Atyrau: Discover nature and history

Atyrau combines vast natural landscapes with activities on the water, as well as historic and spiritual sites. When looking for a hotel, it helps to first consider whether nature, cultural history, or a specific reason for visiting will shape your trip. The region’s distinctive features offer a range of ways to explore it.

Nature along the Ural and the Caspian Sea

The Akzhaiyk State Nature Reserve is located in the Atyrau Region at the mouth of the Ural River, where it flows into the Caspian Sea, and covers 341,000 hectares. A total of 292 bird species have been recorded in the reserve, including 26 species on Kazakhstan’s Red List. The diversity of birdlife is a defining feature of this protected area.

Another vast landscape is Narynqum. This distinctive natural area covers 40,000 square kilometres and lies north of the city of Atyrau, in the Isatay and Kurmangazy districts. In Kurmangazy District, the world’s rare lotus also grows in the Kigash River. It is a seasonal natural feature, so the time of year matters when planning your trip.

These offer a range of nature experiences: the reserve’s birdlife, the expansive landscape of Narynqum, and the lotus on the Kigash. You can plan your trip around whichever of these interests you most.

Routes and activities on the water

Four official ecological routes have been approved in the Akzhaiyk Nature Reserve. One of them is the “World of the Steppe” route: it combines transport, walking, and cycling, covers 34 kilometres, and takes 4 hours and 10 minutes. The distance and duration give you a specific timeframe for planning your day.

The Kigash River is considered a popular spot for recreational fishing, which is possible there year-round. Check local conditions before setting out. Visitors gather at Tuzdy Köl in Inder District for mud baths, which are considered healing there. Fishing on the river and mud baths at the lake are different ways to experience the region’s natural environment. If you plan to take a mud bath, confirm the current conditions in advance.

History and cultural heritage

In the 13th century, Saraishyk was an important political, trade, and cultural centre on the Silk Road. It was also a significant centre of the Golden Horde and the Kazakh Khanate. The Saraishyk State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve preserves more than 50,000 archaeological, ethnographic, and natural history exhibits, including finds from archaeological excavations. The history of the settlement and a diverse collection come together as part of the region’s cultural heritage.

In the city of Atyrau, the Atyrau Regional Local History Museum displays historical, archaeological, and ethnographic exhibits from the region, from ancient times to the present day. This offers a different perspective on time from Saraishyk’s 13th-century history: here, the subject matter spans from early periods to the present.

Akmeshit is also associated with religious heritage. In 1771, Beket Ata built an underground mosque at the Akmeshit site and taught students there. Akmeshit Cemetery is a sacred site in the Atyrau Region, in Zhylyoy District, 30 kilometres northeast of the village of Akkiiztogay. Overnight accommodation and a kitchen are available for visitors in Akmeshit; people come to this place every year for spiritual retreat. If you plan to stay, confirm that accommodation is currently available.

Another distinctive destination is Mount Imankara in Zhylyoy District, 60 kilometres northeast of Kulsary. It is 2 kilometres long, 300 metres wide, and 200 metres high, and contains a cave. The cave is 2 metres high, 2.5 metres wide, and 25 metres deep; it consists of three corridors and niches. It may have been used as a shrine in the past, but this is not securely documented.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Atyrau, Karagayly, Zhana Aul, Rakusha, East Kazakhstan, North Kazakhstan, Qaraghandy, Pavlodar.

Go to the main travel overview: Kazakhstan.