Astana – Kazakhstan is ranked among the most beautiful tourist destinations because of its privileged geographical location between the continents of Europe and Asia, as it is located in the heart of Eurasia, and is the ninth largest country in the world, and includes a wide variety of landscapes: from deserts, steppes, plains and dense forests, to white mountains and sea coasts, and there are 12 national parks and 10 nature reserves that preserve truly precious sites of almost pristine nature, which makes Kazakhstan attractive for ecotourism, and here are the most important tourist sites.
The capital Astana, the smallest capital in Eurasia, is a huge modern city that has become in the shortest time a center of business tourism and a venue for major international events such as the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Summit, the 7th Asian Winter Games (Asiada 2011), the Astana Peace Process in Syria, the international specialized exhibition “EXPO-2017”, and more international conference and exhibitions.
Almaty… The City of Apples
There is also the city of Almaty, the second largest city in Central Asia and the economic capital of Kazakhstan, and its former political capital. It is a city of apple orchards and beautiful fountains, immersed in greenery and attracts tourists with its architectural diversity.
Before 1993, Almaty was called Alma-Ata – “alma” translates to apple and “ata” is grandfather – so Almaty is technically the “the grandfather of apples”. The oldest ancestor of the modern-day apple has been traced back to the Tian Shan mountains of Kazakhstan!
In the early 20th century, biologist Nikolai Vavilov first traced the apple genome back to a grove near Almaty, a small town whose wild apples are nearly indistinguishable from the Golden Deliciouses found at grocery stores today. Vavilov visited Almaty and was astounded to find apple trees growing wild, densely entangled and unevenly spaced, a phenomenon found nowhere else in the world.
Almaty means “father of apples,” and the town touts its heritage proudly. A fountain in the center of town is apple-shaped, and vendors come out each week to sell their many varieties of domesticated apples at market. Apples weren’t always a precious fruit in Almaty though. They used to be commonplace, and during Soviet development many of the trees were cut down for their wood. Up to 80 percent of the wild apple forests were destroyed.
Scientists believe the Tian Shan apple seeds were first transported out of Kazakhstan by birds and bears long before humans ever cultivated them. By the time humans did begin to grow and trade apples, the Malus sieversii had already taken root in Syria. The Romans discovered it there, and dispersed the fruit even further around the world. When modern genome sequencing projects affirmatively linked domestic apples to Malus sieversii, Almaty and its surrounding land were officially recognized as the origin of all apples.
Today, reserves throughout the Tian Shan mountain range keep the last wild apple forests growing safely—except from foraging bears, who don’t care at all about botanical history. Pomologists report that the wild apples have a variety of flavors, depending on how the bees pollinate the blossoms. There are honey- and berry-flavored apples, sour crabapples, apples that taste like licorice, and a few strains that would be good enough for a supermarket’s produce section.
Almaty has a large group of wonderful tourist places that guarantee tourists a distinctive tourist trip, and its most prominent landmarks are: Lake Almaty, Shymbulak Ski Resort, Medo High Mountain Sports Complex, Zenkov Cathedral, Kok Tobe Mountain, 28 Panfilovtsev Park, Central State Museum, Ilya Alatau National Park, Almaty Zoo.
An hour’s drive from Almaty are the foothills of majestic mountain peaks, as well as desert landscapes with sand dunes and steppes, and the most famous area in Altyn-Emel National Park includes the natural phenomenon of “Singing Dune”.
Rich Cultural Heritage
Kazakhstan also embraces a rich cultural heritage, and it is home to a rich and diverse culture that reflects different influences from the many peoples and cultures that have lived in this region throughout the ages. Visitors can explore the cultural heritage by visiting traditional villages, museums and historical sites that tell stories about the country’s history and development through the ages.
Kazakhstan is famous for its delicious and diverse cuisine that includes grilled meats, traditional bread, and popular dishes such as pilau, manti and kumis, where visitors can taste these delicious dishes in local restaurants and traditional markets throughout the country.
At the same time, Kazakhstan offers many opportunities for outdoor and adventure sports, including skiing in the Asian Tibetan Mountains, horseback riding in the green plains, and fishing trips and camping in the wilderness, so travelers can enjoy wonderful experiences that combine adventure and exploration in this unique destination.
Requirements of the Arab tourist
Kazakhstan is rich in many distinct and unique tourist attractions that suit the requirements and needs of the Arab tourist, in addition to the multiplicity and diversity of tourism options offered in various Kazakh regions, with the addition of adventure tourism, rural tourism and shopping tourism.
Kazakhstan combines the beauty of wild nature and a rich cultural heritage to provide a unique and unforgettable travel experience for visitors. If you are looking for a distinctive tourist destination that combines adventure, exploration and relaxation, Kazakhstan is the perfect choice for you. Among the most famous tourist attractions in Kazakhstan are:
Here, through this window, we invite all Arab tourists to experience adventure tourism and rural tourism so that visiting Kazakhstan remains an unforgettable experience.
The huge and diverse tourism options that Kazakhstan offers to its visitors, including parks and tourist resorts that meet the needs of tourists coming from the Middle East, especially families, as well as the spread of restaurants that provide halal food, in addition to various restaurants and mosques everywhere.
