If you want to combine vacation on the beach with active entertainment, you will probably like in Kazakhstan. Together with Anex Tour, we tell you what to do in Aktau.
We collected more ideas for vivid vacation here.
1. To lie on the beaches of the Caspian Sea
In fact, the Caspian Sea is a lake. It is called by sea because of salty water and size – this is the largest closed reservoir in the world. But such formalities do not affect the quality of rest. Caspian sea is warm and calm, and the entrance to the water on the beaches of Aktau is a gentle. This is especially important if you plan to travel with children or are afraid to swim in the depths.
Caspian beaches are suitable not only for a relaxing vacation. Here you can stand on the sapphboard, ride on a yacht and even immerse yourself with an aqualanga. Flora and Fauna of the Sea may be less diverse than in other resorts, but she also has something to surprise. For example, only here you can encounter a red -blown Caspian seal.
Image: Anex Tour
You can stay in Aktau at a hotel with your own beach, spa and Ultra All Inclusive. All this is in Rixos Water World Aktau – the Rixos Turkish Hotel, which was opened here in 2020. There are four pools, eight bars, two A’la Carte restaurants, sports grounds, hammams on the territory. And the hotel guests receive unlimited access to Tetysblu entertainment for all the time of residence.
Anex Tour will help to choose the ideal option. On the site or in the offices of the tour operator, you can buy a trip to Aktau lasting from 3 to 21 days. For entry into Kazakhstan, PCR tests and vaccination certificates are not needed. Guaranteed blocks of places on direct flights to Aktau are available from Moscow, Yekaterinburg and Ufa. And there are also docking flights – from Kazan and St. Petersburg. ANEX Tour experts will help book a hotel, find profitable flights (including the docking flights) and arrange insurance, and also organize a comfortable transfer to the hotel.
I want on vacation
2. Go along the rocky path
Image: Ureliy / Shutterstock
This is the name of a picturesque pedestrian route along the coast, which runs between a steep rock and the sea. The length of the path – 1.5 kilometers. It’s better to walk along it in the evening, when color backlight and music turn on – the road then becomes even more beautiful. But still it is better to come a little earlier than the onset of darkness in order to get admired by the sun by the sea.
There are also 24 viewing platforms on the rocky path, from which a view of the city and endless water surface with floating ships are opened. Here you can sit on a bench and slowly watch amazing landscapes.
3. Look into the underground mosques
Aktau is a small and young city, it is a little over 60 years old. Therefore, there are not many attractions on his streets. But in the vicinity there are enough of them.
So, not far from Aktau there are several underground mosques at once: Sultan -Ep, Shakpak -Ata, Beket -Ata, Karaman -Ata. They were cut down right in the rocks in the 9th – XII centuries and are considered sacred places. Therefore, to visit them, it is worth choosing closed clothes, but from light breathing fabrics – so that the heat does not interfere with a walk.
Outside the “walls” of mosques are not smooth, in some places they even have an interesting porous structure, similar to a sponge or chocolate. And the Sultan -Ep is completely laid out of st1. In the rooms inside it is also interesting: you can see decorative columns, carpets, light wells, ancient drawings and texts.
There is another attraction near the Karaman -Ata mosque – the medieval necropolis of the same name. Ancient burials of different tribes and eras were preserved there: Turkmen steles, Kazakh Saganatam, Mausoleums and stone monuments.
4. To be surprised by the nature of Kazakhstan
Image: Aureliy / Shutterstock
A couple of days of vacation should definitely be devoted to the study of landscapes of Western Kazakhstan. Nature here is bewitching, full of mysteries and really unique places. Traveling to them is easy to turn into a real adventure. Here are a few ideas.
- Solve the secret of the Torysh valley. In this place, many stone balls of different sizes were collected: from tiny to meters in diameter. They have been millions of years, and there are several versions of their appearance. Maybe the formation of spheres was facilitated by faults of tectonic plates, maybe plankton, who lived in the ancient ocean of aunt, or maybe truthful one of the local legends, and balls are the nuclei of a huge giant gun? Get to the valley and decide what you believe in.
- Look at the “Sleeping Leo”. Such an unusual form has a lonely standing Mount Sherkal, its name is even translated as “Lion Fortress”. And under the rays of the sun, the top of the mountain looks golden, like an animal mane.
- Count the layers of Mount Bokty. Its peak is encircled by circles from different shades of brown and beige, and the foot flows red, yellow, blue, pink and white. Therefore, from afar, the boxes resemble a cake or puff pie.
- Look into the hollow of the zhygylgan. This basin with a diameter of several kilometers was formed here because of the collapse of a soft clay breed. You can inspect the cavity on top, but it is more interesting to go down: there is a view of the huge rocky walls and traces of saber -toothed tigers are hidden. And not far from Zhygylgan is a small salty lake of Kuzdakara, sometimes taking the shape of a heart.
