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Almaty

Though it lost its status as Kazakhstan's capital to Astana in 1997, Almaty is still the country's most popular city and is often referred to as the capital of the south. Located in the mountainous terrain of the Kazakh southeast, among the foothills of Trans-ili-Alatau mountains, it is surrounded by dramatic and beautiful terrain and remains the largest and most ethnically and culturally diverse city in Kazakhstan. It enjoys a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold winters.

Many visitors base themselves in the city to explore, hike and ski the mountains around and from the top of Kok Tobe, a mountain to the southeast which overlooks the city, tourists enjoy the views and a number of activities and entertainment including a small amusement park. Meanwhile, the city itself is perfect for strolling and contains many historical buildings including museums and cathedrals. What's more, there are a number of parks and a plethora of fountains.

EXPERIENCES

Almaty Central Stadium

A popular winter sport in Kazakhstan is bandy. Similar to hockey, it is played by skaters on ice with sticks. Almaty is home to the Federation of International Bandy and the Almaty Central Stadium hosts many well-attended and exciting international games.

Kazakh Museum of Arts

Almaty is the proud home of this museum, which houses the most comprehensive and diverse collection of art in the country. It features works from Russian and Western European artists as well as an entire floor dedicated to traditional and modern handicrafts made in Kazakhstan.

Kök Töbe

The highest point of the city, Kök Töbe mountain is over 3,600 feet above sea level and is home to a popular recreational area, accessible by cable car from the Palace at Dostyk in the city center. Visitors can enjoy sweeping views of the city as well as a small zoo, a rollercoaster and can even take pictures of the world’s only bronze statue of all four Beatles.

Oriental Calendar Fountain

One of the most famous and elaborate of Almaty’s 125 fountains, the Oriental Calendar Fountain features fabulous carved sculptures of the twelve animals in the Kazakh calendar, which cycles every twelve years and is similar to the Chinese version but with a snail instead of a dragon.

Panfilov Park

In the center of the city is an attractive square of lush green, perfect for relaxed strolling and picnicking in the warm summer months. In the middle stands the picture-perfect, candy-colored Zenkov Cathedral. Built in the early 20th century it is one of the only wooden cathedrals in the world.

kazakhstan Regions

KAZAKHSTAN Regions

Eastern

LAKE BALKHASH

Northern

BAYANAUL NATIONAL PARK

Southern

Western

PREFERRED HOTEL

Ritz-Carlton Almaty

Occupying the top ten floors of the Esentai Tower, the Ritz Carlton enjoys unrivalled views of Almaty and the sweeping, jagged, snow-peaked Ile-Alatau mountain range. Guests choosing to stay here have the best of both worlds with easy access to the city and all its famous historic sights as well as the ski slopes in the national park to the south. After a long day on the piste or exploring the city, guests can ascend the escalator into the luxurious surroundings and enjoy all that the hotel has to offer. With restaurants and bars decorated with the latest works from the hottest modern artists in the country, from cocktails with a view to sumptuous dishes prepared with expertise, dining and drinking at the Ritz Carlton is a feast for the senses. Rooms and suites boast stunning panoramas and are fitted with every modern convenience and comfort. Meanwhile, the acclaimed Six Senses Spa offers a retreat from the stresses of everyday life.

Hyatt Regency Almaty

Lying between the Alatau Mountains and the surrounding plains, the Hyatt Regency Almaty is a five-star hotel boasting some excellent facilities and even better views. As soon as you step inside the impressive lobby and are greeted by the friendly staff, the reasons become clear as to why this is one of the most popular hotels in town. The 285 elegant and well thought out rooms and suites include all the modern conveniences expected with a luxury hotel, such as air conditioning, mini-bar, high-speed Wi-Fi broadband and a satellite TV. Guests also have the choice of two fine restaurants. The Grill serves up mouth-watering steaks while the other, Dzhambul Restaurant, has a wide variety of local and international flavors on its menu. There’s also a beer garden out back – a great spot for sinking a few cool ones on a warm summer’s day.

The InterContinental Almaty

The InterContinental in Almaty is a luxury hotel sitting opposite the famous Presidential Palace in Republic Square. It’s the perfect location to see this popular attraction, as well as the city’s many others in this central area. The InterContinental’s rooms are big, bright and fresh with a whole list of facilities and services right on hand. The dining options are impressive too, with an excellent international breakfast buffet, Asian café, rooftop grill, Turkish restaurant and jazz bar. In the evening guests can enjoy relaxing in one of three bars, including a jazz bar and beer garden with light music and boardgames to wind down summer evenings. Elsewhere there is an indoor pool, children’s play area and tennis courts.

Rahat Palace

Once the only luxury five-star hotel in Central Asia, Rahat Palace Hotel in Kazakhstan still remains a comfortable and convenient accommodation option in Almaty to this day. With a city center location, all the surrounding attractions and amenities are close by, with easy access for exploring either on foot or by taxi. The nearby mountains are also a great excursion destination, either for day-trips or week-long adventures. The rooms here are spacious and clean with 24-hour room service, TVs, en-suite bathrooms and Wi-Fi. Great views across the Alatau Mountains and surrounding planes can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own room. The Rahat Palace Hotel boasts an impressive temperature-controlled indoor pool, along with a fine restaurant serving up national flavors alongside popular European and American dishes.

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