russia/west kazakstan
 

Im planning a trip for russia west kazakstan.
in the beginning of my plans for the trip, any know who has been there before and have any suggestions or tips are more then welcome.
I read on the internet that some places in west part of kazakstan is forbidden to visit as a tourist ? any one that knows anything about that ?

'russia west kazakhstan' is a huge area. Maybe you could get a guidebook.

Mangystau region in SW Kazakhstan is very interesting, other parts of western Kazakhstan are not.

There are some border regions of Kazakhstan along the Chinese border where foreigners need a permit, but nothing in the region I think you're talking about.

Baikonur is leased to Russia for its space programme and is off limits to foreigners except by special permission. Tours do exists and you can watch a launch, but it's expensive and takes time to organise. However the road goes past the town so it needn't worry you if you're passing by. Other than that the only restricted areas I'm aware of are towards the east and the Chinese/Kyrgyz border.

Places to visit, as you get further east into KZ you will find an awful lot of steppe and some pretty uninspiring towns. This is my favourite review of one, especially the visitor comments.

The area round the Caspian Sea and if you fancy going off road, the Ustyurt Plateau, are nice though. Most EU countries have 15 days visa free in KZ, just be sure to keep your immigration card that they give you on the border, register at a major city within 3 days and hand the card back when you leave. Caravanistan is a great source of info for touring the country.

All EU countries have 30 days visa free. See, Consular issues

Although I am not sure, I think there is no need of registration either. It is the visa you are supposed to register.

If you enter at a major KZ border post they may register you on arrival. You will know if they have done this because you will get 2 stamps on your white immigration card. They need an address for this but they won't check, if in doubt just write down your first hotel. If you don't get 2 stamps you will need to register at an OVIR office. Failure to do this will result in difficulty and maybe fines when trying to leave the country, as will losing the immigration card.

They have tightened up on registration a lot recently, foreigners have always needed to register but now all citizens of KZ also have to do this, it's caused quite a fuss. So don't underestimate the importance the authorities attach to it.

Hi,

I will be in Astrakhan in a few weeks and wondered whether a one day visit to Kazakhstan is possible? I'm a UK citizen so part of the visa free regime.

Just don't want to spend all morning queuing to get in and then all afternoon queuing to get out again!

Thanks

Possible if you just need to say 'I have been to Kazakhstan'

Otherwise, probably a waste of time. The area on the other side of the border is absolutely flat and featureless, plus the road is really bad for part of the way to Atyrau.

If you manage to make it to Atyrau with enough time to get back in the same day, you won't have any time to do anything, and it's not a very nice place either.

With a week to play with, it could be worthwhile. A day is nothing.

Beyneu and Atyrau are both places provisionally planned on my own route and neither gets great writeups. Is there a better westwards route from Uzbekistan though Russia or do you just need to tolerate these? Anything worth seeing/doing in Atyrau?

Where are you going from / to?

Mangystau region in the far south-west of Kazakhstan is perhaps the most interesting part of the country, and almost certainly the best for off-roading. But apart from this there is almost nothing worth seeing, and Astrakhan is not exactly the most amazing city in Russia.

It depends where you're aiming for in Russia though, and when you're making the trip.

I would rather see the Aral Sea and try to pass Baikonur when there's a space launch than go all the way through the boring desert of northern UZ and western KZ. You could then aim for Chelyabinsk in Russia and take some nice roads through the South Urals. That said, this is hardly world-class scenery. And I wouldn't do it in winter on a bike.

Best option might be to cross to Baku from Aktau and then into Russia from there, at least you'll see the Caucasus which really are worth as much time as you can spare.

There is really nothing interesting in Atyrau, unless you meet some people to hang out with. You could drive down to Damba and try to reach the muddy Ural delta, but it's all flat.

If you're interested in history, there is the archaeological site of Saraichik a bit north of Atyrau, but I think there is very little to see. It was a Silk Road city of the Golden Horde.

EO

Thanks.... I'm working in Almaty and the plan is when I leave this job in a few years to buy a bike and overland back to UK. Probably taking in the Pamir Highway then up through the old Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan, Russia to Ukraine and thence to Poland and Europe. Without time or money pressure I should be able to look around so I'm interested in the best of what the route has to offer. Done plenty of riding, on and off road, some longish rides but nothing like this. It'll be an experience :)

Sounds like a nice idea.

I spent a bit more than 2.5 years travelling in all the countries of the Former USSR (and a similar amount in the countries to the south), maybe you'd like to have a look at my website (link below) for some ideas on what the whole region looks like.

Good luck, enjoy the planning,

EO

Hi. if you stay the 30 days and then leave, can you re enter the next day re starting your 30 days?
Thanks Chris.

Yesterday And today I was driving Motorcycle from Astrakan to Beyneu stoping in Atyrau. From Russian border to Atyrau tehe road is disaster, took me 8 hours to drive from Atyrau to Beyneu it s OK.
Nothing much to see, horses, camels,cows,sheep and plain.

bibi


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Nice things are placed in Aktau area (Mangistau as was written), Usturt plateau. Besides is nothing to see until you come to Almaty area , or East part of Kazakhstan.
If it is still actual i can sent some points of interest...

Hi Rinat,

this would be great. I will pass KZ next spring.

Greetings from Europe
Ferdi