Women-Only Hospitality Exchange in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan, Solo travel

I loved my time in Kazakhstan. I felt safe everywhere, including walking around at night in all the cities and at sites with my earphones in. I wasn't bothered, hassled, or harrassed by Kazakh men once. It was a relief and a pleasure! I visited Almaty and some of the mountains and lakes nearby; Astana; and Turrkistan. There were SO many interesting and beautiful things to see and do at each place. Almaty is a particularly gorgeous city: very livable and full of great museums, cafés, parks, theatres, churches, etc. The metro is great (and stunning!), taxis (I think it was Grab?) are cheap, and the sites are interesting. I stayed in a cute vintage-inspired Airbnb and was cosy and comfortable. Ascension Cathedral was a highlight. There's also lots of Soviet history (buildings, mosaics, museums with stories) everywhere if you're interested in that. I did have a few poor experiences with people in customer service (especially at metro stations and restaurants) being unnecessarily rude, and definitely didn't get the 'Kazakhstan is so warm, friendly, and welcoming' thing people talk about. I also faced some troubles from men in large tour groups from India, which was a shame. Astana is... ok 😂 I love quirky architecture, so that part was interesting, but it's definitely got a cold/dead vibe compared to Almaty. I also found people even colder and ruder here, lol. Still, I'm glad I went. It's really like nowhere else in the world, and I say that having been to over 50 countries! I also stayed in an Airbnb with a STUNNING view of the city, and I was so obsessed with it. I would just sit on my bed and stare out the window for hours lol. Turkistan is gorgeous 😍 I absolutely adored my time there. I stayed in the new Karavan Sarai, which is super different to how I usually travel, and I was mesmerised by it. It had Venice vibes with awesome Islamic architecture and culture. The people were also far friendlier here. The ancient mosque site nearby is gorgeous, and such a good introduction to Islamic architecture, culture, and history if it's new to you. I caught the train from there across the border to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and that was also a highlight. I'm vegan and found the food was below average everywhere. Almaty has the best options: heaps of them, and some super delicious things, too. I still think about the incredible vegan lagman I had at As-Kazan Gogolya at least once a month! I'd go back just for that – it was that good. Tokyo Ramen was also a standout. There's a solid train network throughout the country, although the vast distances mean flying is often easier, quicker, and – in my experience – cheaper. I went in winter and loved it, although Astana was definitely too cold, even for a winter bunny like me (-10°C, but with a CRISP and constant wind) and walking on the sidewalk ice there proved more dangerous than I expected. I also had a fall (at the world's highest ice rink, no less!) and ended up in the ER, which was actually a great experience: service was prompt, I got an X-ray done, was given clear treatment instructions, and everything was 100% free. Overall, Kazakhstan was a super easy, reasonably affordable, very interesting place to travel to as a solo female, and I highly recommend it. If you're a photographer, you'll adore it. If you're a foodie, maybe less so 😂 But if you have any interest at all in culture, it's a haven. So definitely go!