Travel Guide Aktau

Under almost boring surroundings, resulting from a very Soviet urbanization plan, Aktau, an artificial city that emerged from nothing in 1961 when a nearby uranium deposit was discovered, proved to be rather pleasant in the long run. Named Shevchenko between 1963 and 1991, it only took the name Aktau, or "White Mountain", after independence. The temperate climate thanks to the presence of the Caspian Sea and the beaches developed during the communist era (even the parasols were still made of concrete in the early 2000s) made it a popular holiday destination for Kazakhs. Beach-going, long in free fall after independence, has resumed in recent years thanks to the enrichment of the city, the establishment of Western companies and the emergence of a wealthy class. Many areas of Aktau have been renovated and repainted, giving a more "laughing" face to the former Soviet city. But President Nazarbayev personally launched a new urban planning project in 2007. As usual, the Kazakh President has opted for the construction of a new city, obviously futuristic, just like Astana, which will cover an area of 400 hectares northwest of the current city. Nevertheless, by 2020, there will not be much more to see than a gigantic construction site.If you arrive from Turkmenistan or Azerbaijan by boat, you will necessarily spend a few days in Aktau and you will notice that the city is very lively, alternating between walks by the sea or excursions to discover some tourist sites in the surroundings, always sublimated by the magical scenery of the Caspian.