Aktau is a port city on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea, in the Mangystau Region of western Kazakhstan. It is the country's main port on the Caspian, and it is a planned modern city, laid out as a place to live and work on the water's edge.
The city takes its name from the white limestone cliffs along its coast, which give the town a pale, striking backdrop. Visitors come for the setting: the sea, the cliffs, and the wide, open sky of the Caspian shoreline.
What the area offers
- Seaside time: the Caspian coast makes Aktau a place for relaxed days by the water.
- Desert landscapes: the wider Mangystau Region is known for unusual, otherworldly terrain, with dramatic desert formations.
- Ancient sites: the region is home to old underground mosques, a reminder of its long history.
Planning a visit
Aktau works well as a base. From the city, you can spend time on the coast and then set out to explore the desert landscapes and historic sites beyond it. Because the region is large and remote compared with Kazakhstan's major cities, it is worth planning your route ahead of time and allowing for travel between sights.
If you enjoy combining sea air with dramatic scenery and places of older history, Aktau gives you a distinctive mix of all three.