Kazakhstan: an Almaty retreat

What you can do

• Ride the Kok Tobe cable car for the first view over Almaty and the range behind it
• Drive up to Big Almaty Lake for turquoise water framed by peaks
• Skate or walk at Medeu and take the gondola to Shymbulak above it
• Spend an hour in the Green Bazaar for horse sausage, dried fruit and people watching

Food to try

Beshbarmak, boiled meat with flat noodles, is the national dish and is eaten with the hands by tradition. Try lagman, manti, kazy horse sausage and shubat or kumys if you are curious about fermented milk.

Culture & customs

Kazakh culture mixes nomadic tradition with Russian and Soviet influence, so Kazakh, Russian and English all appear in the city. Removing shoes indoors is normal and tea is poured half full as a sign of care.