A married couple from Almaty covered 15,100 kilometers across Kazakhstan over 72 days, observing birds and exploring the country’s wilderness. Kursiv LifeStyle looks at how they balanced birdwatching, work and life on the road.
Galym and Aizhan have been married for nine years. Recently, they began traveling more frequently around Kazakhstan and developed a passion for birdwatching. The idea of crossing the entire country grew out of their previous trips.
«We really love the Mangystau region. We’ve flown to Aktau several times, but we always felt limited because we couldn’t explore the whole area on our own by car. So, this summer, we decided to drive there from Almaty. Then we thought: Why go straight there when we could stop at interesting places along the way, watch birds and explore nature?» Galym explained.
They decided to combine the trip with a «Big Year» challenge, in which participants try to spot and record as many bird species as possible in a country or region over the course of a year.
The couple began keeping a list of the birds they encountered on Jan. 1. In Kazakhstan, participants can track their Big Year progress on a dedicated website that also features information about rare bird species.
Read also: Birdwatcher’s delight: Long-tailed tit is a must-see in Almaty mountains.
How the couple prepared for the journey
The extensive trip took place between July and October 2026, covering dozens of cities and natural landmarks across Kazakhstan. Galym and Aizhan prepared their vehicle in advance by setting up a sleeping area inside. They also packed a portable shower, a multicooker and a small electric kettle.
Because both work remotely, they were able to balance their professional responsibilities with traveling. At times, they had to pull over, find a spot with a strong mobile signal and take care of work-related tasks before continuing their journey.
«We didn’t have any overly complicated preparations. We simply tried to anticipate basic everyday needs so that we could travel in reasonable comfort and stop in a wide variety of locations,» Galym said.
The journey also brought challenges. On one occasion, their vehicle became badly stuck in the mud in eastern Kazakhstan, far from any cities or villages. Fortunately, local residents with a suitable vehicle came to their aid.
«We made a point of reaching the most remote, wild places — far away from other people. To do that, we sometimes had to cover vast distances across some very rough, off-road terrain,» Galym said.
The couple also tried to avoid driving after sunset. According to Galym, they completed more than 90% of their daily journeys before dark.
What surprised them most about traveling through Kazakhstan?
During the trip, Galym took about 30,000 photographs, while Aizhan captured roughly the same number. The couple is gradually sorting through the images and sharing them. They also hope to publish a small book about their travels.
Read also: Central Asia’s hidden gem: The vibrant red-mantled rosefinch.
Galym said they had always known Kazakhstan was vast and diverse, but experiencing its scale firsthand by driving thousands of kilometers and watching the landscape change dramatically from one region to another was an entirely different experience.
He added that encounters with wildlife were among the most memorable parts of the journey. One highlight was spotting a Ural owl, which he described as a rare and exceptionally beautiful bird. The couple also observed a wide variety of other wild animals.
Aizhan was particularly impressed by saiga antelopes, known in Kazakh as aqboken.
For those hoping to follow in their footsteps, the couple recommends being patient, planning their time carefully and resisting the temptation to see everything at once.
Galym emphasized that travelers do not need to embark on a 72-day journey immediately. Instead, he suggested starting with shorter trips and gradually exploring new places.