Must See

Almaty

This pleasant city in the south-east corner of the country offers superb views over the surrounding steep mountains and open plains. The city is home to wide streets, modern architecture, parks and squares. Panfilov Park features the Russian Orthodox Zenkov Cathedral, one of the world's tallest wooden buildings, built in 1904. The Cathedral is one of the few tzarist-era buildings to survive the 1911 earthquake, despite the fact it is built entirely of wood and constructed without nails. The park also holds the Arasan Baths, a complex of Eastern, Finnish and Russian saunas.

Other sights include New Square, where national ceremonies and parades are sometimes held, and a string of museums, such as the Military Museum; the Central State Museum, which provides an introduction to Kazakhstan's history and includes a miniature replica of the country's chief archaeological treasure, the Golden Man - a warrior's costume made from 4.000 gold pieces; the Museum of Kazakh National Instruments; and the State Art Museum which has, among its exhibits, traditional Kazakh clothing, jewellery and rugs.

Amble through some of the city's bustling markets and you'll likely see Chinese, Uzbek, Russian and Turkish traders exchanging their wares. The Zhibek Zholy pedestrian area is full of shops, cafés, street vendors, painters and musicians.

For those looking for a cultural evening, there's the chance to enjoy an opera or watch some ballet at the city's recently redesigned Theatre of Opera and Ballet.

Located on the mountainous outskirts of Almaty is the Medeo, a world-famous skating-rink that has seen many world records in speed skating. Once a year the Medeo stadium is de-iced and transformed into a huge concert stage when it becomes the venue of the popular song festival 'The Voice of Asia'.

Astana

This friendly city in the country's central north became the capital in 1997 as it had a more central location than its former location of Almaty, which lies on the far southeastern border with Kyrgyzstan. Although it is a rather lifeless city, there are a few attractions, such as the 97 metre-high Bayterek Tower, where visitors may take an elevator to the glass sphere its top to gain an impressive view across the whole of Astana. Also on the top floor is an imprint of the palm of the President of the country, Nursultan Nazarbaev, which bears a plaque urging visitors to place their own hand in his imprint and to make a wish.

Nearby are the nature reserves of Kurgaldjino and Naurzum (see below).

Lake Balkhash

Located in the southeast of Kazakhstan, Lake Balkhash (or Balqash) is the second largest lake in Central Asia after the Aral Sea, covering an area of nearly 17,000 sq km (just slightly smaller than Wales). The western half of the lake is fresh water, while the eastern half is saline.

Semipalatinsk

The city of Semipalatinsk (also known as Semey) lies just 30 km (19 miles) from Siberia, in the north east of Kazakhstan. It was formerly used as a Russian place of exile; Dostoyevsky was sent here for 5 years in 1854, and his house is now preserved as a museum, with exhibits including notes for The Idiot and Crime and Punishment. Other museums in the city include the History Museum and the Abai Qunanbayuli Museum, commemorating the father of modern Kazakh poetry, who received his schooling here.

Western Kazakhstan

In the Mangistau Mountains, Ustyurt plateau and Emba valley, visitors can see old fortresses, mausoleums, tombs and underground structures. One of the most interesting is the underground mosque Shakpak-Ata, which was carved out of the rock over a thousand years ago. The cave has four cells centred around a circle; such a cross-like layout is very unusual in mosques. The entrance has a portal with rock paintings of human hands, whilst the walls are faced with shell rock, and the columns are covered with fine patterns.

Also in western Kazakhstan is the Karagie Depression (The Black Maw), which is the lowest point in the country (132 m below sea level) and the second lowest point in the world after the Sinai's Dead Sea.

Spas

Baths and spas are a big deal in Kazakhstan. Some of the bigger cities have traditional bath houses, whilst a number of health resorts have also been set up. These include Arasan-Kapal in the Taldikorgan region and Sari Agach, in the south.

Nature Reserves

There are a number of nature reserves dotted across the country, which offer the chance for visitors to see rare native species in the wild landscape. These include:

• Aksu-Zhabagly: This UNESCO biosphere reserve in the south of the country, situated 1,000 to 4,000 m above sea level, is home to 1,400 species of plants, 47 species of animals and 239 species of birds.
• Almaty: Located in the southern Tian Shan Mountains, the rugged Almaty Reserve is the habitat of arkhars (big-horned wild sheep), gazelles, jeirans, snow leopards, and the unique Tjan-Shan fir tree. The reserve also has some mighty peaks popular among experienced climbers.
• Barsa Kelmes: This island (literally translated as 'the land of no return') is the home of the rarest hoofed animal in the world - the kulan. It lies just off the northwestern Aral Sea coast.
• Bayan-Aul National Nature Park: Located in central Kazakhstan, this park is known as 'the museum of nature'.
• Kurgaldjino: The nature reserve of Kurgaldjino in the north of Kazakhstan houses the most northerly settlement of pink flamingos in the world, and the feather-grass steppe is home to 300 types of plant.
• Marakol: Set in the southern foothills of the Altai Mountains, Markol provides a home to over 700 types of plant, 59 species of animal and 232 species of birds.
• Naurzum: Situated in northern Kazakhstan, this park offers a rich landscape of geographical contrasts: the remains of ancient pines strewn amongst sand dunes, salt lakes ringed by forests, vast meadows and pine forests growing out of salt-marsh beds. It is home to such rare animals as jack-bustards, white herons, grave eagles and hisser swans.
• Ustiurt: Located in west Kazakhstan in the Karagie Depression, this chalk-cliffed reserve is the largest in the country.
• The West-Altai: Set in the Altai Mountains, this reserve is home to 120 species of birds, 30 species of mammals and 16 types of forest.