Mangystau: Rock Sanctuaries, Canyons and Aktau
Accommodation in Mangystau
Mangystau offers a variety of travel experiences: sanctuaries carved into rock with a long tradition of pilgrimage, natural areas with canyons and springs, and Aktau on the Caspian Sea. Culture, nature and a stay along the waterfront each offer their own appeal. When choosing a holiday apartment, it is therefore worth first considering which experiences you want to focus on.
Rock formations of the Ustyurt Plateau in the Zhabayushkan sanctuary, Kazakhstan.
Photo: Максат79, CC BY-SA 4.0
Rock Sanctuaries and History
The serial UNESCO World Heritage property is named “Rock Mosques and Associated Sacred Sites of Mangystau”. It comprises five sacred sites carved into rock and extensive adjoining burial grounds. The five sites date from the 12th to the 18th century and have been important pilgrimage destinations for centuries. This World Heritage property thus brings together a long religious tradition and the history of places carved into rock.
The medieval city of Kyzylkala offers another glimpse into history and is associated with preserved rock carvings made by nomadic tribes in the 10th century. These carvings add another theme to the story of the sacred sites: here, the focus is on nomadic groups and the images they left behind.
Natural Areas with Distinctive Features
In the Tamshaly natural area, rocky canyons and a freshwater spring shape the landscape. Water from the spring drips over the rocks—a striking natural feature alongside the canyons. Tamshaly is used for ecotourism and recreation in nature.
Kapamsay Canyon offers a different experience: a grove of mulberry trees and hawthorns grows inside a grotto. The contrast between the rocky setting and the trees gives this natural site a different character from Tamshaly’s canyons and spring.
Visitors come to Bozzhyra for walks, photography tours, jeep tours and observing natural landscapes. These activities may be seasonal. If you plan to visit Bozzhyra, check in advance which activities are available during your travel dates.
Aktau and the Caspian Sea Waterfront
Aktau adds an urban focus on the Caspian Sea. The new waterfront promenade stretches for several kilometres along the sea. It includes a staircase measuring 102 metres long and 24 metres wide, as well as a cycle path. Boat trips along the shore of the Caspian Sea by catamaran or motorboat are offered from the promenade; some boat trips may vary by season. If specific infrastructure details are important to your plans, check the latest information before your visit.
Aktau International Airport is the airport serving the city of Aktau. Check flight connections and airport services separately when planning your journey.
Choose a Holiday Apartment Based on Your Travel Interests
If you want to focus on the waterfront promenade and boat trips on the Caspian Sea, you can choose Aktau as your search location. If you are mainly interested in historical sites or natural areas, focus your search on the places that matter to your trip. This way, you can choose a holiday apartment based on your own travel plans rather than a generalised impression of the region.
Explore More Subregions
For an overview of Mangystau’s subregions: Tupkaragan District, Munaily District, Zhanaozen and Beyneu.
Discover more destinations: East Kazakhstan, Zhambyl, Karaganda and Almaty.
For the main travel overview: Kazakhstan.
