Overland Kazakhstan Travel

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Currency to display:

Visiting Kazakhstan

Give a brief overview of what it's like to visit. How easy is the border, how safe is the country, are there great things to see and do, etc.

Entering Kazakhstan with a Car or Motorbike

Correct as of: 2013

Required Paperwork

(To check if you need a travel Visa for Kazakhstan, application instructions and fees see: Kazakhstan Visa online application at VisaHQ.com)
List the paperwork required to enter with a vehicle, including number of copies

Process at border

Briefly describe the process at the border to enter with a vehicle

Cost of entry

State the cost for a vehicle to enter

Permitted length of stay

State the permitted length of entry for the vehicle

Extension of stay

Describe the process to extend the permitted length of entry for the vehicle, if possible.

Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country

Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.

Exiting with a vehicle

Describe the paperwork requirements and process at the border to exit.

Driving in Kazakhstan

Recommended books for Overlanding in Kazakhstan

Lonely Planet Central Asia (travel Guide)
Lonely Planet Central Asia (travel Guide)
by Lonely Planet, Bradley Mayhew, Mark Elliott, Tom M...
From $16.56 on Amazon
Work Less To Live Your Dreams: A Practical Guide To Sa...
Work Less To Live Your Dreams: A Practical Guide To Sa...
by Dan Grec
From $click on Amazon
Overlanders' Handbook: Worldwide Route And Planning Gu...
Overlanders' Handbook: Worldwide Route And Planning Gu...
by Chris Scott
From $22.49 on Amazon
Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: A Route & Planning Gu...
Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: A Route & Planning Gu...
by Chris Scott
From $click on Amazon
The Gulag Trail: Footprints Into Exile
The Gulag Trail: Footprints Into Exile
by Jerry Kubica
From $8.73 on Amazon

Travel insurance for Kazakhstan

World Nomads offer the most flexible Travel Insurance at the best prices for multi-country / multi-year trips. You can buy, extend and claim online, even after you've left home.

Vehicle insurance requirements

Third Party Liability insurance mandatory. Can be purchased at the border on entry

Cost of vehicle insurance

State the price of insurance and a time period.

Where to purchase vehicle insurance

Describe where insurance can be purchased.

Driving license

No IDP requested in 2013. Valid Drivers License from Country of origin was acceptable.

Driving side of road

Right.
Unknown if RHD vehicles can be driven in Kazakhstan

Mandatory items in vehicle

State any mandatory items that must be carried in the vehicle. (i.e. safety triangle, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc.)

Roads

General Road quality

Give a brief description of the general road quality. Mention if one way streets are common.

Road signs

Briefly describe the overall quality & existence of road signs for directions and hazards.

Toll roads

List the frequency and approximate price of toll roads.

Bribery in Kazakhstan

Kazak Traffic Police corrupt and routinely stop foreign vehicles looking for small bribes. Local drivers also subject to extortion if any driving infringement observed by police. Checkpoints on major roads common requiring all drivers to come to a complete stop and be assessed by the Traffic Police. Traffic Police will examine foreign registered vehicles looking for an infringement eg window tint on front windows, headlights not on at all times. If no infringement found they may look to fabricate an issue eg IDP states permitted to drive with a trailer = Kazak Police: "Where is your trailer!"

Driver will be asked for vehicle and personal documentation and these held by the Traffic Police officer as leverage. Usually the driver will be asked to join the officer in the Police vehicle, a fine and 'paperwork' and often a 'requirement' to join the officer at the Police station will be threatened, the officer will then wait for a counter offer from the driver. Negotiating the size of the fine/bribe is acceptable. The officer will be looking for cash - a payment around Error in price tag: The currency attribute must be specified. was usually sufficient in 2013.

Checkpoints

Frequent Police checkpoints; multiple checkpoints usually on entering/exiting larger towns and usually a single checkpoint on the main road/highway for small towns.

Traveling with pets

List the entry requirements and anything else required to travel with a pet.

Gas and Diesel price in Kazakhstan

Last updated: October 2012

Currency and unit to display:

Gasoline Grade Price
Unleaded €0.70 EUR per Liter[1]
Diesel €0.50 EUR per Liter[1]

Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency

Briefly describe if gas shortages are known to occur.
Also state the approximate average distance between gas stations. This is a very rough estimate.

Gas and Diesel Quality

Diesel quality appeared good in 2013 with frequent new and modern service stations along major highways.

Diesel 350ppm in 2013.

Safety and Security Considerations

Driving at night

Discuss driving at night and if it should it be avoided. Mention why.

Vehicle parking

Discuss if vehicles can be parked on the street, if they are considered "safe" at night. If vehicles can not be parked on the street, list the other options that exist.

Special driving considerations

A List of special things to be careful of (i.e. Unsigned speed bumps, abnormal road rules, people or animals on the road, etc.).
List any roads that are not recommended to drive for safety or other security reasons.

Security advisories and information

Camping in Kazakhstan

Describe if organized "pay" camping is common. List the facilities commonly found at these campsites.
List the approximate average price range of camping in organized campgrounds.
Also discuss the possibility of "wild" or "roadside" camping. How common is it? Is it considered safe, or a bad idea.

Camping guide books

List and link to books specifically for camping.

Drinking water

Describe if the regular tap water is safe to drink. If not, describe where safe water can be purchased and the approximate average price range.

Navigation

Paper maps

Reise Know-How are amoung the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan 2016 : Rip & Waterproof Map By Reise Know-h...
Kazakhstan 2016 : Rip & Waterproof Map By Reise Know-h...
by Reise Know-How Verlag
From $10.49 on Amazon
Kazakhstan Road Map1:2m Fb 2009 (english, Spanish, Fre...
Kazakhstan Road Map1:2m Fb 2009 (english, Spanish, Fre...
by Freytag-Berndt
From $10.99 on Amazon
Uzbekistan: The Golden Road To Samarkand (odyssey Illu...
Uzbekistan: The Golden Road To Samarkand (odyssey Illu...
by Calum MacLeod, Bradley Mayhew
From $14.35 on Amazon

GPS Maps of Kazakhstan

Review different GPS companies, quality and coverage (Tomtom, Garmin, OSM, Tracks4Africa). (with links to each).

GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Kazakhstan

  • iOverlander is a website and iPhone application designed by Overlanders, for Overlanders. It contains GPS co-ordinates and reviews for camping, hotels, propane, water, mechanics, borders and much more.

Link to sites that have a list of GPS co-ordinates (or directions) for camping locations (including "wild" campsites), propane filling, gas stations, repair shops, places of interest, etc.

Special Overland Travel interests

List any special items / places that are popular with Overlanders

Vehicle Maintenance

Dealers

4x4s / Trucks

Motorbikes

Local Garages

Add known good mechanics here.

Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Kazakhstan

Buy
Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle. List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.

Sell
Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'

References

Links to the source of any information - blogs or discussion forums, etc.

  1. 1.0 1.1 World petrol prices, gas prices, diesel prices|MyTravelCost.com

Helpful External links

Add any helpful external links here.