Kazakhstan Travel Guide
Almaty
The most cosmopolitan of Central Asia’s cities, the commercial and cultural centre of Kazakhstan, Almaty was the capital until 1997 when the seat of political power was moved to Astana. Almaty started life as a Russian fort in 1854 named Verny and under the Soviet Union was called Alma-Ata. Almaty is located in the foothills of the Northern Tien Shan Mountain range which provide a spectacular backdrop. A modern low-rise city with a proliferation of parks, green spaces, street cafes and restaurants, Almaty is a pleasant place to spend a couple of days. The surrounding mountains provide splendid opportunities for walking and exploring nature.
Aksu Djabagly Reserve
This beautiful reserve in the Talassky Alatau range of the western Tian Shan Mountains is the perfect place to experience Kazakhstan's rugged beauty. It's known as the home of the tulip and in spring the meadows are full of these colourful flowers. The western side has the more dramatic scenery while the eastern region has more bird and plant life. The reserve is home to 42 species of animals including the rare snow leopard. This is a great area for walking and it is also possible to visit Asku Canyon, one of the deepest in Asia. The region is making efforts to retain its traditional culture and as well as a tulip festival in May there is a horse festival in autumn and regular concerts throughout the year.
Chimkent
Chimkent is a typical oriental frontier town on the border with Uzbekistan. Under Tamerlaine's reign Chimkent was the most powerful trading centre in Kazakhstan, an important staging post on the great Silk Road. The town still engages in trade and has a booming bazaar open from morning until early evening.
Turkistan
Turkistan is over 1500 years old, a flourishing centre of civilisation during the time of the Silk Road, which contains more historical relics than any other city in modern Kazakhstan. Turkistan is an important place of worship for Moslems, the Mausoleum of Hodja Ahmed Yassaui has attracted many pilgrims over the centuries. An outstanding poet and humanitarian scholar Yassaui established a theological school and the city became a significant centre of enlightenment. Three visits to Turkistan are equivalent to making the Hajj to Mecca. Also of interest are the mausoleums of Rabiga Sultan Begimi and the Kazakh Khans Yesim, Ablain, as well as a well restored medieval bath house.
Astana
Astana is the third largest city in Kazakhstan and following Kazakh independence in 1991, it acquired in 1997 the state of capital city that was previously held by Almaty. Since then a lot of money has been spent on government buildings such as a presidential palace, a mosque and numerous parks and monuments.
Tien Shan Mountains
The Tien Shan, or Celestial Mountains are quite simply one of the most beautiful mountain ranges on earth. Though perhaps not as immediately dramatic as the mighty Himalaya or Karakoram, the colour, variety, shapes and simple wildness of the Tien Shan will still have you buzzing with wonder. But what makes a trip into these mountains so special isn’t just in the views, it lies in the fact that here you really feel as though you are among them, a part of them, not simply staring up at far-away peaks. Living with nomads in their yurts or camping by wild rivers in forests of pine, for the most part many miles away from ‘civilisation’, after a few days in the Tien Shan you will feel like a nomad yourself!
Kazakhstan Travel Information
Visa Information
UK Passport holders require a visa to visit Kazakhstan.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your trip, and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required. Please ensure the passport details we hold for you are correct.
Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa documentation when starting your trip. Country entry regulations can alter daily and it is always best to check with the relevant embassies for any changes.
You can use a visa company such as:
Travcour (UK)
Tempo House
15 Falcon Road Battersea
London
SW11 2PJ
Tel: 020 7223 5295
Fax: 020 7738 2617
Email: info@travcour.com
Website: www.travcour.com
If you are travelling on a non-UK passport, please contact your nearest consulate/embassy for up to date visa information.
Insurance:
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours.
You should be aware that many standard insurance policies may not cover you adequately for all aspects of a Wild Frontiers trip and so we strongly recommend that you purchase a suitably designed insurance policy.
One such policy is the "Wild Frontiers" policy underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE " firm reference 202803), which is available to EU residents (which excludes Norway & Switzerland) through our website or via the insurance company direct on 0845 345 3456. Under this policy there are two different levels of cover available.
Standard policy: a comprehensive travel insurance policy that provides cover for all Wild Frontiers activities, including trekking up to 6,000m. This policy does not provide cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel.
Elite policy: provides the same comprehensive level of cover as the standard policy. In addition the Elite policy also provides cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel. The policy will not provide cover for any claims arising from or relating to the reasons why the FCO is advising against travel.
If purchasing the Elite policy you also have the option to extend the cover provided by the policy to include cover for claims arising from a terrorist act in an area where the FCO is advising against travel. You can add this cover to your policy when purchasing online or over the telephone.
These policies are only available to those travelling on a Wild Frontiers holiday.
For more information and to purchase your policy online please visit the Insurance section of our website.
The cover is underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE), and is arranged by Travel & General Insurance Service Limited. Both companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Wild Frontiers Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Travel & General Insurance Company plc, details of which can be found at the FSA's website www.fsa.gov.uk.
To contact them please visit their website at www.travel-general.com or call 0845 408 0583.
Health and Vaccinations:
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Kazakhstan, although you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. We recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
We also recommend:
• A dental check-up prior to travelling.
• You inform us of any pre-existing medical conditions or medication.
To be on the safe side you can also check on www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
