a tent so something for you to look forward to.

Thank you, HawaiiTrvlr. Felt perfectly safe while I was there. I saw several groups of three policemen walking about in Almaty after dark to keep a safe presence. No one hasseling me for extra money. Tourism is relatively rare in Kazakhstan so I guess as a tourist you are still abit of a novelty. Just came back from trips to Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka. Got a trip to West Africa with hauteboy and ironmanjt coming up too.

Thanks, snabbu, that was one of my favourite shots too. Perfect light (soft and diffuse from the cloudy sky) and a great viewpoint.

SanDiego1K

We're just back from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. That means that you, my husband and I are 3 of the 7500 tourists in the country this year. I was shocked to find it the 6th least visited country in the world. I hope you are planning a trip report on it. Your reports are always magical with wonderful pictures.

I expected to have plov on our trip but on the one day we asked our guide to seek it out was told that it is typically finished by midday. We dd have manti and thought it delicious, both in and out of soup.

fly7b2

Wow this is wild! Definitely a great report, thanks for sharing!

RussianTexan

Absolutely beautiful pictures! Thank you so much! I myself had hiked Charyn Canyon and bathed in the Charyn River (in June 2012) so that was absolutely wonderful to see. The underpass, was it next to a supermarket on Ablai Khan St.? Or maybe I'm confusing it with something else.

I love Kazakhstan and I love the Kazakh people that I am proud to say I know. A wonderful country and a beautiful people.