For my trip around Central Asia, I used a variety of modes of transit: planes, trains, private transfers, and on two occasions, I did overland transfers. While my Uzbekistan-Tajikistan border crossing was memorably chaotic, the Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan border crossing was incredibly efficient and chill. In fact, I definitely recommend taking the bus from Bishkek to Almaty…
Big Almaty Lake used to be one of the easiest mountain escapes from Almaty. Sitting at 2,557 meters meters above sea level in the Trans-Ili Alatau Mountains, the lake’s surreal colors — ranging from milky blue to deep teal depending on the time of year — and dramatic mountain backdrop make it one of Kazakhstan’s…
When people think of day trips from Almaty, places like Big Almaty Lake, Kaindy Lake, and Charyn Canyon usually get all the love. But if you’re willing to endure an extremely early wake-up call, Altyn-Emel National Park offers some of the most unusual landscapes in Kazakhstan… with a tiny fraction of the crowds. I joined…
An eerily beautiful forest of submerged spruce rises out of electric turquoise and teal waters, making it hard to believe your eyes. This is Kaindy Lake, one of the most otherworldly sights in Kazakhstan: a country filled with natural wonders that look straight from another planet. Part of the Kolsay Lakes National Park, this beautiful…
If you’re visiting Big Almaty Lake, it is ideal to pair it with Alma-Arasan, a gorge with natural hot springs that make an easy day trip from Almaty. Alma-Arasan is, quite simply, stunning. Think slopes covered in Tien Shan spruce, hot and cold springs overlooking the river, a chilly plunge pool right in the river…
