About Kazakhstan
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS for foreign citizens:
1. Passport validity of at least 3 months after the supposed date of departure;
2. Tickets and documents for departure and further travel;
3. Visa;
4. Medical injections are not required.
Documents needed to get a visa to Kazakhstan for foreign citizens:
1. Valid passport;
2. Visa application;
3. Two passport size photos;
4. Letter from employer, specifying the purpose of the trip and guaranteeing financial support
during the trip;
5. Official invitation from authorized tourist agency of Kazakhstan.
Agency should be registered in Kazakhstan. Name, date and place of visit should be indicated
in a letter of invitation. Agency should also have the approval with your name sent by Ministry
for Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan for Kazakh embassy. Read more....
Kazakhstan GSM-Network Providers, Send SMS for free
1. Passport validity of at least 3 months after the supposed date of departure;
2. Tickets and documents for departure and further travel;
3. Visa;
4. Medical injections are not required.
Documents needed to get a visa to Kazakhstan for foreign citizens:
1. Valid passport;
2. Visa application;
3. Two passport size photos;
4. Letter from employer, specifying the purpose of the trip and guaranteeing financial support
during the trip;
5. Official invitation from authorized tourist agency of Kazakhstan.
Agency should be registered in Kazakhstan. Name, date and place of visit should be indicated
in a letter of invitation. Agency should also have the approval with your name sent by Ministry
for Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan for Kazakh embassy. Read more....
Kazakhstan GSM-Network Providers, Send SMS for free
ASTANA(TSE) INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
International Airport Astana was founded in 1931 as not large airport for small aircraft handling.
Nowadays, after 80 years, it’s one of the most modern airports on the Eurasian continent.There
are about 40 flights every day to CIS and non-CIS states regions...read more
Almaty (ALA) International Airport was founded in 1935. It has an
advantageous geographical location on the route from South-Eastern Asia to Europe and back.
Many leading foreign air companies have chosen our airport for implementing regular flights
and technical landings: Lufthansa, Korean Air, KLM, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, China
Xinjiang Airlines, Iran Air, Transaero, Volga – Dnepr, Air France, EL AL Israel Airlines, and Air
Freighting Express LTD.
International Airport Astana was founded in 1931 as not large airport for small aircraft handling.
Nowadays, after 80 years, it’s one of the most modern airports on the Eurasian continent.There
are about 40 flights every day to CIS and non-CIS states regions...read more
Almaty (ALA) International Airport was founded in 1935. It has an
advantageous geographical location on the route from South-Eastern Asia to Europe and back.
Many leading foreign air companies have chosen our airport for implementing regular flights
and technical landings: Lufthansa, Korean Air, KLM, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, China
Xinjiang Airlines, Iran Air, Transaero, Volga – Dnepr, Air France, EL AL Israel Airlines, and Air
Freighting Express LTD.
Galleries of Kazakhstan Main cities
The City of Almaty The City of Astana
The City of Almaty The City of Astana
Kazakhstan Fast Facts
Population 15,079,000 Capital Astana; 332,000
Area
2,717,300 square kilometers
(1,049,155 square miles)
Language Kazakh (Qazaq), Russian
Religion Muslim, Russian Orthodox
Currency тenge Life Expectancy 66
GDP per Capita U.S. $7,200
Literacy Percent 98
Population 15,079,000 Capital Astana; 332,000
Area
2,717,300 square kilometers
(1,049,155 square miles)
Language Kazakh (Qazaq), Russian
Religion Muslim, Russian Orthodox
Currency тenge Life Expectancy 66
GDP per Capita U.S. $7,200
Literacy Percent 98
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Kazakhstan
ph: +7(7152)428010,428009
International:
USA,Washington: +1 240
6961899 UK,London+44
2032390729
WEB:
www.northkazakhstan.com
E-mail:
alex@northkazakhstan.com
ph: +7(7152)428010,428009
International:
USA,Washington: +1 240
6961899 UK,London+44
2032390729
WEB:
www.northkazakhstan.com
E-mail:
alex@northkazakhstan.com
Survival kit for foreigners traveling in Kazakhstan
By plane
Air Kazakhstan stopped flying at the end of March 2004. The most important carrier is now Air Astana which flies
to Almaty, Astana, Aktau, Aktobe, Atyrau,Uralsk, Dubai, Moscow,Delhi, Beijing, Istanbul,Bangkok,
Hannover,London, Amsterdam , Frankfurt and Seoul. Lufthansa has also seven days flights to Almaty, the best
city in Kazakhstan, from where you can go anywhere via local carrier SKAT, which flies to most cities in
Kazakhstan. British Airways and KLM now fly several times a week to Heathrow/Schiphol. Turkish airlines is
good passenger carrier, with flights to Istanbul (ask a travel agent about the student fares, which can be a great
deal). There are twice a week flights from Seoul to Almaty, one is Asiana Air Line and the other is Astana.
