Things to do in Kazakhstan

Arrive before dawn to see the first light turn the turquoise alpine lake a brilliant sapphire, surrounded by the snow-streaked peaks of the Trans-Ili Alatau.

Wander among towering red sandstone pillars carved by wind and water into fantastical shapes, a landscape often compared to the Grand Canyon.

Follow the forested trail that hugs the shore of this pristine mountain lake, with reflections of spruce trees and 3000-metre peaks in its emerald waters.

Paddle across the crystal-clear water above the drowned forest, where stark white trunks rise like masts from the lake bed created by a 1911 earthquake.

Carve down runs that start above 3200 metres with views of the snow-covered Tian Shan, then warm up in a mountain hut with mulled wine.

Glide above the city to the green hilltop park, where you can see the whole Almaty basin backed by the Zailiysky Alatau, especially stunning at sunset.

Nab a seat at the bustling market's food stalls to taste Kazakhstan's national dish – boiled meat on wide noodles – alongside a bowl of fermented mare's milk.

Step inside the colossal turquoise-domed shrine built by Timur in the late 14th century, a masterpiece of Central Asian Islamic architecture and the spiritual heart of Turkistan.

Walk the open-air gallery of over 5,000 rock carvings depicting sun-headed deities, hunters, and animals, buried in a remote canyon that has been sacred for millennia.

Rise into Nur-Sultan's iconic monument and place your hand in the gilded imprint of President Nazarbayev, looking out over the futuristic capital boulevard.

Stroll the axis of the Left Bank, passing monumental government buildings, dancing fountains, and the colossal transparent tent, especially magical when lit at night.

Enter the world's largest tent, where a tropical beach, waterpark, mini-golf, and indoor ice rink hide beneath a translucent canopy that warms the interior year-round.

Marvel at the glass-and-steel pyramid designed by Norman Foster, home to a 1,500-seat opera hall and exhibits on world religions, symbolizing Astana's interfaith ambitions.

Climb the 150-metre-high crescent of sand that emits a deep, organ-like hum when the dry grains slide down its face, set against the backdrop of the Aktau Mountains.

Capture the alien beauty of white, pink, and red sedimentary badlands that glow like a Martian landscape, eroded into a maze of canyons and jagged ridges.

Wander among thousands of giant stone spheres, some up to three metres in diameter, scattered across the steppe as if left by a geological bowling alley.

Descend into the 10th-century carved sanctuary hollowed from a limestone outcrop, with a central pillar and niche orienting prayers toward Mecca, perched above the Mangyshlak Peninsula.

Gaze at the giant chalk buttes and towering escarpments rising from the steppe, the most dramatic section of the Ustyurt Plateau, especially ethereal at dawn.

Settle into a velvet seat in the neoclassical gem of Almaty's cultural life, where you can catch a performance of Swan Lake or Kazakh operas beneath sparkling chandeliers.

Pull up a plastic stool and taste the tangy, slightly effervescent fermented mare's milk sold from blue-painted shacks, the authentic drink of the Kazakh steppe.

Bathe in naturally hot mineral water under a vast sky, watching steam rise into the cool desert air at this remote oasis between Almaty and the Chinese border.

Trek through lush meadows and past thundering waterfalls to the foot of a glacier in the Trans-Ili Alatau, with the snowy peak of Pik Talgar looming overhead.

Strap on snowshoes and crunch through silent, deep powder beneath centuries-old Schrenk spruces, keeping an eye out for deer and snow leopard tracks.

Grab a seat at an open-air grill on Zhibek Zholy pedestrian street, ordering sizzling skewers of marinated lamb peppered with cumin and a hearty bowl of hand-pulled noodles.

Examine an ancient Golden Man warrior suit, nomadic yurts, and vibrant Kazakh textiles in the country's largest museum, housed in a striking Soviet-era building.