Kazakhstan. A place where mountains touch the sky, history whispers through parks, and best of all for Indians — visa-free travel! No embassy marathons. Just pack, fly, and explore. We are super excited to begin this series with the most sought-after insight that is demanded – the itinerary! Here’s our tried-and-tested 1 week itinerary to the heart of Central Asia. If you need some more help to plan a kid-friendly itinerary, head over to this blog of ours.
But first, we wanted to share that if you’re planning a trip, you already know that Spring and Autumn are the best months to visit, but if you ask us, we’d say Spring should be your choice, as you’ll be able to literally see all four seasons in your trip – spring flowers in the city, hot summers in the canyons, fall colors in the innumerable parks and lakes, and winter wonderland in the ski resort of Shymbulak.
Before we dive in, quick note: Detailed blogs for each attraction are coming soon with full guides, tips, and hacks. So, bookmark this space!
Day 1: Hello, Almaty!
Your adventure should not begin when you reach Almaty, but when you board the aircraft… hear us out: we HIGHLY recommend taking an afternoon flight that will cross the Hindukush Mountains, creating a sight so magical that you’ll never recover from it.
Pro Tip: Opt for the window seat at the RIGHT SIDE of the aircraft. Your life will not be same again.
Touchdown in Almaty felt like stepping into fresh air and fresh adventure. After a quick currency exchange ($300), we reached our cozy Airbnb — right in the city center, close to every attraction. Beautiful spacious 1 BHK apartment with a lovely sitting room, big bedroom, and a dreamy walk-in closet made up for it.
Pro Tip: The local currency of Kazakhstan is Kazakh Tenge (KZT), which is 1 INR ≈ 5.5–6 KZT as on 2025. While USD is the preferred currency, the kiosks do exchange INR as well.
Some cultural first impressions which we think are important to be prepared for:
- Language barrier is REAL. Keep Google Translate ready with English to and fro Russian. Both Kazakh and Russian are used, Russian is much more common.
- WHATSAPP is the preferred mode of communication, so it’s prudent to even have Russian in the keyboard of Whatsapp as well.
- While international roaming is an easier choice, local sim cards will be much CHEAPER. We took Tele2, and Beeline, Kcell are two other good options too.
- While 2GIS is preferred as a navigation tool, do keep Google Maps handy as well.
- Yandex Go is the best app for cabs and even instant groceries or food deliveries.
- While it’s very easy to navigate through the urban landscape by yourself, Almaty offers a lot of scenic day-long or multi-day excursions in a radius of 300-500 KM along the countryside. Do appoint local tour agencies for such trips – will enhance your experience much more. We took two day trips with Almaty Inspiration Tour, and they covered everything from doorstep pickup and drop, arranging for tickets, lunch, and every other logistical management, leaving us with only 1 agenda – enjoying and experiencing the spirit of Kazakhstan. We loved Alina, who was our POC and a true-hearted angel!
Day 2: Parks, Cathedrals, and City Strolls
We began our first day in Kazakhstan with a stroll in the Central Park of Almaty — a Soviet-era creation full of life — and peeked into Central Zoo, one of Central Asia’s oldest. While the park is free, the zoo has a ticket of 800 KZT per person, with no charge for kids under 6.
The city is super kid-friendly, with innumerable playgrounds and pens in every other corner, all free – in their apartment complexes, city parks, malls, and even theatres! This truly blew us away and gave us a glimpse of a happy childhood!
A few hundred meters away, we visited the 28 Panfilov Guardsmen Park, that honored WWII heroes. The leafy paths, silent tombs, and honorary tanks whispered stories of courage. This park is free to enter without any charge as well.
The main facade of the park, a toughened soldier’s face with grit in jaws and piercing eyes met us. Art speaks a thousand words, and the valor and passion in the sculpture is one of the most impressive moving pieces of art we had seen in a long time.
Just steps away, we stepped into the emblem of Kazakhstan, Zenkov Cathedral. A colorful wooden marvel built in 1907 without a single nail! Inside, it’s all golden icons and hushed awe. Surprisingly, there was no charge to enter this architectural masterpiece as well.
With dark history enveloping it in the War times, and then stripping it off its grandeur in the Soviet-era, it told tales of perseverance to return to its original glory only in the late 20th century.
