How to travel by train in Kazakhstan (with map)

With an area of more than 2.7 million square meters, almost 6 times the size of Spain, and with a population that barely reaches 18 million inhabitants, Kazakhstan is a huge country with one of the lowest population densities in the world.

Therefore, composed of thousands and thousands of miles of desolate and deserted plain, better known as steppe, the vastness of Kazakhstan is something one can only assimilate through a long train journey, in which, for several hours and even days, you go through a desert of unimaginable magnitude, only disturbed by tiny villages located in the middle of nowhere and the occasional hairy camels characteristic of Central Asia.

If you love traveling by train, especially in a Soviet one, and you enjoy interacting with locals, going across Kazakhstan by train is something you really don’t wanna miss.

During my first trip through Kazakhstan, I traveled 3,600 kilometers exclusively by train, starting from Beyneu, the first town you find after crossing the border from Uzbekistan, to Almaty, the most cosmopolitan city in the country, located in the far east, very close to the border with Kyrgyzstan.

It was an amazing journey, very different from my travels through other Central Asian countries, so I decided to compile all the information you need for traveling by train in Kazakhstan.

For tips and everything to visit in the country, read my 1-month itinerary in Kazakhstan

For your train journey across Kazakhstan, get a few good books on the region: best books on Central Asia

Introduction to traveling by train in Kazakhstan

Traveling by train in Kazakhstan is not limited to the functional benefit of transportation but it is one of the highlights of the country.

Unlike in other parts of the world, in Kazakhstan, most locals need to travel extremely long distances that can take them several days.

This turns into spending a long time with your fellow passengers and greater social interaction, which can go from sharing a glass of vodka to the typical local lady, who will spend the whole journey offering you bread, fruit, and much more than you could ever eat.

At the end of every journey, your bunk-bed-mates will become appreciated acquaintances.