True travelers always want to discover something new. Even those who prefer a passive vacation by the sea are interested in excursions. In order to see the unique landscapes, improve your health and just relax, it is not necessary to go far. Sometimes the most interesting is where we do not even expect. And rest on the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan can be a proof of this.
What is attractive for Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is an unexplored region for many tourists, in which there are resorts for any type of vacation. The vast territory has high mountains with glaciers, many lakes and the beach strip of the Caspian Sea. Traveling to different regions of the country, you can find deserts, steppes and forests, there are more than a dozen nature reserves that are radically different from each other. A centuries-old history has been preserved in ancient buildings and traditions, while in the cities buildings built in different centuries coexist. Due to such a variety of Kazakhstan, resorts are available for recreation and treatment at any time of the year.
We add that for residents of the CIS countries a visa is not required, and you can safely include this multifaceted country in the list of priorities for visiting and a detailed study.
Caspian resorts of Kazakhstan
The south-west of the country is washed by the waters of the largest enclosed lake, which is also called the sea because of its size and geological features. The coastal cities were not originally aimed at beach vacations; they began to think about such a direction only in the new millennium. Then the projects of coastal resorts began to appear and be implemented. The coast is most actively developing near the city of Aktau: the Kendirli cottage village has recently been built, there is talk of creating a large Aktau City complex.
Construction in the country is proceeding very quickly, new cities appear in 5-10 years in places where before there was not even a hint of human habitation. Hotels and resorts are being built even faster: they are built in a year, for a maximum of two. The main problem of new tourist destinations is the difficulty of transportation. Sometimes the distance to the nearest settlements is 200-300 km, there are few roads, they are not in the best condition. Most often, tourists arrive in the nearest major city by plane or train, then get to their destination by bus, car or boat.
In addition to the coast of Aktau, rest on the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan is possible in Atyrau, Fort-Shevchenko, Ganyushkino and Kuryk. There are practically no full-fledged beach resorts here, there are separate hotels and resorts located on the Caspian coast.
The best beaches in Aktau
The beach season on the Kazakh coast of the Caspian Sea lasts from May to September. There is rarely intense heat, the average temperature in the hottest months is +26 ... + 30 degrees, the water in the sea warms up to +24 ... + 26 degrees.
Aktau is the only major city on the Caspian coast of Kazakhstan. Less resorts can most likely be called villages.
There are few good sandy beaches in the city, most of the coast is rocky. The best sandy beaches are Manila, Nur Plaza and Dostar. All of them are located at hotels, but, except for residents, other tourists are allowed to enter. Entrance to them is free, but you will have to pay for parking and amenities on the beach. One parking place will cost 300-1000 tenge (1-3 dollars), the cost of sun loungers and umbrellas ranges from 500-1500 tenge (1.5-5 dollars). The area is equipped with changing rooms, a shower, left-luggage offices and other amenities, on some beaches they are free, on others - all for a fee, if you are not a hotel guest. Additionally, services are provided: rental of barbecue facilities, tents, tables, food and drinks at the bar (alcohol on the beach is prohibited, as is smoking).
The most popular hotels and complexes on the coast of Aktau
Travelers can stay in such places:
- Sanatorium "Chagall" (translated - "The Seagull"). Holidays at sea can be combined with the rehabilitation carried out in the form of balneological procedures. For treatment, water is used from medicinal sources used in baths and showers, as well as inhalations, thermal procedures, massages. The sanatorium is built within the city, so guests can enjoy secular nightlife.
- The Stigl complex is a large sports, wellness and entertainment center built near the Warm Beach. There are several separate hotels of different levels on the territory: the best rooms are in the bungalows by the sea, the most economical are in the Teremki hotel. The complex has many amenities and entertainment.
- The Dostar Hotel on the Aktau Soldier Beach is small but cozy. The availability of superior rooms attracts VIP guests and delegations, and large families are conveniently located in three-room apartments. The presence of additional services makes the rest as comfortable as possible.
