Top 10 Leisure Activities in Kazakhstan: From Steppes to Slopes

1. Horseback Riding – Endless steppe trails; nomadic heritage alive.
2. Hiking & Trekking – Altai & Tien Shan mountains; alpine lakes (Kolsai, Kaindy).
3. Ice Skating & Hockey – Indoor rinks in every major city; Barys Astana (KHL).
4. Skiing & Snowboarding – Shymbulak (Almaty), Ak Bulak, Tabagan; Dec–Mar season.
5. Cultural Tours – Silk Road sites: Turkestan (Khoja Ahmed Yasawi), Otrar, Tamgaly petroglyphs.
6. City Sightseeing – Almaty (Zenkov Cathedral, Green Bazaar), Nur-Sultan (Baiterek, Khan Shatyr).
7. Hot Springs – Almaty (Arasan), Burabay, Kapchagay; therapeutic mineral waters.
8. Desert Safari – Mangystau: surreal canyons, underground mosques, sandboarding.
9. Fishing – Lake Balkhash (perch, zander), Lake Zaisan, Irtysh River.
10. Nature Photography – Steppe tulips, saiga antelope, snow leopards (rare), star-filled skies.

Visa-free for 30–90 days for many nationalities; e-visa available.