Discover Kazakhstan: a top country to visit in 2025, according to Lonely Planet

Describing Kazakhstan, the website notes, “The world’s ninth-biggest country is the most economically advanced of the ‘stans’, thanks to its abundant reserves of oil and most other valuable minerals.”

The transformation of the capital, Astana, is also paid attention to, as it has become “a 21st-century showpiece with a profusion of bold futuristic architecture.” In addition, it's suggested that travelers explore the vibrant city of Almaty, which offers “the chic ALZhiR Museum-Memorial Complex, glossy shopping centers and hedonistic nightlife.”

Beyond the urban landscapes, Lonely Planet highlights the opportunities for adventure throughout the country. Travelers can engage in “hiking in the high mountains and green valleys of the Tian Shan, searching for wildlife on the lake-dotted steppe, enjoying homespun hospitality in village guesthouses, or jolting across the western deserts to remote underground mosques.”

The guide further states, “Kazakhstan is an immersive destination for travelers in search of an unspoiled adventure awash in natural beauty, history and culture. Hikers will love the many trails in Sairam-Ugam National Park, uncrowded by tourists. Visit Shymkent, known for some of the country’s best food, or see Almaty, the old capital, for Kazakhstan’s Soviet heritage.”

Lonely Planet also shares key highlights for visitors, including but not limited to: “Dine at Auyl, outside Almaty, where design, history and neo-nomad cuisine meet. Visit the singing dunes in Altyn-Emel National Park and hear the organ-like hum emitted from the sands and the wind. Try beshbarmak, a celebratory dish made with horse or mutton at restaurant Bozjyra in Shymkent.”

In addition to Kazakhstan, The Best in Travel 2025 recognizes Trinidad and Tobago, Paraguay, Cameroon, Slovakia, Lithuania, Armenia, Laos, Vanuatu, and Fiji as the most notable destinations for the upcoming year.