Mangystau is a peninsula with breathtaking landscapes, a unique climate, and fascinating people. This is a true paradise for tourists, offering the sea, steppes, mountains, gorges, canyons, sacred sites, and much more to discover.
The most striking features of Mangystau are its massive geological formations: limestone and chalk cliffs, towering mountains, hundred-meter-high bluffs and sinkholes, enormous two-meter stone spheres, and other formations shaped over millennia by wind and water. It’s hard to choose the highlights of such a vast and varied landscape, but here are some of the region’s most remarkable sites.
Bozzhyra Valley is one of Mangystau’s most awe-inspiring landmarks. Located 270 kilometers from Aktau, this vast area has three main observation points with stunning, otherworldly views. No camera can truly capture the enchantment of Bozzhyra, a place that draws visitors from around the world to marvel at the dazzling white cliffs rising from the Ustyurt Plateau. Often compared to Arizona’s Monument Valley, this natural Kazakh wonder is easier to reach, more affordable, and far less crowded, allowing for a more immersive connection with nature.
Karagiye Depression is one of the deepest natural depressions on Earth, ranking fifth globally. It plunges 132 meters below sea level, offering a heart-stopping view across the vast salt flats of Batyr that cover the depression floor. Spanning 85 kilometers in length and up to 25 kilometers wide, Karagiye attracts thousands of tourists each year who come to witness this awe-inspiring natural wonder.
Ayrakty-Shomanai is a mountain group with cliff faces that look like they were hand-sculpted. Situated 180 kilometers from Aktau, near the village of Shetpe, the area is also close to Mount Sherkala. Known as the «Valley of Castles,» Ayrakty’s mountains resemble fairy-tale castles with towers, columns, and fortress walls. In spring, tulips carpet the valley, and the chalky cliff faces of Ayrakty bear etched drawings, which one researcher has called “Steppe Symphonies.”
Sherkala is a solitary mountain that resembles both a Kazakh yurt from one angle and a sleeping lion from another. One of Mangystau’s best-known landmarks, Sherkala is the region’s emblem, standing 175 kilometers from Aktau. Locals say that from a certain perspective, the mountain looks like a giant yurt, joking that nomadic giants might have set it down here as a place to celebrate a feast.
Tuzbair Salt Flats is a massive salt field, measuring 15 by 4 kilometers, located just below the white cliffs of the Ustyurt Plateau. Situated 270 kilometers from Aktau, with the last 40 kilometers along a rough dirt road, this natural wonder combines deserts, hills, and cliffs to create surreal and unforgettable landscapes. Photographers find Tuzbair’s vast salt flats an incredible canvas, and for artists, the place offers ready-made vistas filled with inspiration.
Torysh Valley of Balls is an enigmatic site where thousands of stone spheres, ranging from one to three meters in diameter, lie scattered across a vast, rolling plain. This most mysterious landmark of Mangystau has puzzled scientists worldwide, as no one can explain how such perfectly rounded stones came to exist in the middle of an endless steppe. Theories have circulated for over 250 years, but no consensus has been reached. The valley, located 110 kilometers north of Aktau, is a unique setting for photos, like those of a modern Sisyphus pushing a stone uphill.
Beket-Ata Underground Mosque is a must-see among Mangystau’s sacred sites. Pilgrims from around the world come seeking inspiration and guidance here. According to legend, those who visit with pure hearts are healed of illnesses or blessed with good fortune. Besides its spiritual significance, Beket-Ata is also a striking and beautiful structure with a rich history.
Zhygylgan Cape, also known as “Fallen Earth,” gets its name from the colossal geological landslide that shaped it, where an entire limestone layer collapsed after being undermined by clay and sand. Zhygylgan is a treasure trove of history, with fragments of stone bearing fossilized tracks from large and small saber-toothed cats (machairodonts) and the deeply impressed hooves of three-toed horses, called hipparions, dating back 10 to 15 million years.
Tupkaragan Cape is often called the birthplace of Mangystau’s history. Many cultures around the world revere the sites that preserve the memory of their ancestors, and according to Arab scholars of the 8th to 12th centuries, an ancient city once stood here.
In addition to these popular attractions, Mangystau boasts many other wonders, like the porous ravine of Ybykty, the layered red and white hills of Kyzylkup, and more. Mangystau is also home to unusual historical landmarks, such as the underground mosques of Beket-Ata, Karaman-Ata, and Shakpak-Ata. These religious sites possess a special energy that draws pilgrims from all over Kazakhstan each year.