Bonjour,
Je vais partir cet été pour 4 mois en Asie centrale et, pour des raisons de budget et d'envie de découverte, je souhaite le faire sans prendre l'avion.🙂
J'envisage donc de partir des environs de Toulouse et d'arriver à Kzyl-Orda au sud du Kazakhstan en stop, train et peut-être bus. Je cherche pour cela quel serait le meilleur trajet... Je souhaite éviter la Biélorussie (je veux pas prendre de visa) et donc entrer en Russie depuis la Lettonie ou l'Ukraine, puis traverser rapidement la Russie (je pensais y voyager en train)
Je voudrais donc savoir, y-at-il un moyen, en passant en Ukraine, de ne pas passer par Mosocu pour rejoindre le Kazakhstan ? Tous les chemins semblent mener à cette ville, mais ça rajoute des kilomètres !
Est-il possible de consulter les prix des billets de train en Russie à l'avance ?
Et enfin, sur les pays européens, y'en a t-il pour lesquels vous recommanderiez particulièrement le stop, le train ou le bus ?
Hi there, 🙂
I’m thinking of taking a trip to these two countries in 2026 (late spring to early summer).
I’d arrive in Almaty and leave from Bishkek, and I’d be driving myself.
I plan to spend 1 week in Kazakhstan and 2 in Kyrgyzstan. The itinerary isn’t set yet.
My preliminary questions are about formalities, hassle levels, and the car.
From what I understand, no visa is needed, the passport must be valid for 6 months after entry, and there’s no longer a requirement to register with the authorities at each stop. In short, once you’re in, no administrative headaches.
Except for permits needed to drive in certain regions?
---/---
About crossing between the two countries:
- On foot - In a rental car
Quick? Easy?
---/---
Are both countries safe? (Meaning you don’t have to stay on guard all the time.) Are the cops corrupt? (A little, a lot, passionately, not at all?)
---/---
Is it better to rent a car for both countries or rent a vehicle in each country?
A 4x4 or something else?
Is accommodation plentiful enough that I can skip a rooftop tent, or is it better to rent a 4x4 with one?
I’ll definitely have more questions later...😉
Thanks for your answers !
I’m thinking of taking a trip to these two countries in 2026 (late spring to early summer).
I’d arrive in Almaty and leave from Bishkek, and I’d be driving myself.
I plan to spend 1 week in Kazakhstan and 2 in Kyrgyzstan. The itinerary isn’t set yet.
My preliminary questions are about formalities, hassle levels, and the car.
From what I understand, no visa is needed, the passport must be valid for 6 months after entry, and there’s no longer a requirement to register with the authorities at each stop. In short, once you’re in, no administrative headaches.
Except for permits needed to drive in certain regions?
---/---
About crossing between the two countries:
- On foot - In a rental car
Quick? Easy?
---/---
Are both countries safe? (Meaning you don’t have to stay on guard all the time.) Are the cops corrupt? (A little, a lot, passionately, not at all?)
---/---
Is it better to rent a car for both countries or rent a vehicle in each country?
A 4x4 or something else?
Is accommodation plentiful enough that I can skip a rooftop tent, or is it better to rent a 4x4 with one?
I’ll definitely have more questions later...😉
Thanks for your answers !
Je voudrais réserver un billet Novosibirsk Astana directement sur le site de la compagnie Air Astana.Je me heurte au fait que je ne suis pas résidente au Kazakhstan.Comment contourner cet obstacle si je ne veux pas passer par bravo fly et autre qui n 'ont pas bonne presse dans les forums.
L'achat de ce billet m'est indispensable pour connaitre la date de ma sortie de Russie dans le cadre d'un voyage en individuel Ulan Bator Astana via le lac Baïkal. Tout cela afin d' engager la demande de visa pour la Russie puisque je sais que c'est assez compliqué et surtout long.Je pars pour la Mongolie le 5 juillet avec Aeroflot et reste un mois en Mongolie.Il me faudrait ce visa russe avant de partir de France.
Habitant la province j'avais l'intention de me rendre , pour quérir ce fameux visa russe directement, au consulat de Marseilles avec tous les papiers indispensables. Quelqu'un a-t-il eut affaire au personnel de ce consulat? Faut-il faire la queue pour accéder à l'ouverture.? Un retour d'expérience me serait utile pour me rassurer. Merci de me répondre. Carassou
Habitant la province j'avais l'intention de me rendre , pour quérir ce fameux visa russe directement, au consulat de Marseilles avec tous les papiers indispensables. Quelqu'un a-t-il eut affaire au personnel de ce consulat? Faut-il faire la queue pour accéder à l'ouverture.? Un retour d'expérience me serait utile pour me rassurer. Merci de me répondre. Carassou
Bonjour à tous,
Je pars au Kazakhstan durant le mois d'aout prochain, et je voudrai évidement trouver le billet d'avion le moins cher possible... Etant voyageur débutant, je ne sais pas trop où chercher, et je me demandais si par hasard vous aviez des agences et sites à conseiller.
Sachant que je n'ai pas d'impératif au niveau des dates, je suis prêt à prendre le temps qu'il faut pour le transport : bus, train, ... mais je vise principalement le meilleur compromis facilité/prix.
Et s'il y a des voyageurs sur ce parcours autour de ces dates, on pourrai faire un bout de chemin ensemble!
Merci d'avance pour vos conseils et infos.
Nicolas.
Je pars au Kazakhstan durant le mois d'aout prochain, et je voudrai évidement trouver le billet d'avion le moins cher possible... Etant voyageur débutant, je ne sais pas trop où chercher, et je me demandais si par hasard vous aviez des agences et sites à conseiller.
Sachant que je n'ai pas d'impératif au niveau des dates, je suis prêt à prendre le temps qu'il faut pour le transport : bus, train, ... mais je vise principalement le meilleur compromis facilité/prix.
Et s'il y a des voyageurs sur ce parcours autour de ces dates, on pourrai faire un bout de chemin ensemble!
Merci d'avance pour vos conseils et infos.
Nicolas.
Bonjour 😏
Seule nouvelle capitale du XXI ème siècle, surgie au milieu de nulle part, entourée de centaines et de centaines de km de steppes, Astana nous a étonné.
En partage, un petit album commenté de notre séjour début avril 2016. Quatre journées résumées en une vingtaine de photos.
Ne vous offusquez pas de voir un bout de notre petit fourgon de plombier sur les clichés, c'est justement lui le fil conducteur de nos balades 😏
Le compte-rendu intégral du Road Trip SIBÉRIE-KAZAKHSTAN est partagé dans ces carnets en ligne, le récit étant à droite des photos, sur "i" :
photos.google.com/...Tm1ya1FGcEI4T0F6eGx3
1. L'arrivée en fourgon après des heures de routes défoncées dans les steppes donne le sentiment de changer de planète.
2. La modernité de la capitale se résume en une date : 1999, année du début des travaux de construction.
3. On se gare facilement face à la Mosquée Nur.
4. Nous la visitons en prenant soin de ne pas déranger des fidèles.
5. Puis, promenade dans la ville. Début avril, la neige est souvent présente. La nuit, les températures sont négatives.
6. Sylvie minuscule devant la façade de l’opéra flambant neuf.
7. Nous continuons vers Bayterek, devenu le monument emblématique d'Astana.
8. Comme tous les Kazakhs qui visitent la capitale, nous prenons l’ascenseur pour une vue saisissante sur le gigantisme des constructions.
9. Ensuite, visite de la toute nouvelle mosquée Sultan Hazrat.
10. Mais Astana, c'est aussi 40 % de Chrétiens Orthodoxes, ainsi qu'en témoigne leur superbe Cathédrale.
11. La visite de nuit nous a impressionné. Khan Shatyr se pare d'abord d'une teinte claire.
12. Puis elle devient progressivement plus soutenue.
13. Nous roulons ensuite vers le mosquée Nur savamment éclairée.
14. Un peu plus tard, nous découvrons l'habillage étonnant des tours de bureaux et d'habitations.
15. Bayterek prend aussi des teintes différentes. Ici, en vert.
16. Puis en rouge écarlate !
17. Les autres édifices ne sont pas en reste avec un jeu de lumière évolutif.
18. Des formes géométriques qui se dessinent par séquences successives.
19. Sultan Hazrat clôt cette balade magique.
20. Nous resterons un long moment à admirer la pureté de son architecture blanche sur fond noir.
Précisions pour ceux qui visitent le Kazakhstan avec leur propre véhicule.
1. En 2016, pour un séjour sans visa, pas d'enregistrement. La Migration Police d'Astana a refusé de nous enregistrer, et aucun souci pour sortir à Petropavlov.
2. Pour le véhicule, confirmation que le document d'importation temporaire établi en entrant par la Russie couvre les 2 pays.
3. Nous ne faisons pas de pub, mais MAPS.ME totalement gratuit nous a bluffé par la précision de la cartographie et du guidage dans une métropole pourtant nouvelle.
Cordialement Sylvie & Bernard
Seule nouvelle capitale du XXI ème siècle, surgie au milieu de nulle part, entourée de centaines et de centaines de km de steppes, Astana nous a étonné.
En partage, un petit album commenté de notre séjour début avril 2016. Quatre journées résumées en une vingtaine de photos.
Ne vous offusquez pas de voir un bout de notre petit fourgon de plombier sur les clichés, c'est justement lui le fil conducteur de nos balades 😏
Le compte-rendu intégral du Road Trip SIBÉRIE-KAZAKHSTAN est partagé dans ces carnets en ligne, le récit étant à droite des photos, sur "i" :
photos.google.com/...Tm1ya1FGcEI4T0F6eGx3
1. L'arrivée en fourgon après des heures de routes défoncées dans les steppes donne le sentiment de changer de planète.
2. La modernité de la capitale se résume en une date : 1999, année du début des travaux de construction.
3. On se gare facilement face à la Mosquée Nur.
4. Nous la visitons en prenant soin de ne pas déranger des fidèles.
5. Puis, promenade dans la ville. Début avril, la neige est souvent présente. La nuit, les températures sont négatives.
6. Sylvie minuscule devant la façade de l’opéra flambant neuf.
7. Nous continuons vers Bayterek, devenu le monument emblématique d'Astana.
8. Comme tous les Kazakhs qui visitent la capitale, nous prenons l’ascenseur pour une vue saisissante sur le gigantisme des constructions.
