Unlikely tourist destinations: Kazakhstan

Ever since Borat, that quite famous comedy movie about a Kazakh exploring America, hit the theaters, I think many people started to associated Kazakhstan with a backwards, underdeveloped country with not much in the way of culture, and where the western ‘morals’ are defied in every possible way. Obviously, this depiction is far from the truth.

Kazakhstan has never been a booming tourist destination, but for completely different reasons. Kazakhstan is a rich country with some amazing natural sites, although it doesn’t have yet a clearly defined national identity, nor any very exciting historical monuments. Still, it is one of the most fascinating countries in Central Asia, and a good starting place for any comprehensive exploration of these parts of the continent. …