After spending three days in Almaty, we chose Balkhash as our next stop on the way to catching our flight out of Kazakhstan from Astana. We took a night bus to Astana, departing at 20:30 from Sayran Station in Almaty’s western suburbs. The ticket cost 6,000 KZT per person, which was proportionally lower than the full fare to Astana.
We had purchased our tickets in advance at the station when we arrived there from Kyrgyzstan; a wise move as the bus was full. Upon boarding, the driver requested an additional 600 KZT fee per piece of luggage.
The bus was spacious and comfy. Since the road was also a straight stretch for the most part, I slept like a baby for the entire trip. I only stirred when a stunning orange sunrise cast its glow over the vast, desolate steppe, just before our arrival.
Rubbing the sleep from our eyes, we walked to our hotel, checked in, and set out to explore this mysterious, isolated town.
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Accommodation and activities in Kazakhstan
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