By train
Popular routes include Almaty to/from Moscow(77 hours), Novosibirsk(35 hours) and Ürümqi, China. You can get
Petropavlovskto/from Moscow(48 hours), Novosibirsk(12 hours), Omsk(4 hours), and Astana (9 hours).The
trains are a great way to meet people. A lot has been written about the pitfalls of being included in a vodka
drinking party on a train, but for the most part fellow travelers are friendly, and keen to find out about you ("why
aren't you married?" and if you are "why don't you have children?" and if you do "why don't they have
children?"!). Most travelers take food for the journey as restaurant car provision is sporadic (and they expect
you to share yours too!). If you don't have enough to last the distance, the trains generally stop for 15-20 mins at
each station and there are always people on the platform selling food and drink, at any time of day or night.
Popular routes include Almaty to/from MoscowNovosibirsk(35 hours) and Ürümqi, China. You can get
Petropavlovskto/from Moscow(48 hours), Novosibirsk(12 hours), Omsk(4 hours), and Astana (9 hours).The
trains are a great way to meet people. A lot has been written about the pitfalls of being included in a vodka
drinking party on a train, but for the most part fellow travelers are friendly, and keen to find out about you ("why
aren't you married?" and if you are "why don't you have children?" and if you do "why don't they have
children?"!). Most travelers take food for the journey as restaurant car provision is sporadic (and they expect
you to share yours too!). If you don't have enough to last the distance, the trains generally stop for 15-20 mins at
each station and there are always people on the platform selling food and drink, at any time of day or night.
Get around
Public transportation in big cities is rather popular. You can use buses, trolleys, trams and minibuses. One big
minus of all of them is that they never come on schedule and very crowded on peak time. I would suggest you to
use taxis as they are very cheap (1-4 euros within city). You don't have to use official taxis, basically you can
stop almost any car on the street by raising your hand. Official taxis cost 3-5 times more. You can travel within
country using taxis, buses, trains and planes; it depends on your pocket and demands. Renting a car is rather
costly comparing to other means of transport. In Petropavlovsk (Petropapvl) a large bus cost 30 tenge, common
taxi fare was 200 tenge (at the time, April of 2009, USD1 was approximately 150 tenge). A note of warning,
getting to the Almaty airport can be expensive, I had the relatives of Kazakh guide to help, but they said a Taxi to
the Airport costs USD50.