In the evening, it was time to party! Since it was a Sunday, we chose to walk the evening along the downtown, which landed us on Arbat Street, buzzing with art, music, and shopping temptations.
Also known as the Zhibek Zholy, it’s a hub of energy and good vibes, and it is needless to say that we had a time of our life!
Day 3: Up the Mountains to Shymbulak
After a day of aclimitizing and settling in, we were ready for a day of an adventure in the snow! A quick Yandex ride took us to Medeu, where the cable car station started, ready to take us to the heights. The glide up to Shymbulak Ski Resort, a famous Asian Winter Games site, was pure magic.
Fun Fact: The spot was discovered by amateur Soviet skiers in the 1940s, and later was built into a ski resort, which became the most famous one in Central Asia.
There are primarily three levels, each with a cable car ride: Medeu-Shymbulak, Kombi 1, and Kombi 2. There are cable cars for a comfortable ride up, as well as open air ski-lifts for a more thrilling feel.
Snow or sunshine, Shymbulak stuns. Ski down glittering slopes, hike the green trails, or simply sip cocoa amidst the winter wonderland.
Cable car rides cost 6500 KZT for the entire ride of 3 levels — and every minute felt like a movie scene.
Day 4: A Peek into the Kazakh Traditional and Urban Life
The next day, we traded city streets for the ancient spirit of Kazakhstan at the Huns Ethno Village, about 80 KM away from Almaty. Somewhere amidst the foothills of the Tien Shan, we spent the day amidst yurts, horse riding, and traditional dances, living the best of nomadic life. We booked an all inclusive tour with pickup and drop off at our accommodation, for $200 – it included a private car with a driver, tickets, and lunch.
Fun fact: Kazakh nomadic culture dates back over 2000 years!
Post history lessons and a unique half-day tour, we switched gears at Mega Park Mall in the evening. Opened in 2014, this mall brought in world fashion to Kazakhstan, but we actually indulged in Russian and Central Asian brands. Shopping therapy was real, wallets were lighter, and our hands were heavier with bags.
Day 5: The Wild Side — Canyons and Lakes
If you do one epic day trip from Almaty, make it this. You can visit them all, mix and match, and customize according to your comfort, but prepare for a 12-14 hours road trip. Want to explore them more deeply? Opt for a 2-day trip with a night halt at the Saty village, very close to the Kolsay Lake. While innumerable agencies provide group tours which only cost about 5000-6000 KZT (with lunch), you can tailor the tour per your convenience and take a private car too.
Charyn Canyon: Perhaps the most beautiful natural wonder that Kazakhstan can offer, this 41 million year old gift from nature is nothing short of a wonder. While it’s often compared to the Grand Canyon of USA, we strongly felt both had its own USP. Charyn was smaller but much closer to human touch, and exploring it was easier.
Black Canyon: Characterized by its dramatic cliffs and rugged terrain, this sculpture of nature is breathtaking to say the least. Part of the Charyn Canyon National Park, Black Canyon is unique by its distinctive black rock formations.
Kolsay and Kaindy Lakes: Created by massive earthquakes in 1887 and 1911, which caused landslides that blocked the Kolsay and Kaindy rivers, creating natural dams and forming the lakes.
While we opted for the Kolsay lake to spend more time and experience the turquoise beauty with a cute little picnic, you can visit both and witness the sunken forest at Kaindy.
You can visit them all, mix and match, and customize according to your comfort, but prepare for a 12-14 hours road trip. Want to explore them more deeply? Opt for a 2-day trip with a night halt at the Saty village, very close to the Kolsay Lake.
Day 6: Goodbyes at the Green Bazaar
Our last few hours were spent weaving through Green Bazaar, a market alive with colors, flavors, and the scent of spices. Built in the 19th century, it’s a treasure trove of souvenirs, sweets, and edible memories. Think exotic nuts – honey-roasted to perfection or candied and sweet; organic fruits; fresh fruit juice churned right in front of you, and for the non-faint-hearted, a variety of meats. It’s a sensory overload indeed!
We also squeezed in to watch a children’s play in the State Puppet Theatre (built in 1935) before heading to the airport — hearts full, bags fuller.
Final Thoughts
Kazakhstan wasn’t just a country. It was wide skies, bigger hearts, and adventures that stayed with us long after we left.
Whether you’re a family explorer, a backpacker, or just someone chasing stories — Kazakhstan is calling… Answer it.
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