TOURISM & CULTURE

Kazakhstan is where the world’s most diverse landscapes and cities reside

Kazakhstan is where the world’s most diverse landscapes and cities can be found. With forests, deserts, lakes, mountains, and canyons side by side, it’s easy to think you're in the French Alps one minute and the Sahara the next. All this, while its major cities offer modern attractions and unique, tantalising flavours of their own.

Almaty, the vibrant cultural heart, is nestled within the Ili-Alatau mountains and surrounded by natural beauty, from Charyn Canyon to Altyn Emel National Park. Astana is Central Asia’s answer to Dubai, a new-age oasis, while Aktau is the gateway to the Caspian Sea.

However, our most historic city is Turkistan. With a story stretching back over 1,500 years, Turkistan was one of the Silk Road’s earliest commercial capitals and the capital of the Kazakh Khanate from the 16th century. Its role in the early spread of Islam sets it apart, highlighted by UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. As well as a milestone in Islamic and Silk Road architecture, it’s a major pilgrimage site.

The new Hazret Sultan International Airport offers direct routes to Abu Dhabi and Istanbul, with plans for further expansion, including destinations such as Mecca. Plans for Turkistan to become Kazakhstan’s first 5G city are also progressing rapidly. And with 1 million visitors per year expected by 2030, we welcome investors seeking to capitalise on our rapidly growing tourist market.