9. Ensuite, visite de la toute nouvelle mosquée Sultan Hazrat.
10. Mais Astana, c'est aussi 40 % de Chrétiens Orthodoxes, ainsi qu'en témoigne leur superbe Cathédrale.
11. La visite de nuit nous a impressionné. Khan Shatyr se pare d'abord d'une teinte claire.
12. Puis elle devient progressivement plus soutenue.
13. Nous roulons ensuite vers le mosquée Nur savamment éclairée.
14. Un peu plus tard, nous découvrons l'habillage étonnant des tours de bureaux et d'habitations.
15. Bayterek prend aussi des teintes différentes. Ici, en vert.
16. Puis en rouge écarlate !
17. Les autres édifices ne sont pas en reste avec un jeu de lumière évolutif.
18. Des formes géométriques qui se dessinent par séquences successives.
19. Sultan Hazrat clôt cette balade magique.
20. Nous resterons un long moment à admirer la pureté de son architecture blanche sur fond noir.
Précisions pour ceux qui visitent le Kazakhstan avec leur propre véhicule.
1. En 2016, pour un séjour sans visa, pas d'enregistrement. La Migration Police d'Astana a refusé de nous enregistrer, et aucun souci pour sortir à Petropavlov.
2. Pour le véhicule, confirmation que le document d'importation temporaire établi en entrant par la Russie couvre les 2 pays.
3. Nous ne faisons pas de pub, mais MAPS.ME totalement gratuit nous a bluffé par la précision de la cartographie et du guidage dans une métropole pourtant nouvelle.
Cordialement Sylvie & Bernard
Bonjour,
Est ce que quelqu'un a des infos pour un vol reliant la mongolie au kazakhstan. Je pensai prendre l'avion à Olgy pour aller à Astana. Quel serait environ son tarif? Sinon dans quel ville faut-il le prendre?
Cordialement Aurélien
Est ce que quelqu'un a des infos pour un vol reliant la mongolie au kazakhstan. Je pensai prendre l'avion à Olgy pour aller à Astana. Quel serait environ son tarif? Sinon dans quel ville faut-il le prendre?
Cordialement Aurélien
Soyez bienvenus au Kazakhstan du Nord! J'habite a Petropavlovsk maintenant. Je serai heureux de partager mon expérience avec chacun qui a voyagé au Kazahstan. Je suis l'allemand mais je vis au Kazakhstan maintenant. Il est très facile de trouver du travaille bien payé ici si vous êtes un étranger.
Bonjour à tous
Je vais travailler quelques mois l'année prochaine au Kazakhstan pour l'Alliance française. Je pense y acheter une moto et prendre 2 ou 3 mois pour rentrer, visiter, rencontrer les autres Alliances françaises du coin, flâner...
Je n'aime pas avoir d'itinéraire pré-déterminé, je change beaucoup trop d'avis au gré des rencontres et des conseils pour ça. Mais quand même au moins des grandes lignes, c'est à dire dans quels pays je peux me rendre sans trop me prendre la tête. La moto étant kazakh je pense qu'il n'y a pas de problèmes pour se déplacer avec dans l'union douanière Russie-Biélorussie-Kazakhstan.
Si j'ai bien compris les quelques infos que j'ai trouvé ici il n'y a pas besoin de CDP pour les autres pays d'Asie centrale. L’Ouzbékistan et le Kirghizistan sont ceux qui m'intéressent le plus. Mais avez-vous des infos sur le Turkmenistan. Je sais qu'au mieux c'est un visa de transit de 5 jours, mais qu'en est-il d'un véhicule?
La Mongolie est-elle compliquée depuis la Russie? (Juste au cas où, car niveau paysages de steppes et rencontres de nomades le Kazakhstan c'est tout aussi bien, et c'est moins touristique.)
Et dernière question : on peux entrer dans Schengen avec un véhicule de pays tiers? (Bon, ça, je suis douanière en France, donc je devrais pouvoir trouver mes réponses avec des collègues, mais si vous avez des expériences ça m’intéresse). Par la Pologne à priori si je suis logique avec les pays où je peux circuler.
J'élimine certains pays qui m'auraient plut, mais qui me semblent compliqués administrativement. La Chine car le permis international n'y est pas valable. L'Iran a cause du CDP.
Je vais travailler quelques mois l'année prochaine au Kazakhstan pour l'Alliance française. Je pense y acheter une moto et prendre 2 ou 3 mois pour rentrer, visiter, rencontrer les autres Alliances françaises du coin, flâner...
Je n'aime pas avoir d'itinéraire pré-déterminé, je change beaucoup trop d'avis au gré des rencontres et des conseils pour ça. Mais quand même au moins des grandes lignes, c'est à dire dans quels pays je peux me rendre sans trop me prendre la tête. La moto étant kazakh je pense qu'il n'y a pas de problèmes pour se déplacer avec dans l'union douanière Russie-Biélorussie-Kazakhstan.
Si j'ai bien compris les quelques infos que j'ai trouvé ici il n'y a pas besoin de CDP pour les autres pays d'Asie centrale. L’Ouzbékistan et le Kirghizistan sont ceux qui m'intéressent le plus. Mais avez-vous des infos sur le Turkmenistan. Je sais qu'au mieux c'est un visa de transit de 5 jours, mais qu'en est-il d'un véhicule?
La Mongolie est-elle compliquée depuis la Russie? (Juste au cas où, car niveau paysages de steppes et rencontres de nomades le Kazakhstan c'est tout aussi bien, et c'est moins touristique.)
Et dernière question : on peux entrer dans Schengen avec un véhicule de pays tiers? (Bon, ça, je suis douanière en France, donc je devrais pouvoir trouver mes réponses avec des collègues, mais si vous avez des expériences ça m’intéresse). Par la Pologne à priori si je suis logique avec les pays où je peux circuler.
J'élimine certains pays qui m'auraient plut, mais qui me semblent compliqués administrativement. La Chine car le permis international n'y est pas valable. L'Iran a cause du CDP.
Hello everyone!
I’m back from two weeks in southern Kazakhstan. I went with a friend, and we organized everything ourselves. We came back enchanted by this trip: stunning landscapes, lots of animals seen in the parks, and above all, top-notch hospitality and welcome... All of this makes me really want to go back and explore the other countries in the region. In the meantime, I’m sharing the story of these two weeks of travel... Don’t hesitate if you have any questions. And if you want more practical info and/or see more photos, you can check out my blog: https://smilingaroundtheworld.com/category/kazakhstan/
Day 1: First Kazakh steps in Shymkent
So here we are in Kazakhstan for two weeks. We had an excellent flight with Air Astana, which instantly made it into my top 3 best airlines! From the airport, the service was top-notch, with very friendly staff who went out of their way to ensure we both got vegetarian meals (my order hadn’t been taken into account when booking the tickets online). The flight to Nur-Sultan (the new name for the capital, formerly Astana, renamed last month in honor of the resigning president) was three-quarters empty, and we each got to stretch out over three seats. We were given an incredible travel kit, including a reversible sleep mask with phosphorescent writing: “Do not disturb” or “Wake me for meals.” Awesome! As for the lighting in the plane, I think the interior cycled through every color to simulate evening, early night, pitch-black night, and then dawn. It was even a bit surreal—those lights and everyone’s glowing masks ^^ The flight was a bit early and too short for us to sleep well, but it was still pleasant :-)
Upon arriving in Nur-Sultan, the atmosphere was a bit colder. There was staff everywhere, and we were under heavy surveillance. A camera even filmed us as we entered the terminal. We got our passports stamped and settled in to wait for our second flight. We eventually realized we were waiting in the wrong place... We were still in the international terminal, while our next flight was domestic. We finally found the right spot—saved! We started our trip in Shymkent, in the south of the country. We dropped our bags at the City Hostel, a super modern youth hostel offering double rooms. The decor is industrial-style, with very high ceilings—we loved it. When we arrived, it was too early for check-in, so we just left our luggage and went for a walk around the neighborhood. There was quite a bit of traffic, and the avenues were very wide. Despite that, there was also a lot of greenery and green spaces, which lightened things up a bit.
We had lunch (pizza + smoothie) on the top floor of a shopping mall, then headed to the pre-Russian quarter, a much quieter area with its little streets and individual houses.
Back at the hostel, after checking in, we treated ourselves to a two-hour nap—it felt great! In the late afternoon, we set out to find the Salman Bazaar. It wasn’t easy to organize—we realized Shymkent isn’t a very touristy destination—but we eventually managed with the help of the hostel receptionist, who called us a taxi. This bazaar is huge and has everything you could need for daily life: clothes, food, household products, toys... We did some shopping for dinner, then took another taxi to Independence Park, inaugurated in 2011 for the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence. We really liked this park—it’s very wooded, and the late afternoon light was, as always, beautiful and pleasant... In the center, a large monument resembles the center of a yurt.
We then walked back to the hostel via Independence Square and several parks. We wanted to grab a drink along the way but didn’t find anything inspiring—oh well. We had dinner at the hostel and went straight to bed. Tomorrow, we’re getting up early... We’re heading out for two days to explore Aksou-Jabagly National Park. This park is famous for its landscapes at this time of year—it should be in full bloom, especially with tulips. We’ll see!
Days 2 & 3: Canyon, tulips, and wildlife in Aksou-Jabagly Park
Located two hours from Shymkent, Aksou-Jabagly Park is reputed to be one of the most beautiful in the region. We took a taxi from Shymkent, and upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Ruslan and his mother. They live at the entrance to the reserve, at the foot of the mountains, in a house surrounded by poplars. The setting is exceptional, and we immediately fell in love with the place. For our first day, we set off to explore the Aksou Canyon. Ruslan arranged a 4x4 with a driver and a ranger. The ranger speaks a few words of English, and with Coralie’s few words of Russian, we should manage! After a “viewpoint” stop, the road turns into a dirt track. It’s rained a lot lately, and the track is sometimes very muddy—at one point, we even had to cross a river. Four-wheel drive was definitely needed! The ranger pointed out some marmots by the side of the path—they were adorable.
We finally arrived at “Inspector’s House No. 1,” which overlooks the canyon. The view is magnificent, with high cliffs, wildflowers, conifers, and the Aksou River winding far below. While the driver chatted with the inspector, we descended to the bottom of the canyon with the ranger. The tulips I’d been hoping for were there—I was so happy! There were red, yellow, and even bicolor ones...
At the bottom of the canyon, we took a little break by the river. “Aksou” means “white waters” in Kazakh—the water does indeed have a very special color, a blue that’s both very light and very intense, like some South American lagoons. It bubbles around the rocks. The climb back up was easier than we feared. Once at the top, we continued along the canyon. The perspective changed as we progressed, and we never got tired of the view... Eagles circled above us.
