Almaty

Almaty – is the largest city in Kazakhstan, located on the south-east of of Kazakhstan, in the foothills of Zailiyskiy Alatau. Almaty is always considered as a garden city, surrounded by magnificent Tien Shan firs. For many centuries in a row, the snowy peaks of the mighty Zailiyskiy Alatau, soaring to the sky, create the impression of a majestic guard. The fragrance of the gardens, the emerald tops of the famous Alatau firs and poplars, the rapid mountain currents, the abundance of bustling markets, the revival of the freshness of the city fountains, the brilliance of palaces and squares make an unforgettable impression on the guests of the southern capital - Almaty.

It is commonly known that the city of Almaty is rightfully considered the center of culture and art of the country, the leading theater, art, museum and library organizations of the country are concentrated here. As of today, there are 14 theaters in Almaty city. Almost all major state theaters of the republic are located here. Annual anniversaries, personal exhibitions of talented masters of fine arts, creative evenings and reporting concerts of prominent public figures and cultural figures are held here. There are 25 museums and museum houses in Almaty city.

Young people are attracted by the nightlife of the city, a large abundance of nightclubs, karaoke and lounge bars to suit any taste. Almaty has become the center of the country's nightlife. It has the largest concentration of night facilities. Even in the middle of the working week there are thousands of night owls ready to have fun until the morning.
Some go to nightclubs; others go for a walk around the city. There are plenty of places where fun does not fall asleep at the latest hour. Young people gather, play guitars and arrange impromptu performances. Kapchagay Reservoir - is a major reservoir in Almaty Region in southeastern Kazakhstan, approximately 80 kilometers north of Almaty (30 minutes), which vaguely resembles Las Vegas. Kapchagay is the name of the largest water reservoirs in Kazakhstan that became a gambling paradise for the casino lovers. Kapchagay has a huge variety of casinos, ranging from middle-class entertainment centers to luxury high-grade casinos, where there are high quality standards, many entertainment, developed infrastructure, faultless provision of services.

KOK-TOBE

Kok-Tobe Mountain is the highest point of Almaty city. It is a popular holiday destination for Almaty residents and all city guests. He mountain's height is 1100 meters above sea level and is one of the main landmarks in the city.
The Kok Tobe recreation area has many attractions and restaurants. Kok-Tobe connects to the city with a cable car, climbing which you can see the whole city as in the palm of your hand. There is a TV tower, 372 meters high at the foot of the mountain, which is visible from all over the city.

Kok Tobe park has many cultural and social facilities, such as a fountain of desire "Alma" ( in the shape of an apple), a climbing wall, a children's playground, , the Fast Coaster ride, an art gallery, mini-zoo, a Yurt restaurant, a teahouse, etc.
In 2007, the monument to the British band The Beatles was opened on the mountain (author - E. Kazaryan, Almaty sculptor). The territory is a single park complex that is convenient for the family walks.

MEDEU

Medeu is the most high-mountain complex for winter kinds of sport with the largest area of artificial ice field — 10.5 thousand m².
In honor of the nomad Medeu this beautiful mountain valley was named who lived in this picturesque area in the last century. After the modernization, the rink was improved, more than 120 world records were set here by famous athletes.

To appreciate the beauty of this picturesque ice rink, you can go to the high point by climbing a famous ladder. It was named Mokhnatka because of its thick covering trees. At the beginning of the last century there was a grotto monastery, pilgrims still come and hold a worship service.

SHYMBULAK

The Shymbylak ski resort is located in the upper part of the Medeu Valley. This amazing resort is literally buried in verdure and forests and is located very close to the city of Almaty.
There are a wide variety of ski slopes, starting with simple and gentle for beginners and ending with steep slopes of up to 45 degrees.

CHARYN CANYON

Charyn Canyon is located on the territory of the Charyn National Park, created with the aim of preserving natural and geological objects. The park is home to a large number of rare and endangered species of animals listed in the Red Book.

In the Sarytogay tract, on the territory of the park, there are protected forests, where one of the most unique trees on earth grows - the Sogdian ash, which existed in the Paleogene era. Ash Grove is unique, the second such grove is located in North America. Ash Grove is a specially protected natural monument under the auspices of UNESCO. The grove is approximately 5 million years old.

However, the most famous attraction of the park is the Charyn Canyon. This is a picturesque natural area that amazes with its unearthly landscapes. The depth of the canyon is 200 m. The height of the sheer mountains of the canyon reaches 150-300 m. The canyon itself is a natural monument, made up of sedimentary rocks that are 12 million years old. The landscapes here are truly amazing. At sunset, when the sun goes down the horizon, the Charyn Canyon turns scarlet, pink and orange. There is silence all around and only from below you can hear how the turbulent streams of the Charyn River beat against the sheer cliffs. This spectacle will not leave anyone indifferent.
One of the attractions of the canyon is the so-called Valley of Castles - these are rocky deposits resembling towers in shape, which seemed to have been created by unknown giants. The valley of castles is more than 2 km long, and the width in different places reaches from 20 to 80 m.

CENTRAL STATE MUSEUM OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

The Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan is one of the largest and oldest museums in Central Asia. The museum was opened in 1931 in Alma-Ata, in a beautiful building of the former Cathedral. It is a unique architectural structure built in 1904-1907 by architect A. Zenkov, was one of the few buildings that survived the massive earthquake in 1911.

In 1985 a new modern museum building was built by the architects Yu.Ratushny, Z. Mustafina, B. Rzgaliev. Total area is 17 557 square meters. There are art galleries and 4 exhibition halls in three-storied building. The museum publishes collections of studies, devoted to the history of Kazakhstan and Museology.

Today the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan includes more than two hundred thousand exhibits. The first exposition hall consists of two sections – archeology and paleontology. The paleontology hall presents fragments of fossilized trees, insects and fish prints. Some of the exhibits are more than one million years. Another section of the exhibition includes ancient objects found in archaeological expeditions in Kazakhstan, thanks to it, you can get acquainted with the ancient history of the country. Here are the ancient gold objects, reconstruction of burial structures and outbuildings, as well as other valuable archaeological finds. The Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan can rightfully be considered one of the best structures of modern architecture in Kazakhstan.