Landlocked between Russia and China, and surrounded by the shimmering Caspian Sea shores and the Altai and Tian Shan mountains, a trip to the exotic wilds of Kazakhstan will erase any association Westerners may have with the film "Borat". Visit in May and find the slopes of the Tian Shan carpeted with tulips, base yourself in cosmopolitan Almaty and daytrip to the nearby mountains and forest (where the pious may encounter the legendary Buddhist kingdom of Shambala), or sample a glass of kumiss at a Kazakh dastarkhan. Now updated with more detail, "Kazakhstan" provides in-depth explanation of the rich and unique Kazakh traditions and nomadic heritage. The most comprehensive guide available, it's invaluable for anyone visiting or living in Kazakhstan.

This is is the first international English language guide to Kazakhstan - a huge and diverse country. It covers Baikonur, Genghis Khan, Tamerlane and the Silk Road. It presents: Kazakhstan's archaeological wealth; the future of Kazakhstan's energy resources; investment potential for business travellers; architecture from Astana to Almaty; superb photography from the grandeur of the Tien Shan and Altai mountains across the Great Steppe to the Caspian Sea; and, the 'Borat' phenomenon and its double-edged effect. A country larger than Western Europe, Kazakhstan's vast expanse encompasses the Great Steppe, across which Genghis Khan's Mongol hordes galloped; the heights of the Tien Shan in the south, through whose foothills Silk Road travellers journeyed; the exquisite lakes and valleys of the mystical Altai mountains in the northeast; and, in the far west the archaeologically rich desert coast of the Caspian Sea. With independence and the discovery of oil has come huge change and rapid modernization, and Kazakhstan today stands as Central Asia's most stable and forward-thinking nation. In the second edition of this successful book, this land of rich history, inspirational landscapes and welcoming people continues to share its wonders with an inquisitive world.