- Kenderli is one of the most popular and modern resorts in the country, located 210 km from Aktau. A sandy beach with a gentle approach and entertainment will suit both families and youth, for all the corresponding numbers are provided. The main accommodation is a bungalow, there are one- and two-story, designed for a different number of people.
There are many other hotels, resorts and recreation centers that the resorts of Kazakhstan offer. Hotel prices start at 6-8 thousand tenge (18-23 dollars) per day, the private sector can be found for 5000 tenge (15 dollars). The cheapest are recreation centers, a room without amenities will cost from 3,500 tenge (11-12 dollars).
Beach holidays on the lakes
The few resorts of Kazakhstan on the sea are just beginning to gain popularity, holidays on the lakeside are in great demand. The rest of the country's water bodies are smaller than the Caspian, but some are also striking in their size. The most famous lakes of Kazakhstan: Alakol, Balkhash, Kapchagay, Tengiz, a complex of lakes in Borovoye, a small part of the Aral Sea coast is also available.
In addition to natural, there are artificial reservoirs that attract tourists. For example, the Bukhtarma reservoir, not inferior in size to most large lakes. In summer, vacationers flood it, more and more holiday homes appear. The most popular reservoir area is the Blue Bay.
These reservoirs and their infrastructure are not much inferior to the coastal cities of Kazakhstan. Resorts are overgrown with entertainment centers, water transport rental points, playgrounds, and even a water park has been built in Kapchagai. The territory of the lakes is huge, not all shores are inhabited for a comfortable stay. This makes it possible to come with tents and enjoy the unity with nature as much as possible.
Healing waters of Kazakhstan
Beach holidays at sea and lakes can be combined with wellness. In Kazakhstan there are many sources, the composition of the water in which has healing properties. There are separate sanatoriums far from cities where treatment is the basis of your stay, and there are complexes near resorts.
Many tourists are attracted by the universal resort in Borovoye: the lakes will provide the opportunity to swim, the springs and mud will help to recover, and the national park can be studied for weeks.
Only 26 km from Alma-Ata is the mountain resort of Alma-Arasan. It has healing and hot springs, balneological procedures are carried out in the sanatorium. These places are often used for outdoor activities, trekking and cycling.
Away from major cities is Saryagash, famous for thermal springs. Its waters are called "soda", they are used to treat a wide range of diseases. Based on local mineral waters, table water is produced, which is bottled and transported throughout the country.
Sights of Kazakhstan
There are so many natural and man-made places worth visiting that you can go around the country for several weeks, marveling at the diversity of species and memos. The Silk Road passed through modern Kazakhstan, which was confirmed by buildings in the place of stops. The most interesting cities that have preserved the memory of passing caravans are Shymkent and Taraz.
If you arrived in Astana or Alma-Ata, do not rush to immediately go further. These cities are worthy of detailed study: they contain most of the government, religious and cultural buildings. Especially popular are the Nur-Astana mosque, Holy Ascension Cathedral, the Presidential Culture Center, the circus building, the Astana-Baiterek monument.
Those who want to get closer to the stars should visit Baikonur. This cosmodrome has now become a popular tourist destination, offering excursions to museums and memorials of Gagarin, the history of astronautics, the starting point of the ship.
Nature reserves and natural wonders
Most of the country is steppes and semi-deserts, but they are also an adornment of Kazakhstan. Resorts are located in habitable places, but there are many amazing “wild” territories in the neighborhood. Among them, the most frequently visited are the Charyn Canyon, the Saura and Karabulak gorges, the Ustyurt plateau and the colorful mountains of Aktau. Also worth visiting is Lake Kaindy, during the formation of which some of the trees were under water.
The main reserves of Kazakhstan: the country's oldest Aksu-Jabagly, close to the southern capital Alma-Ata, Alakolsky with a system of lakes, Ustyurt on the Silk Road and Kurgaldzhinsky is a real bird's paradise.
To appreciate Kazakhstan, visit different parts of this diverse country. And even though service and roads often leave much to be desired, nature more than pays for all the nuances!