- Explore Kapamsai canyon. This is a huge corridor of high chalk walls of different shades of white and beige. It is believed that a big deep river has once flowed here. Now in the canyon is dry, but the plants are still alive – in one place a grotto with a green grove has even formed.
It is better to explore the nature of Kazakhstan with a guide. It may not be easy to do it on your own: to get to most attractions, a jeep is a jeep. Organized excursions from ANEX Tour go on just on such machines: experienced guide drivers are sitting behind the wheel, who know the way very well.
There are seven excursions in Kazakhstan in the tour operator’s catalog, each of which lasts a whole day and includes several natural and historical monuments at once. If you stay at Rixos Water World Aktau, you can save on these trips. For accommodation in Deluxe Room for a period of 10 days you will receive a 50% discount on one excursion, and when living in other numbers for 7 days and longer than one tour – free.
Go to Aktau
5. Try Fishbarmak
This is an unusual version of the traditional Beshbarmak, which is prepared in the west of Kazakhstan. Instead of meat, fish caught in the Caspian Sea are added to it. Otherwise, the recipe remains unchanged: potatoes, dough layers and onions. By the way, the main fish in Aktau is an air. Steaks, cutlets for burgers, soups, sleds and, in fact, Fishbarmak are preparing from it here.
In addition to fish during vacation, you should try other local dishes:
- Kurt. Salt sour -milk product that looks like a white ball. It can be added to soups and salads or eat yourself like a snack.
- Shubat. Camel. It quickly spoils, so it is not exported – it will be very difficult to try outside Kazakhstan.
- Koumiss. Also a fermented milk drink, but already from mare’s milk.
- KAZI and Misclable. Konina sausages. The first is prepared from a solid piece of meat, the second – from chopped. Another konina snack – Sur, jerky.
- Desserts and sweets. Zhant, Balkimak, Baursaki, Bucket, Chuck -Chak, Imshik – and this is not a complete list.
6. Bring home to Kurak Corpet or Oyu Corpet
Image: Vladimir Konstantinov / Shutterstock
Kuraku Corpet is a traditional patchwork blanket, and oy corpe is a blanket with national patterns, for example, “lamb horns”, “stars” or “the eyes of a camel”. Both are sewn from Plush, velor or velvet, manually forming a colorful mosaic, and then filled with wool, cotton or fluff.
Such a blanket, according to belief, is not just a beautiful interior detail. It brings good luck, wealth, well -being and helps to rally the family. If a whole corpet does not fit into the suitcase, instead of it you can take a smaller national textile, but executed in the same technique. For example, pillowcases or rug. Or take a closer look at other traditional souvenirs: silver jewelry, skullcaps or felt slippers.
We collected more ideas for vivid vacation here.
1. To lie on the beaches of the Caspian Sea
In fact, the Caspian Sea is a lake. It is called by sea because of salty water and size – this is the largest closed reservoir in the world. But such formalities do not affect the quality of rest. Caspian sea is warm and calm, and the entrance to the water on the beaches of Aktau is a gentle. This is especially important if you plan to travel with children or are afraid to swim in the depths.
Caspian beaches are suitable not only for a relaxing vacation. Here you can stand on the sapphboard, ride on a yacht and even immerse yourself with an aqualanga. Flora and Fauna of the Sea may be less diverse than in other resorts, but she also has something to surprise. For example, only here you can encounter a red -blown Caspian seal.
Image: Anex Tour
You can stay in Aktau at a hotel with your own beach, spa and Ultra All Inclusive. All this is in Rixos Water World Aktau – the Rixos Turkish Hotel, which was opened here in 2020. There are four pools, eight bars, two A’la Carte restaurants, sports grounds, hammams on the territory. And the hotel guests receive unlimited access to Tetysblu entertainment for all the time of residence.
Anex Tour will help to choose the ideal option. On the site or in the offices of the tour operator, you can buy a trip to Aktau lasting from 3 to 21 days. For entry into Kazakhstan, PCR tests and vaccination certificates are not needed. Guaranteed blocks of places on direct flights to Aktau are available from Moscow, Yekaterinburg and Ufa. And there are also docking flights – from Kazan and St. Petersburg. ANEX Tour experts will help book a hotel, find profitable flights (including the docking flights) and arrange insurance, and also organize a comfortable transfer to the hotel.
I want on vacation
2. Go along the rocky path
Image: Ureliy / Shutterstock
This is the name of a picturesque pedestrian route along the coast, which runs between a steep rock and the sea. The length of the path – 1.5 kilometers. It’s better to walk along it in the evening, when color backlight and music turn on – the road then becomes even more beautiful. But still it is better to come a little earlier than the onset of darkness in order to get admired by the sun by the sea.
There are also 24 viewing platforms on the rocky path, from which a view of the city and endless water surface with floating ships are opened. Here you can sit on a bench and slowly watch amazing landscapes.
3. Look into the underground mosques
Aktau is a small and young city, it is a little over 60 years old. Therefore, there are not many attractions on his streets. But in the vicinity there are enough of them.
