Kazakhstan
Go to Kazakhstan for the Tian Shan mountains, Charyn Canyon and the Kazakh Steppe, with Almaty, the largest city, as the country's cultural and business hub.
Most of Kazakhstan lies in Central Asia, and a small strip west of the Ural River reaches into Eastern Europe. At 2,724,902 square kilometers, it is the ninth-largest country in the world and the largest landlocked one. Russia lies to the north and west, China to the east, and the Caspian Sea washes its western shore. Astana is the capital, but Almaty is the biggest city and the country's cultural and business hub, and it was the capital until 1997.
Much of the country is steppe. The Kazakh Steppe covers about a third of it and is the biggest dry steppe on the planet. The Tian Shan in the southeast holds Khan Tengri, at 6,995 meters, the country's highest point. Charyn Canyon, about 200 kilometers east of Almaty, has red sandstone walls rising 150 to 300 meters along the Charyn River gorge. The climate is extreme continental, with hot summers, very cold and dry winters, and air temperatures from about −45 to +45 °C, so check the season before you plan any mountain or steppe trip.
Five things to know before Kazakhstan
- Check your visa-free days before you fly
UK citizens can visit visa-free for up to 30 days, and no more than 90 days in any 180. Other passports differ, so check the rule for yours with the Kazakh foreign ministry before you fly. Visas and entry
- Count your days and check you are registered
UK visitors can stay up to 30 days at a time and no more than 90 days in any 180. Your hotel, or your host if you stay privately, must register your arrival within 3 working days.
- Book Charyn and Kolsai as full days from Almaty
Charyn Canyon and the Kolsai and Kaindy lakes are several hours' drive east of Almaty. Most people go on a tour or with a hired driver, or stay a night in Saty. Getting around
- Use trains and domestic flights for long legs
Almaty to Astana is about 1,000 km. Fast day trains and overnight sleepers link the big cities, and domestic flights are cheap if you book ahead.
- Carry cash tenge outside the cities
Cards and phone payments work widely in Almaty and Astana. Mountain guesthouses, village shops and some taxis want cash. Money on the road
Kazakhstan travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Visa-free stays, the 90 in 180 limit and QazETA.
Read the guideGetting aroundSleeper trains, domestic flights and drivers for the mountains.
Read the guideMoney and costsTenge, cards in the cities and cash for the mountains.
Read the guidePhones and eSIMLocal SIMs, eSIM and coverage in the steppe.
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for hiking and remote road trips.
Read the guide
Destinations in Kazakhstan
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- KZT 8,000
- Food
- KZT 6,000
- Transport
- KZT 1,000
- Sights
- KZT 3,000
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- KZT 20,000
- Food
- KZT 15,000
- Transport
- KZT 5,000
- Sights
- KZT 7,000
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- KZT 40,000
- Food
- KZT 35,000
- Transport
- KZT 15,000
- Sights
- KZT 30,000
When to go
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- JanuaryCloudy7 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh-10°Low-17°Cold, ski seasonJanuaryCloudy
- High
- -10°
- Low
- -17°
- Precipitation
- 24 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, ski season
- FebruaryCloudy6 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh-8°Low-16°ColdFebruaryCloudy
- High
- -8°
- Low
- -16°
- Precipitation
- 20 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchPartly cloudy7 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh-1°Low-10°ThawMarchPartly cloudy
- High
- -1°
- Low
- -10°
- Precipitation
- 27 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Thaw
- AprilPartly cloudy7 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh13°Low2°SpringAprilPartly cloudy
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring
- MayPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh20°Low9°Green, mildMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 35 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, mild
- JunePartly cloudy10 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh24°Low14°WarmJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm
- JulyPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh26°Low16°Hot; hikingJulyPartly cloudy
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot; hiking
- AugustPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh25°Low14°Hot; hikingAugustPartly cloudy
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot; hiking
- SeptemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Golden, mildSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Golden, mild
- OctoberPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh9°Low1°Autumn colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberCloudy9 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh-2°Low-8°CoolNovemberCloudy
- High
- -2°
- Low
- -8°
- Precipitation
- 44 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- DecemberCloudy9 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh-8°Low-15°ColdDecemberCloudy
- High
- -8°
- Low
- -15°
- Precipitation
- 29 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
Average daily high and low in Almaty, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Kazakhstan
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
4
- Feels like
- 0°
- Humidity
- 71%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Kazakhstan
12:52 PM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today9°-2°0%Tuesday: Clear. High 9°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed10°-2°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu11°-2°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri12°3°41%Friday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 41%.
- Sat11°3°32%Saturday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 32%.
- Sun6°-4°42%Sunday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 42%.
Updated 10:37 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 453.3 KZT
Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan FAQ
Do I need a visa for Kazakhstan?
Not for UK citizens, who can stay up to 30 days without a visa and no more than 90 days in any 180. Other passports differ, so check yours with the Kazakh foreign ministry before you fly.
What is QazETA?
A Kazakh government mobile app. UK government advice says a local SIM card needs the phone's IMEI registered on imei.kz, using a border-crossing certificate from the app, or the SIM is blocked after 30 days. A global eSIM avoids this.
When is the best time to visit Kazakhstan?
May to June and September to October for mild weather in Almaty and the mountains. July and August are hot in the lowlands but best for high hikes, and winter brings skiing near Almaty.
How many days do I need in Almaty?
Three to five days: one or two for the city and Medeu, and the rest for Big Almaty Lake, Charyn Canyon and the Kolsai lakes.
Is Kazakhstan easy to combine with Kyrgyzstan?
Yes. Bishkek is about four to five hours by road from Almaty, and the land border is a common crossing for visitors.