Mangystau Desert Travel Blog

Mangystau desert extends for about 400 km between the coasts of the Caspian Sea and the border with Uzbekistan. It has a very low population density, about 2 inhabitants per km². If Kazakhstan is a sparsely populated country, Mangystau is its most uninhabited region. It is easier to come across a camel or a scorpion than another human being.

Discover the unusual rock formations of the valley of balls, or Torysh valley. Automobile-sized spheres scattered along steppe valleys in Mangystau, Kazakhstan. And then an emotional look at the Valley of Castles, Airakty Shomanai, so called by the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko.

Kyzylkup Mountains are extraordinary and unknown. There are no road signs leading us here. I heard that even locals don’t know these rock formations. The jeep stops at a vantage point. A valley with soft reliefs stretches from end to end of the horizon. Afternoon light makes the shadows appealing… like tiramisu!

We wake up at dawn, have a frugal breakfast and jump on our jeeps. We are moving towards the canyons of Bozshira, perhaps the most famous place in the Mangystau desert. If it was still fashionable to send postcards, we’d all like to send one from here. And we’ll keep another one in our pocket, as a reminder, as proof that we’ve been here, dirty and sweaty, admiring one of the most beautiful views in the world.

Tuzbair Lake is located in the southwestern region of Mangystau, where there are no water sources and the land is rich in salt. About 250 million years ago this area was covered by Tethys ocean, so it’s actually sea salt. Seen from above, the white colouration of the salt soil produces a small mirage and the lake seems covered with water even in summer. In addition to the lake basin, tourists are attracted by the unique shores, with peaks and ripples that seem drawn.

Everything you need to know before you go on a trip to the Mangystau desert in Kazakhstan. All the unmissable places, my tips and precautions to fully enjoy your stay in the so called “painted desert”.