Where to go by train this summer: popular destinations in Kazakhstan

25-05-2026

During the summer season, travel to Lakes Alakol and Balkhash, the Caspian Sea coast, and to Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, Turkestan, and the Burabay resort area are traditionally in high demand among passengers.

Alakol
The shores of Lake Alakol remain the most popular resort destination. Trains run to the resort area on 15 routes from Astana, Almaty, Pavlodar, and the East Kazakhstan, Abay, and Kyzylorda regions.
Ten routes are operated by JSC Passenger Transportation, and two more are operated by private carriers. During the summer season, the national carrier will offer approximately 230,000 seats. All train cars to Alakol are air-conditioned.

Balkhash
Trains run to Lake Balkhash on eight routes. During the summer, passenger traffic on this route averages 45,000.

Burabay
Trains operate on 16 routes to the Burabay resort area.
Summer passenger traffic averages 65,000.

Turkestan
Trains operate on 16 routes to Turkestan. During the summer, passenger traffic averages 60,000.

Aktau
Trains operate on 7 routes to Aktau. Summer passenger traffic averages 155,000.

Saryagash
Five trains operate to Saryagash. Summer passenger traffic averages 9,500.
Astana has the largest number of train routes—36. They are used by an average of 130,000 passengers per month.

The following services operate south:
- 26 routes to Almaty;
- 18 routes to Shymkent.

Monthly passenger traffic is:
- Almaty – 155,000–160,000 passengers;
- Shymkent – ​​approximately 70,000 passengers.

In total, the National Carrier's trains are expected to carry over 4.2 million passengers during the summer.

Press service of JSC «NC«Kazakhstan Temir Zholy»