What to see in Kazakhstan: 9 must-sees

Camp at the bottom of Charyn Canyon, the deepest in Central Asia, about three hours by road from Almaty. Walk the Valley of Castles, where reddish strata form towers and ramparts that the wind and the Charyn River have carved over millions of years. Climb to the viewpoint at sunset, when the rock takes on coppery tones, and walk down to the river to follow the trail among willows and desert-hardy shrubs. Bring water, a cap and sturdy shoes: the heat is intense and shade is scarce.

Peek into the three Kolsai Lakes, strung together in the Tian Shan mountains a few hours from Almaty, where turquoise water contrasts with slopes covered in Schrenk spruce. Walk the trail linking the first lake with the second, the largest of the three, and make it to the third if you want more demanding terrain. In summer, horses graze by the shore and the conifers' reflections double over the surface. Overnight in the village of Saty to set out early and find the lakes with no one about, low mist over the water.

Go down to the Medeu track, the highest outdoor ice rink in the world at 1,691 meters above sea level, where pure mountain water lets you skate on a fast, perfectly smooth surface. Then ride the cable car linking both complexes up to Shymbulak ski resort, set in the Trans-Ili Alatau range a few kilometers from Almaty. There you will find slopes for every level, equipment rental and cafés with views of the snowy peaks of the Tian Shan, open all year round for skiing in winter or hiking in summer.

Explore Astana, Kazakhstan's capital raised in 1997 in the middle of the steppe, where futuristic towers share the ground with the wind of the desert. Stroll by the Baiterek Tower, the city's symbol, and peek from its viewing deck over the Ishim River. Cross the bridge toward the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation and the Khan Shatyr, the giant tent housing shops and an indoor beach. Among mosques, museums and wide boulevards, the city shows Kazakhstan's boldest side.

Enter Altyn-Emel National Park, a few hours from Almaty, and explore its 717 km2 of steppe, mountains and the famous Singing Dune, which hums as the wind moves its sand. Follow the trails toward the Aktau mountains, in reddish and white tones, and look for gazelles, kulan and argali on the open plains. Bring binoculars: birdwatching is one of the park's finest activities.

Glide among the domes of Turkestan, the Kazakh city where the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi rises, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Recognize in its turquoise tiles the legacy of the 12th-century Sufi poet, and stroll among temples and walls that framed the Silk Road. Feel how the surrounding desert frames each facade, and take the chance to watch steppe wildlife and the geological formations of the surroundings on foot along the trail.