After about 2 km, the driver picked us up, and we continued to a small kiosk at the foot of the mountains, where we had a picnic. Ruslan’s mother had prepared vegetarian “lunch boxes”—it was delicious and felt good to eat. However, it had gotten noticeably colder, so we put our jackets and scarves back on! After the meal, the driver walked off with a bucket—we figured he was going mushroom picking with Inspector No. 2, who had a house nearby.
We enjoyed the spot a bit longer while the driver gathered mushrooms, and then we headed back toward Ruslan’s place. Or so we thought... The return trip turned out to be quite long—the park wasn’t as deserted as it seemed, and the driver stopped every five minutes to chat with people we passed. At one point, we ran into Inspector No. 2 on horseback—it looked like there was a problem with a car further ahead... The driver and ranger bolted out of the car, headed toward the other vehicle, and we heard raised voices... When they came back, we tried to figure out what had happened, but no luck. We stopped again at Inspector No. 1’s house (are you following?), and they made us get out, telling us Inspector No. 2 needed the car for a few minutes... They left us stranded with Inspector No. 1, who went home, leaving us in the garden :-D We kept busy with the puppies, and I even took a little nap in the sun... Three-quarters of an hour later, we finally left—we didn’t fully understand what happened and never found out!
We got back (almost) without stopping to Ruslan’s house. Our room was ready, and we settled in quickly before dinner. It was already 6:30 PM, even though we were supposed to be back by 4 PM. Mushroom picking really slows things down ^^ Ruslan’s mother had prepared a delicious meal: vegetable soup, raw vegetable salad, and a mushroom, carrot, and potato stew. We loved it!
We spent the rest of the evening planning the rest of our trip while sipping tea. At one point, Ruslan and his mother signaled that there were wild boars right across from us—we could see them clearly! There were three adults and three piglets. We also took a little walk in the garden, watched the sunset, I did some blogging, and Coralie read... A lovely evening, and an equally lovely ten-hour night! The next morning, after a good breakfast, we set off on foot into the park. The trail starts right next to Ruslan’s house—so convenient! Today, we were with another ranger, two Germans (brother and sister), and their English-speaking guide (who didn’t guide much). We walked on a dirt road—there were even more tulips than yesterday, and the snow-capped mountains in the distance were stunning. After 5 km, we reached a small cabin, then continued another kilometer to Kishy Kaindy, a viewpoint overlooking the Jabagly River waterfalls (Jabagly means “year-old foal”). It was spectacular! We stayed a good while admiring this natural wonder. Like yesterday, the ranger didn’t rush us at all—it was really nice. We also saw eagles and an ibex perched on a ridge.
We had a picnic at the cabin before heading back the same way we came. This time, the snow-capped peaks were facing us—so beautiful! We picked up our bags and said goodbye to Ruslan’s mother. She was really happy today because her granddaughter was there. She told us she was a “babushka”—I understood that! Ruslan then drove us to Turar Ryskulov, where we took a shared taxi back to Shymkent.
In Shymkent, we struggled a bit with our Airbnb. We waited half an hour for the person who was supposed to let us in, then discovered the Wi-Fi wasn’t working—but we had a lot of bookings to make that evening. The lady finally lent us a Kazakh SIM card with data, which Coralie put in her phone in “hotspot” mode so I could get some internet too. All of that took nearly two hours. Phew! We then rushed to do some shopping at the supermarket. On the way back, some lights caught my eye—it was a pedestrian street all decorated with a funfair next to it. It was very lively, and we spent a good while strolling and people-watching! The rest of our evening was studious, between preparing dinner and booking our next stops.
Day 4: Turkestan, Yasawi Mausoleum, and Sauran ruins
This morning, after one last stroll in Shymkent, we headed to Turkestan. When we arrived at the bus station, we were told the next bus was in nearly three hours, but there were minibuses leaving when full. The system was well-oiled, and in just fifteen minutes, our minibus was ready to go. We each had a seat (and one for our luggage since there’s no trunk!), and the minibus was quite new—nothing like Madagascar ;-)
The trip went well despite a few driving scares—the driver was going a bit fast for my liking! Along the road, the fields were full of poppies—so pretty. When we arrived, we headed straight to the Edem hotel, where we wouldn’t be staying (we had a train to Almaty at midnight) but where we wanted to leave our luggage for the day. They agreed easily—great! Once we’d dropped off our bags and suitcases, we started our visits.
We began with the architectural gem and largest pilgrimage site in Kazakhstan: the mausoleum of Khodja Ahmad Yasawi, a great Sufi sage. Yasawi’s original tomb was already a pilgrimage site when Tamerlane ordered the construction of a larger mausoleum in 1390. It’s decorated with white and blue tiles and has a turquoise dome (currently under renovation). The main facade, unfinished at Tamerlane’s death, was left in earth with visible scaffolding. Impressive! The site is UNESCO-listed. Inside, the main hall displays a large cauldron, and other small rooms showcase plates, ancient coins, belts... Yasawi’s tomb is visible via two adjacent corridors.
We then strolled through the park, which includes many other mausoleums and tombs. We visited the old baths, the Friday Mosque, and then the history museum. The underground mosque, where Yasawi’s cell is located (where he retreated at the end of his life), was unfortunately closed for renovations.
We then went back to the Edem hotel to have them call us a taxi, and we set off to visit the ancient fortress of Sauran. This Silk Road city, once prosperous, is now reduced to ruins, with thousands of poppies blooming between them. High walls once surrounded a bustling and pleasant city. Many foundations remain visible. The place is vast, quiet, almost deserted, and imbued with a certain melancholy... The deep red poppies swayed in the wind, between the remnants of this city, reminding us how fleeting things are.
Back in Turkestan, we had dinner at the Edem hotel’s restaurant (we had to thank them somehow ;-)) and then rushed to the station to catch our train... 18 hours of travel awaited us to Almaty!
Day 5: From Turkestan to Almaty, 18 hours by train across the Kazakh steppe
We traveled from Turkestan to Almaty by train. We booked our tickets the day before departure, and only six seats were left: three in second class, not together at all, and three in first class, also not together but in the same carriage. We opted for first class! It was more expensive, but for such a long trip, a little comfort wouldn’t hurt... We wondered if we’d manage to switch cabins to be together, but it resolved itself: when we boarded, the conductor/carriage chief immediately noticed we weren’t together. He literally kicked a young man out of his berth so we could travel in the same cabin. We felt bad for the young man, even though he seemed to take it well... we thanked him with dried fruit (and I can confirm he took it well—the next day, he came to chat with us). In any case, we were really happy to have our own little cabin for this long journey, especially since we were the only foreigners and the only women in the carriage.
Eighteen hours by train might seem long, but these long trips while traveling aren’t wasted time—they’re the breathing space of the journey. They’re the essential moments for digesting what we’ve already experienced and preparing for future discoveries. They’re also privileged moments for reflection. Traveling slowly, to the rhythm of the train, means falling asleep in Turkestan’s outskirts, lulled by the train’s rocking and creaking, and waking up in the steppe. It’s feeling the train slow down and stop, stepping onto the platform for a moment, and watching the women sell food to passengers. It’s taking the time to write, read, think. It’s chatting with our neighbors and, despite the language barrier, managing to communicate a little. It’s picnicking at the little table in our cabin, with the landscape rolling by outside, and listening to music. It’s feeling privileged, imagining ourselves on the Orient Express or the Trans-Siberian. Reminding ourselves that one day, one day for real, we’ll take that Trans-Siberian. And smiling, thinking that in the meantime, in a few months, there’ll be the Trans-Canadian...
Days 6 & 7: Almaty, the “little apple”
The former capital of Kazakhstan, Almaty is known as the most Western and lively city in the country. At first, we had a bit of trouble identifying the city center—it’s more spread out and less dense than what we’re used to in Europe—but once we got our bearings, we really enjoyed strolling along the wide avenues lined with cafés and in the few pedestrian streets. The city’s emblem is the apple, which you’ll find in various forms around the city, from benches to statues to fountains. The original apple, from which all the apples we know today descend, is said to come from the mountains of Kazakhstan.
For nature, Almaty is a pretty green city. It has large parks, like Panfilov Park, which houses the Zenkov Cathedral. Some streets are also very tree-lined, so much so that they almost look like gardens. Often, high mountains peek out from behind the streets...
For shopping, traditional boutiques sit alongside big international brands. We really liked the Green Bazaar, a large market that sells everything. The food section was great, with stalls of pickled vegetables, dried fruits, and beautifully stacked fresh fruits... A feast for the eyes and lots of temptations for me!
For culture, Almaty has several museums. We visited two: the Fine Arts Museum and the National Museum. Both are housed in very Soviet-looking buildings on the outside, but the Fine Arts Museum turned out to be quite modern inside, with a pleasant museography. The National Museum, on the other hand, has stayed true to its roots ^^ Just walking through it was an experience in itself. And we did quite a bit of shopping there... The hall is a giant shop with lots of handicrafts—we treated ourselves.
The Arasan Baths are a must in Almaty. They’re said to be among the most beautiful baths in Central Asia... Architecturally, I didn’t find them amazing (nothing like Budapest’s, for example), but wow, did it feel good to relax there after a day of sightseeing! I happily moved between the sauna, hammam, and Russian sauna, with a preference for the latter—less dry than a traditional sauna and less humid than the hammam. You can buy bundles of leaves to slap yourself (or get slapped) with to boost circulation. The prices are very affordable too... On a weekday evening, we paid 1,800 tenge, or 4.5 euros, for an hour. Note that they add 20 minutes for changing, so you really get a full hour in the baths.
For restaurants, we didn’t try many because we preferred to limit our food budget by cooking ourselves. However, we did try and highly recommend Daredzhani, a great Georgian restaurant where we feasted. We didn’t know Georgian cuisine before, but we really liked it—vegetables cooked in various ways, cheese-filled breads, potato and/or egg-filled breads, and very thin fruit pastes made from grapes. We actually ate there twice because it was so good! We also loved Coffee Delia, where you can enjoy delicious pastries in a very cozy setting.
Besides being a pleasant place to live, Almaty is also a great base for exploring the surrounding area, and we were happy to stay eight days to discover more of the region!
Days 7, 8 & 9: Getting green around Almaty: Kok Tobe, Shymbulak, Medeo, and Big Almaty Lake
During our stay in Almaty, we used a rather unusual means of transport several times: the cable car! Here, it’s called a "gondola," and it allowed us to gain some altitude and breathe in the fresh mountain air surrounding Almaty ;-)
First cable car ride: Kok Tobe. The cable car starts in the city center and takes you to the top of a hill overlooking Almaty. At the top, it’s fairground vibes with an upside-down house, a Ferris wheel, rides, and the inevitable eagle trainer... There’s even a little corner dedicated to the Beatles, complete with music and a statue!
