kazakhstan
A Comprehensive Travel Guide
central asia
Kazakhstan was the first country I ever traveled to, and therefore holds a special place in my heart. Kazakhstan is home to some of the most beautiful national parks and lakes that I’ve seen in my entire life, and is significantly underrated by travelers. As such, the tourism industry in KZ is slightly under developed, but this rewards travelers with cheap prices and generally uncrowded tourist attractions. KZ should be on every adventure traveler's bucket-list, so I wanted to compile all the information and resources I had to help you get there. See below for a comprehensive guide to Kazakhstan!
VI. cuisine
v. climate & weather
iV. average costs
iII. know before you go
iI. places to visit
i. what to expect
a. budget travel
b. mid-range travel
c. luxury travel
Table of contents
Places to Visit
Expect
What can i
from Kazakhstan?
Official Language(s) – Kazakh, Russian
Currency – Tenge (KZT)
Capital City – Nur-Sultan
Credit Cards & ATMs – Credit cards are widely accepted in large cities, but less common in rural areas. If you venture into the countryside, be sure to withdraw or exchange currency beforehand.
Outlets – C & F
Popular SIM Card Providers – Beeline, KCell, Tele2
details
Nur-Sultan
Know
you go
before
Average Costs
Kazakhstan has a budding tourism industry with plenty of adventure and travel services for a great price. See the following aggregated data for a general sense of how much it costs to travel daily in Kazakhstan based upon your preferred travel style.
**All data courtesy of Budget Your Trip. Visit their website for more information on how this data was collected here.
Сколько стоит?
browse by travel style
climate & weather
Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country in the world, and as such, has a very arid climate with extremely cold winters and extremely hot summers. The majority of the country is covered in sand and steppes, but major lowland cities in the north and south, Nur-Sultan and Almaty for example, experience a significant amount of rain and snow as well.
recommended
WEATHER APP
Yandex.Weather
Average Maximum: 9 °C // 48 °F
Average Minimum: -1 °C // 30 °F
Average Sunshine: 5 hours
Rainy days: 8 days
Average Maximum: 17 °C // 63 °F
Average Minimum: 6 °C // 43 °F
Average Sunshine: 5 hours
Rainy days: 9 days
Average Maximum: 22°C // 72 °F
Average Minimum: 11°C // 52 °F
Average Sunshine: 6 hours
Rainy days: 9 days
march
april
may
Average Maximum: -2 °C // 28 °F
Average Minimum: -12 °C // -2 °F
Average Sunshine: 6 hours
Rainy days: 3 days
Average Maximum: 11°C // 52 °F
Average Minimum: 0 °C // 32 °F
Average Sunshine: 8 hours
Rainy days: 5 days
Average Maximum: 20 °C // 68 °F
Average Minimum: 8°C // 46 °F
Average Sunshine: 10 hours
Rainy days: 8 days
march
april
may
spring
summer
autumn
winter
nur-sultan
almaty
spring
Average Maximum: 28°C // 82 °F
Average Minimum: 16°C // 61°F
Average Sunshine: 9 hours
Rainy days: 8 days
Average Maximum: 30 °C // 86 °F
Average Minimum: 18°C // 64 °F
Average Sunshine: 10 hours
Rainy days: 7 days
Average Maximum: 29°C // 84 °F
Average Minimum: 17°C // 63°F
Average Sunshine: 9 hours
Rainy days: 4 days
june
july
august
Average Maximum: 26°C // 79 °F
Average Minimum: 13 °C // 55 °F
Average Sunshine: 11 hours
Rainy days: 10 days
Average Maximum: 27 °C // 81 °F
Average Minimum: 15°C // 59 °F
Average Sunshine: 11 hours
Rainy days: 12 days
Average Maximum: 25°C // 77 °F
Average Minimum: 13 °C // 55 °F
Average Sunshine: 9 hours
Rainy days: 10 days
june
july
august
spring
summer
autumn
winter
nur-sultan
almaty
summer
Average Maximum: 24°C // 75 °F
Average Minimum: 12°C // 54 °F
Average Sunshine: 8 hours
Rainy days: 4 days
Average Maximum: 16 °C // 61 °F
Average Minimum: 5 °C // 41 °F
Average Sunshine: 6 hours
Rainy days: 5 days
Average Maximum: 8 °C // 46 °F
Average Minimum: -1 °C // 30 °F
Average Sunshine: 4 hours
Rainy days: 7 days
september
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
Average Maximum: 19°C // 66 °F
Average Minimum: 7°C //45 °F
Average Sunshine: 8 hours
Rainy days: 7 days
Average Maximum: 10 °C // 50 °F
Average Minimum: 0 °C // 32 °F
Average Sunshine: 4 hours
Rainy days: 7 days
Average Maximum: -1 °C // 30 °F
Average Minimum: -9 °C // 16 °F
Average Sunshine: 3 hours
Rainy days: 5 days
september
october
November
spring
summer
autumn
winter
nur-sultan
almaty
autumn
Average Maximum: 2 °C // 36 °F
Average Minimum: -6 °C // 21 °F
Average Sunshine: 3 hours
Rainy days: 7 days
Average Maximum: 1 °C // 34 °F
Average Minimum: -8 °C // 18 °F
Average Sunshine: 4 hours
Rainy days: 6 days
Average Maximum: 2 °C // 36 °F
Average Minimum: -7 °C // 19 °F
Average Sunshine: 4 hours
Rainy days: 6 days
DECEMBER
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
Average Maximum: -8 °C // 18 °F
Average Minimum: -16 °C // 3 °F
Average Sunshine: 3 hours
Rainy days: 4 days
Average Maximum: -10 °C // 14 °F
Average Minimum: -18 °C // 0 °F
Average Sunshine: 3 hours
Rainy days: 4 days
Average Maximum: -9 °C // 16 °F
Average Minimum: -18 °C // 0 °F
Average Sunshine: 5 hours
Rainy days: 3 days
december
January
February
nur-sultan
spring
summer
autumn
winter
almaty
winter
what to
wear in
nur-sultan
almaty
Beshbarmak
Manti
Kurt
Shashlik
приятного аппетита!
browse the culinary scene - click a dish for more info
Kumis
BESHBARMAK
Shashlik
manti
browse the culinary scene - click a dish for more info
приятного аппетита!
Kumis (Кумыс)
Kumis is the most popular traditional drink in Kazakhstan today. The unpasteurized drink has deep roots in Kazakh culture as it was a staple for the horse-centered, nomadic lifestyle of Kazakhstan's ancestors. Kumis is made from fermented mare's milk and is described by locals to be incredibly refreshing. For those unaccustomed to the taste, however, it has an immediate overwhelming sour taste. Chowhound described the drink as tasting like "Champagne mixed with sour cream.” Either way I highly recommend trying kumis at least once since it is such a large cultural staple of the country, but just know...you have been warned!
Melissa
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