DESTINATIONS KAZAKHSTAN | ACTIVE & ADVENTURE
Nomad’s land
i
travelweekly.co.uk
Nomad culture, Silk Road heritage and spectacular landscapes come together in Kazakhstan, discovers Laura French
’ll admit it: I knew next to nothing about Kazakhstan beyond what Borat taught me. I can safely say his education wasn’t the most accurate. This enormous
country – the largest landlocked in the world, and the ninth-biggest overall – is a mix of many things, it turns out. Nomadic heritage, vast steppe landscapes, Silk Road history and the legacy of former Soviet rule all come together across a mountain-meets-desert backdrop, intermingling with modern cities, ancient settlements, outdoor adventures and hearty food. On a recent trip exploring the country on Regent
Holidays’ new 11-day Culture & Cuisine of Kazakhstan tour, I was pleasantly surprised by just how much there was to explore here. From camel farms to canyon landscapes, I found myself in awe of it all.
ALMATY ADVENTURE Our exploration began in Almaty, the country’s former capital and still its biggest city, set against the snow- capped peaks of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. The city was largely flattened by an earthquake in 1911, meaning much of the modern-day centre was built during the Soviet era. Kazakhstan was part of the Soviet Union from 1936 to 1991, and Russian is still the most widely spoken language. Today, sleek cafes and restaurants lace tree- lined streets, with several intriguing attractions to explore
– among them the elaborate, lemon-yellow Ascension Cathedral, which is one of the only buildings to have survived the earthquake. However, the surrounding region was the real draw
for me. A three-hour drive from the city took us to Charyn Canyon National Park – a red-ochre desert landscape stretching across nearly 500 square miles, where you
Sandstone rock formations
soared like sandcastles above honey-hued tracks, surrounded by a sea of undulating hills
could be forgiven for thinking you’d stumbled into Arizona. Giant sandstone rock formations soared like sandcastles above dusty, honey-hued tracks, surrounded by a sea of undulating hills. We embarked on a gentle hike past more towering
rocks and jagged outcrops in the Valley of Castles, en route to the Charyn River, a cerulean stream trickling through the desolate valley. The sound of the water blended with gentle birdsong as we indulged in a spread of local delicacies and Kazakh wines laid out by our guides.
² 5 FEBRUARY 2026 35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
