Kazakhstan's vast oil reserves have put the country on the economic map, but it still remains something of a cipher to tourists. This is a pity. Kazakhstan was played as a joke in the hit film "Borat," but from touring ancient sites to skiing, horseback riding or hunting with genuine birds of prey, Kazakhstan has a lot to offer visitors, and its importance in the energy sector means there are a lot of first rate hotels in Kazakhstan.
You'll find the largest number of Kazakhstan hotels in the capital city Astana, but Expedia can connect travelers with cheap hotel deals in Kazakhstan that will allow them to find comfortable rooms at special discount rates in every part of the country. From a historical point of view, southern Turkistan is the most intriguing part of the country. Expedia can help you make reservations for Kazakhstan hotel packages at affordable prices.
Astana is the quintessential oil boomtown; its skyline changing every day as more skyscrapers and complexes are added. The most spectacular of these is the Khan Shatyr, a city within a city, complete with streets, plazas, canals, beaches, gardens, shopping malls, swimming pools, and even its own concert hall and golf course. The roof of the Khan Shatyr is made out of transparent, heat-absorbing materials that will keep the interior at a balmy, comfortable temperature even when it's bitterly cold outside.
Kazakhstan's largest city is Almaty, nicknamed the "Garden City." In the springtime, this city in the foothills of the Tien Shan hills seems practically buried under the blooms of its apple, apricot, and cherry trees. Visit Shymbulaka at the top of the Tien Shan; today a popular ski resort, but once an outpost on the fabled Silk Road. The hills around Almaty are famous for sports of every type, so book ahead if you're planning to visit in winter to be assured of the best cheap Kazakhstan hotel deal.
Kazakhstan's greatest monument is the mausoleum of Kozha Akhmed Yasaui in Turkistan's Syr-Darya valley. The mausoleum was built in the 14th century by the great Turkic conqueror Tamerlane (Timor). Kozha Akhmed Yasaui was a Sufi and a poet, and one of the first writers to use the Turkic vernacular, which endeared him to the people of the region There are lodgings nearby that offer Kazakhstan hotel deals, although many travelers elect to visit the mausoleum as a day trip from Shymkent.
The Russian presence is less noticeable in Shymkent than it is many other Kazakhstan cities. There are a lot of cheap hotel deals in Kazakhstan in Shymkent, which makes it an ideal base of exploring Turkistan's many archeologically significant sites.