Burabay National Park
Park of pine forests, granite outcrops and lakes in northern Kazakhstan, sometimes called the Kazakh Switzerland. It is used for walks, boating and summer holidays.
Burabay
A resort area of lakes and pine forest lies north of Astana, popular for hiking, fresh air and weekend breaks.
Attractive locations
Lake Burabay
Lake at the heart of the park, ringed by pine-covered hills and rocky peaks, with beaches and boat trips in summer.
Mount Kokshe
Mountain in the Kokshetau hills near the national park, offering hikes through pine forest to views over lakes and ridges.
Ulken Shabakty Lake
Lake in Burabay National Park surrounded by pine forest, used for swimming and for walks along the shore in summer.
Lake Shchuchye
Lake near the town of Shchuchinsk with sandy shores and tall pines, popular in summer for swimming and relaxing.
Okzhetpes
Steep granite rock above the lakeshore whose name means that an arrow cannot reach it, according to local legend. It is a well-known lookout and photo spot in the park.
Zhumbaktas
Granite outcrop on the lakeshore, often compared to a sphinx and called the Riddle Rock. Footpaths and boat trips on the lake give good views of it.
Airports
Kokshetau International Airport KOV
It is about 54 km in a straight line from Burabay.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Kazakhstan page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan-17.4 °C17 mm
- Feb-14.9 °C16 mm
- Mar-6.4 °C21 mm
- Apr4.3 °C29 mm
- May12.4 °C42 mm
- Jun17.9 °C45 mm
- Jul19.4 °C71 mm
- Aug18.0 °C43 mm
- Sep11.1 °C29 mm
- Oct2.6 °C34 mm
- Nov-6.7 °C27 mm
- Dec-14.7 °C21 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec. Wettest months: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Costs
Prices here are about 33% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
112 for all emergencies. Police 102. Ambulance 103. Fire 101.
local government
Ministry of Emergency Situations (unified service 112)
Helps with: Kazakhstan's ministry for emergencies and disasters. Its government page lists 112 as the unified duty and dispatch service, plus a helpline and address in Astana.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Kazakhstan who needs emergency help or wants to report an emergency.
Phone: 112
Address: Mangilik El Street 8, entrance 2, Astana 010000
local government
Kazakhstan tourism portal support (Ministry of Tourism)
Helps with: Contact page of Kazakhstan's national tourism portal, run with the Ministry of Tourism. It lists a phone number and an office address in Astana for tourism enquiries.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Kazakhstan or planning a trip there.
Phone: +7 7172 39-99-56
Address: Mangilik El Avenue 55/14, block C 2.1, office 3.2.1, Astana
ngo
Kazakh Red Crescent Society
Helps with: Kazakhstan's national Red Crescent society. Its website lists disaster response, first aid training, blood donation, a family tracing service and help for refugees and asylum seekers.
Who qualifies: People in Kazakhstan who need its disaster, first aid, social or family tracing services.
Phone: +7 727 236-76-23
Email: info@redcrescent.kz
Address: 86 Kunaev Street, Almaty 050010
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Kazakhstan
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in Kazakhstan since 2002. Its Astana and Almaty offices handle general enquiries and serve as the coordination office for Central Asia.
Who qualifies: Migrants and organisations working on migration. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +7 7172 69 6553
Email: iomastana@iom.int
Address: 14 Mambetov Street, UN Building, Astana 010000