THE best way to get good taxi service is to consult your tour operator in Kazakhstan. e.g in Petropavlovsk the
best taxi service you can get by calling (+77152) 311-000
Taxis to the airport vary greatly in price. Any foreigner will be quoted a fantastic rate but usually cabs will come
down once they see they aren't going to be able to get that much. USD50 is outlandish. It should be less than
USD10, although it can NEVER be guaranteed that a foreigner will get that price. A better option is the minibuses
and buses that go to the airport. The word "airport" is very similar in Russian and English. In general any taxi will
quote a foreigner a fantastic rate. If you ever take the first price, you're getting overcharged. A common way to
get around is by unofficial taxis. Any time of day, just wave your hand and someone will stop. Locals do this all
the time. Negotiate the price and destination before you agree to go. About $2-$4 is fair for a ride within the
center of Almaty. To be safe though, do not get in a car if more than one person is driving. Also, do not take these
kinds of taxis for long distances or anywhere that goes through remote areas, as there are frequent robberies-
especially of foreigners. A fun and cheap way to get around is by taking a marshrutka. These are the dilapidated
vans that cruise around town. They usually have a sign (in Russian) listing the destination and the driver will
usually call out where they are going.
Talk
The Kazakh language is very difficult to understand and to pronounce, though it is notably easier than some
other regional languages like Kyrgyz. Actually, travelers proficient in Turkish might be able to get by. If you speak
and/or understand the Russian language, then you should be fine. But still Russian is considered to be tougher to
learn (grammatically speaking). At the very least, become familiar with the Cyrillic alphabet (it's easy) and learn a
few phrases. Note that despite the president's campaign to stamp out the Russian language, Almaty and much
of the north are still predominantly Russian speaking. Many people under age 20 will know some English. Most
customs officials and airport people know English. It is difficult to get around the country without some Russian
or Kazakh language skills. Within the city it is easier. Have your place of residence written on a card and get a
cab if you get lost (you might be somewhat overcharged by the cab, but it is better than being lost).
Eat
Meat, potatoes, rice and pasta. And lots of it. If you're vegetarian be wary, because if it doesn't have meat in it, it
was almost certainly cooked on meat stock. Some recommend dishes:
*
Laghman - a thick noodle dish, usually served as a soup
*
Manty - large steamed dumplings full of meat and onions
*
Plov - wonderful dish of fried rice, meat, carrots, and sometimes other bits such as raisins or tomatoes
*
Beshbarmak - wide, flat noodles, with boiled horseflesh on top - the traditional meal of Kazakhs
*
Shashlyk - skewered, roasted chunks of meat, served with some sort of flatbread (usually lavash) and onions
If you're a vegetarian, you're probably thinking there's nothing for you in Kazakhstan . And you're right - so long
as you eat out. But if you're cooking your own food, you'll be more than satisfied. Kazakhstanhas some excellent
produce available at little markets everywhere. For a treat in Almaty, try Govinda's, a delicious vegetarian Hare
Krishna restaurant. Malls have food courts with some vegetarian options too. Even some small Kazakh eateries
will prepare vegetarian meals for you if you make it very clear to them (e.g. "byez myasa" (without meat), "ya
vegeterianetz" (I [male] am a vegetarian), "ya vegetarianka" (I [female] am a vegetarian) in Russian). At some
places (e.g. smak) you can even find vegetarian manty made with pumpkin. On the other hand, in Kazakhstan you
can find any dishes you want, but Chinese and Japanese dishes are very expensive. The most delicious is
caviar, which is very cheap, you can buy 1 kilo of caviar for less than USD300 in Almaty Zyeloniy Bazaar, but you
can't export or take it with you home, you will be stopped at airport and pay high fines...
Drink
You can find any sort of drink you want, some of the traditional beverages include:
You can find any sort of drink you want, some of the traditional beverages include:
*
Kumiss - fermented mare's milk.
*
Kumyran (Shubat)- fermented camel's milk
*
Kvas - described as similar to root beer it can be bought in a bottle in a store, or by the cup from people with
giant yellowish tanks of it on the street
Cheap alcoholic drinks can be found at every little corner shop (called the astanovka). These places are open
24/7, just knock on their door if the shopkeeper is asleep.
Kazakhstan 's specialty is cognac, though stores still sell vodka cheaper than bottled water at times.
