Kazakhstan Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

Central Asia, north of Uzbekistan.

Language

The official language is Kazakh, a Turkic language closely related to Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Turkmen and Turkish. The government has begun to replace the Russian Cyrillic alphabet with the Turkish version of the Roman alphabet. Meanwhile, the Cyrillic alphabet is in general use and most people in the cities can speak Russian, whereas country people tend to only speak Kazakh. English is usually spoken by those involved in tourism. Uygur and other regional languages and dialects are also spoken.

Area

2,717,300 sq km (1,049,150 sq miles).

Time Zone

Kazakhstan is divided into three time zones: Eastern zone: GMT + 6. Central zone (including Astana): GMT + 5. Western zone: GMT + 4.

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin continental plugs are standard.

Population

15.6 million (2009).

Population Density

5.7 per sq km.

Capital City

Astana (formerly called Akmola). Population: 700,000 (2007).

Government

Republic.

Head of Government

Prime Minister Karim Masimov since 2007.

Head of State

President Nursultan Abish-uly Nazarbayev since 1991.

Religion

Mainly Sunni Muslim. There are Russian Orthodox and Jewish minorities. There are 10 independent denominations of Christianity. The Kazakhs do not express their religious feelings fervently – Kazakhstan is an outlying district of the Muslim world and a meeting point of Russian, Chinese and Central Asian civilisations. Islam plays a minor role in policy and there are no significant Islamic political organisations in the country.

Recent History

As the only candidate at the presidential election in December 1991, Nazarbayev won 98% of the vote. He has been since been re-elected three times (in 1995, 1999 and 2005). In the most recent elections in December 2005, President Nazarbayev won over 90% of the vote, an election which the opposition claimed to be rigged. International observers also reported serious flaws in the electoral process.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +7 6,+7 7. International calls can be made at a reduced rate from 2000-0800 local time. All major cities are equipped with card operated phones. Cards can be purchased at kiosks, and can be used to make international calls. The best card to make international calls with is an i-card+.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good around the main cities.

Internet

There are Internet cafes in most towns and cities. Internet access is also available in major hotels, but services are usually more expensive than in cafes.

Media

Post

Full postal facilities are available at main post offices in the cities, which are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The main post office in Almaty is located on Ulitsa Kurmangazy. International postal communication is undertaken by the firms Blitz-Pochta, International Press and Press Limited.
Delivery within the republic takes three to five days. Post to Western Europe and the USA takes between two to three weeks. Mail addresses should be laid out in the following order: country, postcode, city, street, house number and, lastly, the person's name. Visitors can also use post offices located within major hotels.Mon-Fri 0900-1800.

Press

• The most popular dailies are Ekspress K, Kazakhstanskaya Pravda and Yegemen Kazakhstan.

Radio

• Kazakh Radio is state owned.
• Private stations include Europa Plus and Khabar Hit FM.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
16 Dec - 17 Dec Independence Day

2011
1 Jan New Year
7 Jan Russian Orthodox Christmas
8 Mar International Women’s Day
22 Mar Nauryz Meyrami (Traditional Spring Holiday)
1 May Kazakhstan People’s Unity Day
9 May Victory Day
30 Aug Constitution Day
25 Oct Republic Day
7 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
16 Dec - 17 Dec Independence Day

2012
1 Jan New Year
7 Jan Russian Orthodox Christmas
8 Mar International Women’s Day
22 Mar Nauryz Meyrami (Traditional Spring Holiday)
1 May Kazakhstan People’s Unity Day
9 May Victory Day
30 Aug Constitution Day
25 Oct Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
25 Oct Republic Day
16 Dec Independence Day
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information

British Embassy in Kazakhstan

6the Floor, Renco Building, 62 Kosmonavtov Street, Astana, Kazakhstan
Tel: (7172) 556200.
Website: www.ukinkz.fco.gov.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 0900-1730, Fri 0900-1600.

State Agency for Tourism and Sport

Mukhtar Auezor 126, Astana 473000, Kazakhstan
Tel: (3272) 396 638.
Website: www.kazsport.kz

Hotel Complex Otrar and Travel & Air Agency

ul Gogolya 73, Hotel Otrar, Almaty 480002, Kazakhstan
Tel: (3272) 730 075/045.
Website: www.group.kz

Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the UK

33 Thurloe Square, London SW7 2SD, UK
Tel: (020) 7581 4646 (ext 207/8 for visa section) or 09065 508 978 (recorded visa information; calls cost £1 per minute).
Website: www.kazakhstanembassy.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1830; Mon-Fri 0900-1200 (consular section, closed Wednesdays except for nationals of Kazakhstan and closed on Kazakhstan national holidays).

Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the USA

1401 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Tel: (202) 232 5488.
Website: www.kazakhembus.com