Kazakhstan

Overview

Kazakhstan is the ninth-largest country on earth, a land of steppe, desert and mountain that stretches from the Caspian Sea to China. For travellers in Uzbekistan two of its corners matter most, and they could hardly be more different. In the south, just across the border from Tashkent, lies the old Silk Road country of the middle Syr Darya: Turkestan with its great Timurid mausoleum, the ruins of Otrar and Sauran, and the busy city of Shymkent. In the south-east, about 800 km away, Almaty sits under the snow peaks of the Tian Shan, with canyons, alpine lakes and singing dunes within a day's drive. ## Regions worth knowing - Turkestan and the Syr Darya: the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a UNESCO site ordered by Amir Timur; the pilgrimage shrine of Arystan Bab; the ruined cities of Otrar and Sauran. - Shymkent: Kazakhstan's third city, about 120 km from Tashkent, green, lively and the natural first stop over the border. - Almaty: the former capital and largest city, with its parks, bazaar and cafés, and the Medeu and Shymbulak valleys above it. - The south-east: Charyn Canyon, the Kolsai and Kaindy lakes, Big Almaty Lake and the singing dune of Altyn-Emel National Park. ## Combining Kazakhstan with Uzbekistan Southern Kazakhstan is the easiest foreign add-on to an Uzbek trip. The main road crossing north of Tashkent is Gisht-Kuprik, called Zhibek Zholy on the Kazakh side, which has been closed for reconstruction since February 2025; both sides said in October 2026 that it was ready, but check before you travel. Until it reopens, the nearby Navoi–Kaplanbek crossing takes the traffic. Usually you leave your Uzbek car, walk across with your luggage and meet a Kazakh driver. Shymkent is 2.5–4 hours from Tashkent door to door, Turkestan about 5–6 hours. A daily Talgo sleeper train has linked Tashkent and Almaty since December 2025, about 18 hours with border checks on board and a stop in Shymkent, and direct flights take about 1 hour 30 minutes. Typical add-ons are: - One or two days: Tashkent to Turkestan with Arystan Bab and Sauran, overnight in Turkestan. - Three to five days: fly or take the train to Almaty for the city, Charyn Canyon and the Kolsai lakes. - A longer loop: Almaty, Bishkek and Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, then a flight to Tashkent. ## Visas and entry Citizens of a long list of countries, including the US, the UK, all EU states, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia, can visit visa-free for up to 30 days per entry and 90 days in any 180. Chinese citizens have 30 days under a bilateral agreement and Indian citizens 14 days; others can usually apply for an e-visa, which is valid only for arrival by air. Rules change, so check current requirements for your passport. If you entered Uzbekistan on a single-entry e-visa, get a double-entry one before a side trip. ## Getting around Distances are huge, so fly between Almaty and the south or take the overnight train. Around Almaty, the mountain sights need a car and driver; Charyn is about 200 km east, the Kolsai lakes about 300 km. Kazakh trains run between Shymkent and Turkestan several times a day. ## Safety, etiquette and money Kazakhstan is safe and easy to travel, with good roads around the main sights and widespread mobile internet. Dress modestly at shrines such as the Yasawi mausoleum and Arystan Bab, where women usually cover their hair. In the mountains, weather changes fast, and some areas need park tickets or are closed during fire risk or snow. The currency is the tenge (KZT); cards and ATMs work almost everywhere in cities, but carry cash for villages and park fees. Since 2024 the whole country uses a single time zone, the same as Uzbekistan. TourEast plans the Uzbek side of a Kazakh extension: your days in Tashkent and beyond, and the transfer to the border timed to meet your Kazakh driver, or the train and flight connections to Almaty.