Winter in Kazakhstan is magical! By choosing this season, you will avoid the summer heat and crowds of tourists. Delicious Kazakh dishes and hot aromatic tea will help you brighten up your walks in the quiet parks of Almaty and the ancient streets of Turkestan. Here we offer you options for winter holidays in Kazakhstan:
Get on your skis!
In recent years, ski resorts in Kazakhstan have gained great popularity among tourists. Their main advantage is that they lie on the slopes of the mountains, providing tourists with many ski runs of different difficulty levels. The technical equipment and tourist infrastructure of the resorts are quite modern and slightly inferior to the popular European ski resorts. The most popular ski bases are Shymbulak, Altai Alp, Tabagan and Nuratau.
Explore Almaty
What could be better than strolling through the cozy streets of Almaty. The vast and beautiful avenues of the city and the numerous parks are ideal for pleasant walks. You can stroll in Park named after First President or visit the unique historical monuments, such as the Zenkov Cathedral or the Museum of Musical Instruments. And don’t forget to take your skates and head to the famous Medeo skating rink, a particularly charming place in winter.
Discover Turkestan
If you are traveling in Kazakhstan in winter, you can look into Turkestan, one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. Once the city was part of the empire of Tamerlane. Many secrets of the ancient empires and civilizations are kept in the streets of Turkestan, through which the Great Silk Road passed many years ago. You have the opportunity to visit such unique architectural monuments as the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the mausoleum of Arystanbab and many others.
Hike in the amazing Charyn Canyons
In winter you can explore the fantastic Charyn Canyons. This is a unique natural monument, located 200 kilometers from Almaty. Amazing and unusual landscapes under the white snow fascinate all the travelers visiting canyons. It is famous for its impressive colorful mountain formations of various shapes and sizes. They were formed under the influence of weathering of sedimentary rocks. The most popular places in the Charyn canyons include the Valley of Castles, the Turang Grove and the Charyn River.
Enjoy the delicious cuisine
The cuisine of Kazakhstan will not leave you indifferent. It is as diverse as the country itself, so you can try all kinds of delicious food. Aromatic hot tea will warm you while traveling in winter. Taste mouth-watering besbarmak or samsa and visit the local market to buy fresh local bread – lepeshka.
Go shopping
If you love shopping, be sure to visit the city’s largest market in Almaty – Zeleniy Bazaar (Green Bazaar) with its variety of goods and the endless flow of people, creating its own unique colorful atmosphere. Fresh products, authentic Kazakh dishes, and dried fruits are only a few reasons to experience this authentic place. Another interesting place for lovers of shopping is Arbat street in Almaty. Here you find different shopping areas, high fashion stores, art galleries and restaurants.
