Burabay National Park - An Epic Experience
Kazakhstan has plenty to offer for travellers. One of the largest countries geographically, the country features rich economic resources such as oil, gas, textile and agriculture. There is also a variety of wildlife and nature throughout the country.
I decided to spend one of my days by taking a trip outside Astana to one of Kazakhstan’s most iconic reserves - Burabay National Park.
Approximately 270km north of Astana, Burabay National Park is a popular destination for domestic tourism in Kazakhstan.
How did I manage to arrange to get from Astana to Burabay? I researched a local tour company called Astana Tours. I got in touch with them via email and arranged to be picked up at my hotel, the Radisson Blue Astana.
I received a message via WhatsApp from the tour operator and was assigned a private local English speaking guide. His name was Madi. He was 22-years old, and had been working with Astana Tours for nine months.
After a lengthy two hour (and fun-filled) drive through the Kazakh countryside, Madi and I arrived at Burabay National Park. Arriving around 10:00am, the itinerary was organized into three segments. Hiking up the mountain to view Lake Burabay, a traditional Kazakh lunch, and a horse riding adventure I will never forget.
Mountain Hiking:
Our first leg of the Burabay adventure featured a hike up the mountain through forested trees to see breathtaking views of Lake Burabay (Borovoye). Originating from the word, bor, which means “pine forest”, Borovoye is a prominent lake from the Akmola Region and part of the Kokshetau Lakes. The experience was capped off with a photoshoot in a traditional Nomadic Han Warrior costume, holding a sword and eagle placed on my arm.
Participating in photoshoot with traditional Nomaidc Han Warrior costume, with my new friend, the eagle looking on. In the background, Lake Burabay.
Central Asian Cuisine:
Madi and I drove off to the local restaurant, where I would experience my first ever pilaf/plov experience in Central Asia. For those wondering what plov is, it’s a traditional dish filled with beef, lamb, apricots, raisins, rice, carrots and chickpeas served on one plate. It was absolutely delicious and the first of many plov experiences to come throughout my time in Central Asia.
Central Asian traditional plov dish, featuring beef, rice, apricots, carrots, raisins and chickpeas.
Horseback Riding:
Riding a horse hasn’t been an activity I’ve tried since I was a little kid. Madi and I drove off to a local tour station, where we took a minibus to the horse ranch. Speaking only in Russian, I listened to Madi translate the jockey’s instructions and hopped on my horse for an hour-long excursion through the forest.
I was thrilled go with the flow and ride with local Kazakh tourists. Engaging in a dialogue with my fellow horse riders, we enjoyed adventuring through the green forests of Burabay, sharing laughs, seeing nature and tasting horse milk (the most sour milk I have ever tried).
Horseback riding through the forests in Burabay National Park.
After a long day, Madi drove me back to Astana. Burabay National Park provided me with the opportunity to experience nature for the first time in Central Asia. Taking day trips gets you out of your comfort zone and forces you to try an activity. The life lesson I learned is to be spontaneous and trust my gut with a local guide.
Ala Archa in Kyrgyzstan and Burabay in Kazakhstan. These national parks I visited were beautiful, yet aren’t often visited. Climbing up the mountains in Ala Archa, and riding a horse through the forest in Burabay, was challenging, yet an epic experience.
Take a trip to experience Nomadic culture in the mountains of Central Asia! More on that story upcoming.
