Posts Tagged ‘Kazakhstan’

Get a Kazakhstan Visa To Watch a Golden Eagle Hunt

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

You’ve heard of people hunting with hawks and falcons, of course, but what about eagles? In Kazakhstan and other nearby countries, hunting with golden eagles, called berkutchy, is an ancient tradition that goes back centuries.

However, it’s also a tradition that’s become very rare. According to this article on the Epoch Times, there are only about 50 professional eagle hunters left in the entire country. When the Soviets took control of Kazakhstan, people’s traditional nomadic way of life was disrupted and eagle hunting was banned.

Now, Kazakhstan is independent. Given how fast the country has modernized itself, you might not expect a traditional sport like eagle hunting to be making a comeback, but you would be wrong.  Eagle hunting is one way for the Kazakh people to keep in touch with their nomadic past, and it is actually growing in popularity.

Government official Yepemes Alimkhanov  told the Epoch Times that during the Soviet era, there was “Hunger, repression, collectivisation. People had no time to worry about their eagles. It was a tragedy. But the tradition is coming back. Our sons and daughters have inherited it.”

The hunt itself is an amazing spectacle. The eagles, which can have wingspans that measure more than 6 feet across, can dive for prey (usually rabbits or foxes) at 190 miles per hour.

To the see the golden eagles hunt, you must visit Kazakstan, preferably during winter.  US citizens need both a valid passport and a Kazakhstan visa. You must apply for your Kazakhstan visa in advance-they are not issued at the border. Here are the documents needed to get a tourist visa:

  • One Kazakhstan visa application form
  • 1 passport-sized photo
  • A  cover letter detailing your travel plans and dates in Kazakhstan.  Applicants can write this out themselves if they are staying for less than 30 days. For longer stays, your host must get an invitation letter for you from the Kazakhstan department of foreign affairs.

Also, keep in mind that you may need a visa if you stop in another country along the way, even if it’s just in the airport.  RushMyTravelVisa.com can help you research your trip and apply for your Kazakhstan visa, as well as any other visas you require.

For visa assistance and expedited visa processing, contact us today!

Tags: ,
Posted in Destinations | No Comments »

Apply For a Kazakhstan Visa

Saturday, November 14th, 2009

When you think about Kazakhstan, the first thing that comes it mind is most likely the title character of the movie Borat. However, if you were to actually travel to Kazakhstan, you might be surprised. The country has a growing economy, an educated populace (according to Wikipedia, the literacy rate is 99.5%) and is far from the cultural backwater portrayed in the movie.

Kazakhstan is the 9th largest country in the world, and visitors can look forward to seeing many different types of scenery, including mountains, steppes, grasslands and deserts.  Community ecotourism programs are available, so you can stay with local villagers and get a feel for the community. (Again, please try to forget Borat. People aren’t really like that here.)

You can also indulge in kumis, a drink made from fermented mare’s milk that is popular here. Hey…don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it!

If you’re more of the urban type, Kazakhstan’s main cities, Astana and Almaty, are interesting cities with a lot to offer the traveler, including shopping, museums, restaurants and a vibrant nightlife.

Of course, to travel to Kazakhstan, you will need a passport and a Kazakhstan visa.  Here’s what you need to have to apply for a Kazakhstan tourist visa:

  • One visa application form
  • 1 passport photo
  • A  cover letter explaining what you are planning to do in Kazakhstan and when you plan to be there. If you are staying for 30 days or less, you can write the letter yourself. However, if you are staying 30 days or more, your host to needs to get an invitation letter for you issued by the Kazakhstan department of foreign affairs.

Another item to consider is whether or not you will need a transit visa if your flight itinerary takes you through a third country. For example, you need a Russian transit visa just to change planes in Russia!

RushMyTravelVisa.com will be happy to research the visa requirements for your entire trip.  We can also help you with the paperwork for any required visas and expedite your visa processing.

Let us help you apply for your Kazakhstan visa!

Tags: ,
Posted in Country-Specific Visas | No Comments »