The world's 9th largest country, is the most economically advanced of the ‘Central Asia’, thanks to its abundant reserves of oil and most other valuable minerals. The biggest city, Almaty, is almost reminiscent of Europe with its leafy avenues, glossy shopping centres and glitzy nightlife. The capital Nur-Sultan, on the windswept northern steppe, has been transformed into a 21st-century showpiece with bold futuristic architecture. Beyond the cities, Kazakhstan has abundance of high mountains and green valleys of Tian shan mountains with many beautiful lakes and in contrast the western deserts.