East Kazakhstan is more often perceived as an industrial region rather than a tourist destination. Even within the country, less is known about it compared to popular spots like Lake Borovoe or the Kapchagay Reservoir. Meanwhile, there are unique natural gems here: the Bukhtarma coastline, the Samar Sands, and the Sibe Lakes. Lovers of mountains and pristine nature eagerly travel to the Trans-Ili Alatau, but rarely imagine what natural riches are hidden in Katon-Karagay, reports an Altainews.kz correspondent.
The issue lies not only in logistics and tourist infrastructure. East Kazakhstan currently remains a "gemstone without a setting": there are no recognizable brands here that could attract tourists even with relative conveniences.
Today, the tourist brand of Katon-Karagay is being actively developed in the East Kazakhstan Region (EKR). A significant role in its promotion was played by the large-scale festival "Altai – the Golden Cradle of the Turkic World," which took place in this protected area in the summer of 2025.
The festival, which drew up to 10,000 people, included activities for every taste. Fans of national sports had the opportunity to cheer at competitions in kokpar, baiga, audaryspak, and zhamby atu, held at a specially equipped hippodrome on the outskirts of Katon-Karagay. A key factor of convenience was the covered spectator stands, allowing visitors to watch the equestrian games in shade and safety.
For literature enthusiasts, a poetry evening was held in the village of Topkaiyn, along with an aitys of akyns—a competition of improvisational singers—on the festival's main stage in Katon-Karagay. Nurymbet Saktaganov personally presented prizes to the aitys winners, ranging from 750,000 to 3 million tenge.
During the festival, the territory of the "Berel" Museum-Archaeological Complex became a platform for a scientific-practical conference of Turkologists and museum specialists. Incidentally, a large stream of tourists also flocked to the Berel Valley of the Kings during the event. Rural athletes, after the kokpar competitions, visited the museum to see the household items of their distant ancestors—the Sakas of the Iron Age.
The culmination of the festival and its most spectacular sight was the gala concert on an open stage, featuring artists from 11 countries representing the Turkic world. Spectators enjoyed the modern sound of steppe motifs performed by the ethno-folk group "Turan."
Throughout all three days of the festival, life bustled in the ethno-village, where every district of the EKR presented its own yurts. Local businesses ensured the continuous operation of a fair and food court, where guests could taste various types of shashlik, pilaf, and fast food, as well as buy honey and folk handicrafts.
There are now plans to make the festival an annual event. It is expected that even more guests will gather in Katon-Karagay this year.
Implementing such a large-scale project, despite its high cost and organizational complexity, serves as an effective tool for promoting tourism in the EKR. It not only increases the region's recognition but also shapes its cultural and historical identity. The calculation is simple: having gained vivid impressions from the festival, guests will want to return here again and again.
Translated by VisitEastKz
