.png/35px-Flag_of_the_Aral_Sea_(Proposal).png){kind=small}
| Aralsk | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Country |  Kazakhstan |
|---|---|
| Population | 29 887 hab. () |
| Postal code | 120100 |
| Spindle | UTC 06:00 |
| Location | |
 46 ° 48 ′ 0 ″ N 61 ° 40 ′ 0 ″ E | |
Aralsk Where Aral is a former fishing village located in the west of Kazakhstan, near the Aral Sea.
Understand
In 1920 Lenin asked the people of Aralsk to donate fish to feed the starving Russians, which they did. The story is commemorated by a mural at Aralsk station. Aralsk has suffered in recent years due to the withdrawal of the Aral Sea. Many tourists come to Aral to visit ship cemeteries, which, like the Aral Sea, are quickly disappearing. Many locals use the metal from abandoned ships to build fences and walls, and in many ship cemeteries only skeletons of ships remain.
To go
The nearest large city to Aral is Kyzylorda, at about 12 h train. Trains depart fromAstana and D'Almaty for Aralsk. The Astana train does not stop in Almaty, however. Trains from Astana to Aral will take approximately 2 days to reach their destination.
- 1 Station
Circulate
Aralsk is a very small town where you can get around on foot. There are taxis, but they are not essential. The station is approximately 15 min walk from the main hotel. There are two main streets: Makhataeva, where the hotel and the Aral Tenizi office are located, and Abilhayir Han (Абилхайыр хан), where you can find some small shops, this is also the route to follow to get to the station. Абилхайыр хан was once called Gorky and can still be referred to as such in some travel guides.
To see
Aralsk doesn't have a lot of attractions, and most tourists aren't interested in the city itself. The old port is located just outside the hotel and it is possible to get to abandoned boats on the dry seabed. Jeep tours can be booked, and within half an hour you can reach a ship graveyard or the Aral Sea. For more information on sites and tours, contact Aral Tenizi. The Aral Tenizi office is located a few houses from the hotel at 10-12 Makhataeva.
Do
Jeep tours can be arranged to various locations along the Aral Sea, including ship cemeteries.
To buy
There are very few shops in Aralsk. The main market is to the west of the main square and passes in front of the train tracks. Here you can find fresh fruits and vegetables. Other small shops can be found near the city center near the hotel. These stores sell bread, jam, candy, soda, noodles, etc.
Eat
Aralsk does not offer a lot of variety in restaurants. A restaurant is located opposite the hotel and serves a variety of Kazakh dishes. It is the largest restaurant in town and capable of preparing a wide variety of dishes. One can find other restaurants around town (many of them named after Chin Son) that offer less choice, so be prepared to eat manty and shashlyks. All menus will be in Russian.
Have a drink / Go out
Housing
- 1 Aral Makhateava Street 4
Expect to pay around 4 000 KZT by night. – This is the only hotel in Aralsk. It has two floors of rooms and a restaurant. The rooms are fairly basic and many have small tubs but no showers.
Expect to pay around Host families are available and ask around for this. If you don't speak Russian, take a lost look and ask for komnaty (комнаты, "rooms").
Communicate
Manage the day-to-day
Around
To leave Aralsk, buy tickets at the station for the destination of your choice. Make sure you include which class you want to travel in. Kupeyny is second class and has four berths and a closing door. Third class has six berths and no doors, for a long train ride it's not the most comfortable but it's good for meeting the locals, who will most likely be very curious to chat with you.
