Ancient trade centers, the landscape around the Aral Sea and the history of spaceflight give Qysylorda an unusual thematic range. In the region, you will encounter traces of the Silk Road, as well as the Barsakelmes Nature Reserve and the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Which of these traces interests you most can shape the focus of your trip: history and archaeology, nature or spaceflight.
Baikonur: Spaceflight and access
Guided tours for visitors are offered at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. These offer the chance to observe launches of crewed and uncrewed spacecraft and visit Launch Pad 1, known as “Gagarin’s Start.” The Baikonur Museum Complex complements this theme with its collection, which includes authentic rocket engines, spacesuits, spacecraft cabin equipment and personal belongings of cosmonauts.
Because of its special legal status, the Baikonur complex has a permit and access system. Issuing access permits can take some time, so plan ahead. As access rules may change, it is advisable to check the operator’s official information before your visit.
Trading cities and archaeological traces
Several sites in the region tell of the importance of ancient trade routes. Zhankent, also known as Yangikent, was one of the capitals of the Oghuz state in the 9th to 11th centuries. The ancient city was located in the lower reaches of the Syr Darya and was an important administrative and trading center. Today, the settlement has official status as a cultural heritage site of national significance.
Syganak was also described as an important trading center and a hub on caravan routes. Its traditional epithet, “Harbor of the Kipchak Steppe,” refers to its role in the historical context of travel and trade. At Chirik-Rabat, in turn, several aspects of the past come together: the ancient site was a trading center on the Silk Road, where crafts and agriculture developed. Its fortifications included a moat 40 meters wide and 4.5 meters deep.
Other archaeological traces highlight different aspects of the past. Balandy-2 is considered one of the oldest domed temple complexes in Kazakhstan. The monuments of the Zhetyasar Oasis were added in 2012 to UNESCO’s Tentative World Heritage List as part of the serial transnational “Silk Roads” nomination—a different status from inscription on the World Heritage List. Several thousand petroglyphs are spread across both banks of the Sauysqandyq River; the site extends along a seven-kilometer stretch of the river.
Barsakelmes and the landscape around the Aral Sea
The Barsakelmes State Nature Reserve was established on December 10, 1939, on Barsakelmes Island. At the time, the island lay almost in the central part of the Aral Sea. An area added later extends the reserve’s landscape history: since July 29, 2020, it has included the 2,300-hectare “Delta” section, at the mouth of the Syr Darya where it flows into the Small Aral Sea. The delta is known for its unique biological diversity. In 2016, the Barsakelmes Biosphere Reserve was included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
Another place with its own cultural significance is the Korkyt Ata Memorial Complex in Karmakshy District. It is among Kazakhstan’s sacred sites and is an important cultural tourism attraction. In Qysylorda, archaeological and spiritual themes thus stand alongside nature and the history of spaceflight, without needing to be combined into a single sightseeing route.
Water, railway history and regional discoveries
At the Kambash recreation area on Lake Kambash, motorboats, inflatable boats, catamarans and jet skis are available. The selection ranges from different types of boats to motorized watercraft. As these offerings may change, check current availability before your visit.
Kamystybas railway station building is also a historical and cultural monument of local significance and part of the railway complex. It adds a chapter of railway history to the region’s better-known archaeological and landscape themes.
Discover more districts: Syrdariya District, Zhalagash District.
Discover more destinations: Aqtöbe, Mangghystau, Zhambyl, Aqmola, Qostanai, Astana.
Return to the main travel overview: Kazakhstan.
