Kazakhstan — a huge country, and the distances here are truly shocking.

Kazakhstan is a huge country, and the distances here are truly shocking. Almaty and Astana are separated by almost 1300 km — it's like Moscow and Samara. Many tourists don't account for this travel time and get lost in their itineraries.

Tip 1. Take domestic flights instead of buses. A flight from Almaty to Astana costs from 3000–5000 rubles, but you save 15+ hours on the road. It's worth it.

Tip 2. In Almaty, be sure to go up to Medeo and Chimbulak — it's 30 minutes from the city center. The views are stunning, and ice rink entry costs from 600 rubles. Most tourists go to the mountains and don't regret it.

Plan your trip in advance: e7m.ru/plans/KZ