A peaceful sunset

As day turns to night, the vast Central Asian sky lights up with some of the most vibrant sunsets you'll see in the world, just as it has done for centuries.

With the setting sun creating a colourful backdrop, the Silk Road settlements that are listed as World Heritage properties take on an even more spectacular hue, adding to the majesty of the places. Whether it is the ruins of ancient cities, palace complexes, religious buildings, or trading centres, seeing them at sunset is a memorable experience.

Among those settlements, you can find ancient cities such as Akyrtas, Ornek, or Aktobe, which are now almost completely destroyed. Mongol invasions and the effect of time and erosion defeated these once prosperous cities. Few visible structures of these ancient sites still stand in the Kazakh landscapes as heritage of an ancient and wealthy time. The impressive ruins are related to a great history, but often located in the middle of the wild. However, being isolated in complete wilderness offers the ability to spend time disconnected from the outside world.

Visiting the ruins of those ancient cities allows you to travel back in time. You get to explore what used to be major trade centres where merchants stopped and rested during their journey between Europe and Asia. As the day fades to night, you can enjoy a peaceful sunset, just as those travellers did themselves so many years ago.

For some of the best viewpoints, take a moment in Akyrtas or Aktobe to truly appreciate the magnitude of the past all around you, and the immensity of the natural landscape as you see the sun setting.