Pavlodar: Lakes, Nature and Sacred Sites
Accommodation in Pavlodar
Four lakes at the foot of the Bayanaul mountain range are a distinctive natural feature of the Pavlodar Region; the best-known is Lake Jasybay. In summer, many tourists come to swim in the lakes of Bayanaul. The Irtysh also helps to define the region geographically: Pavlodar Region lies along Kazakhstan’s largest river. At the same time, reasons to travel here range from nature and water to sacred sites and a ski resort. You can choose what to see in Pavlodar based on the focus that interests you most.
Bulka Mountain in Bayanaul National Park, Pavlodar Region.
Photo: Timur Jansultan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lakes, plant life and special natural attractions
There are 552 plant species in Bayanaul National Park, five of which are listed in Kazakhstan’s Red Book. The argali is also among the mammals in the national park that are listed in the Red Book. Visitors to the national park can also see the Konyr-Aulie Cave. So, when considering Bayanaul for your trip, you can take into account not only the lakes but also plant species, the argali and a named cave as different points of interest.
Another important tourist destination in the region is the Shaldai pine forest. Together with the natural attractions in Bayanaul, it offers another way to shape your stay around your interest in landscapes and nature. Whether lakes, the national park or the pine forest tips the balance is a useful question to consider when deciding which part of the region should be the focus of your trip.
Sacred sites and regional culture
Sacred sites also shape the tourist opportunities in Pavlodar. The region’s register of tourist routes and trails includes 89 routes, 66 of which lead to sacred sites. Tourism companies regularly run tours along these routes. For a trip focused on culture, this variety offers a concrete starting point without reducing all the routes to a single destination.
The Isabek Ishan Hazret mausoleum complex is located in the rural area of Ekibastuz and attracts thousands of tourists and pilgrims. The Akbidayyk petroglyphs, which are among the region’s oldest sacred sites, are also included among the region’s sacred places. These offer different points of interest: you can use a mausoleum complex or petroglyphs as a reason to include sacred sites in your travel plans.
A different kind of trip: Myrzashoky
Those considering skiing as the main focus will find a different kind of trip at the Myrzashoky ski base near the village of Karazhar than one centred on lakes, nature and culture. The ski resort opened in 2019. It has ski runs 960 metres long and a cable car.
When choosing a holiday apartment or house, your preferred focus can be a useful starting point: if you have your sights set mainly on lakes and natural attractions, you will have different priorities from someone making sacred sites or the ski resort the focus of their trip. If you are travelling with family, you can discuss this together before deciding which experiences should take centre stage.
Discover more destinations
Other destinations within the regional administrative divisions include Ekibastuz District, Kurchatov, Pavlodar and Kok-Tobe. Other destinations: East Kazakhstan, Karaganda, Astana and Zhambyl.
Go to the main travel overview: Kazakhstan.
