There are four provinces within Southern Kazakhstan which are the Almaty, Zhambyl, South Kazakhstan and Kyzylorda regions. The region covers a vast territory from the Aral Sea in the west to the Dzhungarian Gate in the east and from Lake Balkhash and the Betpak-Dala desert in the north to the republic’s border in the south including the northern part of the Kyzylkum desert, the western and northern foothills of the Tian Shan and the ridges of the Dzhungarian Alatau.

Charyn River Canyon. 12 million years old, Charyn Canyon stretches along nearly 200 kilometres with a depth of up to 300 metres. The Charyn Canyon is considered to be a unique natural landmark and the Charyn state national park was established to preserve it.

Kolsai lakes. The Kolsi lakes comprise a group of the three most beautiful lakes in Kazakhstan. They are located at heights of 1800, 2250 and 2700 metres above sea level.

Moyinkum sand dunes. Only the strongest representatives of flora and fauna have managed to settle down in the Moyinkum sands. The height of local sand dunes reaches 700 metres.

Aisha Bibi mausoleum. The ruler of the city of Taraz built a magnificence mausoleum in the place of his beloved fiancée’s death in the XI-XII centuries. The memory of the girl who was in a hurry to find happiness is still alive in dozens of legends which the mausoleum has acquired throughout its long history.

Aksu-Dzhabagly. This is the oldest reserve in Kazakhstan. It was the first natural park in Central Asia to obtain the status of a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

Otrar. The ancient settlement of Otrar is a monument of the Middle Ages. In Х-ХII centuries, the city was one of the largest population centres in Central Asia. In XIII century it fell under the onslaught of Genghis Khan. However, it quickly regained its image as a prospering city and the status of a trade centre which it retained up until the XVIII century.

“Barsakelmes” state reserve. This place has long been believed to be full of mystery. Its name, Barsakelmes, is translated from Kazakh as “if you go there you won’t come back”. However, in reality, this place is very rich in rare animals and plants.