Hello everyone, I am Zhenya (@Janiewanders). Recently, as part of the Kudablin project, I visited Kazakhstan.
The trip, in my opinion, is very illustrated by my dialogues with friends when I told them that I was going to Aktau:
– Where, damn it, are you going?
– In Aktau, damn it!
And after they saw all the photos and videos of the trip to this city:
– Aktau, damn it, a very beautiful city!
– And I said, damn it!
Ha ha, this is a joke, but seriously, very many underestimate tourism in Kazakhstan. But there are so many beautiful and unique natural places with which Canada or the USA can safely compete.
Aktau is a large industrial city on the coast of the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan, located in the Mangistau region. Now its growth among tourists is facilitated by a beautiful place – the tract of Bozzhyra. Travelers fly here from around the world. And of course, I could not go there. Emotions cannot be conveyed in words – it is so unusual and beautiful there. There was a feeling that I was on the filming of the film “Dune”. Around the huge white desert with highly erected majestic cliffs.
Previously, on the site of the tract was the Mesozoic Ocean Attis. And to this day, in these places you can see pieces of prehistoric shells or shark teeth (I found them). A great souvenir that can definitely be surprised by anyone.
The road from the city to the Bozzhyra tract is about four hours one way. On the way, you will definitely see camels, sheep or horses. They just graze and walk freely. And if you are interested in whether they are wild, I will answer you – no. They are all somehow marked, and GPS trackers are attached to them, which help owners track their cattle.
Also on the way you will find many oil fields, since Aktau is the oil capital of Kazakhstan. For the first time I saw a cluster of rocking machines that actively worked on prey.
In addition to the awesome desert and rocks, there is also an amazing coast of the Caspian Sea in Aktau. Here is the only seaport in Kazakhstan. The place that sunk into my soul is a rocky path. This is in the literal sense a path that is very cool and stretches along the coast. I definitely advise you to go through it from beginning to end – along the way you will find caves and beautiful views of the sea and rocks.
Aktau himself is quite small and comfortable. It was pleasant to move along it, everything was nearby. In the city, I did not see some cool new buildings or business centers, everywhere mostly residential high-rise buildings are quite old buildings, but with attractive ornaments and drawings.
By the way, Aktau is one of two cities in the world where there is a lighthouse on the roof of a residential building. My task from OneTwotrip was just to get inside this lighthouse. It was not difficult to find it, the lighthouse stands out against the background of all buildings and structures in Aktau and looks unusual. It is located on the 11th floor of the house, the elevator works only for residents, so I climbed the stairs on foot – anyone can do this.
Rising upstairs, I saw that the roof was locked on the castle. Residents said that access is now closed, and only the military can rise there, since the lighthouse is still valid. Therefore, I had to leave empty -handed, but it was pleasant to be so close to the historical monument and business card of the city.
In general, I really liked it, and I advise everyone to visit Aktau at least once. It is best to come in spring or autumn, when the desert is not very hot. Get ready to see amazing sunsets, try the famous Kazakh National Fishbarmak dish and explore the mighty Bozzhir tract. There are still a lot of places left in Aktau that I have not told you about, so I will definitely return there, and more than once!
