Central Kazakhstan

Karaganda and Ulytau form the geographic heart of Kazakhstan. The Saryarka steppe connects industrial cities, mining settlements and landscapes that hold a deep place in Kazakh cultural memory. Karaganda and Temirtau bring coal, steel and labour history into the journey; Zhezkazgan adds the story of copper and the roads leading into Ulytau.

Ulytau’s hills and historic places give the region a different rhythm. Here, open steppe, sacred sites and the memory of older routes sit alongside the everyday life of mining towns. Karaganda and Ulytau remain distinct administrative provinces; this page brings them together as a geographic travel region.

Travelling through the centre takes time. Distances between cities and historic places are substantial, and steppe weather can change the pace of a journey. Plan fuel stops, accommodation and road conditions before leaving the main routes, and allow time for local history as well as the landscape.