Best Time to Visit Kazakhstan

The short answer: May–June and September are the best months to visit Kazakhstan for most travellers. The mountains are open, the cities are pleasant, the deserts are bearable and prices have not hit their summer peak. July and August are ideal for high mountain lakes, hiking and the northern lakes of Borovoe, but hot in the south and the deserts. December to March is ski season around Almaty and seriously cold everywhere else.

Kazakhstan is the ninth-largest country in the world, so “the best time” depends heavily on where you are going. The climate is sharply continental: hot, dry summers and long, cold winters, with the far north among the coldest inhabited places in Asia and the southern deserts regularly passing 40°C. This guide sets out the seasons, a month-by-month table, and which places are best at which time of year. For detailed climate data by region, see our Kazakhstan weather and climate guide.

Kazakhstan's Seasons at a Glance

• Spring (April–May): short and beautiful. The steppe and deserts turn green, wild tulips bloom in the south, and Almaty's apple and apricot trees flower. Mountain passes and high trails are still snowbound until late May, and April can be wet and muddy.
• Summer (June–August): peak season. Everything in the mountains is open, from Big Almaty Lake to the Kolsai trails, and the northern lakes are warm enough to swim. The south and west are very hot (35–45°C), and afternoon thunderstorms are common in the mountains.
• Autumn (September–October): arguably the best season. September is stable and clear, with golden larch and birch in the mountains and harvest markets full of fruit. By late October the first snow closes high trails and nights are cold.
• Winter (November–March): long and cold. Almaty is manageable at around −5 to −10°C on typical days, and its ski resorts are the main draw. Astana and the north regularly see −25°C and below, with vicious wind chill.

Kazakhstan Month by Month

Typical daytime high / night-time low in °C. These are rounded long-term averages: individual days can be far hotter or colder, and temperatures fall by roughly 6°C for every 1,000m you climb into the mountains.

Inland Mangystau is considerably hotter than coastal Aktau in summer, often above 40°C, and the Astana figures do not show the wind, which can make −20°C feel like −35°C.

Best Places to Visit in Kazakhstan in Summer

Summer (June to August) is the only time every mountain road and trail is reliably open, and it is when Kazakhs themselves head for the hills and lakes. These are the best summer places, roughly in order of how much summer improves them:

1. Kolsai Lakes

The three Kolsai Lakes, about 300km east of Almaty, are the classic summer trip. The trail from the lower to the middle lake is usually clear of snow from June, and the upper lake is realistically a July–August objective. Guesthouses in Saty fill up at weekends, so book ahead.

2. Lake Kaindy

Lake Kaindy, the sunken forest near Kolsai, is at its most intense blue from late May to early July, when snowmelt keeps the water level high. The rough access road from Saty is easiest in dry summer weather.

3. Big Almaty Lake and the Almaty mountains

Big Almaty Lake at about 2,500m is most turquoise from July to September, when the ice is long gone and glacial silt colours the water. It is an easy half-day from the city. Check current access rules before you go, as the road passes through a protected water-supply area.

4. Shymbulak in summer

Shymbulak is not just a ski resort. From June to September the cable cars from Medeu keep running and carry hikers up towards the Talgar Pass at over 3,000m, where there are cool air, wildflowers and views over the Zailiysky Alatau — a welcome escape when Almaty is at 30°C.

5. Borovoe (Burabay)

Borovoe, the pine-forest lake district a few hours north of Astana, is Kazakhstan's favourite summer holiday resort. July and August bring warm water for swimming, boat trips and cycling; it gets busy at weekends and during school holidays.

6. The Caspian coast at Aktau

If you want a beach, Aktau on the Caspian Sea has a proper summer beach season from June to September. Just do not plan long desert excursions into Mangystau in July and August.

Where not to go in summer

The deserts and the south. Turkestan, Shymkent, Charyn Canyon, Altyn-Emel and Mangystau all regularly reach 35–45°C in July and August. They can be visited, but only very early in the morning; you will enjoy them much more in spring or autumn.

Best Places in Spring (April–May)

Spring is when Kazakhstan's dry landscapes are at their best: green, flowering and not yet baking.

