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UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kazakhstan
Kazakh World Heritage Sites · UNESCO sites in Kazakhstan map · historical landmarks in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan has 6 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List — 3 cultural and 3 natural inscriptions, inscribed between 2003 and 2023. This map of UNESCO sites in Kazakhstan covers every listing, with a short description, the inscription year and the nearest airports — the fastest way to see the country's most important historical sites and landmarks in one place.
Kazakh World Heritage Sites range from Cold Winter Deserts of Turan onwards; Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi was the country's first inscription, added in 2003; Cold Winter Deserts of Turan is the most recent, listed in 2023; recurring threads across the list include ancient civilizations and wild places.
2 inscriptions are transnational, shared with neighbouring countries: Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor and Western Tien-Shan. Start with Cold Winter Deserts of Turan, Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi and Petroglyphs of the Archaeological Landscape of Tanbaly, then use the map above to plan a route between the rest.
- Sites
- 6
- Cultural
- 3
- Natural
- 3
- First inscribed
- 2003
Sites on the map
Inscriptions Kazakhstan shares with other countries are not plotted here — you will find them in the list below.
Flying in
Airports closest to the most sites in this country.
- KZOKyzylorda1 site
- HSATurkıstan1 site
- BSZBishkek1 site
- KSNKostanay1 site
- HTTMengnai1 site
- CITShymkent1 site
Keep exploring
All 6 sites in Kazakhstan
List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kazakhstan
Every inscription with its year and category. Open a site for its story, map location and nearest airports.
| Site | Year | Type | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Winter Deserts of TuranThis transnational property comprises fourteen component parts found across arid areas of Central Asia’s tempe. | 2023 | Natural | This transnational property comprises fourteen component parts found across arid areas of Central Asia’s tempe. |
| Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed YasawiThe Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, in the town of Yasi, now Turkestan, was built at the time of Timur (Tamer. | 2003 | Cultural | The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, in the town of Yasi, now Turkestan, was built at the time of Timur (Tamer. |
| Petroglyphs of the Archaeological Landscape of TanbalySet around the lush Tanbaly Gorge, amidst the vast, arid Chu-Ili mountains, is a remarkable concentration of some 5,000… | 2004 | Cultural | Set around the lush Tanbaly Gorge, amidst the vast, arid Chu-Ili mountains, is a remarkable concentration of some 5,000 petroglyphs (rock carvings)… |
| Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern KazakhstanSaryarka - Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan comprises two protected areas: Naurzum State Nature Reserve and… | 2008 | Natural | Saryarka - Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan comprises two protected areas: Naurzum State Nature Reserve and Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve… |
| Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan CorridorThis property is a 5,000 km section of the extensive Silk Roads network, stretching from Chang’an/Luoyang, the central… | 2014 | Cultural | This property is a 5,000 km section of the extensive Silk Roads network, stretching from Chang’an/Luoyang, the central capital of China in the Han… |
| Western Tien-ShanThe transnational property is located in the Tien-Shan mountain system, one of the largest mountain ranges in the… | 2016 | Natural | The transnational property is located in the Tien-Shan mountain system, one of the largest mountain ranges in the world. |
Frequently asked questions about World Heritage in Kazakhstan
- How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are there in Kazakhstan?
- Kazakhstan has 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 3 cultural and 3 natural.
- What was the first World Heritage Site in Kazakhstan?
- Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi was inscribed in 2003. The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, in the town of Yasi, now Turkestan, was built at the time of Timur (Tamer.
- What is the newest World Heritage Site in Kazakhstan?
- Cold Winter Deserts of Turan, inscribed in 2023. This transnational property comprises fourteen component parts found across arid areas of Central Asia’s tempe.
- Which sites in Kazakhstan are natural World Heritage Sites?
- 3 of the 6 listings are natural: Cold Winter Deserts of Turan, Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan and Western Tien-Shan.
- Which UNESCO sites in Kazakhstan are easiest to reach?
- Each site page lists the closest airports with distance, so you can pick the gateway city first and work outwards. The "Flying in" panel on this page shows the main gateways for Kazakhstan.
- What are the main historical sites and landmarks in Kazakhstan?
- The 6 UNESCO-listed sites above are Kazakhstan's internationally recognised historical sites and landmarks, starting with Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (2003). Each entry links to a full page with a map, photos and travel notes.
- Is there a map of Kazakh World Heritage Sites?
- Yes — the map on this page plots all 6 Kazakh UNESCO World Heritage Sites; click any marker to open that site's page.