28 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Kazakhstan - Atlas Obscura

Unusual
Attractions
in Kazakhstan

Saty, Kazakhstan

Kaindy Lake

Submerged trees jut ghost-like out of an idyllic turquoise mountain lake.

Added by Tawsam

Aralsk, Kazakhstan

Aral Sea

Rusting ships sit in a desert where a sea used to be.

Annetta Black

Added by Annetta Black

Almaty, Kazakhstan

The Last Wild Apple Forests

Granny Smiths, Fujis, and Pink Ladies can all be traced back to Kazakhstan, where apples still grow wild.

Josh

Baikonur, Kazakhstan

Baikonur Cosmodrome

World's oldest and largest space launch facility, once a secret missile testing site.

Trevor

Added by Trevor

Enbekshikazakh District, Kazakhstan

Issyk Lake

The lovely lake that was naturally dammed, then naturally destroyed, then unnaturally saved.

taotaoholmes

Added by taotaoholmes

Almaly, Kazakhstan

Bayzhansay Ghost Town

An abandoned Soviet-era mining town in the mountains of South Kazakhstan.

dwhansen2

Added by dwhansen2

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Big Almaty Lake

A brilliant turquoise lake in the mountains.

megancstarr

Added by megancstarr

Astana, Kazakhstan

Palace of Peace and Reconciliation

Iconic pyramid from famed British architect Norman Foster designed to represent all of the world's religious faiths.

Nicholas Jackson

Added by Nicholas Jackson

See All 28 Things to Do in Kazakhstan See All 28 Places

Unique
Food & Drink
in Kazakhstan

Kumis

Gastro Obscura

Kumis

Infants and Genghis Khan enjoyed this fermented mare's milk.

Gastro Obscura

rachelrummel

Added by rachelrummel

Kurt

Gastro Obscura

Meats & Animal Products

Kurt

These cheese balls have fueled Central Asian nomads for centuries.

Gastro Obscura

susarm

Added by susarm

Shuzhuk

Gastro Obscura

Shuzhuk

Once a delicacy limited to the wealthy, smoked horse meat sausage is now a centerpiece at many Kazakh feasts.

Gastro Obscura

Edward Denny

Added by Edward Denny

Qarta

Gastro Obscura

Qarta

This simple dish of boiled horse intestine is prized for its unique and layered texture.

Gastro Obscura

Added by trevorxtravesty

Explore Kazakhstan

Launch Map

Recent Kazakhstan Activity

Davekey wants to go to Charyn Canyon

Davekey wants to go to Big Almaty Lake

Davekey wants to go to Issyk Lake

Davekey wants to go to Baikonur Cosmodrome

Davekey wants to go to Aral Sea

Stories
About Kazakhstan

Two fishing vessels nestled in the sands near the former seaport city of Moynaq, Uzbekistan.

Why It's So Hard to Study the Toxic Dust Blowing From Earth's Youngest Desert

It all comes down to something scientists call "ground truth."

by Jonathan Carey

Koryo Saram meal, photographed in Ushtobe, Kazakhstan.

How Survivors of Stalinism Created a New Korean-Fusion Cuisine

When the Koryo Saram were forcibly relocated, they forged new identities.

September 10, 2018