Almaty Getting There & Away

Getting There & Away

By Air For people from most countries, the easiest way to get to Kazakhstan is by air. Several airlines have regular flights into Almaty. Lufthansa, KLM, British Airways and Turkish Airlines, to name a few. It's roughly a 7-8 hour flight from Europe. Kazakhstan Airlines is no longer operational, leaving Air Astana the national carrier of the country and operator of most domestic routes. Visas are now available on arrival at the airport, but long lines mean it may be better to get it in advance from an embassy. By train from Urumqi, China The N955 train leaves every Saturday and Monday night (11.58 Beijing time) direct to Almaty. To buy the ticket in Urumqi the office is in a hotel to the right of the main station. Tickets need to purchased a few days in advance and cost just over 500 Yuan (about $62.50 USD). The trip takes 32 hours, six of which are spent clearing Chinese and Kazakh immigration. Taking the bus, or flying, are better options. By Bus from Urumqi, China Buses leave from Urumqi and take 14 hours to get to the border at Korgas, and from the border it's another 12 hours into Almaty. They cost Y106 (about $13.25 USD).