Kazakhstan: 7 activities to discover for the most adventurous

Kazakhstan, a mysterious and remote country, is also one of the few places on Earth where you can still experience authentic adventures, among raw, almost untouched landscapes.

Here is a short summary of the best activities to try during your trip to Kazakhstan.

Horseback riding, in the mountains or galloping in the steppes

As you know, the horse is a true symbol of Central Asia, and Kazakhstan is no exception.

Your trip would simply be incomplete without a ride on a steppe stallion.

Many rides are also accessible to beginners, on calm horses, who know the way well.

The more experienced, for their part, will be able to experience the freedom of Kazakh riders, who do not hold back their horses at full gallop.

On vast expanses, as far as the eye can reach, you can feel like you're in “Spirit - Stallion of the Cimarron”. With a bit of luck, an eagle will accompany your flight.

Hiking in the mountains of Almaty

The Almaty region is full of mountains that are accessible to hikers of all levels.

From the plateau Kok Zhailau In Terra, the Ile-Alatau National Park offers wonderful landscapes that are easily accessible for the less well prepared.

As for mountaineers or experienced hikers eager to conquer new peaks, the choice is vast: the Grand Peak of Almaty (3,680 m), the Sovetov Peak (4,317 m), or even the Nursultan Peak (4,376 m), among a multitude of others.

The paths are not as well marked as in Europe, especially on long routes, so I advise you to take a local guide if you are not used to the mountains. Attention, find out about the best times to go to Kazakhstan, in order to enjoy the best season in the mountains.

⛺ With the support of an on-site guide, try the experience of a night in a tent in the mountains. I assure you, the starry sky will leave you breathless.

A night in a yurt

The essential part of a trip to Kazakhstan: the yurt.

A symbol of the nomadic past, this traditional house is still widely used for many purposes: as a rest area, for catering, or as at the time — for housing, especially for livestock farmers.

As a general rule, if you find yourself in the mountains after dark, few Kazakhs will refuse to welcome you in their wood-heated yurt for the night.

Or you can simply rent one. There are even luxurious options, with all the comforts of a real hotel.

A rafting trip down the river

Let yourself be carried away by the Ili River, quiet enough to welcome beginner rafters, while remaining agitated enough to guarantee a good adrenaline rush.

The best season for this kind of extreme fun is between late April and mid-June, and September to early October, when the air temperatures are at their most pleasant (summer is way too hot in this part of Kazakhstan).

If this is not your first time rafting, you can open yourself up to rivers with a more advanced level of difficulty, such as Turgen and Chilik.

A paragliding tour

The plains, steppes and mountains of Kazakhstan are even more impressive when viewed from above.

In particular, a paragliding tour is a much more financially accessible experience in Kazakhstan — around 20,000 tenges, or 40 euros.

You can find lots of companies that organize paragliding trips via Instagram.

Bathing in the lakes

Kazakhstan is rich in several large lakes whose dimensions are reminiscent of a seaside.

Among the most popular: Lake Balkhach, Lake Alakol, or, closer to the city — the artificial lake Kapchaga.

These three options are the most popular with locals, for their equipped beaches and their pleasant water temperature in summer.

There are plenty of other lakes in the mountains, but only for the bravest. In fact, the water can reach around 5°C, even in the middle of summer.

A relaxing day in the hot springs

Another bathing activity to discover in Kazakhstan: thermal springs, either in the mountains or in the middle of the steppe.

The water is naturally hot, to the point that it is often necessary to cut it off with cold water to avoid suffocating in summer.

I advise you to go there if the weather gets colder, or for a night swim under the starry sky.

All you have to do is book a hotel in the thermal water area (one of the most popular is near Charyn Canyon, about 4 hours from Almaty), to have access to specially designed hot pools.

Saunas are often also available on site — everything you need for a relaxing day in the middle of the steppe.

📚 You may be interested in these readings:

Travelling to Kazakhstan as a single woman

Do you need a visa to go to Kazakhstan?

Is Kazakhstan dangerous?

Visit Charyn Canyon in Kazakhstan

Budget to go to Kazakhstan