Camping in Kazakhstan: tent rules, fees, fire bans

Camping in Kazakhstan’s protected areas works differently from free-camping countries: you pitch where the park says. Most visitors camp in national parks, and there a tent belongs in a designated spot, with fees set by state order. Ask the park first, since published lists of sites are hard to find, check for a fire ban, and stay away from riverbeds.

All fines and fees below are in MCI (Monthly Calculation Index), the state’s unit for such sums. Our calculator converts them to tenge, and the MCI page explains the unit.

Offence	Fine for an individual	Article
In a protected area without permission, outside designated places	Warning or 5 MCI	380
Breaking a protected area’s regime	10 MCI, 20 MCI if repeated within a year	380-1
Breaking fire rules in forest	10 MCI, 25 MCI if a fire and harm result	367
The same in a protected area	100 MCI	367(3)

Park zones: why location matters

National parks are divided by law into four zones, and only some accept tents. In the strictly protected and ecological stabilisation zones, recreation is banned except regulated ecotourism. The tourism and recreation zone allows bivouac sites. The limited economic zone holds campgrounds and tourist facilities. Nature reserves (zapovedniks) keep a strict regime across their whole territory, so do not plan on camping there without permission.

We did not find published zone maps, so ask the administration. For land outside protected areas we did not establish national rules, so check with the landowner or local authority. Glamping cabins and heated tents face the same zoning: inside a park they can stand only in the tourism zone, as temporary structures, or in the limited economic zone, as our page on glamping near Almaty explains.

What sites cost in 2026

Order No. 232 sets rates for each park, in different units. A 6 m² tent in Katon-Karagay works out at 1.8 MCI a day, while in Ile-Alatau one person pays 0.2 MCI.

Park	Rate	Unit
Ile-Alatau	0.2 MCI	Per person per day
Altyn-Emel	0.04 MCI	Per person per day, no services
Kolsai	0.2 MCI	Per camp per day
Charyn	0.008 MCI	Per m² per day
Karkaraly	0.1 MCI	Per person per day
Katon-Karagay	0.3 MCI	Per m² per day
Bayanaul	0.001 MCI	Per m² per day
Burabay	0.4 MCI	Per person per day, separate order

Park entry is charged separately; see park fees.

Fire: when it is banned

The default is no open fire outside equipped spots, and bans can close those too. In May 2026 the emergencies ministry reminded people, mainly about gardens and yards, that fires are banned in dry, hot and windy weather; otherwise they need a designated place 50 m from buildings, and grills need 10 m from buildings with an extinguisher or 10 litres of water nearby.

On 18 July 2026 class V fire danger, the highest, led Ile-Alatau to ban fire and cooking everywhere in the park. On 4 August 2025 the same park restricted all vehicles on the road to Big Almaty Lake for fire reasons. Report a fire on 101 or 112.

Where not to pitch, even if allowed

Legal and safe are separate questions.

Riverbeds and dams: the emergencies ministry says not to camp or rest in riverbeds, by mudflow gullies, or on or below dams. Read the mudflow guide for summer trips near Almaty.
Ticks and food: see ticks, snakes and bears for checks and for keeping rubbish out of reach.
Cold nights: at 2,300–2,500 m a May night averages about 1 °C; see mountain weather.
Route report: listed mountain sites require overnight spots in your route notification.

Places where sources disagree

Ask directly before you rely on any of these.

Place	What we found
Kolsai	The park said in 2024 that tents are not allowed; Order No. 232 has a rate; nur.kz reported tent camping at the upper lakes
Kok-Zhailau	Trekking Club says possible without a permit; Zabugorshiki says officially not. Sections may close during resort construction
Charyn	Designated spots only, under the 2019 rules we could read
Mangystau	No hotels on the route and a fee exists; we could not confirm sites

Not verified yet We could not confirm: published lists of bivouac sites or zone maps by park, rules for foreigners on non-protected land, whether the July 2026 fire ban has ended, or prices at private campgrounds near Almaty.

Frequently asked questions

Is wild camping allowed in Kazakhstan's national parks?

Not as a free choice of spot. The Administrative Code fines presence outside designated areas of national parks, and the law allows bivouac sites only in the tourism and recreation zone. Ask the park which sites are open.

How much does it cost to camp at Big Almaty Lake or in Ile-Alatau?

Order No. 232 sets 0.2 MCI per person per day for tent camps and bivouac clearings in Ile-Alatau National Park. MCI is the Monthly Calculation Index; our calculator converts it to tenge. Entry fees are separate, and we could not confirm a list of open sites.

Can I have a campfire?

Only at equipped spots when no ban is in force. On 18 July 2026 Ile-Alatau banned fire and cooking across the whole park because of class V fire danger, including equipped areas. Ask the park or your host before you pack a stove or grill.

Is there a national fire season?

We found no single national date. Seasons are declared by order for each region; in North Kazakhstan in 2026 it began on 6 April.