Kazakhstan

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Flag of Kazakhstan Kazakhstan
Information
Language: Kazakh, Russian
Capital: Astana
Population: 16,196,800
Currency: Tenge (KZT)
Hitchability: <rating country='kz' />
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<map lat='48.05' lng='66.9' zoom='3' view='0' float='right'/>

Kazakhstan (also spelled Kazakstan) is a country in Central Asia.

Hitchhiking in Kazakstan isn't predictable. You can get 4-day rides with trucks or just rides of a few kilometres to the next village. People often offer rides out of cities when they see you walking.

File:Kazdesert.JPG
From time to time cars need to get rescued out of the desert

The road between Aktobe and Aralsk is terrible, with little asphalt. Vehicles get stuck in the mud all the time and crossing the country this way can take days.

Some drivers of small cars, typically only going a short distance out of cities, will demand money. However, long-distance lifts are typically free. Inside of cities, especially in Almaty it is very common to stop cars and use them as private taxi. This means that you have to leave the city to start hitching, inside it will cause a lot of headache. Experiences in Kazakhstan are different, some people had problems with drivers asking for money again and again, while for others it was no issue at all. For sure whereever you hitch, drivers will stop fast and the ironic fact is that somebody might wants to charge you for a 3 km lift, while the next driver takes you 1200 km from Almaty to Astana and this will be for free.

Nevertheless a very good country for hitching, especially to cover long distances.

File:Kazrestaurant.JPG
Restaurant for truck driver

Cities

File:Myfriendisacow.JPG
Not so crowded country, but friends on the road are easy to find

Border Crossing

Azerbaijan

Kyrgyzstan

  • Multi-border points are Aisha-Bibi, Sypatay Batyr, Korday, Kegen, Karasu (2010).

Russia

  • Multi-border points are Kurmangazy, Taskala, Syrym, Aksai, Alimbet, Zhaysan, Kayrak, Akbalshyk, Zhana Zhol, Karakoga, Urlitobe, Sulu Agash, Kosak, Sharbakty, Auyl, Ube, Zhezkent (2010).

Uzbekistan

  • Multi-border points are Tazhen, Zhibek Zholy, B.Konysbaeva, Shardara, Kaplanbek, Syrdarya, Celinny (2010).

Turkmenistan

  • Multi-border point is Temirbaba (2010)

China

  • Multi-border points are Khorgos, Dostyk, Kolzhart, Bakhty, Maykapchagay (2010).

SIM-cards

Some Beeline SIM-cards a bit expensive but no need any ID(2010). SMS 0,05USD. Most Kazakh people use either Aktiv or Kcell. It's extremely cheap to make phone calls to other Kcell/Activ users (they are the same company). Passport is needed for this sim card.

<gallery> File:kaznowehere.JPG|Landscape in KZ can seem endless File:mjammjam.JPG|Be aware about toilettes like this on the roads, so spoil yourself with some tissues File:Einkamelisteinwunder.JPG|He refused to give a lift </gallery