Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan occupies roughly 2.72 million km² between Russia to the north, China to the east, and the three Central Asian republics of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan to the south, with a Caspian Sea coastline to the west. The capital is Astana (formerly Nur-Sultan), and the largest city is Almaty. Kazakh and Russian share official status; the currency is the Kazakhstani tenge. The country blends Turkic nomadic traditions with Soviet-built infrastructure and a contemporary oil-driven economy.

Citizens of many countries — including EU member states, the United States, and the United Kingdom — can enter Kazakhstan visa-free for stays up to 30 days. Other nationalities may apply through Kazakhstan's official e-Visa portal. Requirements and eligible nationalities change periodically, so travellers should verify current conditions through Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before travel.

Almaty's Shymbulak ski resort sits high in the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains, offering dramatic alpine terrain above the city. The Charyn Canyon — sometimes called a smaller cousin of the Grand Canyon — stretches for roughly 90 km through the Charyn River valley. Astana's Bayterek Tower is a landmark observation structure symbolising a Kazakh creation myth. The ancient Silk Road city of Turkestan holds the 14th-century mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Aral Sea's eastern shore reveals the haunting Ship Graveyard near Zhalanash, rusting vessels stranded by the lake's dramatic retreat.

Kazakhstan has a sharply continental climate with wide temperature extremes. Summers on the steppe reach 30–35°C, while winters in the north plunge to −20°C or below. Almaty is milder thanks to mountain shelter, sitting around −5°C in January and 25°C in July. Spring and early autumn — April to May and September to October — offer the most comfortable conditions nationally. Pack layers regardless of season; winds across the steppe can make temperatures feel significantly colder than readings suggest.

• World's largest landlocked country by area.
• Baikonur Cosmodrome launched the first human spaceflight.
• Apples are believed to originate from Almaty's surrounding region.
• Kazakhstan was first to hold nuclear disarmament after independence.
• The snow leopard is the national symbol of Kazakhstan.

• gov.kz — official portal of the Government of Kazakhstan
• mfa.gov.kz — Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visa and entry information
• visitkazakhstan.kz — national tourism promotion platform
• kazhydromet.kz — Kazhydromet national weather and environmental agency