15 Best Things to do in Kazakhstan [Southeast Part

My friends and I spent just over 5 days in the southeast of Kazakhstan, which was gorgeous. Here’s my curation of the best things to do in Kazakhstan – if you are visiting the southeastern side and landing in Almaty.

Best Things to do in Kazakhstan

We had a packed Kazakhstan itinerary so we were able to explore a lot in a short span of just 5 days. Here’s our day wise itinerary for Kazakhstan if you want to follow our footsteps through my Kazakhstan travel blog.

However, these 15 things topped our list of Kazakhstan activities we wanted to try during our trip.

Visit the Charyn Canyon National Park

One of the top Kazakhstan tourist places is the Charyn Canyon, which is part of almost every tourist itinerary to the country.

This Mars-like landscape – vast and barren- makes for splendid Instagram shots, albeit the heat.

We enjoyed a long hike to the lake, spotting wild hares and birds on our way whilst trying to find shade from the sweltering sun (with little to no luck).

However, once at the canyon, you will want to explore it and brave the sun – advisable to carry a good straw hat, breathable clothes, comfortable walking shoes, and lots of water (plus energy supplies like protein bars/drinks). 

Take Photos with the I  love Almaty Sign

As we started to head out of Almaty for our Kazakhstan tour, we saw this I  love Almaty sign outside a supermarket where we stopped for supplies.

Needless to say, we did all the top touristy things in Kazakhstan, and this one took the cake.

Stay in Almaty City center  – Hotel Uyut

We picked Hotel Uyut for our stay primarily for the buffet breakfast and the close proximity to literally everything. Loved the location and comfortable rooms – they even allow luggage storage (which we opted for when we had to go on our mini tour to the lakes for 2 days).

Enjoy the Beauty of Kolsai Lakes

Kolsai Lakes also known as Kolsay Lakes National Park, is one of the top places to visit in Kazakhstan nestled on the laps of Tian Shan Mountains. 

You can even go boating in the lakes or enjoy a multitude of touristy cafes all around.

The temperatures are lower, and it gets super windy, so be sure to carry a wind proof jacket/ warm cap.

Take Pictures with the Golden Eagle – Ethical Dilemma?

Yes, it was an ethical dilemma for me as a wildlife lover and birder to see the majestic Golden Eagles in captivity.

Until I understood that eagles have been part of Kazakh culture for centuries, and they are tamed and trained for a few years then released back into the wild. The relationship between these traditional hunters and the eagles is a sacred partnership. They are treated as equals (not pets or slaves) and allowed to fly off during wild hunts, if they so please.

So after a little bit of research and apprehension, I took some photos with the majestic bird and allowed myself to indulge in Kazakh culture fully.

Eat Local Food

There is no dearth of mouth watering local cuisine in Kazakhstan.

We particularly enjoyed, Pilaf, Manti and the traditional flat bread. 

Meet Locals

Kazakhstan locals are friendly, fun and helpful. I met a few DJs online prior to my trip – and then in person when I was in Almaty.

They organized fun gigs for me, and I was invited to a private pool party and was pampered with walks and tons of good advice. Loved meeting the locals and would love to go back for the friendly faces.

Try Horse Back Riding

Another ethical conundrum for me is riding a horse, but again it is part and parcel of Kazakh culture and a way for locals to make money. Also in some spots, the ONLY mode of transport.

So while going to Kaindy Lake, we were asked to get on horses to get to the lake. I was very unsure of riding a horse without any guide or instructions (that too in a hangover).  However, the locals confidently told us to just hop on the horse and that the horse knows the way.

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Somehow just as magically, the horse did find its way through narrow, winding & steep roads to the lake. I felt the horse would slip and I would fall at every turn, but luckily we made it to and fro in one piece.

Visit the Sunken Forest of Kaindy Lake

At last we made it to this gorgeous lake and just gawking at the reflections in the water, I was glad I did it – even if I  was pushing the worst hangover of the year.

This 400 m long stunning turquoise lake in Kazakhstan is a favorite among Instagrammers and photographers. There was a hoard of people waiting in queue for taking photos at the best spots.

When we got our turn, we did the same touristy activity and walked around for a bit, exploring the less touristy parts further down as well.

Kainy Lake is indeed gorgeous and must be part of every Kazakhstan trip (perhaps try to stay sober for it, unlike us).

Hike to Bear Waterfalls

You can visit the Bear Waterfalls if you have extra days and your base is Almaty. We had 2 unplanned days on our Kazakhstan itinerary which we needed to fill so we decided to hire a private cab and head to Turgensai (Turgen Gorge) for the bear waterfalls.

This iconic waterfall is apparently an easy hike (in reality, not so easy, and the terrain is rugged). However, you are rewarded with stunning valley views and can easily cool off in the waterfalls.

Chill by Lake Esik

We covered Lake Esik on the same day as the bear falls, so we were able to combine the trip and hire the driver just for one full day. We even met some other travel mates so we all split the cab bill.

At the lake, you can choose to either walk 40 mins in the sweltering heat to the lake or take a tuk-tuk. Somehow, I wanted to push myself (considering I only really “walk” when I am traveling), and I chose to walk while my friends laughed all the way in a tuk-tuk.

At the lake itself there was not much to do except take a few photos and sit on the grass and chill.

The other tourists were either hiking around on the umpteen paths surrounding the lake or enjoying picnics.

Walk around Almaty Central Park

Almaty Central Park is like a fun-filled bustling carnvial with tons of exciting rides, games for kids, cafes, ferris wheel and the like. Like a park and amusement park in one.

It is so massive that we totally got lost inside it. We were looking for the cable car which we never found and then we lost our way to the entry/ exit as well. This cost us over 10k steps and a couple of hours, while we were already drained from our busy day.

However, it was all worth it, and just walking around the park, albeit lost, was amusing in itself. Mostly we were just amused by how we could get lost in such a public space with so many people around (but a wide language barrier).

Take a Sunset Ride on the Ferris Wheel

Since we were already lost and didn’t find the cable car, the only way to feel “elevated” was hop on the ferris wheel at Almaty central park. So, we did.

The view was interesting and the setting sun was the perfect time for it. The wheel itself was super slow so didn’t give us much of a run, but maybe just a break for our tired feet.

Have a Drink at Kumano Bar

If you happen to be in Kazakhstan, adding an evening at Kumano Bar in Almaty is a must for your Almaty itinerary.

You can play foosball or have a few drinks outdoors (They have a cool outdoor area right on the street with a live DJ – Where yours truly played as well) and an after party indoor club too.

Surely Kumano is one of the top EDM clubs in Central Asia.

Walk around Almaty at night

Almaty at night is something else altogether. You can walk around the cobbled, well-lit streets, grab food at one of the umpteen restaurants, stop at monuments and fountains to get a real feel of the city. This is a must-do when in Almaty.

So this was my list of the best things to do in Kazakhstan for first timers. Share yours in the comments below.

Jo has been putting pen to paper from an early age when she started her “Dear Diary” and letters to her pen friends across the globe.
This alongside regular visits to Indian jungles in search of the Royal Bengal Tiger, fueled her zest for adventure, nature and wildlife.
Now she is a renowned travel blogger, outreach expert and has worked with over 500 travel brands in the last 15 years.

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