Sleep
There are numerous hotels, from very cheap ones (10 euro per night) to the luxurious ones. You wouldn't find the
cheapest ones on the web, the only way to book them is to call directly, but in that case you'll have to speak
Russian at the least.
Work
Not impossible to find. English teaching schools are sprouting up all over. The English department at KIMEP
might be a good place to start, depending on credentials and experience of course.
Stay safe
The general rules of safety in Kazakhstan are the same as in any other civilized country of the world. Besides the
normal risk of pick-pockets etc. Try to avoid being taken to the police station. But in general this is a very friendly
country where foreigners are respected as the hospitality is one of the Kazakh main traditions.
Fire brigade: dial 01 (land line phones), dial 101 from any mobile Police: dial 02 (land line phones), dial 102 from
any mobile Ambulance: dial 03 (land line phones), dial 103 from any mobile
Or just dial 112 from any mobile for Ambulance, Police, Fire
By plane
Air Kazakhstan stopped flying at the end of March 2004. The most important carrier is now Air Astana which flies
to Almaty, Astana, Aktau, Aktobe, Atyrau,Uralsk, Dubai, Moscow,Delhi, Beijing, Istanbul,Bangkok,
Hannover,London, Amsterdam , Frankfurt and Seoul. Lufthansa has also seven days flights to Almaty, the best
city in Kazakhstan, from where you can go anywhere via local carrier SKAT, which flies to most cities in
Kazakhstan. British Airways and KLM now fly several times a week to Heathrow/Schiphol. Turkish airlines is
good passenger carrier, with flights to Istanbul (ask a travel agent about the student fares, which can be a great
deal). There are twice a week flights from Seoul to Almaty, one is Asiana Air Line and the other is Astana.
By train
Popular routes include Almaty to/from Moscow(77 hours), Novosibirsk(35 hours) and Ürümqi, China. You can get
Petropavlovskto/from Moscow(48 hours), Novosibirsk(12 hours), Omsk(4 hours), and Astana (9 hours).The
trains are a great way to meet people. A lot has been written about the pitfalls of being included in a vodka
drinking party on a train, but for the most part fellow travelers are friendly, and keen to find out about you ("why
aren't you married?" and if you are "why don't you have children?" and if you do "why don't they have
children?"!). Most travelers take food for the journey as restaurant car provision is sporadic (and they expect
you to share yours too!). If you don't have enough to last the distance, the trains generally stop for 15-20 mins at
each station and there are always people on the platform selling food and drink, at any time of day or night.
Popular routes include Almaty to/from MoscowNovosibirsk(35 hours) and Ürümqi, China. You can get
Petropavlovskto/from Moscow(48 hours), Novosibirsk(12 hours), Omsk(4 hours), and Astana (9 hours).The
trains are a great way to meet people. A lot has been written about the pitfalls of being included in a vodka
drinking party on a train, but for the most part fellow travelers are friendly, and keen to find out about you ("why
aren't you married?" and if you are "why don't you have children?" and if you do "why don't they have
children?"!). Most travelers take food for the journey as restaurant car provision is sporadic (and they expect
you to share yours too!). If you don't have enough to last the distance, the trains generally stop for 15-20 mins at
each station and there are always people on the platform selling food and drink, at any time of day or night.
Get around
Public transportation in big cities is rather popular. You can use buses, trolleys, trams and minibuses. One big
minus of all of them is that they never come on schedule and very crowded on peak time. I would suggest you to
use taxis as they are very cheap (1-4 euros within city). You don't have to use official taxis, basically you can
stop almost any car on the street by raising your hand. Official taxis cost 3-5 times more. You can travel within
country using taxis, buses, trains and planes; it depends on your pocket and demands. Renting a car is rather
costly comparing to other means of transport. In Petropavlovsk (Petropapvl) a large bus cost 30 tenge, common
taxi fare was 200 tenge (at the time, April of 2009, USD1 was approximately 150 tenge). A note of warning,
getting to the Almaty airport can be expensive, I had the relatives of Kazakh guide to help, but they said a Taxi to
the Airport costs USD50.
