{"id":846,"date":"2012-03-01T10:35:35","date_gmt":"2012-03-01T15:35:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.worldbiking.info\/wordpress\/?p=846"},"modified":"2017-03-01T16:25:56","modified_gmt":"2017-03-01T21:25:56","slug":"cycling-kazakhstan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.worldbiking.info\/wordpress\/2012\/03\/cycling-kazakhstan\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 reasons to go Bicycle Touring in Kazakhstan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reason # 1: <\/span>Winter<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you want to try real winter tours, biking Kazakhstan will be the
\nperfect country to do it in. In the north, there is snow from November to
\nApril. To experience a winter storm in 50 C below zero will give you
\nmemories for a\u00a0 lifetime.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A refreshing night’s sleep on the cold Kazakhstan steppe.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Reason # 2:\u00a0 Tian Shan<\/span><\/h3>\n

In southeastern Kazakhstan on the border with Kyrgystan and China you can find Tian Shan, a mountain chain with peaks of up to 7000 meters. It is a beautiful area with varied landscapes from glaciers to arid valleys.
\nWhen you visit Kazakhstan, it is also worth spending time in the mountains south of Almaty.<\/p>\n

\"Get<\/a>
Get ready for some challenging riding in Central Asia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Resaon #3:\u00a0 Concrete Art<\/span><\/h4>\n

Kazakhstan has hundreds of concrete statues from the USSR. They stand as monuments from the past. You can see them all over the country and they are visible from a long distance.<\/p>\n

If you want to see more concrete art, you could drop by any old bus stop.\u00a0 You will find a little shelter in concrete with a bit of Soviet concrete art.<\/p>\n

\"Reminders<\/a>
Reminders of the USSR.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Reason #4:\u00a0 Ghost Towns<\/span><\/h3>\n

When Kazakhstan became independent in 1991, many of society’s vital functions disappeared .\u00a0 The population experienced quite a few hard years.<\/p>\n

Many left the country to seek a better future in Russia and Western Europe. Some came back to Kazakhstan, but most stayed away.\u00a0 Their elderly parents were left behind in Kazakhstan as well as many empty houses and apartments.<\/p>\n

Some cities were almost deserted, and to get there, it feels like visiting a ghost town. My favorite ghost town is Arkalyk which I think is worth a visit.<\/p>\n

\"Everyone<\/a>
Everyone has fled to more prosperous places.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Reason # 5: Tulips<\/span><\/h3>\n

Actually, this paragraph shall be the Central Asian steppe.\u00a0 The vast steppe dominated by feather grass in the north and sagebrush in the south.\u00a0 The steppe is most beautiful in spring when the wild tulips are in full bloom.\u00a0 So the last reason to cycle across Kazakhstan is to see the tulips bloom.<\/p>\n

\"kazak-tulips2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n