Ust-Kamenogorsk (Öskemen) is an energetic city with Soviet influence embedded in its architecture at the convergence of Irtysh and Ulba rivers. 'Ust' has been through massive growth since 1720. It began as a Russian fort and evolved as mine when the Russians and Ukrainians arrived to mine copper, lead, silver and zinc. The city of 'Ust’ is also close to Altai that is a perfect stop to see Kazakhstan's most beautiful mountains. Kazakhstan has a lot more to offer besides the city of Almaty and Astana. Therefore, a visit to Ust-Kamenogorsk should be on your bucket list.

Airports available in Ust-Kamenogorsk

Oskemen Airport or Ust-Kamenogorsk Airport (UKK) is an airport located in Kazakhstan. It is located 13 km (8.1 mi) northwest of Oskemen or also known as Ust-Kamenogorsk. This airport operates flights to destinations such as Almaty, Nur-sultan and Moscow. There are a few airlines that operate here such as Air Astana, Bek Air, Qazaq Air, S7 Airlines and SCAT Airlines. There are basic amenities for the comfort of passengers such as shops, restaurant and Wi-Fi, but do not expect much as this airport is relatively small.

How to get cheap flights to Ust-Kamenogorsk?

It is easy to find cheap flights to Ust-Kamenogorsk with the help of Traveloka. Traveloka is a search engine that will help you compare prices of flights between airlines and provides you with the best option. To find the best deal, search for the destination in the Traveloka website or the Traveloka mobile app, and it will show you the available options. You can also use the price alert feature to notify you of future price changes.

When is the best time to fly to Ust-Kamenogorsk?

It is important to know that Ust-Kamenogorsk is multi-seasonal. The summers are long, warm, and dry while the winters are cold and snowy. The temperature can vary from -15°C to 28° C. The best time of year to visit Ust-Kamenogorsk if you're looking forward to some warm-weather activities is from mid-June to mid-August. The warm season happens from May 11 to September 18, with an average daily temperature 20°C. The hottest day of the year is July 5, with an average high of 28°F and low of 13°F. On the other hand, the cold season occurs, from November 26 to March 10, with an average daily high temperature below -2°C. The coldest day of the year is February 1, with an average low of -20°C and high of -10°F.

What are the top things to do in Ust-Kamenogorsk?

Levoberezhny Park – Located on the south bank of the Irtysh river, this park contains a few attractive exhibits and worth a visit. From the entrance, you can walk to the west and go through the botanical gardens that lead to the Ethnographical Exhibition, which comprises houses in the traditional styles of over a dozen of Kazakhstan's ethnic groups, from Chechens and Tatars to Koreans and Uyghurs. At the east side, you will find pavilions with exhibits on WWII heroes, the Afghan War and the Chernobyl' Liquidators'. Besides you can also find a collection of Soviet-era statues of Lenin and also artistic figures such as Mayakovsky, Gorky and even Tolstoy.

Khalifa Altai mosque – This majestic mosque is located in the city of Oskemen. It is also claimed to be the third largest mosque of Kazakhstan. Opened in 2012 after two years of construction, this mosque has the capacity of three thousand people. Its architecture and the shining blue domes are indeed a sight to behold.

Altaiskiye Alpy - This ski center is located 24km from the city of Oskemen. You can reach this place by car, going through the adventurous mountain terrain. There are several slopes for all age range. There are three lifts: two rope tows and one Chair. If you are new to skiing, worry not as there are instructors. It is recommended to come at 9-10 am, as it is not as crowded as the later hours and the slopes are still 'fresh'. There is also a coffee shop to warm up and eat. Even if you are not looking forward to ski down the mountain, it is still worth a visit to enjoy the mountain air.