Astana, Kazakhstan - November 2008

by Paul Craven, Country Director Central Asia.

Kazakhstan's new capital is 10 years old. Arriving in the early hours of the morning whilst it is still dark you go, whilst looking out of the aircraft window, from a landscape of complete darkness to a festive circle of lights. The whole city is visible encircled by lines of twinkling yellow dots demarking the roads that form the city's boundary.





A city created from an existing ex-Soviet trading post it has expanded greatly. It is full of glitzy buildings including the Bayterek Tower, a steel frame pinched in the middle like a curvaceous model with a viewing dome on top. It offers panoramic views of the city including the Presidential Palace and the Pyramid designed by Norman Foster.





Astana also boasts an oceanarium, the one which is located furthest from any sea or ocean. Located in the vast steppe lands of central Kazakhstan there are few excursions so an immersion in modern city architecture is what draws most visitors. More are being built and new bridges link the various parts of the city. A river beach has been created in addition to large parks and wide open squares. Because the surrounding landscape is flat the sunsets are a continuous barrier of orange that appears to form a fiery wall between earth and sky.

There are some good hotels, the best being the 5* SAS Radisson which also boasts the best night club in town, 'Chocolat' although its existence in no way interferes with the peacefulness of the hotel. There are also two other 5* properties, the Rixos President and the Intercontinental with more promised although a new 4* hotel built to resemble a piece of China with brightly decorated archways and two 3* hotels, the Douma and the Diplomat are also on offer. There are a number of themed restaurants about the city, also built in their own distinct national styles including a Georgian restaurant and an Uzbek/Kazakh restaurant where local dancers entertain and a band plays through dinner. Astana can be added to any visit to Central Asia but is best combined with other parts of Kazakhstan and Kyrghyzstan. It is linked to Tashkent in Uzbekistan by air and the U.K. via Vienna with Austrian Airlines.

For more information please do not hesitate to ring Paul on 01285 651010. More information on Kazakhstan Click here