Weekend trips from Astana: 5 places in nature

Weekend escapes from Astana fall into five directions: southwest to the flamingos of Korgalzhyn (about 130 km), north to Burabay (257 km) and the lakes of Kokshetau National Park, east to Bayanaul and southeast to Karkaraly, both roughly 450 km away. This page puts them side by side with distances from dated sources, park fees in MCI and a straight answer on what works as a day trip and what needs the whole weekend. All five are protected areas, so expect an entry fee — and at Korgalzhyn you will not get in without a guide.

1. Korgalzhyn — flamingos 130 km from the capital

Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve is the closest real wilderness to Astana: wetland steppe around two linked lakes, freshwater Korgalzhyn and salty Tengiz. It marks the northern limit of pink flamingo nesting, and Wikipedia counts 365 bird species. In 2008 the reserve became part of the Saryarka World Heritage Site — see our UNESCO overview.

The catch is that this is a strict nature reserve. No wandering on your own: only reserve routes with a guide, groups of up to 20, booked in advance. Routes run from May to October, start in Korgalzhyn village and take 7 to 11 hours, so for a day trip either leave before dawn or stay overnight in the village. Under Order No. 232 the fee is 0.2 MCI per person and 0.7 MCI per car.

2. Burabay — the weekend classic

Burabay is the default escape from the capital — Tengri Auto called it the most popular option in March 2026. The granite rocks of Okzhetpes and Zhumbaktas face each other across Lake Borovoe, and Mount Kokshe (Kokshetau, Sinyukha) rises to 947 m above the park. For a walk, the 8 km “Visiting Nature” trail climbs Bolektau with views over two lakes.

Getting there is easy: the A1 toll road to Shchuchinsk and another 20 km or so, about three hours in total. Fast trains reach Kurort-Borovoe station in 2 h 28 min to 2 h 45 min, then it is 22 km by taxi or minibus; buses from Saparzhay station take 3–4 hours. A day trip is doable, but holiday weekends add an hour or more of traffic. Cars pay 0.3 MCI per day, rising to 0.4 MCI on weekends and holidays from 1 May to 30 September; Burabay has its own fee order.

3. Kokshetau — Zerenda, Imantau and Shalkar

Kokshetau National Park is often confused with Burabay because of the shared mountain name, but it is a separate park straddling Akmola and North Kazakhstan regions. The city of Kokshetau is about 300 km from Astana (Wikipedia), and the park begins roughly 60 km southwest of the city.

Its three lakes could hardly be more different. Zerenda is small and shallow, up to 6.8 m deep, with a village and holiday homes on the shore 45 km from Kokshetau. Imantau is fresh, more than 13 km long, with an island about 4 km offshore. Shalkar is salty, up to 15 m deep, with a rocky southern shore under pines. As of 2021 the park had 14 hiking, cycling and horse trails. Scheduled buses run from Kokshetau to the villages of Imantau and Shalkar. Plan a full weekend. Fees are 0.2 MCI on foot and 0.4 MCI per car.

4. Bayanaul — granite and Lake Zhasybay

Bayanaul is Kazakhstan’s first national park: granite hills and pines in the middle of the Pavlodar steppe. Kazinform (June 2026) puts Lake Zhasybay about 450 km from Astana — 5.5–6 hours on the A17 via Ekibastuz, with patched sections after Ekibastuz. Trains only go as far as Ekibastuz, leaving about 100 km to the resort area. Many people stop on the way at the revered Saryadyr spring.

Zhasybay is the park’s clearest lake, up to 14.7 m deep, but it warms slowly: swimming is comfortable from mid-July to the end of August, and by September it is cold again (Kazinform). On Friday mornings, Kazinform reports, there is already a queue at the park barrier, and lakeside cabins for July weekends are booked one to two weeks ahead. Wild camping is restricted — check with the park administration. Allow at least two days. Fees are 0.15 MCI on foot and 0.4 MCI per car.

5. Karkaraly — pines, Shaitankol and Kyzylkent

Karkaraly National Park surrounds the town of Karkaralinsk, 220 km southeast of Karaganda; Karaganda itself is about 230 km from Astana, per English Wikipedia. That makes roughly 450 km in total. For a sense of the effort: a 2023 day excursion from Astana left at 05:00, arrived at 11:00–11:30 and got back around midnight — possible, but exhausting.

The most famous trail leads to Shaitankol, a small lake at about 1,200 m, 5 km west of town. The highest point is Komsomolsky Peak at 1,403 m. The climate is milder than the surrounding steppe, with July averaging +18 to +20 °C. Near the Kent hills you will find the ruins of Kyzylkent, a 17th-century Buddhist monastery, and a Bronze Age settlement. Fees are 0.2 MCI on foot and 0.5 MCI per car.

How to choose

• One day, no overnight — Burabay (train, or three hours by car), or Korgalzhyn if you have pre-arranged a guided route.
• Swimming — Bayanaul in the second half of summer, or the Kokshetau lakes; Lake Borovoe in Burabay is shallow, 7 m at most.
• Birds and steppe — Korgalzhyn, May to October.
• Hiking — Burabay (Bolektau, Kokshe) and Karkaraly (Shaitankol).
• No car — Burabay (train to Shchuchinsk, buses) and Kokshetau (train to Kokshetau, buses to Imantau and Shalkar).

Short on time? Tengri Auto suggests closer options: the waterfall near Makinka village, 100–120 km away, and the Seleti reservoir with the Bestobe canyon, 230 km from Astana.

Practical tips

1. Fees are set in MCI and change every January. Our fee calculator converts them to tenge, and what MCI is is explained separately.
2. Reserves and parks work differently. Korgalzhyn needs advance arrangement and a guide; national parks you can simply drive into. See reserve vs park.
3. Weekends from May to September are peak time — higher fees at Burabay, queues at Bayanaul.
4. Camp only where allowed. Burabay’s park campsites cost 0.4 MCI per person per night; at Bayanaul wild camping is restricted.
5. Run through our before you go checklist.