Nauryz in Kazakhstan falls on 21–23 March, and it is a holiday when the country splits by climate. The south is already spring, the Almaty foothills are around 10 °C, and Burabay is still under freezing days. Plan by that split: go south for warmth, up for snow, and stay out of the north unless you want winter. Almost everything on the water is closed.
What 21–23 March is like, place by place
Figures are average March values, mostly from ERA5 for 2011–2020. A monthly average cannot describe a specific day, so check a forecast for your own dates as well.
| Place | Day, °C | Night, °C | Precipitation, mm | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saryagash (Shymkent station) | 14 | 3 | 81 | Spa days |
| Shymkent, Turkistan | 14 | 2 | 82, 39 | City and history, with rain in Shymkent |
| Altyn-Emel | 13 | 1 | 10 | Dry desert walk |
| Charyn | 10 | −2 | 24 | Day trip with a short daylight margin |
| Almaty | 9 | 0 | 78 | City, museums; note Monday closures |
| Aktau | 10 | 3 | 24 | Coast walks; desert trips start later |
| Shymbulak | 0.5 | −7 | 82 | Skiing |
| Burabay | −1 | −8 | 21 | Winter walks only |
What this means for you: Altyn-Emel and Charyn are the driest choices, so they suit a road trip. Shymkent is warm but wet, so pack for rain.
Four plans for the long weekend
- Warmth and rest: Saryagash or Shymkent. Most sanatoriums are around Kokterek, 14–16 km from the town.
- A last ski trip: Shymbulak or Oi-Qaragai. Last season Shymbulak’s low-season tariff began only on 2 April, so 21–23 March should still be in season. Check the operator’s notice.
- Desert or canyon by car: Altyn-Emel or Charyn, in dry weather.
- Hot water near Almaty: Alma-Arasan, 16 km out, by bus 28.
More ideas for the month: where to go in March and Kazakhstan in spring. The easiest holiday custom for a visitor to join is nauryz kozhe, a soup of at least seven ingredients; other customs are in Kazakh culture and customs.
Days off, and why they move
Nauryz is 21–23 March. When a holiday falls on a weekend, the next working day becomes a day off. In 2026 that gave 21–25 March, Saturday to Wednesday. In 2027, 21 March is a Sunday, so by the same rule Wednesday 24 March should be free, giving Saturday 20 to Wednesday 24 March. That is our own calculation from the calendar and the rule, made without the government decision for 2027.