Top 20 tourist destinations in Kazakhstan

Previously, the list included only ten destinations, while now it offers 20 must-visit tourist attractions.

The first in the list is Khan Ordasy (Khan’s Headquarters) reserve-museum located in Bokei Orda district of the West Kazakhstan region. It was set up in December 1962 by renowned teacher of Kazakhstan, local historian Akhmetfaiz Tazhetdinov, in honor of Zhangir Khan (1610−1652), outstanding commander, Khan of the Kazakh Khanate from 1643 to 1652. In 2017, the reserve-museum was included in the list of 100 Sacred Sites of Kazakhstan. Today, the reserve-museum consists of 13 historical-architectural buildings and three mausoleums.

Imantau-Shalkar Resort Area is a hidden pearl of northern  Kazakhstan, located in the territory of the Kokshetau State National Nature Park. The resort area attracts tourists with its hills, thick forests, and, of course, lakes. The largest ones are Lakes Shalkar and Imantau. The resort area also includes numerous archeological and architectural monuments (Botai settlement, Aiganym’s Homestead, Karassai and Agyntai Memorial Complex) protected by the state.

Turkistan is a city in the south of Kazakhstan, located near the Syrdarya River. Since 2018, the city has been the administrative center of Turkistan region. This is one of the most ancient cities of Kazakhstan, also called "the spiritual capital of the Turkic World.” Turkistan is often named as the second Mecca for pilgrims, for its numerous mosques and sacred sites, as Khoja Akhmet Yassawi, Arystan-Bab, Aisha Bibi, Yessim Khan, Gaukhar-Ana mausoleums, Azret-Sultan Reserve-Museum, Akmeshit and Khilvet underground mosques.

Katon-Karagai Resort Area is situated in the East Kazakhstan region. The resort area includes Markakol Reserve and Katon-Karagai National Nature Park. The landscape here is unique thanks to a perfect combination of mountain peaks with the cleanest lakes, thick forests with 'Alpine' meadows, noisy rivers with large rocks. This resort attracts both local and foreign tourists. The guests are offered to visit the Berel Burial Mound, Kok-Kol Waterfall, Rakmanov Springs, the Northern Branch of the Great Silk Road etc.

Lake Balkhash is the largest stagnant water body of Kazakhstan, after the Caspian and Aral seas, located in the country’s southeast. Its length is 614 kilometers, and width is 3.5 to 44 kilometers, with a maximum depth reaching 26 meters. Water in the western part of the lake is almost fresh, whereas the eastern side salty. The lake is located in the territory of three regions: Almaty, Zhambyl and Karaganda. Popular types of recreation here are beach tourism, water sports: sailing, kayaking and canoeing, and sport fishing. The lake is home to about 20 species of fish, and there are also 120 species of birds, of which 12 are included in the Red Book. The recreation potential of the lake and surrounding sights (Bektau Ata Tract, tugai forests) attract more and more tourists every year.

Other destinations featured in the list are: Kargaly Water Reservoir in Aktobe region, Tourist Complex in Kostanay region, Aqbura Schuchye-Borovoye Resort Area in Akmola region, Bayanauyl in Pavlodar region, Alakol Resort Area in Abai and Zhetysu regions, Turgen-Kaskelen Ski Resort in Almaty and Almaty region, Koksai Resort in Zhambyl region, Baikonur Space Launch Site in Kyzylorda region, Ulytau village in Ulytau region, Warm Beach in Mangistau region, Saraishyk ancient settlement in Atyrau region, Gastronomy Tourism Center in Shymkent, and Tourist Complex of Astana.