For years, Kazakhstan has been the country people struggled to place on a map. Now, the largest country in Central Asia is increasingly turning up on travel wish lists, social feeds and international destination lists.
Polina Skaia/Unsplash
There is good reason for the attention. Kazakhstan offers a particularly dramatic combination of vast landscapes, modern cities, mountain adventures, Silk Road history and a culture shaped by centuries of nomadic traditions. It is also enormous, covering more than 2.7 million square kilometres, so a trip here can feel considerably bigger than a city break.
The buzz is particularly strong around Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city. In 2025, almost 2.5 million tourists visited the city, including about 754,000 international visitors. International tourism grew by 9.9% compared with the previous year.
And then there is social media. Kazakhstan’s tourism authorities have actively embraced short-form video, including a #TravelKazakhstan campaign with TikTok that generated more than 2,800 videos and over 11 million views. More recently, international travel television has also put Almaty in front of audiences in more than 110 countries.
So, what exactly are people seeing?
Start in Almaty
Almaty is probably the easiest introduction to Kazakhstan. The city sits at the foot of the Zailiysky Alatau mountains, part of the Tian Shan range, meaning you can go from cafés and contemporary galleries to mountain scenery without travelling for hours.
Ilyas Dautov/Unsplash
The city itself mixes leafy streets, Soviet-era architecture, modern restaurants, markets and a growing creative scene. The Green Bazaar is a good place to get a taste of local food and everyday life, while Kok-Tobe offers sweeping views over the city.
Shymbulak ski resort is close enough to Almaty for a day trip, while hiking routes lead into the surrounding mountain landscape. The proximity of nature is one of the reasons Almaty has attracted so much international attention. In 2026, Bloomberg included the city in its list of 25 destinations to visit, highlighting its combination of urban culture, history, food and access to nature.
Go beyond the city
Charyn Canyon is one of Kazakhstan’s best-known natural attractions, with dramatic rock formations stretching across the landscape. Further into the southeast, the Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy bring alpine scenery, forests and turquoise water into the itinerary.
Charyn Canyon/Tim Broadbent/Unsplash
Lake Kaindy is particularly memorable. Its submerged forest gives the lake an almost surreal appearance, with tree trunks rising from the water.
For a completely different landscape, head west towards Mangystau. Here, the scenery shifts towards desert, cliffs, unusual rock formations and enormous open spaces. It is the sort of landscape that makes the phrase “off the beaten track” feel slightly inadequate.
Mangystau/Kilic-Emre Akdag/Unsplash
Kazakhstan also offers a strong cultural component. Traditional Kazakh cuisine, horse culture, crafts and nomadic heritage remain important parts of the country’s identity. Astana, the futuristic capital, provides another contrast, with bold contemporary architecture rising from the vast steppe.
How should you plan a trip?
For a first visit, allow at least a week if you want to combine Almaty with some of the surrounding natural attractions. Ten days or longer gives you more breathing room and makes it easier to add another region. Almaty works well as a base for mountain and canyon excursions, while Astana makes sense if futuristic architecture, museums and contemporary Kazakh culture are part of your interests. Kazakhstan is huge, so resist the temptation to cram half the country into one itinerary. Distances that look manageable on a map can translate into long journeys.
Entry requirements also depend on your passport. For South Africans, Kazakhstan’s official visa information lists South Africa among the nationalities eligible for a tourist e-visa. The application is made through Kazakhstan’s official Visa and Migration Portal and requires visa support from a host party in Kazakhstan. Requirements can change, so check the current rules before booking flights.
Is Kazakhstan worth adding to the list?
The answer depends on what you want from a trip.
If your idea of a good holiday involves dramatic scenery, hiking, unusual landscapes, interesting food and a destination that still feels relatively unfamiliar to many South African travellers, Kazakhstan offers plenty to work with. Its growing popularity also means the secret is no longer quite as secret as it once was. That may be precisely the point. Kazakhstan is moving from the “where exactly is that?” category into a destination people are actively researching.
For now, though, there is still enough space between the viral video and the real-life journey to make Kazakhstan feel like an adventure rather than simply another destination everyone has already ticked off.
Follow us on social media for more travel news, inspiration, and guides. You can also tag us to be featured.
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
ALSO READ:
WATCH: National Geographic releases trailer for Chilean mine rescue documentary
