So when grappling with planning a trip to such a gigantic, and historically closed-off country, it's hard to know where to begin. The solution? Almaty.

The country's former capital city is a perfect introduction to modern Kazakhstan. Thanks to some stunning Soviet-modernist and Tsaristera architecture, it's a beautiful city where the food, drink and night scenes are flourishing and various spectacular areas of natural beauty are within easy reach.

The first stop of any trip to Almaty should be Panfilov Park. This charming park in the eastern-center of the city is teeming with places of interest that offer a whistle-stop tour of the city's history. The park contains a notable war memorial to the 28 soldiers of an Almaty infantry unit who died fighting Nazi forces outside Moscow during World War II, with several huge black monuments and an "eternal flame" commemorating their sacrifice. Not far behind the largest of them is the pastel-yellow, green and red Tsaristera Ascension Cathedral, a visually striking structure that is claimed to be one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world.

On the park's eastern border is the Kazakh Museum of Folk Musical Instruments, a traditional wooden Russian building built at the same time as the cathedral, where, for a small entry fee, visitors can see over 1,000 traditional instruments dating back as far as the 17th century.