Founded as a Cossack settlement in 1850, Shchuchinsk is a small city in northern-central Kazakhstan. It’s renowned for its modern ski jumping hill and is surrounded by forested lakes, which contrast dramatically to the barren steppe and agricultural fields that dominate much of the Akmola Region.
Things to do in Shchūchīnsk
One of Shchuchinsk’s most famous attractions is the National Ski Center, a ski jumping complex that was officially opened in 2018. It comprises two Olympic ski jumping hills (one large and one normal), as well as 16 cross-country skiing courses and a biathlon stadium. At its opening event, the Kazakhstani ski jumper Sergey Tkachenko set the world record, jumping an impressive 151 metres.
Sprawling to the north of Shchuchinsk is Shchuchie Lake, a tranquil body of water fringed by birch groves and the ever-popular Burabay National Park. It’s home to more than 750 species of plants and around 300 different animals, including roe deer, moose and lynx. The birdlife on the lakeshore is particularly abundant, with northern pintails, ruddy shelducks and green sandpipers regularly spotted.
A short drive east of Shchuchinsk is Qatarköl, a saltwater lake that can be enjoyed from the sands of Plyazh Lesnaya Skazka. Nestled in the foothills of Kokshe Tau to the north of Shchuchinsk is Lake Burabay, which is renowned for its emerald-green waters. You can rent a bike to explore the forested shores at your leisure or climb one of the surrounding hills for beautiful desert views.
Getting around Shchūchīnsk
Shchuchinsk is around 2.5 hours’ drive from Nur-Sultan and Nur-Sultan Nazarbayev International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the Middle East, Asia and Eastern Europe. Regular trains connect to the Borovoe Resort railway station and buses travel throughout Shchuchinsk.