Second ride: Shymbulak. This time, you take a bus to Medeo, then three cable cars to the top of the mountain, at 3,200 meters altitude. Shymbulak is the largest ski resort in Central Asia. We went there to hike, but there was still snow and skiers, so we settled for admiring the view... With the blue sky and sun we had, it was gorgeous! We then treated ourselves to tea on the terrace—chalet vibes... At Paul’s, we weren’t completely out of place ;-)
Before taking the bus back, we stopped by Medeo, where there’s a large ice rink. With 10,000 m², it can host a thousand skaters in winter! This season, it’s closed; part of it is used as a go-kart track, and the other as a landing strip for paragliders.
Located an hour’s drive from the city center, Big Almaty Lake reveals itself at the last moment, around a bend, nestled in a setting of mountains and greenery. With the recent cold snap, it’s frozen, and the edges are snowy—a beautiful winter atmosphere! The ice was starting to melt, though—we could hear the water moving underneath, and when Coralie tried to walk on the ice, it collapsed under her feet. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to walk around it—a ranger keeps an eye out and blocks the adventurous (including us ;-)).
Days 10 & 11: Excursions around Almaty: Charyn Canyon, Issyk, and Turgen
Almaty’s tourism office is very active and organizes outings on weekends and holidays. We went to Charyn Canyon and then to Issyk and Turgen. A great way to discover the Almaty area at a modest cost (the outing costs about 6,000 tenge, or 15 euros per person).
Formed over millennia by erosion and wind, Charyn Canyon is reminiscent of the Colorado and the Grand Canyon. The most touristy part we visited is called the Valley of Castles, referring to the rock formations that resemble towers. We first walked along the ridge, where there are many viewpoints, then descended into the canyon. A three-kilometer walk leads to the banks of the Charyn River. The place seems to be a favorite relaxation spot for Kazakh families, who picnic, play ball, sunbathe... There’s also a hotel, bungalows, yurts, and a restaurant. Issyk is famous for its burial mounds and its Golden Man—maybe even a Golden Woman—found there. A small museum displays some artifacts. A little further on is Issyk Lake, once dried up but now reappearing... Whether naturally or not isn’t very clear!
As for Turgen, it’s a natural park known for its gorges and waterfalls. We didn’t have time to explore it in detail, but the bus drove through some beautiful landscapes, and we still walked to Bear Waterfall. It’s not incredible, but it’s still a nice little hike.
Besides the practical side of these organized excursions from Almaty, we appreciated being able to do an activity that Kazakhs do on weekends. During the Issyk/Turgen excursion, we really hit it off with Karina, a young student dragged there on vacation by her mother. She’s currently studying computer science at the best university in Astana and hopes to go to Europe eventually... A brilliant young woman, and a chance for us to chat in English ;-)
Days 12 & 13: The spectacular landscapes of Altyn-Emel Park
The last stop on our Kazakhstan trip was Altyn-Emel Park. This park is quite hard to access, so we opted for a car with a driver for two days—pure luxury!
Our driver’s name is Andrei. We met him at 7 AM outside our apartment on Wednesday morning. He doesn’t speak English, but a young man from the agency we booked through was also there, and we went over the itinerary together before leaving with Andrei.
Our first stop was Tamgaly Tas, two hours from Almaty. It’s a site where you can see 16th-century petroglyphs depicting Buddha. The place is also known for climbing—there were lots of young people harnessed up and/or climbing. It’s right in the middle of the Kazakh countryside, and we had a bit of trouble finding it!
Even with the language barrier, Andrei turned out to be very friendly. He suggested photo stops from time to time, didn’t rush us, and pointed out animals he saw... We even backed up on the road to see and help a tortoise cross!
It took another two and a half hours to reach Bashi, the “gateway” village to Altyn-Emel Park. After a quick stop at the rangers’, we arrived at the hotel. Our guidebook mentioned modest guesthouses, but things are changing... The hotel is large, brand new, and still being expanded. It reminded me of some Chinese hotels in Laos.
We had a quick lunch with Andrei—he explained that he’s a truck driver normally, delivering clothes and fabrics between Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, and Russia. He also showed us photos of his wife and son and told us he’s recently become a grandfather! We then headed to the park, grabbing a ranger on the way. Like in Aksou-Jabagly, he was dressed in full military gear. We first headed toward the Katutau Mountains. The rocks are reddish, sculpted by wind and erosion—the place reminded us a bit of Charyn Canyon. We had some “free time” to explore—we didn’t need to be told twice... Meanwhile, Andrei and the ranger chatted nonstop—it looked like they’d hit it off!
We got back in the car and continued along the track to the Aktau Mountains. Change of scenery! The mountains weren’t red anymore but white... Or so they appeared from afar. When we got closer, we realized they were actually multicolored, striped with yellow, pink, and ochre veins... It was magnificent, even more so with the late afternoon light. We had time to explore on our own again, and we walked with delight in this almost dreamlike landscape. We thought we’d made the right choice coming here ;-) We made one last stop before heading back to see a 700-year-old willow. It’s in an oasis where other tourists were camping—very tempting... I got the coordinates of their guide for next time ;-) The way back was in beautiful light, between sunset and a distant storm. Nature even treated us to a gorgeous sunset!
It was past 8 PM when we got back to the hotel, but our dinner was still waiting for us. We ate with Andrei, chatted a bit with a Polish woman who spoke both Russian and French (we put her to work chatting with Andrei ;-)), and then had a quiet evening with Wi-Fi, a shower, and reading in our room.
The next day, after breakfast, we met up with the same ranger and headed toward the singing dunes. These dunes are supposed to make a sound when you slide down their slopes. I was more than skeptical, but okay! When we arrived, we discovered a beautiful landscape—the main dune is gigantic, and when we reached the top, the view was extraordinary: it was the first time I’d seen a dune in the desert, snow-capped mountains, and a river all in one glance! A group of Chinese tourists was ahead of us on the dune, but they turned back quickly, and we were alone. After studying the terrain, I chose a slope that seemed good, and I started sliding down on my bottom... Quickly, I heard and felt a strong vibration, which turned into a hum. The dune really sings! It’s completely crazy... We did several tests—the most effective was sliding down side by side. But it works as long as there aren’t too many tourists doing it and the dune has time to rebuild between slides... There are about thirty singing dunes in the world. This phenomenon, already described by Marco Polo, comes from the synchronous movement of sand grains, which must be very round and covered with a varnish called “desert glaze”...
Covered in sand but delighted, we headed back to Bashi. The ranger stopped at a small spring so we could wash up, but it was almost dry. Along the way, we also saw the “Oshaktas,” a place where Genghis Khan’s expedition is said to have camped in 1219 during his conquest of Central Asia. The stones were apparently used to support the cauldron where food was prepared. A little further on, the ranger made us stop: there were antelopes!!! We saw one up close and a herd further away.
When we got back to the hotel, I took a quick shower to get rid of the sand—I felt like I had it everywhere! We had a quick lunch and then hit the road back to Almaty. Andrei drove very well, had a nice playlist, and I let myself be lulled while watching the landscape roll by outside...
For our last night in Kazakhstan, we booked a yurt in the hills above Almaty, not far from Medeo. For one night, we pretended to be nomads... The bed was a bit hard, and the air was a bit chilly, but we loved it! And the welcome was kind, the meal very good—only downside: the horse milk and camel milk, still warm... I almost threw up. Well, it was an experience, and all of this beautifully concluded our Kazakh stay!
I’m back from two weeks in southern Kazakhstan. I went with a friend, and we organized everything ourselves. We came back enchanted by this trip: stunning landscapes, lots of animals seen in the parks, and above all, top-notch hospitality and welcome... All of this makes me really want to go back and explore the other countries in the region. In the meantime, I’m sharing the story of these two weeks of travel... Don’t hesitate if you have any questions. And if you want more practical info and/or see more photos, you can check out my blog: https://smilingaroundtheworld.com/category/kazakhstan/
Day 1: First Kazakh steps in Shymkent
So here we are in Kazakhstan for two weeks. We had an excellent flight with Air Astana, which instantly made it into my top 3 best airlines! From the airport, the service was top-notch, with very friendly staff who went out of their way to ensure we both got vegetarian meals (my order hadn’t been taken into account when booking the tickets online). The flight to Nur-Sultan (the new name for the capital, formerly Astana, renamed last month in honor of the resigning president) was three-quarters empty, and we each got to stretch out over three seats. We were given an incredible travel kit, including a reversible sleep mask with phosphorescent writing: “Do not disturb” or “Wake me for meals.” Awesome! As for the lighting in the plane, I think the interior cycled through every color to simulate evening, early night, pitch-black night, and then dawn. It was even a bit surreal—those lights and everyone’s glowing masks ^^ The flight was a bit early and too short for us to sleep well, but it was still pleasant :-)
Upon arriving in Nur-Sultan, the atmosphere was a bit colder. There was staff everywhere, and we were under heavy surveillance. A camera even filmed us as we entered the terminal. We got our passports stamped and settled in to wait for our second flight. We eventually realized we were waiting in the wrong place... We were still in the international terminal, while our next flight was domestic. We finally found the right spot—saved! We started our trip in Shymkent, in the south of the country. We dropped our bags at the City Hostel, a super modern youth hostel offering double rooms. The decor is industrial-style, with very high ceilings—we loved it. When we arrived, it was too early for check-in, so we just left our luggage and went for a walk around the neighborhood. There was quite a bit of traffic, and the avenues were very wide. Despite that, there was also a lot of greenery and green spaces, which lightened things up a bit.
We had lunch (pizza + smoothie) on the top floor of a shopping mall, then headed to the pre-Russian quarter, a much quieter area with its little streets and individual houses.
Back at the hostel, after checking in, we treated ourselves to a two-hour nap—it felt great! In the late afternoon, we set out to find the Salman Bazaar. It wasn’t easy to organize—we realized Shymkent isn’t a very touristy destination—but we eventually managed with the help of the hostel receptionist, who called us a taxi. This bazaar is huge and has everything you could need for daily life: clothes, food, household products, toys... We did some shopping for dinner, then took another taxi to Independence Park, inaugurated in 2011 for the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence. We really liked this park—it’s very wooded, and the late afternoon light was, as always, beautiful and pleasant... In the center, a large monument resembles the center of a yurt.
We then walked back to the hostel via Independence Square and several parks. We wanted to grab a drink along the way but didn’t find anything inspiring—oh well. We had dinner at the hostel and went straight to bed. Tomorrow, we’re getting up early... We’re heading out for two days to explore Aksou-Jabagly National Park. This park is famous for its landscapes at this time of year—it should be in full bloom, especially with tulips. We’ll see!