• Charyn Canyon: comfortable walking temperatures for the Valley of Castles trail, from mid-April.
• Altyn-Emel National Park: the Singing Dune and the striped Aktau and Katutau mountains are best before the summer heat; wildlife is active.
• Mangystau: Boszhira, Sherkala and the underground mosques are ideal in April and May, with cool nights for camping.
• Turkestan and Shymkent: the southern Silk Road cities are pleasant from March to May, and wild tulips flower on the steppe around them.
• Almaty: blossom in April, and the lower foothill trails open.

Best Places in Autumn (September–October)

September combines almost all the advantages of summer with none of the heat. It is the single month when you can realistically do mountains, canyons, deserts and cities on one trip.

• Mountains: golden larch at Kolsai and Kaindy in late September, and fewer people.
• Canyons and deserts: Charyn, Altyn-Emel and Mangystau through October.
• Food: apples, melons and grapes in the bazaars — see our guide to Kazakh cuisine.
• Cities: Astana is still pleasant in September but turns cold quickly in October.

Best Places in Winter (December–March)

• Shymbulak: Central Asia's best-known ski resort, 25km from Almaty, usually runs from December to March or April depending on snow.
• Medeu: the high-altitude outdoor skating rink below Shymbulak.
• Almaty: milder than the north, with mountains on the doorstep. Winter temperature inversions can trap smog over the city.
• Astana: for the brave. Typical January days are around −15°C with nights near −25°C, and cold snaps below −35°C happen. The architecture looks spectacular in snow, and most sights are indoors.
• The south: Turkestan and Shymkent stay near freezing rather than deep below it, and sightseeing is possible year-round.

Many mountain roads beyond Almaty, including the tracks to Kaindy and parts of Charyn, can be icy or closed in winter. Pack properly: see the packing lists in our weather guide.

Festivals and Public Holidays

• Nauryz (21–23 March): the spring new year and Kazakhstan's biggest celebration, with yurts, music, games and nauryz kozhe, a special seven-ingredient soup, in every town square. Many businesses close. Read more in our guide to Kazakh traditions.
• New Year (1–2 January): the main family holiday, with fireworks and busy trains and flights.
• Day of Unity of the People of Kazakhstan (1 May) and Victory Day (9 May): early May has a cluster of public holidays, and domestic travel gets busy.
• Capital Day (6 July): Astana's city day, with concerts and fireworks.
• Constitution Day (30 August) and Republic Day (25 October).
• Independence Day (16 December).
• Kurban Ait: the Feast of Sacrifice follows the Islamic lunar calendar, so it moves about 11 days earlier each year. It is a public holiday, and Beket-Ata in Mangystau and the Yasawi mausoleum in Turkestan are especially busy with pilgrims.

When a holiday falls on a weekend, the day off is usually moved to a weekday, and the government sometimes shifts working days to create longer breaks. Check the current year's calendar before booking trains or flights around holidays. For religious observance, including Ramadan, see our guide to religion in Kazakhstan.

Weather Extremes to Plan Around

• Deep cold in the north: Astana is among the coldest capital cities in the world. Temperatures below −30°C occur most winters, and strong steppe wind makes it feel far colder.
• Desert heat: the southern and western deserts regularly exceed 40°C in July and August, with little shade and hot ground underfoot.
• Big daily swings: in spring and autumn a 20°C difference between afternoon and night is normal, especially in the deserts and mountains. Always carry a warm layer.
• Mountain storms: summer afternoons in the Tien Shan often bring thunderstorms; start hikes early.
• Mud season: April can turn unpaved roads to mud, particularly on the way to Kaindy and in Mangystau.
• Winter smog: Almaty's air quality is often poor in cold, still winter weather.

For health precautions in heat and cold, see our health guide.

Crowds and Prices

July and August are the busiest and most expensive months for mountain guesthouses, Borovoe hotels and tours from Almaty, and early May and the New Year holidays are busy with domestic travellers. Late May, June and September give the best balance of weather and availability. Winter outside the ski resorts is low season. See where to stay and money and costs for budgeting, and our Kazakhstan itineraries for ready-made routes that fit each season.

Best Time to Visit Kazakhstan: FAQ