๐ฐ๐ฟ Your Guide to Kazakhstan
The largest country in Central Asia โ pristine nature, futuristic cities, and ease you'd never expect for Saudi travelers
Kazakhstan is one of the destinations that rarely crosses the minds of Saudi travelers โ and that's a big mistake ๐. Astana is a capital built from scratch in the middle of the steppe with futuristic architecture that genuinely defies belief, and Almaty is a city surrounded by the snow-capped Kazakh Alps. The country is Muslim and incredibly welcoming, and it's visa-free for Saudis. Its size? Nine times that of Saudi Arabia.
Top Places to See
Astana โ The City of the Future
A capital built from scratch โ Khan Shatyr tent, Baiterek Tower, and architecture that makes you feel like you're in a sci-fi film
Shymbulak and the Ski Resort near Almaty
A European-standard ski resort at far cheaper prices โ the mountains behind Almaty are breathtaking
Kolsai Lakes
Blue mountain lakes in green forests โ among the most beautiful nature in Central Asia, far from any noise
Hazrat Sultan Mosque in Astana
One of the largest and most impressive mosques in Central Asia โ stunning modern Islamic architecture
Big Almaty Lake
A turquoise lake high in the mountains above Almaty โ surreal photography and clean mountain air you can actually feel the difference
What to Eat
Beshbarmak โ Boiled meat with noodles and onion โ the Kazakh national dish, served at celebrations and traditionally eaten by hand
Manti โ Large steamed dumplings stuffed with meat โ popular across Central Asia, and Kazakhstan has some of the finest varieties
Lagman โ Hand-pulled noodles with meat and vegetables in a sauce โ a dish with Uyghur origins, widespread in Kazakhstan and absolutely delicious
Qymyz (Mare's Milk) โ A traditional fermented mare's milk drink โ unusual but trying it is part of understanding Kazakh culture
Kazakh Tea with Milk โ Black tea poured over hot milk in a cup โ different from Indian and Turkish tea, warming and comforting โ
Practical Tips
Kazakhstan is visa-free for Saudis โ direct entry for up to 30 days with no prior procedures required
Almaty is more beautiful and lively than Astana, while Astana is more architecturally impressive โ if you have time, visit both
Winter is extremely cold (down to minus 40ยฐC) โ best time is June to September for nature and hiking ๐ฟ
Russian is far more widely spoken than Kazakh โ a translation app will solve communication issues
Taxis negotiate on price โ use the Yandex Taxi app to avoid surprises
Kazakhstan is a destination of the future before everyone else discovers it ๐ฐ๐ฟ. Pristine nature, stunning cities, and visa-free entry โ what are you waiting for!