Kazakhstan: When to Go

As summers are ferociously hot and winters bitterly cold, spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are the best seasons to visit Kazakhstan. In April, the desert blooms briefly and the monotonous ochre landscapes explode in reds, oranges and yellows. Autumn is harvest time, when market tables heave with freshly picked fruit. If you do decide to battle the winter, be aware that many domestic flights are grounded and finding food can be a problem since lots of eateries close for the season.

Weather

Kazakhstan doesn't mess around when it comes to summer and winter. A July day in the desert will likely be around the 32°C (90°F) mark, plunging to about half that at night; fortunately the low humidity keeps the days from being too extreme. In winter the day might get to -9°C (16°F) before it dives to an icy -15°C (5°F) at night. Higher altitudes have little effect on the conditions, with barely warmer winters and cooler summers, though they do see more rainfall, particularly in the east around April-May. Snow starts to fall around November and the mountain passes fill with snow until April, sometimes even May.