Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP¨TIP
Make the efort to get
beyond Kazakhtan's
cities to the beautiful
mountain, teppe or
desert country, and
the hospitality of rural
hometays and guet-
houses. Side trips to
Aksu-Zhabagyly Nature
Reserve or Sayram-
Ugam National Park
are easy.
Visas & Permits
Citizens of EU states, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New
Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland, the USA and
some other countries can normally obtain tourist visas with-
out a letter of invitation (LOI) at Kazakhstan consulates or
embassies.
For most other visas you must obtain a LOI before
applying, available through most travel agencies in Kaza-
khstan and Central Asia travel specialists in other coun-
tries, normally for US$50 to US$100. See p131 for further
visas information. Registration is required if you are staying
in Kazakhstan more than five days - see p127.
Special permits are needed to visit areas close to the Chi-
nese border and are only available through tour firms tak-
ing you to these areas. Processing can take up to 45 days.
See p129.
Fast Facts
¨
Area
2.7 million sq km
¨
Capital
Astana
¨
Country¨code
%
7
¨
Languages
Kazakh,
Russian
¨
Population
17 million
¨
Famous¨for
oil, steppe,
Borat
COSTS
Relative¨Cot
Slightly more expensive than Uzbekitan, cheaper than
Turkmenitan.
Daily¨Expenses
¨
Hostel dorm (Almaty or Astana) 2000-2500T
¨
Comfortable hotel double 10,000T+
¨
Street snack 50-150T, good restaurant meal 2500T+
¨
Train from Almaty to Astana (1230km)
platskartny
(hard-sleeper train)
/kupeyny
(soft-sleeper train)
4030/6380T, plane 21,500T
Price¨Ranges
¨
Sleeping
(per two people): $ <8000T, $$ 8000-
20,000T, $$$ >20,000T
¨
Eating
(main course): $ <1000T, $$ 1000-2000T,
$$$ >2000T
Exchange Rates
COUNTRY UNIT TENGE
Australia
A$1
140T
Canada
C$1
148T
China
Y1
25T
Euro zone €1
203T
Japan
Y100
160T
NZ
NZ$1
123T
Russia
R10
46T
UK
UK£1
237T
Itineraries
¨
Three¨days
Explore Almaty and make a trip into the
mountains south of the city. If you're travelling on to
Kyrgyzstan in summer, use the Karkara Valley crossing.
¨
One¨week
Extend the three-day itinerary with time in
southern Kazakhstan - Shymkent, lovely Aksu-Zhabagyly
Nature Reserve and the splendour of Turkistan - or head for
Astana, Kazakhstan's spectacular new capital.
¨
One¨month
You can get round the whole country, taking
in more adventurous and remote destinations such as the
Aral Sea, the dramatic deserts outside Aktau, or the pristine,
beautiful Altay Mountains in the northeast.
USA
US$1
153T
Resources
¨
www.visitkazakhstan.kz
¨
www.kazakhembus.com
¨
www.en.tengrinews.kz
¨
www.timeout.kz
¨
www.afisha.kz
¨
www.voxpopuli.kz
