Classic Kazakhstan: Almaty, Charyn, Kolsai, Astana
Duration : 10 days
Route : Almaty (3 nights) → Charyn 4×4 (1 night, canyon) → Kolsai 4×4 (2 nights, alpine lakes) → return Almaty → Astana flight (3 nights) → return Almaty flight (1 night)
Custom travel to Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is one of Central Asia's most extraordinary countries: the world's 9th largest (2.7 million km², 5 times France) for only 19 million inhabitants, one of the world's lowest densities. Independent since 1991, rich in oil, gas and uranium (world's top producer), heir to Turkic nomadic traditions, mostly Sunni Muslim with a significant Russian Orthodox minority. Almaty, the dynamic former capital at the foot of the Tian Shan, contrasts with Astana, the futuristic capital built ex nihilo in the steppe, architecture by Foster. Also not to miss: the alpine Kolsai Lakes, Charyn Canyon (Asia's 'Grand Canyon') and Turkestan's UNESCO mausoleum on the Silk Road. Nomadic cuisine (beshbarmak, kymyz). Allow 10-12 days for this country-continent.
Highlights
- Almaty: Tian Shan and Big Almaty Lake
- Astana: futuristic capital
- Kolsai Lakes (Kazakh Alps)
- Charyn Canyon (Asia's Grand Canyon)
- Turkestan: Yasaui Mausoleum (UNESCO)
- Steppes and Kazakh nomadic yurts
Sample itineraries
Silk Road: Kazakhstan + Uzbekistan
Duration : 16 days
Route : Almaty (3) → Charyn (1) → Kolsai (2) → Tashkent Uzbekistan flight (1) → Samarkand train (3) → Bukhara train (3) → Khiva flight (2) → return flight
Almaty and Tian Shan: nature and trekking
Duration : 8 days
Route : Almaty (2 nights) → 4-day Tian Shan trek (Kolsai-Kaindy yurts) → return Almaty (2 nights)
When to go
May-September is the best period (continental summer, 20-30 °C, accessible lakes). Avoid November-March (extreme winters, -25 to -40 °C, some areas inaccessible). April and October are pivot months (cool).
- Summer (June – August), All sites, accessible lakes, nomadic festivals
- Inter-season (May and September), Tian Shan in colors, ideal hikes
- Extreme winter (November – March), Skiing at Chimbulak, snowy Astana (striking architecture)
- Autumn (October), Golden Tian Shan, last season for lakes
Practical information
Generally safe. Vigilance for pickpockets in Almaty and Astana. No visa for French citizens < 30 days (since 2017). Cards accepted in Almaty and Astana, cash (tenge) elsewhere. Avoid tap water (bottled water). Russian very useful (limited English outside upscale hotels). Covering attire in mosques. 10% tipping in upscale restaurants. Extreme winters, bring suitable clothing (-30 °C in January-February).
Frequently asked questions
When?
May to September is the best period, the continental summer offering 20-30 °C and full access to the Kolsai Lakes, Charyn Canyon, and Tian Shan treks. June to August is peak season, hot and stable, with nomadic festivals. May and September, our favorite pivot months, offer cooler weather (10-22 °C), fewer crowds, and magnificent light on the golden Tian Shan in October. Strictly avoid November to March, when winter turns extreme (-25 to -40 °C, some areas inaccessible), unless you want to ski at Chimbulak or see snowy Astana, whose futuristic architecture becomes especially striking then.
How long?
10 days are enough for the grand classic: 3 nights in Almaty (Big Almaty Lake, Medeu, Chimbulak, Zenkov Cathedral), an excursion to Charyn Canyon (Asia's 'Grand Canyon', 200 km, 4h by 4×4), two nights at the Kolsai Lakes ('Kazakh Alps', with Kaindy Lake and its submerged trees), and three nights in Astana for its futuristic architecture (Bayterek, Norman Foster's Khan Shatyr). For a more intense nature trip, plan on 8 days with a 4-day Tian Shan trek, nights in yurts with nomadic shepherds. To combine with the Uzbek Silk Road (Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, 3 UNESCO cities), allow 16 days total.
Budget?
Three levels, as a guideline, for two people excluding international flights. Comfort (from €2,800/person): 4★ hotels in Almaty (Holiday Inn, Worldhotel Saltanat) and Astana (Marriott), Saty guest houses, private 4×4 with driver and domestic flights, Charyn, Kolsai, and Kaindy included. Premium (from €4,500/person): Ritz-Carlton Almaty and Astana, upscale guest houses, private French-speaking guide. Exclusive (from €7,500/person): Ritz-Carlton suites, helicopter to Charyn or Kolsai, private eagle hunting evening, private flight to Baikonur. Add €600-€1,000 per person for the Paris-Almaty round-trip flight with stopover (Air Astana, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa).
Visa?
No, no visa is required for French citizens, other Europeans, Britons, Americans, and Canadians for a stay of less than 30 days, an exemption in force since 2017. A valid ID card or passport is enough to enter. No mandatory vaccination either.
Family?
Yes, from age 10. Total safety. Tian Shan trek suitable for adventurous teens.
How to get around?
Air Astana and SCAT domestic flights are essential given the distances (Almaty-Astana 2 h, Almaty-Turkestan 1 h 30, Almaty-Aktobe 2 h), the country being the world's 9th largest (2.7 million km², 5 times France). For excursions to Charyn and the Kolsai Lakes, a private 4×4 with driver is recommended, as road conditions worsen outside the big cities. The Spanish-technology Talgo train serves Turkestan in a comfortable 12 h from Almaty. On site, Almaty has a modern metro (1995, 11 stations) and Yandex Taxi (the Russian equivalent of Uber); in Astana, taxis are enough. Renting a car yourself isn't recommended, as signage is in Cyrillic.
English spoken?
Very limited. Russian very useful (lingua franca). Learn a few Kazakh or Russian words.
Safety: stable Kazakhstan?
Generally stable since independence in 1991. The country saw brief protests in January 2022, quickly resolved, with no impact on tourism. Day-to-day safety is generally good, with the usual vigilance recommended against pickpockets in Almaty and Astana as in any big city. Avoid tap water (favor bottled water), winters are extreme (-30 °C in January-February) and require suitable clothing, and Russian remains very useful, as English is limited outside upscale hotels.
Combine?
Yes: Kazakhstan + Uzbekistan (Tashkent by 14-h train or 1-h flight), Kazakhstan + Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan + Mongolia.
Tips?
10% in upscale restaurants. Appreciated in hotels and with guides.
How to pay while there?
Credit cards are accepted in Almaty and Astana, in hotels, restaurants, and major chains. Outside the two big cities, especially in Saty or the guest houses near the Kolsai Lakes and Charyn Canyon, bring cash in tenge (KZT), the local currency (€1 ≈ KZT 530). A 10% tip is appreciated in upscale restaurants, though not mandatory.
What should I pack?
This depends heavily on the season. In summer (May-September), pack light daytime clothing (20-30 °C) but a fleece for evenings at altitude at the Kolsai Lakes (from 1,800 m) and sturdy hiking shoes for the Tian Shan trek. In winter (November-March), temperatures drop to -25/-40 °C: extreme cold clothing is essential, in layers, with a hat, gloves, and insulated boots. Year-round, bring a Type C/F adapter (same as France) and sunscreen, as altitude radiation is strong even in cool weather.