THE best way to get good taxi service is to consult your tour operator in Kazakhstan. e.g in Petropavlovsk the
best taxi service you can get by calling (+77152) 311-000
Taxis to the airport vary greatly in price. Any foreigner will be quoted a fantastic rate but usually cabs will come
down once they see they aren't going to be able to get that much. USD50 is outlandish. It should be less than
USD10, although it can NEVER be guaranteed that a foreigner will get that price. A better option is the minibuses
and buses that go to the airport. The word "airport" is very similar in Russian and English. In general any taxi will
quote a foreigner a fantastic rate. If you ever take the first price, you're getting overcharged. A common way to
get around is by unofficial taxis. Any time of day, just wave your hand and someone will stop. Locals do this all
the time. Negotiate the price and destination before you agree to go. About $2-$4 is fair for a ride within the
center of Almaty. To be safe though, do not get in a car if more than one person is driving. Also, do not take these
kinds of taxis for long distances or anywhere that goes through remote areas, as there are frequent robberies-
especially of foreigners. A fun and cheap way to get around is by taking a marshrutka. These are the dilapidated
vans that cruise around town. They usually have a sign (in Russian) listing the destination and the driver will
usually call out where they are going.
Talk
The Kazakh language is very difficult to understand and to pronounce, though it is notably easier than some
other regional languages like Kyrgyz. Actually, travelers proficient in Turkish might be able to get by. If you speak
and/or understand the Russian language, then you should be fine. But still Russian is considered to be tougher to
learn (grammatically speaking). At the very least, become familiar with the Cyrillic alphabet (it's easy) and learn a
few phrases. Note that despite the president's campaign to stamp out the Russian language, Almaty and much
of the north are still predominantly Russian speaking. Many people under age 20 will know some English. Most
customs officials and airport people know English. It is difficult to get around the country without some Russian
or Kazakh language skills. Within the city it is easier. Have your place of residence written on a card and get a
cab if you get lost (you might be somewhat overcharged by the cab, but it is better than being lost).
Eat
Meat, potatoes, rice and pasta. And lots of it. If you're vegetarian be wary, because if it doesn't have meat in it, it
was almost certainly cooked on meat stock. Some recommend dishes:
*
Laghman - a thick noodle dish, usually served as a soup
*
Manty - large steamed dumplings full of meat and onions
*
Plov - wonderful dish of fried rice, meat, carrots, and sometimes other bits such as raisins or tomatoes
*
Beshbarmak - wide, flat noodles, with boiled horseflesh on top - the traditional meal of Kazakhs
*
Shashlyk - skewered, roasted chunks of meat, served with some sort of flatbread (usually lavash) and onions
If you're a vegetarian, you're probably thinking there's nothing for you in Kazakhstan . And you're right - so long
as you eat out. But if you're cooking your own food, you'll be more than satisfied. Kazakhstanhas some excellent
produce available at little markets everywhere. For a treat in Almaty, try Govinda's, a delicious vegetarian Hare
Krishna restaurant. Malls have food courts with some vegetarian options too. Even some small Kazakh eateries
will prepare vegetarian meals for you if you make it very clear to them (e.g. "byez myasa" (without meat), "ya
vegeterianetz" (I [male] am a vegetarian), "ya vegetarianka" (I [female] am a vegetarian) in Russian). At some
places (e.g. smak) you can even find vegetarian manty made with pumpkin. On the other hand, in Kazakhstan you
can find any dishes you want, but Chinese and Japanese dishes are very expensive. The most delicious is
caviar, which is very cheap, you can buy 1 kilo of caviar for less than USD300 in Almaty Zyeloniy Bazaar, but you
can't export or take it with you home, you will be stopped at airport and pay high fines...
Drink
You can find any sort of drink you want, some of the traditional beverages include:
You can find any sort of drink you want, some of the traditional beverages include:
*
Kumiss - fermented mare's milk.
