Kazakhstan Travel Guide

Made famous by the irreverent fake journalist Borat, Kazakhstan is not quite as portrayed. Inhabited since the Stone Age, this central Asian country is dominated by steppes and semi-desert land. In fact, the Kazakh steppe, the largest dry steppe region on earth, takes up over one third of the country. To the east, numerous mountain ranges rise into the sky, where bears, wolves and the very rare snow leopards range. The most memorable thing, however, will be the hospitality and warmth of the people. You may find yourselves invited to a yurt, the traditional Kazakh home. Or try Kuuz Kuu (“Catch the girl”), a popular and traditional kissing game on horseback. Hear about their nomadic and pastoral lifestyles as told in typical traditional oral fashion – through improvised poetry and accompanied music while admiring the colourful and richly embroidered costumes worn by the men and women. Whether it’s to retrace the traditional lifestyle of the hospitable nomads or to see the Islamic influenced mosques and Russian architecture, there is much to experience in Kazakhstan.