If you are planning a holiday and are tired of hearing about the same places that have been appearing on your Instagram filter since before Instagram was invented, try Kazakhstan. It is a country that has largely been ignored from a tourism perspective but it starting to come alive. This country has something to offer every traveler and it will provide you with a truly unique experience. So if you are looking for something a little bit different then read on and allow us to convince you why you need to try Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan is famous for one thing. The comedian Sacha Baron Cohen created his character Borat to be an ignorant, sexist, loudmouth from Kazakhstan. There are a large number of people who had never heard of this country before the movie was released and so their opinions on based entirely on his wacky character. This is not fair to the people of Kazakhstan as they are extremely polite and kind and not in any way as inappropriate as Borat suggests. Kazakhstan is a diverse nation. Around 60% of the people are ethnic Kazakhs with 20% being ethnic Russians. The remainder is Ukrainians, Uzbeks, Germans, Tatars, Uyghurs, Koreans, and Meskhetian Turks. Essentially the location of Kazakhstan means that the people have influences from Asia, Russia, and Europe – creating one incredibly unique place.
Aside from wonderful people, Kazakhstan is an incredibly beautiful country. When you see the usual photos of pristine blue waters, tall mountains, and low-lying hills on Instagram it is rare that one place offers all three wonders. Kazakhstan does. If you have traveled to some beautiful places recently you will know how busy they are becoming. I recently visited Brasil and at both a mountain cliff and an amazing waterfall I had to queue for an hour just to take a picture. The world is becoming a little bit strange and sometimes escaping somewhere different is the answer. Kazakhstan is that answer.
If Kazakhstan is so beautiful then why is it such a secret? The truth is that as it was once a part of the Soviet Union it remains somewhere undiscovered by Westerners but those close to the country are well aware of what it has to offer. The Capital city is Astana and it a warm city that celebrates diversity and the people that live there. There is a Palace of Peace and Reconciliation that is a beautiful idea in these times where people struggle to work together. The Palace is designed in a pyramid shape and is built to house all the religious faiths and represent the diverse ethnic groups in the area.
The nature that Kazakhstan offers is the real attraction though. Kaindy Lake is one of the must-visit sights in the country. Located close to Astana the lake is only recently formed thanks to an earthquake in 1911. This caused a natural dam to form and resulted in some of the most turquoise waters you will ever see. Not only that but the location of the lake is not only surrounded by spruce trees but they grow out of it. This must be because of how new the lake is as the trees have not yet died. This gives the entire place an underwater magical forest feel and is a rare sight to behold.
There are many countries that are starting to appear on our radar thanks to a changing political or socio-economic background. Kazakhstan is unfortunate to be known for one named Borat but don’t let it be known for only that forever. Visit Kazakhstan and admire the incredible beauty of the country and the strong embrace of diversity that is there.
