Travel and transport agencies Kazakhstan

Aktau airport is modern and well connected to the rest of the country. Many flights are operated by Kazakh airlines such as Air Astana and Qazaq Air. Daily flights to Astana, Atyrau, Shymkent and Almaty. Several flights a week to Aralsk, Kyzyl-Orda, Turkestan and Uralsk.

International flights serve Moscow and Rostov in Russia, Baku on the other side of the Caspian (Azerbaijan), Tbilisi (Georgia) and Istanbul. Allow yourself plenty of time to pass through the various airport entry and boarding controls.

Unlike the well-regulated transport system in the rest of the country, the towns of Aktau and Atyrau are served in a slightly more anarchic way. Don't hesitate to arrive early to find seats on the buses, even if it means waiting for them to fill up. Even if the bus fleet has been renewed, the best solution is still to take a shared cab or minibus, which are faster, more comfortable and more frequent. Cabs to Fort Chevchenko also depart from the bus station.

There are many different types of bus: classic buses, minibuses, streetcars... Tickets cost 80 KZT with the "Onay" card, or 150 KZT individually.

Buses^nos. 30, 34 and 434 serve Almaty I station.

Streetcars^nos. 4, 5 and 6 serve Almaty II station.

Buses^nos. 92, 97 and 492 and streetcars^nos. 9 and 19 serve Sayakhat bus station (for local buses operating in the Almaty area).

Buses^nos. 37 and 94 and streetcar no. 4 serve Sayran bus station.

Buses^no. 92 and 492 serve the airport.

5 km northeast of town center. Trains leave Atyrau daily for Aktobe, from where you can continue on to Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana). Allow 35 hours to reach the Kazakh capital. Trains also run to Beyneu, where you can connect with the south of the country: Aralsk, Turkestan, Chymkent and Almaty. It takes around 48 hours to reach the former Kazakh capital by train. As for international trains, the only cross-border connection is to Moscow, which is served from Atyrau every two or three days.

The airport is located 8 km from Atyrau town center. You'll find roughly the same flights and frequencies as at Aktau International Airport. In other words, daily rotations with Almaty and Astana, several weekly flights to Chymkent, Aktobe or Turkestan and at least one flight a day between Atyrau and Aktau. International connections include shuttles to Istanbul, Amsterdam, Sharm-el-Sheikh and Moscow.

Most connections are with Uralsk, north of Atyrau, or Beyneu, to the east. From Beyneu, you can travel to Astana, in the north of the country (40h min.), or Almaty (48h). Given the distances involved, you'll need to consider spending a night in the bus if you choose this mode of transport. Shared txis or minibuses are a good, albeit more expensive, option if you want to save a little time and travel more comfortably. Like buses, they leave throughout the day as soon as they've filled up with passengers.

A human-sized agency led by a team of recognized specialists, it offers a wide range of programs with a personalized approach. Nigina Sadykova will answer your questions in French, advise you and design a truly customized tour. The emphasis is on meeting the locals, living in the villages and discovering the Uzbek hospitality. Sacred East Travel offers a wide range of tours in Uzbekistan as well as in the neighboring countries with a high quality of accompaniment.

The local CAT Corporation agency has its premises in a wing of the Aktau Hotel. The staff will be able to inform you about the sights of the region and simplify your procedures for visa registration and the booking of train or plane tickets as a result of the journey.

For thirty years now, Nicolas and Paul, the founders of New Horizons, have been traveling the different parts of the planet to weave networks that will take over when you yourselves are traveling in their place. In Namibia, the company offers two formulas: "Going Wild" allows for sixteen days of self-drive to Etosha, Damaraland, the coast and the Namib desert, while "Revelations from the sky" allows, thanks to plane transfers, to go to Kaokoland and enjoy the desert from the air.

Astana Central Post offers a wide range of postal services, including letter and parcel delivery, banking and express services. It also has an information service to answer customers' questions.

Useful if you need to print documents and you have nothing to connect. Otherwise, almost all the hotels in the centre of Turkestan are equipped with Wi-Fi.

Nomad's Land has been organising customised trips in Central Asia since 2003. The agency, set in Bichkek, is managed by Samuel, a Swiss in love with the region. Nomad's Land organises all types of ecotouristic stays, from adventure treks to cultural stays through mountaineering tours and other expeditions on horseback, jeep or ski. Whether you are an occasional hiker or an experienced trekker, alone, with the family or friends, Nomad's Land invites you to discover the treasures of Central Asia including the most precious: its people, thanks to its strong relationships with local populations and outstanding logistics.

While the world is moving fast and we barely take our time, destinations succeed one another like checkboxes on a list of tasks, Nomad's Land will bring you out of time to have a tea in an Uzbek chaikhana in Boukhara, cook a beshbarmak under a yurt near Lake Song Kul or attend a bouzkachi match on the high plateau of Pamir tadjik with the greatest respect of the nomad tradition. Going on a trip with Nomad's Land is guaranteeing a customised and 100% flexible trip serenely. Prepare every last detail of the trip you want according to your passions and budget with the team of Nomad's Land and start with qualified guides who will really lead you off the beaten path, discovering their country and their culture while being close to the local communities and nature, respecting ethics and traditions.

The most adventurous ones can also benefit from good plans through Nomad's Land network while keeping the "roots" spirit of the trip. For example, go with a trainee guide and benefit from discounts for your accommodations; a unique and economic experience. Simultaneously, Nomad's Land is also here to advise you on organising your trip with a drink in Bichkek and can provide all types of services to travellers: transport or accommodation booking throughout Central Asia, obtaining visas and permits, material rental, horses, etc. Finally, travelling with Nomad's Land is also and above all contributing to the sustainable development of local communities through responsible tourism and a support to projects chosen by the agency to protect the environment and the social and solidarity economy. Become a nomad then!