Aksu-Zhabagly, Taraz

AfarOct 26

Few U.S. Travelers Visit Central Asia’s Largest Country. They’re Missing Out.

In Kazakhstan, contributing writer Peggy Orenstein finds dramatic nature, Silk Road grandeur, and a resilient, cosmopolitan culture—plus a connection that’s harder to put into words.

Central Asia's oldest nature reserve

17 things in this story

Aksu-ZhabaglyTrailCentral Asia's oldest nature reserve
Elsewhere
Charyn CanyonNature reserveAlmaty, KazakhstanCanyon nicknamed 'the Grand Canyon's little brother'
Ascension CathedralSightAlmaty, KazakhstanTallest wooden Russian Orthodox church in the world
Panfilov ParkNeighborhoodAlmaty, KazakhstanCentral park in Almaty
Hotel AlmatyHotelAlmaty, KazakhstanHotel with a 1965 mosaic-tile mural
Arasan BathsSightAlmaty, KazakhstanConcrete structure with hammam-inspired details
Green BazaarMarketAlmaty, KazakhstanCovered public market built in 1975
AuylRestaurantAlmaty, KazakhstanNeo-nomad restaurant with yurt-inspired interior
YurtaRestaurantAlmaty, KazakhstanNeo-nomad restaurant serving kumis and plov
Shymbulak Mountain ResortSightAlmaty, KazakhstanMountain resort with gondola rides to 10,500 feet
Altyn-Emel National ParkSightAlmaty, KazakhstanReserve with Mars-red landscape and sandstone trails
AimaqMuseumAlmaty, KazakhstanPrivate museum and jewelry store
Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed YasawiSightTurkistan, Kazakhstan14th-century mausoleum with turquoise domes
SauranSightTurkistan, KazakhstanRuins of a 10th-century Silk Road city
Museum of Victims of Political RepressionMuseumShymkent, KazakhstanMuseum displaying photographs of political prisoners
Shymkent's central bazaarMarketShymkent, KazakhstanBazaar where tea and spices are sold
Singing DuneSightAlmaty, Kazakhstan

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Aksu-Zhabagly

In the coverage1 story

Few U.S. Travelers Visit Central Asia’s Largest Country. They’re Missing Out.