Kazakhstan is expanding its national parks and reserves – here’s what travellers need to know

Kazakhstan has long been one of Asia’s most underrated nature destinations, with its snow-capped mountains, vast steppe, alpine lakes, desert dunes and wildlife. Now, the country is planning to protect even more of it.

Under a new biodiversity strategy, Kazakhstan will expand its national parks and reserves by 20,000 sq km by 2035, bringing its total protected area to 332,000 sq km. This comes at the right time, since the country is getting more popular among travellers and just extended visa-free travel to 56 countries last year.

What is Kazakhstan actually planning?

Announced in March, Kazakhstan’s new Concept for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity for 2026-2035 sets out an ambitious plan to expand the country’s protected landscapes and restore more of its forests. The strategy aims to increase forest-covered land to 147,000 sq km, partly through preserving existing woodland and adding another 8,000 sq km through reforestation efforts.

In practice, that could mean a much larger network of parks, reserves and protected ecosystems across the country. Earlier plans outlined by forestry and wildlife committee chairman Daniyar Turgambayev included the possible creation of six new protected areas, including the Aral and Zhaiyk forest reserves, a new reserve along the Irtysh River floodplain, Tunkinskiy National Park, Merkenskiy Regional Park and the Kyzylkum reserve. Existing reserves such as Ustyurt, Karatau, Akzhaiyk and Ili-Balkhash could also see expansion.

What does this mean for travellers?

Travellers can expect more protected wilderness, better infrastructure, and a stronger push towards sustainable adventure travel. The expansion is designed to preserve the landscapes travellers are only just beginning to discover – from the Tian Shan mountains and forested steppe to desert canyons, wetlands and remote grasslands – while developing them more carefully for long-term tourism.

That could mean improved facilities and easier access in some areas, alongside stricter conservation rules to prevent overdevelopment. Kazakhstan is also betting big on nature tourism over the next few years, targeting around 5 million visitors annually by 2029. Mountain trekking near Almaty, horseback adventures across the steppe, wildlife watching in reserves like Altyn Dala, and road trips through places like Mangystau and Burabay are all expected to become a bigger part of the country’s tourism push.

When is the best time to visit Kazakhstan’s nature spots?

Spring and autumn are generally the sweet spots for wildlife watching in Kazakhstan. Between April and May, the steppe comes alive with wildflowers and migrating birds, while September and October bring cooler temperatures, clearer visibility and active wildlife movement across the mountains, wetlands and grasslands. Who doesn’t love milder weather and a much better chance of seeing Kazakhstan at its wildest?

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