From the airport to the city centre Kazakhstan

The country has several international airports, in Almaty, Astana and Aktau. Smaller airports in Shymkent, Semey and Öskemen serve China, Turkey and Russia. Since Aeroflot is no longer allowed to fly to Europe, Kazakh carrier Astana Airlines and Turkish carrier Turkish Airlines, with its low-cost subsidiary Pegasus, are the best options for flying to Kazakhstan.

Contrary to what the local cab drivers will tell you, there are always marchroutka to connect the airports with the city center at lower cost.

Cab fares in both Astana and Almaty are around $20.

Arrival by train Kazakhstan

If you have time to explore the country, the train is an excellent option for getting from one town to the next. More comfortable and user-friendly than the bus, you can sleep at night, take in the steppe scenery and get to know your fellow passengers during the day. The journeys are extremely long, but the service on board is quite picturesque. There are dining cars on some lines, or you can buy supplies from the street vendors who speed along the train at each station stop. All trains have basic bathrooms and toilets.

Fares depend on the class chosen. The second class, known as kupe, allows you to share the journey with many fellow passengers: the berths are not divided into compartments, and the bunk beds are aligned parallel and perpendicular to the wagon along its entire length. Six beds per space on one side of the corridor, three perpendicular beds on the opposite side. Fares are very affordable in this class. The upper classes are closed compartments for four or two beds.

The country'sonly express line links Astana to Almaty (1,200 km and just under 15 hours' travel time). The same journey with conventional trains takes 24 hours (and costs three times less).

Arrival by boat Kazakhstan

If you're arriving from Turkmenistan or Azerbaijan, you can take a ferry to Aktau in Kazakhstan and enter the country by sea. This is not the worst way to enter the country, especially since Aktau has embarked on a policy of upgrading its urban fabric. On the other hand, especially coming from Turkmenistan, don't expect too much comfort during your journey.

Bike, scooters & co Kazakhstan

Soft mobility is still underdeveloped in Kazakhstan, although we are beginning to see a few bicycle stores. In Almaty and Astana, there are even bicycle lanes (marked by red stripes on the sidewalks). If you're planning to tour the country with a bicycle, it's a good idea to bring plenty of spare parts, as they become hard to find outside the big cities.

With a driver Kazakhstan

Although a number of car rental agencies have established themselves in the country, the norm in tourism is still often to offer a package including car and driver. In terms of rates, for a 4x4 that will enable you to get around the steppe or cope with the steep roads in the Altai Mountains, you should expect to pay from $130 per day. The rate can be reduced according to the duration of the rental, or increased according to the type of route you plan to take. Gasoline is usually included in the rental price, but it's worth asking to be sure.

Accessibility Kazakhstan

The country is not exactly designed for people with reduced mobility. Some agencies offer equipped vehicles, but the length of the journey makes it a bit tedious. In the cities, on the other hand, wide sidewalks are easier to negotiate, and most modern museums in Astana and Almaty have disabled access.

If you're traveling with very young children, plan to carry them rather than take a stroller with you, as here again, comfort won't be optimal once you leave the big cities.

Tourist traps Kazakhstan

For a long time, taxiing was a second profession in Central Asia. You'll soon discover that all you have to do is hold out your hand and a vehicle will stop and pick you up. The problem is that fares are often fixed at the customer's head, and in such cases it's best not to be a tourist. Fortunately, the Yandex application has changed all that. You can download it even before your trip. Working like Uber, it detects and geolocates the nearest available cab and gives you all the possible fares (pick-up only, shared, eco vehicle...). No nasty surprises when it comes to fares, which are generally very affordable.