The largest land-locked country in the world, Kazakhstan is by the far the richest and most advanced of the Central Asian nations, due to its vast oil reserves and other natural minerals. Its shining new capital, Nur-Sultan, is probably worth a miss, with visitors favouring the larger and significantly more historic city of Almaty, with its stunning new ALZhiR Museum Memorial Complex and leafy treelined streets, dotted with shops and cafes.
Beyond the urban areas of this vast nation, things slow dramatically, yet equally come alive. Highlights include the enormous Charyn Canyon, which formed in a similar way to the Grand Canyon, and the colourful Altyn-Emel National Park.