Travel Tips – Kazakhstan

Meet at the airport and transfer to the hotel: At the international airport in Almaty upon arrival, after passing through passport and customs control, you are met by a representative with a sign and escorted to the transfer service, which follows the hotel where you will stay for the period of your stay in Almaty.

Electricity/ Circuit: To ensure you can use your electrical appliances safely whilst abroad. For Kazakhstan, there are two associated plug types, types C and F. Plug type C is the plug that has two round pins and plug type F is the plug that has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Kazakhstan operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz.

Time: The whole country lives according to the time of the capital Astana (GMT + 6)

Excursions and activities: Going on excursions, carefully listen to the recommendations of the guide on clothes, for comfortable and convenient travel to interesting places.

Guided tours: Collecting for group and individual excursions is strictly at the appointed time and the place indicated in the excursion program and agreed with the guide on the eve.

The maximum waiting time is 10 minutes. If you are late for a tour, no claims for services rendered are accepted. For any possible fine for refusal/impossibility of visiting the tour, please contact the company representative.

Telephone communications: The telephone code of Kazakhstan is + 7. When calling Kazakhstan from other countries, it is necessary to dial the country code. The total number of dialed digits of the telephone number must be ten. If there are not enough numbers, you should dial 2 in addition to the city code.

Connectivity: Several GSM operators operate in Kazakhstan: Kcell, Activ, Tele2, and Beeline. You can ask for assistance to buy SIM card from representatives of a Travel Company. All incoming calls are free, the cost of outgoing calls is determined by your mobile operator.

Do not forget that calls from the hotel are paid.

Currency Exchange Rate: Exchange of foreign currency is made in the branches of Kazakhstan banks, which are available in hotels, large stores, and on the streets of the city. The national currency of Kazakhstan is the “Tenge”. Banknotes with denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10 000, 20 000 tenge are in circulation. Tenge is the only legal tender in the territory of Kazakhstan.                   

01 USD = 430 Tenge (10 March 2023)

Credit cards: The main European and international credit cards (Visa Business Premium, MasterCard Business, and Union Pay) are accepted for payment. They are easily accepted in large hotels, shops, and restaurants in Almaty. 

First Aid Kit: For those who regularly take medicines, it is recommended to take them with you.

The guide has a formed first-aid kit, which is useful for you with mild indispositions, will save time in finding necessary medications, and will save you from problems.

Weather: On the territory of Kazakhstan, all four seasons are clearly pronounced - with frosty winter, flowering in spring, hot summer, and scarlet autumn. Cold winter begins in November and lasts until April. The influence of arctic air masses leads to strong (up to -50 C) frosts. Spring is short and changeable - from the middle of April to the end of May. The weather in the spring is very unstable: a clear, warm day can suddenly be replaced by a sharp cold snap. The dry hot summer begins at the end of May and lasts until mid-September, the temperature rises occasionally to +35 ... + 40 C °. Autumn, with flat weather and night frosts, begins at the end of September and lasts until early November.

Tip: If you like the service in cafes, restaurants, and taxis, you can leave a tip. Tipping in the amount of 5-10% of the total invoice amount is included in the general check.

Kitchen/ Local Meal: Local cuisine in Kazakhstan is cheap and plentiful. To eat, usually, they serve cakes and tea in teapots, green or black. In the first days, it is worth being more careful, because in traditional cuisine meat and heavy food prevail, unusual for foreign citizens.

The cuisine in Kazakhstan, like any Central Asian cuisine, is based on the widespread use of meat. In the bazaar, you can always buy fresh fruits and vegetables for the season.

Smoking: Smoking is prohibited in the premises, in all shopping centers, restaurants, and cafes there is certainly a special zone for smokers. Where exactly, it is better to check with the representatives of the company.

Transport: According to the international rules of tourist transportation, all passengers of the bus must be fastened - if there are seat belts in all places (if the belts are only on the first row, then only the first row of tourists should be fastened). It is forbidden to walk around the cabin while the bus is moving! During the city tour, as well as the location of the bus in the border control zone, it is NOT allowed to lower the backs of the seats. It is strictly forbidden to put bags in the aisles. For safety reasons, the passage must be free.

Do not distract the driver while driving. All offers and wishes intended for the driver - transfer through your guide-escort. Personal things and small hand luggage should be placed on storage shelves that are located above the seats. Passengers can be boarded and disembarked only when the vehicle is completely stopped. If there is no specially allocated parking space near the facility/restaurant, landing/disembarkation takes place on the carriageway, it is necessary to look around and make sure the entrance/exit safety is safe from/to the transport. The passenger is liable for the damage caused to him by the vehicle and its equipment.

Taxi: In all major cities of Kazakhstan today there are no problems with finding a taxi. You can book a taxi through the reception of the hotel or a representative of the Travel Company, on the base of cash settlement only. It is better to specify the cost of transportation in advance. At night and beyond the city limits the tariff may be increased. Sometimes an additional charge is charged (in case of waiting or a double address). Grab a business card with the address of your hotel and ask someone in the hotel to write the address you need or the name of the object you are going to.

Shopping souvenirs: Shopping and entertainment centers are open daily from 10:00 to 21:00.

Hotel Accommodation: Check-in at the hotel, usually takes place after 14:00. Upon arrival for accommodation at the hotel you need to present your passport. Some five-star hotels in Kazakhstan charge tourists a deposit of $ 100-300 as a deposit for future additional services (minibars, phone calls, laundry services, etc.). When you check out of the hotel, the recalculation is made and the unused amount is refunded. It is also recommended that you take a hotel card so that, if you get lost in the city, go back without problems to the hotel. When you leave the hotel at the end of your trip, you must return the room key before 12.00. 

TELEPHONES FOR EMERGENCY CASES

Police - 102

First Aid - 103