Among the best things to do around Almaty, Charyn Canyon is a must, while less may know of Esik Lake. Both can be reached on a day trip from Almaty.
From Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan by boat. Crossing the Caspian Sea on a Soviet-era ferry, from Baku to Aktau. Right in the middle of the Kazakh Steppe.
Aral Lake (or Aral Sea) used to be the 4th largest lake in the world for surface (68,000km2). Now is almost a pond. What left it like it's now?