Here we emphasize that the mere availability of tourism capabilities is not enough to complete the tourism industry programs and consider it a material income for the national economy, except for the necessity of introducing tourists from all over the world, especially Arabs, to Kazakhstan’s natural capabilities, tourism components, attractions and some guidance information that benefits everyone who wants to visit this country. Kazakhstan has a long history linked to the history and heroism of the Arab and Islamic nations, so we believe that this history should be used to attract more Arab tourists to get to know this heritage and cultural legacy up close, as the capital Astana is the most popular and famous tourist city, as it hosts many tourist places, in addition to other areas such as Lake Balkhash, which is classified in terms of area after the Caspian Sea and the Aral Sea, and is characterized by the phenomenon of the difference in minerals in the western and eastern parts of it, in addition to the fact that the waters of the western region are characterized by freshness while the waters of the eastern region are salty.
Visitors to Kazakhstan must stop in the village of Bayataul, famous for its picturesque nature and embraces 3 lakes surrounded by mountains from all directions, while the historical Burabay region located in northern Kazakhstan is spread with its nature and abundance of rivers, lakes, vast pastures and forests extending over picturesque areas.
As for tourists in the southern Kazakhstan region, it is called the land of the seven rivers, which includes many mysterious secrets, as it was for centuries a passage and a road for many tribal journeys, resulting in the emergence of the historic Silk Road.
Unique landmarks
Kazakhstan is not without the spread of eco-tourism, with vast open green spaces and towering mountains with world-class resorts for skiing, adventures and horseback riding, all along with modern entertainment in most Kazakh cities that are pulsating with life and vitality, including:
- Bayterek Tower: Located in the capital, Astana, it is considered one of the highest broadcasting towers in the world, and provides a wonderful view of the city.
- Almaty: The former economic capital of Kazakhstan, it is characterized by various museums and tourist attractions, including the National Art Museum and the Martyrs Park.
- Borovoy Lake: Located in northern Kazakhstan, it is characterized by its picturesque landscapes, rare birds, and various outdoor activities such as boating, canoeing, and hiking.
- Altai Mountains: Located in northwestern Kazakhstan, it is characterized by its picturesque landscapes, towering mountain peaks, and charming natural areas. You can enjoy skiing, cycling, and hiking there.
- National Space Museum: Located in the capital, it includes many exhibits and devices related to space and space research.
- Canaanite Ascension Church: Located in Almaty, it is characterized by its unique and beautiful design, and is considered one of the most famous religious landmarks in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan is also known for being home to traditional Eurasian and Kazakh culture, and has many holidays and festivals that reflect the cultural heritage and local traditions. Visitors can also enjoy great restaurants and various outdoor activities such as horse riding, skiing and hiking. Snowboarding and cycling are among the most popular activities in Kazakhstan, which is considered a safe and tourist-friendly country.
Nature and Resorts
Kazakhstan is characterized by its picturesque landscapes that include towering mountains, rivers, lakes and vast plains, including, but not limited to:
- AltynEmel Reserve: Located in southeastern Kazakhstan, it is characterized by its picturesque landscapes and rich biodiversity, and includes many wild animals such as bears, wolves and birds.
- Khan Tendi Mountain: It is considered one of the most famous tourist areas in Kazakhstan, and is characterized by its picturesque views, towering mountain peaks and charming natural areas.
- Kol Sai Lake: Located in southern Kazakhstan, it is characterized by its clear waters and picturesque landscapes, and you can enjoy various outdoor activities such as boating, diving, cycling and hiking.
- Borovoy Region: Located in northern Kazakhstan, it is characterized by its picturesque landscapes, rare birds and various outdoor activities such as boating, rowing and hiking.
The architectural style is characterized by taste, elegance and a distinctive and attractive design, as the capital’s buildings were designed and built by world-famous architects KeesKurokawa and Norman Foster.
Not far from the capital, there is a picturesque resort area of Burabay (Borovo) with its pine forests, mineral springs and blue lakes, where those who dream of seeing pink Amengu should visit the Kurgaldzhino Nature Reserve, while space enthusiasts cannot miss the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the world’s first and largest space center, where you can watch a real space rocket launch.
Kazakhstan offers excellent conditions for sports tourism such as hiking, trekking, cycling tours, freestyle skiing, canoeing, diving, dog sledding and paragliding, as well as for sport hunting with birds such as golden eagles, falcons and hunting dogs.
With archaeological sites, historical monuments and unique architecture, Kazakhstan is a real open-air museum, and along the Great Silk Road you can visit ancient settlements, see the Tamgaly petroglyphs of the Bronze Age and the famous Mangystau tombs.
Located in the south of the country, Shymkent – the third largest city of Kazakhstan, and Turkestan region together form a single tourist area famous for its historical monuments and sacred places – ruins of ancient settlements, mounds, fortresses and shrines.
A striking example of this is the mausoleum of Khoja AkhmedYassavi, built between the 14th and 15th centuries, a masterpiece of medieval architecture, an unusual complex of palaces and temples with blue domes and one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Ethnic tourism is also available “More than a hundred ethnic groups live in Kazakhstan”, an integral part of ecotourism that allows you to explore the cultural richness and traditions of the Kazakh people, and visiting ethnic groups, master classes, guest houses and celebrating national holidays provide a unique opportunity for foreign guests to experience national cuisine, handicrafts and folk crafts of Kazakhstan.
