Best of Kazakhstan Tour: 8 days/7 nights

Kazakhstan is the largest country in Central Asia, and this 8-day journey shows its full range: the Caspian Sea, the otherworldly desert of the Ustyurt Plateau, the futuristic capital Astana, and the mountains and canyons around Almaty.

From the Caspian to the Ustyurt Plateau

The trip begins in Aktau on the shore of the Caspian Sea, with a relaxed city tour along the coast. Next morning we head out by 4×4 to the Ustyurt Plateau, one of the most remote landscapes in the region. White chalk cliffs, the deep Karagie Hollow and the striped valleys of Kyzylkup and Boszhira look more like another planet than Earth. We camp overnight in tents under a sky full of stars, then explore the Senek sands before returning to Aktau.

Astana and Almaty

A domestic flight takes us to Astana, the young capital on the steppe, known for its bold architecture: the Bayterek tower, the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, and Hazret Sultan Mosque. Then we fly south to Almaty, the green city at the foot of the Tian Shan mountains, with Panfilov Park, the Kok-Tobe cable car and the Medeu high-mountain skating rink.

Canyons, dunes and mountain villages

The last days take us into the wild country east of Almaty: the Singing Dune that hums in the wind, the colourful Aktau Mountains, the volcanic Katutau rocks and the Castle Valley of the Charyn Canyon. We spend a night in a family guesthouse in Saty, a village in the mountains, before returning to Almaty for the flight home.

Good to know

• Domestic flights, 4×4 transport, accommodation, full board and a guide are included.
• Best season: May to September.
• One night is spent camping in tents on the Ustyurt Plateau.
• The price per person depends on the group size (2 to 8 travellers). See the prices below.