East Kazakhstan

Altai landscapes, a lake and a waterfall

Lake Yazevoye is a high-altitude freshwater lake of glacial origin. Its elevation, freshwater and glacial formation make it a specific destination for anyone interested in mountain lakes and landscape history. The lake is popular with tourists, mountaineers and trekking enthusiasts. Mount Belukha also attracts mountaineers, tourists and mountain trekking enthusiasts. If you would like to focus your stay on mountains and trekking, you can include both destinations in your travel plans without assuming they form a single route.

Kokkol Waterfall is about 80 metres high and lies near tourist routes to Mount Belukha. The approximate height gives an idea of its scale; for travel planning, it is important to note that its position is described as being near the routes. The West Altai Nature Reserve was established to protect the Altai’s mountain-taiga ecosystems. Cedar, fir and spruce forests grow there, and it is also home to rare plant and animal species listed in the Red Book. More than 1,000 species of higher vascular plants grow in Katon-Karagay National Park, including 30 species listed in Kazakhstan’s Red Book.

The mountain resort of Rakhmanovskie Klyuchi adds another point of interest: it is known for its healing thermal springs. If springs, forest ecosystems, mountain tourism or a high-altitude lake particularly interest you, these topics offer different starting points for choosing your destinations. The information about each place describes its own features and does not imply that they are connected by shared excursion routes.

Archaeological and literary sites

The Berel burial ground comprises more than 100 burials, as well as burial and memorial structures. An open-air museum has also been established at the Berel burial mounds. The Berel State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve is a cultural and educational, scientific and tourist centre. Those interested in archaeology will find both the burial ground and the open-air museum to be key topics for their travel plans.

The Ak-Baur archaeological complex includes numerous petroglyphs, megaliths and burial mounds dating from the Bronze Age and the Saka period. These examples of different forms of archaeological heritage make Ak-Baur a destination in its own right for travellers interested in earlier cultures. The Oralkhan Bokei House Museum offers a different perspective on regional history: it displays the writer’s personal belongings, manuscripts, photographs and books. The museum is in Chingistai, the writer’s home village, where he was born and spent his childhood.

Routes and regional orientation

The “Literary East” tourist route passes through sacred sites in East Kazakhstan. As a themed route, it appeals to travellers who would like to include places with literary or spiritual associations in their travel plans. The Old Austrian Road is a separate route: it is about 60 kilometres long and reaches Lake Markakol from Katon-Karagay or Kurchum. Bear this approximate distance in mind when planning your trip around the road. When choosing a holiday rental, it is useful to base your search on the places and topics you actually intend to visit, rather than relying solely on a general regional name.

More places in East Kazakhstan

For regional orientation, here are the directly subordinate places: Aqsu, Ridder, Kabanbay, Akzhar, Vasil'yevskiy, Semei, Borodulikha District, Pervomayskiy, Öskemen, Petrova and Kokkol'.

For the broader travel overview: Kazakhstan.