Kokshetau

Introducing Kokshetau

Though one of the country’s least affluent cities, Kokshetau, 290km north of Astana, is a friendly and pleasant enough jumping-off point for the community-ecotourism homestays located in a pretty rural area to its southwest, or for Lake Burabay. Have a stroll around the central area between Abay and Auezov, where you’ll find the main governmental buildings and several green park areas.

Contact the NGO Ekos (/fax 26 64 60; akmol-ekos@mail.ru; Chapaeva 37) at the west end of town to set up a trip to the ecotourism villages of Ayyrtau, Imantau or Sandyktau, about 80km to 100km southwest of Kokshetau. The main attraction here is the experience of village life amid unspoiled countryside with lakes, woodlands, rocky hills and walking and riding routes, green from spring to autumn. The homestays (per person with 0/1/2 meals 2060/2600/3000T) are mostly in modernised village homes, with friendly families. Guides cost 360T per hour, horses 1500T to 2000T per day, and local taxis 40T per kilometre. A 48-hour visit normally adds up to between 9000T and 18,000T per person in total. Buses from Kokshetau bus station run about five times daily to Imantau, 10 times to Sandyktau and 10 times to Saumalkol, 20km northwest of Ayyrtau (there are no buses to Ayyrtau itself). It’s a ride of about two hours, costing 300T, to any of the three places.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009