So, not far from Aktau there are several underground mosques at once: Sultan -Ep, Shakpak -Ata, Beket -Ata, Karaman -Ata. They were cut down right in the rocks in the 9th – XII centuries and are considered sacred places. Therefore, to visit them, it is worth choosing closed clothes, but from light breathing fabrics – so that the heat does not interfere with a walk.
Outside the “walls” of mosques are not smooth, in some places they even have an interesting porous structure, similar to a sponge or chocolate. And the Sultan -Ep is completely laid out of st1. In the rooms inside it is also interesting: you can see decorative columns, carpets, light wells, ancient drawings and texts.
There is another attraction near the Karaman -Ata mosque – the medieval necropolis of the same name. Ancient burials of different tribes and eras were preserved there: Turkmen steles, Kazakh Saganatam, Mausoleums and stone monuments.
4. To be surprised by the nature of Kazakhstan
Image: Aureliy / Shutterstock
A couple of days of vacation should definitely be devoted to the study of landscapes of Western Kazakhstan. Nature here is bewitching, full of mysteries and really unique places. Traveling to them is easy to turn into a real adventure. Here are a few ideas.
- Solve the secret of the Torysh valley. In this place, many stone balls of different sizes were collected: from tiny to meters in diameter. They have been millions of years, and there are several versions of their appearance. Maybe the formation of spheres was facilitated by faults of tectonic plates, maybe plankton, who lived in the ancient ocean of aunt, or maybe truthful one of the local legends, and balls are the nuclei of a huge giant gun? Get to the valley and decide what you believe in.
- Look at the “Sleeping Leo”. Such an unusual form has a lonely standing Mount Sherkal, its name is even translated as “Lion Fortress”. And under the rays of the sun, the top of the mountain looks golden, like an animal mane.
- Count the layers of Mount Bokty. Its peak is encircled by circles from different shades of brown and beige, and the foot flows red, yellow, blue, pink and white. Therefore, from afar, the boxes resemble a cake or puff pie.
- Look into the hollow of the zhygylgan. This basin with a diameter of several kilometers was formed here because of the collapse of a soft clay breed. You can inspect the cavity on top, but it is more interesting to go down: there is a view of the huge rocky walls and traces of saber -toothed tigers are hidden. And not far from Zhygylgan is a small salty lake of Kuzdakara, sometimes taking the shape of a heart.
- Explore Kapamsai canyon. This is a huge corridor of high chalk walls of different shades of white and beige. It is believed that a big deep river has once flowed here. Now in the canyon is dry, but the plants are still alive – in one place a grotto with a green grove has even formed.
It is better to explore the nature of Kazakhstan with a guide. It may not be easy to do it on your own: to get to most attractions, a jeep is a jeep. Organized excursions from ANEX Tour go on just on such machines: experienced guide drivers are sitting behind the wheel, who know the way very well.
There are seven excursions in Kazakhstan in the tour operator’s catalog, each of which lasts a whole day and includes several natural and historical monuments at once. If you stay at Rixos Water World Aktau, you can save on these trips. For accommodation in Deluxe Room for a period of 10 days you will receive a 50% discount on one excursion, and when living in other numbers for 7 days and longer than one tour – free.
Go to Aktau
5. Try Fishbarmak
This is an unusual version of the traditional Beshbarmak, which is prepared in the west of Kazakhstan. Instead of meat, fish caught in the Caspian Sea are added to it. Otherwise, the recipe remains unchanged: potatoes, dough layers and onions. By the way, the main fish in Aktau is an air. Steaks, cutlets for burgers, soups, sleds and, in fact, Fishbarmak are preparing from it here.
In addition to fish during vacation, you should try other local dishes:
- Kurt. Salt sour -milk product that looks like a white ball. It can be added to soups and salads or eat yourself like a snack.
- Shubat. Camel. It quickly spoils, so it is not exported – it will be very difficult to try outside Kazakhstan.
- Koumiss. Also a fermented milk drink, but already from mare’s milk.
- KAZI and Misclable. Konina sausages. The first is prepared from a solid piece of meat, the second – from chopped. Another konina snack – Sur, jerky.
- Desserts and sweets. Zhant, Balkimak, Baursaki, Bucket, Chuck -Chak, Imshik – and this is not a complete list.
6. Bring home to Kurak Corpet or Oyu Corpet
Image: Vladimir Konstantinov / Shutterstock
Kuraku Corpet is a traditional patchwork blanket, and oy corpe is a blanket with national patterns, for example, “lamb horns”, “stars” or “the eyes of a camel”. Both are sewn from Plush, velor or velvet, manually forming a colorful mosaic, and then filled with wool, cotton or fluff.
Such a blanket, according to belief, is not just a beautiful interior detail. It brings good luck, wealth, well -being and helps to rally the family. If a whole corpet does not fit into the suitcase, instead of it you can take a smaller national textile, but executed in the same technique. For example, pillowcases or rug. Or take a closer look at other traditional souvenirs: silver jewelry, skullcaps or felt slippers.