Days 2 & 3: Canyon, tulips, and wildlife in Aksou-Jabagly Park
Located two hours from Shymkent, Aksou-Jabagly Park is reputed to be one of the most beautiful in the region. We took a taxi from Shymkent, and upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Ruslan and his mother. They live at the entrance to the reserve, at the foot of the mountains, in a house surrounded by poplars. The setting is exceptional, and we immediately fell in love with the place. For our first day, we set off to explore the Aksou Canyon. Ruslan arranged a 4x4 with a driver and a ranger. The ranger speaks a few words of English, and with Coralie’s few words of Russian, we should manage! After a “viewpoint” stop, the road turns into a dirt track. It’s rained a lot lately, and the track is sometimes very muddy—at one point, we even had to cross a river. Four-wheel drive was definitely needed! The ranger pointed out some marmots by the side of the path—they were adorable.
We finally arrived at “Inspector’s House No. 1,” which overlooks the canyon. The view is magnificent, with high cliffs, wildflowers, conifers, and the Aksou River winding far below. While the driver chatted with the inspector, we descended to the bottom of the canyon with the ranger. The tulips I’d been hoping for were there—I was so happy! There were red, yellow, and even bicolor ones...
At the bottom of the canyon, we took a little break by the river. “Aksou” means “white waters” in Kazakh—the water does indeed have a very special color, a blue that’s both very light and very intense, like some South American lagoons. It bubbles around the rocks. The climb back up was easier than we feared. Once at the top, we continued along the canyon. The perspective changed as we progressed, and we never got tired of the view... Eagles circled above us.
After about 2 km, the driver picked us up, and we continued to a small kiosk at the foot of the mountains, where we had a picnic. Ruslan’s mother had prepared vegetarian “lunch boxes”—it was delicious and felt good to eat. However, it had gotten noticeably colder, so we put our jackets and scarves back on! After the meal, the driver walked off with a bucket—we figured he was going mushroom picking with Inspector No. 2, who had a house nearby.
We enjoyed the spot a bit longer while the driver gathered mushrooms, and then we headed back toward Ruslan’s place. Or so we thought... The return trip turned out to be quite long—the park wasn’t as deserted as it seemed, and the driver stopped every five minutes to chat with people we passed. At one point, we ran into Inspector No. 2 on horseback—it looked like there was a problem with a car further ahead... The driver and ranger bolted out of the car, headed toward the other vehicle, and we heard raised voices... When they came back, we tried to figure out what had happened, but no luck. We stopped again at Inspector No. 1’s house (are you following?), and they made us get out, telling us Inspector No. 2 needed the car for a few minutes... They left us stranded with Inspector No. 1, who went home, leaving us in the garden :-D We kept busy with the puppies, and I even took a little nap in the sun... Three-quarters of an hour later, we finally left—we didn’t fully understand what happened and never found out!
We got back (almost) without stopping to Ruslan’s house. Our room was ready, and we settled in quickly before dinner. It was already 6:30 PM, even though we were supposed to be back by 4 PM. Mushroom picking really slows things down ^^ Ruslan’s mother had prepared a delicious meal: vegetable soup, raw vegetable salad, and a mushroom, carrot, and potato stew. We loved it!
We spent the rest of the evening planning the rest of our trip while sipping tea. At one point, Ruslan and his mother signaled that there were wild boars right across from us—we could see them clearly! There were three adults and three piglets. We also took a little walk in the garden, watched the sunset, I did some blogging, and Coralie read... A lovely evening, and an equally lovely ten-hour night! The next morning, after a good breakfast, we set off on foot into the park. The trail starts right next to Ruslan’s house—so convenient! Today, we were with another ranger, two Germans (brother and sister), and their English-speaking guide (who didn’t guide much). We walked on a dirt road—there were even more tulips than yesterday, and the snow-capped mountains in the distance were stunning. After 5 km, we reached a small cabin, then continued another kilometer to Kishy Kaindy, a viewpoint overlooking the Jabagly River waterfalls (Jabagly means “year-old foal”). It was spectacular! We stayed a good while admiring this natural wonder. Like yesterday, the ranger didn’t rush us at all—it was really nice. We also saw eagles and an ibex perched on a ridge.
We had a picnic at the cabin before heading back the same way we came. This time, the snow-capped peaks were facing us—so beautiful! We picked up our bags and said goodbye to Ruslan’s mother. She was really happy today because her granddaughter was there. She told us she was a “babushka”—I understood that! Ruslan then drove us to Turar Ryskulov, where we took a shared taxi back to Shymkent.
In Shymkent, we struggled a bit with our Airbnb. We waited half an hour for the person who was supposed to let us in, then discovered the Wi-Fi wasn’t working—but we had a lot of bookings to make that evening. The lady finally lent us a Kazakh SIM card with data, which Coralie put in her phone in “hotspot” mode so I could get some internet too. All of that took nearly two hours. Phew! We then rushed to do some shopping at the supermarket. On the way back, some lights caught my eye—it was a pedestrian street all decorated with a funfair next to it. It was very lively, and we spent a good while strolling and people-watching! The rest of our evening was studious, between preparing dinner and booking our next stops.
Day 4: Turkestan, Yasawi Mausoleum, and Sauran ruins
This morning, after one last stroll in Shymkent, we headed to Turkestan. When we arrived at the bus station, we were told the next bus was in nearly three hours, but there were minibuses leaving when full. The system was well-oiled, and in just fifteen minutes, our minibus was ready to go. We each had a seat (and one for our luggage since there’s no trunk!), and the minibus was quite new—nothing like Madagascar ;-)
The trip went well despite a few driving scares—the driver was going a bit fast for my liking! Along the road, the fields were full of poppies—so pretty. When we arrived, we headed straight to the Edem hotel, where we wouldn’t be staying (we had a train to Almaty at midnight) but where we wanted to leave our luggage for the day. They agreed easily—great! Once we’d dropped off our bags and suitcases, we started our visits.
We began with the architectural gem and largest pilgrimage site in Kazakhstan: the mausoleum of Khodja Ahmad Yasawi, a great Sufi sage. Yasawi’s original tomb was already a pilgrimage site when Tamerlane ordered the construction of a larger mausoleum in 1390. It’s decorated with white and blue tiles and has a turquoise dome (currently under renovation). The main facade, unfinished at Tamerlane’s death, was left in earth with visible scaffolding. Impressive! The site is UNESCO-listed. Inside, the main hall displays a large cauldron, and other small rooms showcase plates, ancient coins, belts... Yasawi’s tomb is visible via two adjacent corridors.
We then strolled through the park, which includes many other mausoleums and tombs. We visited the old baths, the Friday Mosque, and then the history museum. The underground mosque, where Yasawi’s cell is located (where he retreated at the end of his life), was unfortunately closed for renovations.
We then went back to the Edem hotel to have them call us a taxi, and we set off to visit the ancient fortress of Sauran. This Silk Road city, once prosperous, is now reduced to ruins, with thousands of poppies blooming between them. High walls once surrounded a bustling and pleasant city. Many foundations remain visible. The place is vast, quiet, almost deserted, and imbued with a certain melancholy... The deep red poppies swayed in the wind, between the remnants of this city, reminding us how fleeting things are.
Back in Turkestan, we had dinner at the Edem hotel’s restaurant (we had to thank them somehow ;-)) and then rushed to the station to catch our train... 18 hours of travel awaited us to Almaty!
Day 5: From Turkestan to Almaty, 18 hours by train across the Kazakh steppe
We traveled from Turkestan to Almaty by train. We booked our tickets the day before departure, and only six seats were left: three in second class, not together at all, and three in first class, also not together but in the same carriage. We opted for first class! It was more expensive, but for such a long trip, a little comfort wouldn’t hurt... We wondered if we’d manage to switch cabins to be together, but it resolved itself: when we boarded, the conductor/carriage chief immediately noticed we weren’t together. He literally kicked a young man out of his berth so we could travel in the same cabin. We felt bad for the young man, even though he seemed to take it well... we thanked him with dried fruit (and I can confirm he took it well—the next day, he came to chat with us). In any case, we were really happy to have our own little cabin for this long journey, especially since we were the only foreigners and the only women in the carriage.
Eighteen hours by train might seem long, but these long trips while traveling aren’t wasted time—they’re the breathing space of the journey. They’re the essential moments for digesting what we’ve already experienced and preparing for future discoveries. They’re also privileged moments for reflection. Traveling slowly, to the rhythm of the train, means falling asleep in Turkestan’s outskirts, lulled by the train’s rocking and creaking, and waking up in the steppe. It’s feeling the train slow down and stop, stepping onto the platform for a moment, and watching the women sell food to passengers. It’s taking the time to write, read, think. It’s chatting with our neighbors and, despite the language barrier, managing to communicate a little. It’s picnicking at the little table in our cabin, with the landscape rolling by outside, and listening to music. It’s feeling privileged, imagining ourselves on the Orient Express or the Trans-Siberian. Reminding ourselves that one day, one day for real, we’ll take that Trans-Siberian. And smiling, thinking that in the meantime, in a few months, there’ll be the Trans-Canadian...
Days 6 & 7: Almaty, the “little apple”
The former capital of Kazakhstan, Almaty is known as the most Western and lively city in the country. At first, we had a bit of trouble identifying the city center—it’s more spread out and less dense than what we’re used to in Europe—but once we got our bearings, we really enjoyed strolling along the wide avenues lined with cafés and in the few pedestrian streets. The city’s emblem is the apple, which you’ll find in various forms around the city, from benches to statues to fountains. The original apple, from which all the apples we know today descend, is said to come from the mountains of Kazakhstan.
For nature, Almaty is a pretty green city. It has large parks, like Panfilov Park, which houses the Zenkov Cathedral. Some streets are also very tree-lined, so much so that they almost look like gardens. Often, high mountains peek out from behind the streets...
For shopping, traditional boutiques sit alongside big international brands. We really liked the Green Bazaar, a large market that sells everything. The food section was great, with stalls of pickled vegetables, dried fruits, and beautifully stacked fresh fruits... A feast for the eyes and lots of temptations for me!
For culture, Almaty has several museums. We visited two: the Fine Arts Museum and the National Museum. Both are housed in very Soviet-looking buildings on the outside, but the Fine Arts Museum turned out to be quite modern inside, with a pleasant museography. The National Museum, on the other hand, has stayed true to its roots ^^ Just walking through it was an experience in itself. And we did quite a bit of shopping there... The hall is a giant shop with lots of handicrafts—we treated ourselves.
