Travel to Kazakhstan
Flying to Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is well-connected by air, offering travellers multiple entry points into the country. The primary international gateways are:
• Almaty International Airport (ALA): Located approximately 18 kilometres northeast of Almaty, this is Kazakhstan's busiest airport.
• Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ): Situated in the capital city, Astana, it is the main aviation for northern Kazakhstan.
• Aktau International Airport (SCO): Located near the Caspian Sea, it receives flights from neighbouring countries.
Kazakhstan's national carrier, Air Astana, operates from both Almaty and Astana, providing extensive domestic and international services.
Other airlines that fly to Kazakhstan include Aeroflot Russian Airlines, Asiana Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Lufthansa, Oman Air, and Turkish Airlines.
Flight times:
London to Almaty: 8 hr 10 min (direct).
Airport guides
Airport Code: ALA. Location: The airport is located 15km (9 miles) northeast of central Almaty. Money: ATMs are available within the terminal, and there is a bureau de change service for passengers... Read more
Travel by rail
Visitors can travel to Kazakhstan by train from neighbouring countries. Here are some notable international train routes:
• From China: Ürümqi to Almaty and Nur-Sultan (Astana).
• From Russia: Moscow to Almaty and Nur-Sultan (Astana).
• From Uzbekistan: Tashkent to Almaty.
• From Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek to Nur-Sultan (Astana).
Train schedules and availability may vary, so checking the latest information and booking tickets in advance is advisable.
Driving to Kazakhstan
Travellers can travel to Kazakhstan by road, as the country shares land borders with Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. The road network is extensive, though conditions vary depending on the route and region. Key land border crossings into Kazakhstan include:
From Russia: Multiple crossings, with the most commonly used routes connecting cities like Omsk (RUS) to Pavlodar (KAZ), Chelyabinsk (RUS) to Kostanay (KAZ), and Astrakhan to Atyrau.
From China: The main crossing is Khorgos, which connects Almaty (KAZ) with Ürümqi (CHN) and serves as a major trade hub.
From Kyrgyzstan: The busiest crossing is Kordai, linking Bishkek (KGZ) to Almaty (KAZ), with a relatively straightforward road journey.
From Uzbekistan: The Zhibek Zholy border near Tashkent (UZB) is the main entry point, with direct road access to Shymkent (KAZ) and Turkistan (KAZ).
From Turkmenistan: The Temir Baba border crossing is an option, but road conditions can be challenging.
By road note:
Buses and marshrutkas (shared minibuses) operate between Kazakhstan and neighbouring countries, including Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
Travellers should check visa requirements and ensure they have proper documentation. Border procedures can sometimes be slow.
Getting to Kazakhstan by boat
A cargo service operates between Baku (AZE) and Aktau (KAZ), primarily used for cargo but also available for passengers. The journey takes 18 to 30 hours, depending on weather and port delays. Please note that the ship does not run on a strict schedule; departures depend on cargo load.
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