Friday's Featured Food: Lagman in Almaty, Kazakhstan

Friday’s Featured Food: Lagman in Almaty, Kazakhstan

I had heard about a food called Lagman and never tried it until 2015, strangely I’ve now eaten it about 10 times! At the Almaty Backpackers in Almaty Kazakhstan, my hosts here Ginara and Rahat cooked it for us on the last night before I crossed the border into Kyrgyzstan. There was myself and Oliver from England Read more about Friday’s Featured Food: Lagman in Almaty, Kazakhstan[…]

Thirsty Thursdays: Top 5 Bars in Almaty, Kazakhstan

Almaty is a massive city, spreading far and wide in its elevation beneath the mountains of southern Kazakhstan. At first, finding a bar seemed like a difficult task for the walking backpacker. So I used my maps and advice from the staff at the Almaty Backpackers hostel and soon I knew I was able to Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: Top 5 Bars in Almaty, Kazakhstan[…]

Simply in awe of the mountains of Kazakhstan and Almaty Lake below

Backpacking in Kazakhstan: Day Trip to Ile Alatau National Park from Almaty

When I was based in Almaty Backpackers in Kazakhstan, I was keen to organise a trip out to the mountains. Almaty itself is a city on a high elevation and only 40 kilometres outside the city is the stunning Ile Alatau National Park. Getting to Ile Alatau National Park Getting here by Marshrutka or normal Read more about Backpacking in Kazakhstan: Day Trip to Ile Alatau National Park from Almaty[…]

Backpacking in Kazakhstan: Top 13 Sights in Almaty

Backpacking in Kazakhstan: Top 14 Sights in Almaty

On Christmas Eve 2015, I arrived in the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan. This city is huge, the biggest in Kazakhstan in fact, despite modern Astana being the capital city. I had flirted with Central Asia and “the Stans” a few times before, visiting Iraqi KurdiSTAN and PodjiSTAN as well as backpacking through Iran, Azerbaijan and Read more about Backpacking in Kazakhstan: Top 14 Sights in Almaty[…]

Backpacking in Kazakhstan: Staying at Almaty Backpackers

Backpacking in Kazakhstan: Staying at Almaty Backpackers/ Silk Road Hostel

I arrived early morning into the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan after what had been a pretty intense few weeks of travel (I toured Chernobyl and Auschwitz in consecutive weeks). It was Christmas Eve, there was snow in the air and I needed a place to stay. Step in, the cosy, family run Almaty Backpackers, Read more about Backpacking in Kazakhstan: Staying at Almaty Backpackers/ Silk Road Hostel[…]

World Borders: How to Get From Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan (Almaty to Bishkek by Marshrutky)

Before I decided on doing the border crossing between Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan, I did a bit of research into it. The reason being, I was travelling alone, it was my first time in this region and I wanted to make sure everything ran smoothly. In the winter time in the Stans, you also have to Read more about World Borders: How to Get From Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan (Almaty to Bishkek by Marshrutky)[…]