The Arasan Baths are a must in Almaty. They’re said to be among the most beautiful baths in Central Asia... Architecturally, I didn’t find them amazing (nothing like Budapest’s, for example), but wow, did it feel good to relax there after a day of sightseeing! I happily moved between the sauna, hammam, and Russian sauna, with a preference for the latter—less dry than a traditional sauna and less humid than the hammam. You can buy bundles of leaves to slap yourself (or get slapped) with to boost circulation. The prices are very affordable too... On a weekday evening, we paid 1,800 tenge, or 4.5 euros, for an hour. Note that they add 20 minutes for changing, so you really get a full hour in the baths.
For restaurants, we didn’t try many because we preferred to limit our food budget by cooking ourselves. However, we did try and highly recommend Daredzhani, a great Georgian restaurant where we feasted. We didn’t know Georgian cuisine before, but we really liked it—vegetables cooked in various ways, cheese-filled breads, potato and/or egg-filled breads, and very thin fruit pastes made from grapes. We actually ate there twice because it was so good! We also loved Coffee Delia, where you can enjoy delicious pastries in a very cozy setting.
Besides being a pleasant place to live, Almaty is also a great base for exploring the surrounding area, and we were happy to stay eight days to discover more of the region!
Days 7, 8 & 9: Getting green around Almaty: Kok Tobe, Shymbulak, Medeo, and Big Almaty Lake
During our stay in Almaty, we used a rather unusual means of transport several times: the cable car! Here, it’s called a "gondola," and it allowed us to gain some altitude and breathe in the fresh mountain air surrounding Almaty ;-)
First cable car ride: Kok Tobe. The cable car starts in the city center and takes you to the top of a hill overlooking Almaty. At the top, it’s fairground vibes with an upside-down house, a Ferris wheel, rides, and the inevitable eagle trainer... There’s even a little corner dedicated to the Beatles, complete with music and a statue!
Second ride: Shymbulak. This time, you take a bus to Medeo, then three cable cars to the top of the mountain, at 3,200 meters altitude. Shymbulak is the largest ski resort in Central Asia. We went there to hike, but there was still snow and skiers, so we settled for admiring the view... With the blue sky and sun we had, it was gorgeous! We then treated ourselves to tea on the terrace—chalet vibes... At Paul’s, we weren’t completely out of place ;-)
Before taking the bus back, we stopped by Medeo, where there’s a large ice rink. With 10,000 m², it can host a thousand skaters in winter! This season, it’s closed; part of it is used as a go-kart track, and the other as a landing strip for paragliders.
Located an hour’s drive from the city center, Big Almaty Lake reveals itself at the last moment, around a bend, nestled in a setting of mountains and greenery. With the recent cold snap, it’s frozen, and the edges are snowy—a beautiful winter atmosphere! The ice was starting to melt, though—we could hear the water moving underneath, and when Coralie tried to walk on the ice, it collapsed under her feet. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to walk around it—a ranger keeps an eye out and blocks the adventurous (including us ;-)).
Days 10 & 11: Excursions around Almaty: Charyn Canyon, Issyk, and Turgen
Almaty’s tourism office is very active and organizes outings on weekends and holidays. We went to Charyn Canyon and then to Issyk and Turgen. A great way to discover the Almaty area at a modest cost (the outing costs about 6,000 tenge, or 15 euros per person).
Formed over millennia by erosion and wind, Charyn Canyon is reminiscent of the Colorado and the Grand Canyon. The most touristy part we visited is called the Valley of Castles, referring to the rock formations that resemble towers. We first walked along the ridge, where there are many viewpoints, then descended into the canyon. A three-kilometer walk leads to the banks of the Charyn River. The place seems to be a favorite relaxation spot for Kazakh families, who picnic, play ball, sunbathe... There’s also a hotel, bungalows, yurts, and a restaurant. Issyk is famous for its burial mounds and its Golden Man—maybe even a Golden Woman—found there. A small museum displays some artifacts. A little further on is Issyk Lake, once dried up but now reappearing... Whether naturally or not isn’t very clear!
As for Turgen, it’s a natural park known for its gorges and waterfalls. We didn’t have time to explore it in detail, but the bus drove through some beautiful landscapes, and we still walked to Bear Waterfall. It’s not incredible, but it’s still a nice little hike.
Besides the practical side of these organized excursions from Almaty, we appreciated being able to do an activity that Kazakhs do on weekends. During the Issyk/Turgen excursion, we really hit it off with Karina, a young student dragged there on vacation by her mother. She’s currently studying computer science at the best university in Astana and hopes to go to Europe eventually... A brilliant young woman, and a chance for us to chat in English ;-)
Days 12 & 13: The spectacular landscapes of Altyn-Emel Park
The last stop on our Kazakhstan trip was Altyn-Emel Park. This park is quite hard to access, so we opted for a car with a driver for two days—pure luxury!
Our driver’s name is Andrei. We met him at 7 AM outside our apartment on Wednesday morning. He doesn’t speak English, but a young man from the agency we booked through was also there, and we went over the itinerary together before leaving with Andrei.
Our first stop was Tamgaly Tas, two hours from Almaty. It’s a site where you can see 16th-century petroglyphs depicting Buddha. The place is also known for climbing—there were lots of young people harnessed up and/or climbing. It’s right in the middle of the Kazakh countryside, and we had a bit of trouble finding it!
Even with the language barrier, Andrei turned out to be very friendly. He suggested photo stops from time to time, didn’t rush us, and pointed out animals he saw... We even backed up on the road to see and help a tortoise cross!
It took another two and a half hours to reach Bashi, the “gateway” village to Altyn-Emel Park. After a quick stop at the rangers’, we arrived at the hotel. Our guidebook mentioned modest guesthouses, but things are changing... The hotel is large, brand new, and still being expanded. It reminded me of some Chinese hotels in Laos.
We had a quick lunch with Andrei—he explained that he’s a truck driver normally, delivering clothes and fabrics between Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, and Russia. He also showed us photos of his wife and son and told us he’s recently become a grandfather! We then headed to the park, grabbing a ranger on the way. Like in Aksou-Jabagly, he was dressed in full military gear. We first headed toward the Katutau Mountains. The rocks are reddish, sculpted by wind and erosion—the place reminded us a bit of Charyn Canyon. We had some “free time” to explore—we didn’t need to be told twice... Meanwhile, Andrei and the ranger chatted nonstop—it looked like they’d hit it off!
We got back in the car and continued along the track to the Aktau Mountains. Change of scenery! The mountains weren’t red anymore but white... Or so they appeared from afar. When we got closer, we realized they were actually multicolored, striped with yellow, pink, and ochre veins... It was magnificent, even more so with the late afternoon light. We had time to explore on our own again, and we walked with delight in this almost dreamlike landscape. We thought we’d made the right choice coming here ;-) We made one last stop before heading back to see a 700-year-old willow. It’s in an oasis where other tourists were camping—very tempting... I got the coordinates of their guide for next time ;-) The way back was in beautiful light, between sunset and a distant storm. Nature even treated us to a gorgeous sunset!
It was past 8 PM when we got back to the hotel, but our dinner was still waiting for us. We ate with Andrei, chatted a bit with a Polish woman who spoke both Russian and French (we put her to work chatting with Andrei ;-)), and then had a quiet evening with Wi-Fi, a shower, and reading in our room.
The next day, after breakfast, we met up with the same ranger and headed toward the singing dunes. These dunes are supposed to make a sound when you slide down their slopes. I was more than skeptical, but okay! When we arrived, we discovered a beautiful landscape—the main dune is gigantic, and when we reached the top, the view was extraordinary: it was the first time I’d seen a dune in the desert, snow-capped mountains, and a river all in one glance! A group of Chinese tourists was ahead of us on the dune, but they turned back quickly, and we were alone. After studying the terrain, I chose a slope that seemed good, and I started sliding down on my bottom... Quickly, I heard and felt a strong vibration, which turned into a hum. The dune really sings! It’s completely crazy... We did several tests—the most effective was sliding down side by side. But it works as long as there aren’t too many tourists doing it and the dune has time to rebuild between slides... There are about thirty singing dunes in the world. This phenomenon, already described by Marco Polo, comes from the synchronous movement of sand grains, which must be very round and covered with a varnish called “desert glaze”...
Covered in sand but delighted, we headed back to Bashi. The ranger stopped at a small spring so we could wash up, but it was almost dry. Along the way, we also saw the “Oshaktas,” a place where Genghis Khan’s expedition is said to have camped in 1219 during his conquest of Central Asia. The stones were apparently used to support the cauldron where food was prepared. A little further on, the ranger made us stop: there were antelopes!!! We saw one up close and a herd further away.
When we got back to the hotel, I took a quick shower to get rid of the sand—I felt like I had it everywhere! We had a quick lunch and then hit the road back to Almaty. Andrei drove very well, had a nice playlist, and I let myself be lulled while watching the landscape roll by outside...
For our last night in Kazakhstan, we booked a yurt in the hills above Almaty, not far from Medeo. For one night, we pretended to be nomads... The bed was a bit hard, and the air was a bit chilly, but we loved it! And the welcome was kind, the meal very good—only downside: the horse milk and camel milk, still warm... I almost threw up. Well, it was an experience, and all of this beautifully concluded our Kazakh stay!
Bonjour à tous les amoureux de voyages.
J’ai la chance d’aller 3 semaines en Ukraine et c’est la 1ere fois.
Je me pose quelques questions concernant l’achat de billets de train en ligne depuis la France (si cela est possible).
J’ai repéré le site https://booking.uz.gov.ua/en/.
Je voudrais savoir si quelqu’un pourrait me répondre sur ces 3 points.
1) Ce site est-il fiable ?
2) Est-il le site officiel de la compagnie des trains Ukrainien ?
3) Les tarifs sont-ils (très) majorés si l’achat se fait en France ?
Je remercie d’avance les routards amoureux de l’Ukraine qui pourront m’éclairer.
Jean-Marc
Bonjour,
Je planifie actuellement un voyage en Europe de l'est qui supposerait un passage en Pologne et un en Roumanie. Je me dis que tant qu'à y être j'irais jeter un oeil en Ukraine.
Ceci dit, je ne parles pas un mot de russe ou d'ukrainien. Remarquez bien que je ne parles pas non plus polonais ou roumain, mais je suppose simplement que ces pays ont plus d'infrastructures touristiques et que je pourrai me débrouiller en anglais dans les grandes villes...
