My 8-Day Kazakhstan Adventure: A Mix of Solo Exploration and Guided Tours
Just back from an incredible 8-day trip to Kazakhstan over the 30/4 - 1/5 holiday! It was a real mix: some solo adventures, some private tours (just me and the guide), and even some group tours with international travelers. I'm excited to share some of my experiences, especially for those considering traveling solo in Kazakhstan.
As a woman, I initially hesitated about going solo, but after seeing countless stories of travel companions causing trouble and poorly planned itineraries, I decided to take the plunge. And guess what? I returned with all my limbs and senses intact! So, I definitely think solo travel is a great option.
I'll focus on the key details like costs and itinerary highlights. You can find more in-depth information in travel groups – I'm a bit too lazy to write everything out!
Key Details
Total Expenses
Around 45 million VND. Most people combine Kazakhstan with Kyrgyzstan, but I couldn't get extra time off. It's pricey, but as someone who lugs their laptop around and needs a strong WiFi signal for work, finding a group to share costs with is tough.
Flights
A hefty 26 million VND on Air Asia, with a layover in Kuala Lumpur. I was hesitant about booking for a while, which led to a late booking and higher prices, but I bit the bullet anyway.
SIM Card
I recommend Beeline. Their yellow booth is right at the exit of Almaty Airport. Get your SIM card and then exchange currency at the booth next door. I heard Beeline offers better coverage in remote areas. After getting my SIM and exchanging money, I could easily order a Yandex taxi to my hotel. Avoid the touts at the airport – I got ripped off for 5x the price! Lesson learned, even if I knew it in theory.
Accommodation
I stayed at LES mini hotel at 93 Nazarbayev, Almaty. It cost over 5 million VND for 7 nights, booked through Booking.com. The room was small and didn't include meals, but I'm used to roughing it. The hotel offered plenty of free snacks, and the receptionist was incredibly cute, haha.
Transportation and Language
I primarily used Yandex taxi (like Grab in Vietnam) to get from the airport to central Almaty and around the city. Download Google Translate for offline use, as most drivers speak the local language or Russian, and only some have basic English.
Almaty traffic can be intense, and many drivers text while driving! A tip for solo travelers: when ordering a Yandex, choose a restaurant or cafe with a visible street number or Latin characters so the driver can find you easily. On my first day, I got lost at a university with heavy traffic and three different gates. The driver called, speaking only the local language, so I had to enlist the help of a beautiful student. Luckily, she spoke English, helped me communicate with the driver, and even walked me to the car.
For the tours I booked, the guides all spoke English.
Weather
This is crucial! Nobody wants to spend their hard-earned money and vacation time in the rain. But that's what happened to me!
I traveled from April 28th to May 4th. In Almaty, it was about 32°C during the day. Shymbulak was around 5-10°C, Kaindy and Kolsai lakes were about 12°C, and Charyn Canyon was around 29°C with unpredictable weather. Pack both summer and winter clothes!
Many people said this wasn't the best time of year to visit, but I found it more beautiful than expected. Most places were lush and green, the city center still had tulips and lilacs, and Shymbulak still had plenty of snow. If you want flowers, greenery, and snow-capped mountains during your holiday, consider traveling around the 30/4 - 1/5 holiday. Just pray for good weather, I had rain on 3 out of 8 days! The days I had to work online were beautifully sunny and the days I went out exploring were rainy!
Itinerary
- Day 1: Botanical Garden (ended up lost at the university, no idea what the Botanical Garden is actually like...), Ascension Cathedral, Central Park, Esentai River. (Yandex)
- Day 2: Shymbulak (Yandex), Central State Museum of Kazakhstan (walking distance from my hotel)
- Day 3: Private tour to Alma Arasan hot spring (booked through TripAdvisor, about 4 million VND), but it was rainy and foggy. Disappointing.
- Day 4-5: Group tour to Charyn Canyon, Kolsai Lake, Kaindy Lake, Black Canyon, Moon Canyon (lunch in Saty Village) with Kazakhstan Guided Tour (booked through TripAdvisor, about 3-4 million VND).
- Day 6: Private tour to Ayusai waterfall (about 2.8 million VND, booked through Indy Guide).
If you like tulips and lilacs, visit the parks. For cherry blossoms, plum blossoms, and apple blossoms, try the Botanical Garden or the roads along the way, depending on your luck. For short hikes (under 3 hours) with streams, pine forests, and meadows, hike Alma Arasan or Ayusai waterfall (similar routes). If you want to see snow in early May, go to Shymbulak. For peaceful countryside scenery with hills and meadows, stay in Saty Village. The Charyn Canyon - Kolsai Lake - Kaindy Lake route is a classic, and almost every tour includes it. I personally found Saty Village and the roads leading to Kolsai and Kaindy lakes the most beautiful.
I've included details in the individual pictures. Now, I want to share some other solo travel tips for Kazakhstan. If you're looking for a luxurious, check-in style vacation, consider a different destination or book 4 or 5-star hotels for relaxation after tiring hikes. Solo travel isn't always relaxing. Trekking for 4 consecutive days can leave you feeling like a soggy, bloated fish, not very glamorous! It all depends on your perspective. Do your research, choose a manageable itinerary, and pack your plane tickets, passport, adapter, medications, etc. Kazakhstan is visa-free for Vietnamese citizens. Stay positive, calm, and don't panic when your flight is delayed, the plane shakes, you get diarrhea, get lost, or get scammed in a foreign country. Ask for help if you need it. Crying won't magically solve your problems, but asking for help might lead to a beautiful angel appearing, like the student who helped me when I was lost, haha. Always keep an eye on your phone, wallet, and passport to avoid losing them.
Definitely train your stamina before visiting Kazakhstan, especially if you plan on trekking. The tours I booked (with trekking) all mentioned that they weren't suitable for children under 5, pregnant women, injured people, or those with limited mobility. The hikes might be easy for experienced trekkers, but for a newbie like me, they were exhausting! I begged my guide to turn back halfway through the Ayusai waterfall trek. She kept asking, "Are you sure?" Because I could only stare at the 7m waterfall, unsure whether to reach with my left or right hand for a less risky climb… She held my hand and guided me step by step. On the rainy day at Alma Arasan, I practically crawled up the mountain like an ape, clinging to the guide like glue!
In conclusion, solo female travel in Kazakhstan isn't too difficult (even though only half my trip was solo). It's relatively safe (I never claim a place is 100% safe for solo travelers, as unexpected things can happen. Be prepared, cautious, and flexible, but also relax and connect with nature. Don't expect a super glamorous trip). I hope you have many beautiful and memorable experiences in this beautiful country.
I'll share more details with the photos.
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