*
Kumyran (Shubat)- fermented camel's milk
*
Kvas - described as similar to root beer it can be bought in a bottle in a store, or by the cup from people with
giant yellowish tanks of it on the street
Cheap alcoholic drinks can be found at every little corner shop (called the astanovka). These places are open
24/7, just knock on their door if the shopkeeper is asleep.
Kazakhstan 's specialty is cognac, though stores still sell vodka cheaper than bottled water at times.
Sleep
There are numerous hotels, from very cheap ones (10 euro per night) to the luxurious ones. You wouldn't find the
cheapest ones on the web, the only way to book them is to call directly, but in that case you'll have to speak
Russian at the least.
Work
Not impossible to find. English teaching schools are sprouting up all over. The English department at KIMEP
might be a good place to start, depending on credentials and experience of course.
Stay safe
The general rules of safety in Kazakhstan are the same as in any other civilized country of the world. Besides the
normal risk of pick-pockets etc. Try to avoid being taken to the police station. But in general this is a very friendly
country where foreigners are respected as the hospitality is one of the Kazakh main traditions.
Fire brigade: dial 01 (land line phones), dial 101 from any mobile Police: dial 02 (land line phones), dial 102 from
any mobile Ambulance: dial 03 (land line phones), dial 103 from any mobile
Or just dial 112 from any mobile for Ambulance, Police, Fire
Holidays in Kazakhstan
01.01.2010 New year
07.01.2010 Orthodox Christmas
10.01.2010 Holiday of sacrifice
16.03.2010 Day of republican guards
22-23.03.2010 Nauryz Meyramy
01.05.2010 Day of unity of people
07.05.2010 Fatherland defenders day
06.07.2010 Birthday of the President
13.07.2010 Day of Committee of national security
30.08.2010 The constitution day
22.09.2010 Day of languages of people
01.10.2010 The international day of elderly people
01.10.2010Kazakhstan Teachers Day
25.10.2010 Republic Day
23.11.2010 Day of a traffic police
16.12.2010 The independence Day
01.01.2010 New year
07.01.2010 Orthodox Christmas
10.01.2010 Holiday of sacrifice
16.03.2010 Day of republican guards
22-23.03.2010 Nauryz Meyramy
01.05.2010 Day of unity of people
07.05.2010 Fatherland defenders day
06.07.2010 Birthday of the President
13.07.2010 Day of Committee of national security
30.08.2010 The constitution day
22.09.2010 Day of languages of people
01.10.2010 The international day of elderly people
01.10.2010Kazakhstan Teachers Day
25.10.2010 Republic Day
23.11.2010 Day of a traffic police
16.12.2010 The independence Day
The purpose of FCO Travel Advice
is to provide information and views
to help British nationals form their
own judgments about traveling to
or operating in a particular
country.Click on the banner above
and read about British view on
Kazakhstan
is to provide information and views
to help British nationals form their
own judgments about traveling to
or operating in a particular
country.Click on the banner above
and read about British view on
Kazakhstan
available on th site of Kazakhstan
Embassy in Washington D.C click
on this text and find a lot of useful
information about kazakh culture,
cuisine, traditions
Embassy in Washington D.C click
on this text and find a lot of useful
information about kazakh culture,
cuisine, traditions
Kazakhstan-Reisen tour operator, ul. Parkovaya 132, Petropavlovsk ,150000 Kazakhstan ph: +7152 428010,428009 International: USA,Washington: +1 240 6961899 UK,London +44 2032390729 WEB:
www.northkazakhstan.com , E-mail: alex@northkazakhstan.com
Copyright © 2010. All rights reserved. "Kazakhstan-Reisen tour operator"
www.northkazakhstan.com , E-mail: alex@northkazakhstan.com
Copyright © 2010. All rights reserved. "Kazakhstan-Reisen tour operator"