From walking through Almaty’s snow covered streets, to riding up to the frosty peaks of Shymbulak, warming your hands around hot tea in cozy cafés, or stepping into a traditional yurt under a sky full of stars, winter in Kazakhstan unfolds in beautiful little moments.
If a winter trip to Kazakhstan is on your mind, this blog shares our smart, experience tested MM&Co. packing checklist to help you stay warm, travel light, and enjoy every icy adventure.
1. The Essentials
Confused about documents? Visa? Do Indians need a visa? Read our Kazakhstan Essentials blog here
2. What to Wear in Georgia
In March, Kazakhstan typically stays cold, with daytime temperatures around 2°C to 8°C in Almaty. This list is ideal for anyone searching for what to wear in Kazakhstan in March or Kazakhstan winter clothing guide.
Clothing
- Jacket: A warm jacket suitable for temperatures as low as -5°C is crucial. Choose one that’s waterproof in case of rain or snow, and make sure it has proper insulation.
- Winter Wear: Almaty’s winter can be quite chilly, so ensure you pack warm clothing: –
- Thermals: 1-2 pairs are great for your innermost layer.
- Sweaters/Hoodies: 2 of these to layer over your thermals.
- Gloves,
- Woolen Caps/Headbands,
- Neck Warmers
- Scarves
- Warm Socks
Layering: Plan to layer your clothing for warmth, using thermals, sweaters, and a jacket as your outer layer. If you’re someone who feels cold easily, consider adding an extra layer. Also, for those who are susceptible to the cold, you could buy a warmee heating patch.
Footwear
- Shoes: Please carry sturdy, waterproof shoes. In snowy mountain regions, wet or slippery surfaces are common, so waterproof shoes are a must! Walking around in regular shoes can be difficult if it snows as your feet will get wet and cold. Shoes with a good grip will be your best friend!
- Woollen socks
Accessories
- Warm beanie or hat.
- Warm gloves that are ideally waterproof.
- Sunglasses for snow glare and sunny vineyard days.
Luggage
Please pack one suitcase/rucksack and one small backpack/handbag per person. Due to our travels in hilly terrains, we kindly ask you to avoid carrying oversized bags and extra luggage. We want everyone to have enough space and comfort throughout the journey 🙂
4. Miscellaneous
- Power bank
Universal Adapter: Don’t forget to bring a universal adapter for your electronics, as the plug sockets in Kazakhstan may differ from your home country’s standards.
SIM Card: We recommend buying a local SIM card once you arrive in Almaty. It’ll make communication much easier for everyone during the trip.
Cash: Carry 230 USD to exchange for local currency. It’s best to convert cash locally in Almaty. If you’re someone who’d like to shop/drink/pamper themselves a little extra, you may carry extra cash subjectively.
- Small backpack or daypack for daily sightseeing/ outings
- Warmee/ heating patch for those who feel cold easily
- For vegetarians/ travellers who crave the Indian palette more: some MTR/ instant food packets. While vegetarian alternatives are available, they are not as spice infused as Indian food, so, if you’re someone who would crave that after a few days, a few instant food packets would be good 🙂
- Similarly, we never say no to snacking! Road trips and road journeys warrant snacks, bring them along.
- While our trip leader carries a basic first aid kit, if you’re on some medication or susceptible to some form of illness while travelling, please carry the requisite medicine. For example: those with motion sickness, must carry avomine as the trip has significant road journeys involved.
- Similarly, if you require a neck pillow or anything else to make your road journeys smooth, carry the same.
5. MM&Co. Trip Add-ons
A few small things can make shared moments even more memorable!
- UNO / playing cards / small games: Great for all the group chilling and fun!
- Portable speaker: Did someone say partayyy
Bollywood Vibes: We can’t go on a trip without some Bollywood drama, can we? Whether it’s a saree or a kurta (yes, even the boys!), bring something festive for a little filmy fun with the crew!
Ready to experience Kazakhstan the MM&Co way?
Join us this March to explore the Landscapes of Kazakhstan and start packing for the adventure of a lifetime!