“Journey to Alakol”: How to get there by train

Tengrinews.kz - Traveling to the scenic Alakol resort by train is a great option for those who prefer a leisurely journey. Tengrinews.kz explains how to reach Alakol Lake by rail.
Details were provided by Passenger Transportation JSC, the national railway operator.
The company has launched 12 additional trains to popular tourist destinations this summer. In total, 13 train routes are operating to Lake Alakol, departing from cities such as Astana, Almaty, Kyzylorda, Pavlodar, Semey, and Ust-Kamenogorsk. Of these, 11 are run by the national railway operator, and 2 by private companies. Nine of the routes were launched specifically for the summer season.
The national carrier emphasized that all train cars heading toward Alakol are equipped with air conditioning.
Routes from Almaty to Alakol:

No. 207/208 Almaty-2 – Zhalanashkol (twice a week)
No. 221/222 Almaty-2 – Dostyk (three times a week)
No. 211/212 Almaty-2 – Dostyk (even days in June–July, odd days in August)No. 337/338 Almaty-2 – Dostyk (three times a week)
No. 21/6941/6942/22 Almaty-1 – Dostyk (on even days)

Routes from Astana to Alakol:

No. 54/53 Nurly Zhol – Dostyk (twice a week)
No. 254/253 Nurly Zhol – Dostyk (twice a week)
No. 122/6942/6941/121 Nurly Zhol – Semey (on even days)

Other routes:

No. 31/6942/6941/32 Pavlodar – Dostyk (on even days)
No. 21/6942/6941/22 Kyzylorda – Dostyk (on odd days)
No. 457/458 Semey – Dostyk (on odd days)
No. 459/460 Oskemen – Dostyk (on odd days)
No. 6941/6942 Aktogay – Dostyk (daily)

According to the national railway operator, 236,000 passengers traveled to and from Alakol by train in 2024. This year, ridership is expected to reach 240,000, marking a 90% increase in passenger traffic on the route since 2022.
Travelers are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance and pay attention to route-specific details.
In addition to Alakol, the Burabay (Borovoe) resort area also remains a top summer destination. The main summer travel demand comes from major cities such as Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, and Aktobe.
Read also: Which trains in Kazakhstan have “women-only carriages“