Enfin, c'est que je lis le forum et les usagers posent nombres de questions sur la langue de bielorussie vs ukrainien ou sur l'utilisation du russe en Ukraine... Bref, pour l'Ukraine, si je ne parle qu'anglais, est-ce que cela pourrait poser un problème ? Devrais-je abandonner l'idée ?
Merci bien pour les réponses !
Je planifie actuellement un voyage en Europe de l'est qui supposerait un passage en Pologne et un en Roumanie. Je me dis que tant qu'à y être j'irais jeter un oeil en Ukraine.
Ceci dit, je ne parles pas un mot de russe ou d'ukrainien. Remarquez bien que je ne parles pas non plus polonais ou roumain, mais je suppose simplement que ces pays ont plus d'infrastructures touristiques et que je pourrai me débrouiller en anglais dans les grandes villes...
Enfin, c'est que je lis le forum et les usagers posent nombres de questions sur la langue de bielorussie vs ukrainien ou sur l'utilisation du russe en Ukraine... Bref, pour l'Ukraine, si je ne parle qu'anglais, est-ce que cela pourrait poser un problème ? Devrais-je abandonner l'idée ?
Merci bien pour les réponses !
Bonjour à tous,
Suite à une formidable expérience à Cracovie (Pologne) en début d'année, j'ai pour projet de poursuivre ma visite, de ce côté là du monde, et plus précisément Lviv (ou l'on m'a dis le plus grand bien) ainsi que Moscou (qui est l'un de mes rêve) pour fin juillet/début aout 2017. Seulement voilà j'ai quelques interrogations sur le temps de visite que je dois m'accorder pour la visite de ces villes. Est-ce qu'il est facile de passer de l'Ukraine à la Russie ou le contraire ? Combien de temps ça prend pour faire le visa pour la Russie ?
Enfin je précise que pour le moment je voyage seul, je partirai de Genève. J'ai 24 ans, je suis ouvert d'esprit et sociable, pas de problème là dessus. Si vous avez d'autres petit conseils a me donner je suis preneur !
Merci d'avance (désolé pour les fautes d’orthographes)
Suite à une formidable expérience à Cracovie (Pologne) en début d'année, j'ai pour projet de poursuivre ma visite, de ce côté là du monde, et plus précisément Lviv (ou l'on m'a dis le plus grand bien) ainsi que Moscou (qui est l'un de mes rêve) pour fin juillet/début aout 2017. Seulement voilà j'ai quelques interrogations sur le temps de visite que je dois m'accorder pour la visite de ces villes. Est-ce qu'il est facile de passer de l'Ukraine à la Russie ou le contraire ? Combien de temps ça prend pour faire le visa pour la Russie ?
Enfin je précise que pour le moment je voyage seul, je partirai de Genève. J'ai 24 ans, je suis ouvert d'esprit et sociable, pas de problème là dessus. Si vous avez d'autres petit conseils a me donner je suis preneur !
Merci d'avance (désolé pour les fautes d’orthographes)
Bonjour à tous,
Est il possible d'acheter un ticket "Skybus" directement au chauffeur? ou dois je l'acheter dans un kiosque ou quelque chose dans le genre?
J ai voulu acheter un billet Skybus directement sur internet, mais le site ne marchait pas pour finaliser l'achat. (aout 19).
Savez vous s il y a un arrêt intermédiaire entre la gare centrale et l'aéroport Boryspil ?
BUS 322 : J'ai lu qu' il y avait aussi un bus local le bus 322? Savez vous a quel endroit on peut le prendre facilement sans trop chercher l arrêt.
Je sais déjà que le trajet est long et qu' il faut prévoir beaucoup de temps pour rallier l'aeroport.
Si vous avez d'autres précisions a apporter, n'hésitez pas!!
Est il possible d'acheter un ticket "Skybus" directement au chauffeur? ou dois je l'acheter dans un kiosque ou quelque chose dans le genre?
J ai voulu acheter un billet Skybus directement sur internet, mais le site ne marchait pas pour finaliser l'achat. (aout 19).
Savez vous s il y a un arrêt intermédiaire entre la gare centrale et l'aéroport Boryspil ?
BUS 322 : J'ai lu qu' il y avait aussi un bus local le bus 322? Savez vous a quel endroit on peut le prendre facilement sans trop chercher l arrêt.
Je sais déjà que le trajet est long et qu' il faut prévoir beaucoup de temps pour rallier l'aeroport.
Si vous avez d'autres précisions a apporter, n'hésitez pas!!
Bonjour,
Nous partons prochainement avec Air Ukraine et nous nous demandons, suite à différents sujets sur ce forum, si la CB ayant servi à l'achat des billets doit être présentée. Nous avons également un vol intérieur Kiev-Odessa, ce n'est pas la même personne qui a payé et nous ne souhaitons pas partir avec nos deux CB, pour ça qu'on se pose la question. Rien n'est mentionné dans les conditions générales de vente mais on ne sait jamais...
Et s'il y a d'autres choses à savoir sur la compagnie je suis preneuse ! Idem pour les retours d'expérience (même si 3h30 ça passe vite). Au retour nous faisons Odessa-Kiev puis Kiev-Paris sur un même billet.
Nous partons prochainement avec Air Ukraine et nous nous demandons, suite à différents sujets sur ce forum, si la CB ayant servi à l'achat des billets doit être présentée. Nous avons également un vol intérieur Kiev-Odessa, ce n'est pas la même personne qui a payé et nous ne souhaitons pas partir avec nos deux CB, pour ça qu'on se pose la question. Rien n'est mentionné dans les conditions générales de vente mais on ne sait jamais...
Et s'il y a d'autres choses à savoir sur la compagnie je suis preneuse ! Idem pour les retours d'expérience (même si 3h30 ça passe vite). Au retour nous faisons Odessa-Kiev puis Kiev-Paris sur un même billet.
Salut tt le monde,
Qqun aurait une idée de prix des trajets en train en Ukraine, du genre un Lviv-Kiev, ou Kiev-Kharkhov dans la classe la plus pouilleuse, et bon prix qui soit? est ce que c'est aussi peu onereux qu'en Russie?
enfin d'ou puis je rejoindre volgograd en partant dukraine? directement de kiev? ou correspondance par kharkhov ou Dnieprtrovsk?
Camarades du rail, toute info est la bienvenue!
Qqun aurait une idée de prix des trajets en train en Ukraine, du genre un Lviv-Kiev, ou Kiev-Kharkhov dans la classe la plus pouilleuse, et bon prix qui soit? est ce que c'est aussi peu onereux qu'en Russie?
enfin d'ou puis je rejoindre volgograd en partant dukraine? directement de kiev? ou correspondance par kharkhov ou Dnieprtrovsk?
Camarades du rail, toute info est la bienvenue!
Bonjour,
Je pars en Mongolie (pour y séjourner 3 à 4 mois ) par la route dans quelques semaines ( France - Finlande - Russie - Mongolie - kazakhstan - Ouzbekistan) et si quelq'un aurait 2 ou 3 infos sur les questions suivantes je suis preneur :
Est ce qu'on peut louer ou acheter une moto à Ulan Bator ou ailleurs ? je ne suis pas motard, ce serait pour pouvoir se deplacer plus aisément qu'en bus ou train.
Est ce qu'on peut rallier le kazakhstan par la route depuis la Mongolie ?
Merci infiniment par avance pour vos reponses.
Est ce qu'on peut rallier le kazakhstan par la route depuis la Mongolie ?
Merci infiniment par avance pour vos reponses.
Bonsoir,
Comme d’habitude un retour progressif sur notre dernière croisière.
Au programme cette fois-ci, embarquement à Gênes et escales à Civitavecchia (Rome), Istanbul, Yalta, Odessa, Le Pirée (Athènes) et Sorrente avant de revenir à Gênes avec le MSC Lirica.
Vous trouverez les préparatifs de cette croisière ici :
http://voyageforum.com/...=henri%2021%20lirica
Un autre compte-rendu de cette croisière est en cours ici :
http://voyageforum.com/...tobre_2012_D5641369/
Logement à Nice
Nous sommes arrivés la veille sur Nice par le train et avons pris comme hôtel Le National (Ancienne classification hôtelière : 3 étoiles) à 300 mètres à gauche de la gare (près de la station de tramway). L’inconvénient en restant à côté de la gare, il y a toujours énormément de circulation et beaucoup de bruit (un peu la zone le soir et la nuit à proximité du tramway).
L’Hôtel national est correct sans plus, douche pas très large. Fenêtres isolées phoniquement. Nous avons payé 72 € avec le petit-déjeuner car nous n’étions pas en période estivale.
Pour comparaison, nous avions pris l’Hôtel Berne en septembre (à 200 mètres à gauche en sortant de la gare, avant la station de tramway). Nous avions payé 60 € pour 2 avec petit-déjeuner continental. Chambre correcte sans plus, baignoire sabot mais pas isolée phoniquement, une horreur pour dormir.
La suite prochainement...
Comme d’habitude un retour progressif sur notre dernière croisière.
Au programme cette fois-ci, embarquement à Gênes et escales à Civitavecchia (Rome), Istanbul, Yalta, Odessa, Le Pirée (Athènes) et Sorrente avant de revenir à Gênes avec le MSC Lirica.
Vous trouverez les préparatifs de cette croisière ici :
http://voyageforum.com/...=henri%2021%20lirica
Un autre compte-rendu de cette croisière est en cours ici :
http://voyageforum.com/...tobre_2012_D5641369/
Logement à Nice
Nous sommes arrivés la veille sur Nice par le train et avons pris comme hôtel Le National (Ancienne classification hôtelière : 3 étoiles) à 300 mètres à gauche de la gare (près de la station de tramway). L’inconvénient en restant à côté de la gare, il y a toujours énormément de circulation et beaucoup de bruit (un peu la zone le soir et la nuit à proximité du tramway).
L’Hôtel national est correct sans plus, douche pas très large. Fenêtres isolées phoniquement. Nous avons payé 72 € avec le petit-déjeuner car nous n’étions pas en période estivale.
Pour comparaison, nous avions pris l’Hôtel Berne en septembre (à 200 mètres à gauche en sortant de la gare, avant la station de tramway). Nous avions payé 60 € pour 2 avec petit-déjeuner continental. Chambre correcte sans plus, baignoire sabot mais pas isolée phoniquement, une horreur pour dormir.
La suite prochainement...
Salut à chacun,
Qui pourrait me donner la fréquence des bus (si possible directs ) entre Lublin et Lviv ainsi que la durée approximative du trajet ? le prix?
Peut-on changer ses derniers zloty en hryvnia au poste frontière?
merci d'avance
Carassou
Bonjour,
Avec un ami, nous allons faire un voyage en Ukraine du 04/08 au 12g/08.
Nous voudrions rester 4 jours à Kiev et 5 jours en Crimé à Yalta.
Savez-vous si il y a des trains qui relient Kiev à Yalta? Si oui quel est le prix?
Nous somme aussi à la recherche d'un hôtel bon prix en centre ville à Kiev, et d'un camping (voir hôtel pas cher) à Yalta.
Pour un français, quel est le coût de la vie en Ukraine?
D'avance, merci pour vos informations!
Avec un ami, nous allons faire un voyage en Ukraine du 04/08 au 12g/08.
Nous voudrions rester 4 jours à Kiev et 5 jours en Crimé à Yalta.
Savez-vous si il y a des trains qui relient Kiev à Yalta? Si oui quel est le prix?
Nous somme aussi à la recherche d'un hôtel bon prix en centre ville à Kiev, et d'un camping (voir hôtel pas cher) à Yalta.
Pour un français, quel est le coût de la vie en Ukraine?
D'avance, merci pour vos informations!
Bonjour à tous/tes,
J'ai toujours regardé d'un oeil amusé ces discussions où un membre de VF demandait des conseils pour choisir entre deux destinations, mais cette fois c'est moi qui rame, alors...😊😏
Il s'agit d'un voyage sur une dizaine de jours, en février, ayant pour ville de chute : Saint-Pétersbourg - avec suite sur Vilnius (éventuellement, faut que je démêle ces histoires de visa double-entrée russes) et Kaliningrad (ah Kaliningrad...) Kiev - avec suite sur Lvov et Odessa (ah Odessa...), enfin plutôt Odessa puis Lvov parce que j'ai un vol Lvov-Milan.
Je "travaille" aux deux et...la balance reste toujours équilibrée. Peut-être l'un d'entre vous me présentera-t-il une révélation fulgurante ou même un simple détail qui alourdira définitivement l'un des deux plateaux. 🙂
Je compte acquérir les billets d'avion fin septembre, (et à l'heure actuelle, je me dis que le choix sera tiré à pile-ou face si je continue à faire le yo-yo ainsi)
Catherine
J'ai toujours regardé d'un oeil amusé ces discussions où un membre de VF demandait des conseils pour choisir entre deux destinations, mais cette fois c'est moi qui rame, alors...😊😏
Il s'agit d'un voyage sur une dizaine de jours, en février, ayant pour ville de chute : Saint-Pétersbourg - avec suite sur Vilnius (éventuellement, faut que je démêle ces histoires de visa double-entrée russes) et Kaliningrad (ah Kaliningrad...) Kiev - avec suite sur Lvov et Odessa (ah Odessa...), enfin plutôt Odessa puis Lvov parce que j'ai un vol Lvov-Milan.
Je "travaille" aux deux et...la balance reste toujours équilibrée. Peut-être l'un d'entre vous me présentera-t-il une révélation fulgurante ou même un simple détail qui alourdira définitivement l'un des deux plateaux. 🙂
Je compte acquérir les billets d'avion fin septembre, (et à l'heure actuelle, je me dis que le choix sera tiré à pile-ou face si je continue à faire le yo-yo ainsi)
Catherine
bonjour
est-il possible d'aller de budapest à kiev par train ou par bus, ce serait fin juillet ou fin aout
merci
Bonjour à tous,
bon plusieurs questions...je vais partir en Ukraine, avec un pote. le but est d'arriver à Kiev, et de redescendre vers la Crimée et aussi Odessa, pour prendre un ferry vers la Turquie (Istanbul). donc voilà, on a 15 jours sur place je pense. ça parrait raisonnable?
comme on ne pourra pas tout faire, il faudra choisir entre l'est ou l'ouest... donc soit on passe par Lviv ou alors par Donest... qu'en pensez vous? quels attraits dans l'une ou l'autre partie de l'Ukraine? et c'est facile de relier ces villes par train, bus? c'est long?
sinon, on va s'attarder en Crimée, qui à l'air vraiment sympa. on pensait louer une voiture là-bas, pour visiter, errer là où bon nous semble. qu'y a-t-il à ne pas manquer là-bas? et peut-on faire du camping sauvage sans risque où on veut? ou alors faut-il être dans un camping?
sinon, avez vous des plans pour des logements pas trop cher (auberge, appartement, chambre chez l'habitant) dans Kiev, Lviv, Donest ou Odessa.
sinon, on est en train d'apprendre le russe, les ukrainiens ne vont pas se vexer si on leur parle en russe? (enfin dans l'ouest, non?). les lettres se prononcent pareil qu'en russe au fait?
ah oui, quelqu'un connais des ferry reliant la Turquie, si possible Istambul. c'est plus simple de partir d'Odessa ou de Yalta, Sebastopol? et pour quel prix pour un aller simple?
bon, ça en fait des questions, mais comme ça il y en aura pour tout le monde... :p
merci d'avance pour toutes les réponses.
bon plusieurs questions...je vais partir en Ukraine, avec un pote. le but est d'arriver à Kiev, et de redescendre vers la Crimée et aussi Odessa, pour prendre un ferry vers la Turquie (Istanbul). donc voilà, on a 15 jours sur place je pense. ça parrait raisonnable?
comme on ne pourra pas tout faire, il faudra choisir entre l'est ou l'ouest... donc soit on passe par Lviv ou alors par Donest... qu'en pensez vous? quels attraits dans l'une ou l'autre partie de l'Ukraine? et c'est facile de relier ces villes par train, bus? c'est long?
sinon, on va s'attarder en Crimée, qui à l'air vraiment sympa. on pensait louer une voiture là-bas, pour visiter, errer là où bon nous semble. qu'y a-t-il à ne pas manquer là-bas? et peut-on faire du camping sauvage sans risque où on veut? ou alors faut-il être dans un camping?
sinon, avez vous des plans pour des logements pas trop cher (auberge, appartement, chambre chez l'habitant) dans Kiev, Lviv, Donest ou Odessa.
sinon, on est en train d'apprendre le russe, les ukrainiens ne vont pas se vexer si on leur parle en russe? (enfin dans l'ouest, non?). les lettres se prononcent pareil qu'en russe au fait?
ah oui, quelqu'un connais des ferry reliant la Turquie, si possible Istambul. c'est plus simple de partir d'Odessa ou de Yalta, Sebastopol? et pour quel prix pour un aller simple?
bon, ça en fait des questions, mais comme ça il y en aura pour tout le monde... :p
merci d'avance pour toutes les réponses.
Bonsoir,
J'ai lu qu'en Ouzbékistan il était préférable de faire le change ailleurs que dans les bureaux de change officiels mais qu'en est il pour le Kazakhstan ? Vaut il mieux avoir des € ou des $ ?
Merci
J'ai lu qu'en Ouzbékistan il était préférable de faire le change ailleurs que dans les bureaux de change officiels mais qu'en est il pour le Kazakhstan ? Vaut il mieux avoir des € ou des $ ?
Merci
bonjour tout le monde!
Je suis en train de préparer un voyage au Kazakhstan, pour une durée de 6 mois environ (mars-novembre 09), avec l'intention de partir hors des sentiers battus, à cheval (avec 2 chevaux, achetés sur place).
Je suis à la recherche d'informations concernant le visa pour le Kazakhstan: j'ai trouvé l'info nécessaire pour un visa d'un mois, mais comment faire pour obtenir un visa plus long, et si ca passe par une invitation, comment se la procurer?
Aussi, toute information concernant l'achat de chevaux (lieu, prix approximatif, etc) sera précieuse!!
Toute information complémentaire sera bienvenue! Merci d'avance à tous!
Je suis en train de préparer un voyage au Kazakhstan, pour une durée de 6 mois environ (mars-novembre 09), avec l'intention de partir hors des sentiers battus, à cheval (avec 2 chevaux, achetés sur place).
Je suis à la recherche d'informations concernant le visa pour le Kazakhstan: j'ai trouvé l'info nécessaire pour un visa d'un mois, mais comment faire pour obtenir un visa plus long, et si ca passe par une invitation, comment se la procurer?
Aussi, toute information concernant l'achat de chevaux (lieu, prix approximatif, etc) sera précieuse!!
Toute information complémentaire sera bienvenue! Merci d'avance à tous!
Bonjour,
On traverse ces pays, et on est en camion. On voudrait savoir s'il a des laveries, ou des endroits ou faire laver ses affaires pour pas cher ? Et question bonus : un opérateur fait des sim card pour ces pays là, ou faut choper a chaque pays une nouvelle sim ?
Bonne journée
On traverse ces pays, et on est en camion. On voudrait savoir s'il a des laveries, ou des endroits ou faire laver ses affaires pour pas cher ? Et question bonus : un opérateur fait des sim card pour ces pays là, ou faut choper a chaque pays une nouvelle sim ?
Bonne journée
Bonjour, je recherche des informations sur l’état routier entre Moscou et la frontière kazakh au niveau de Troitsk (Russie) Nous programmons un voyage Oulan Bator Nantes Pour Août 2014 sur une période courte et voulant privilégier la Mongolie et le Kazakhstan nous traverserions la Russie sur ses grands axes. Itinéraire: Mongolie Kazakhstan Russie Biélorussie Pologne Allemagne Belgique, Toutes les informations sont donc bienvenues. mercikarls
Bonjour.
Nous avons passé nos vacances en Turquie.
En repartant nous avons acheté du vin et du Raki à l'aéroport Ataturk d'Istanbul.
Lors de notre transfert de vols a l'aéroport Borispol à Kiev il nous a été impossible de passer avec le vin. Par contre le Raki a posé problème mais a fini par être accepté.
Quelqu'un aurait une explication a cela !? Car le personnel de sécurité a Borispol ne parle pas bien anglais donc les échanges étaient sommaires.
Merci.
Cordialement
Bonjour,
je suis nouvellement inscrit sur ce site, mais çà fait maintenant plus d'un an que j'épluche ses forums afin de préparer mon voyage.
Après avoir fait de multiple recherches, je n'est pas réussi à obtenir une information concrète sur ces deux points : depuis le Kazakhstan, en utilisant les transports en commun, je compte rejoindre la Mongolie avec un ami et sachant qu'il faut soit passer par la russie, soit par la chine, quel est le meilleur choix ? Est-ce qu'il est possible d'obtenir un visa de transit (russie ou chine) depuis le Kazakhstan ? depuis la mongolie, est-il possible d'obtenir le visa chinois depuis l'ambassade de chine à ulaan bator ?
Merci d'avance
Je pars au kazakhstan début septembre et il nous faut l'adresse d'un hotel au moins pour le premier jour, est ce que q aurais un bon petit plan?
A bientot
