Astana to Burabay (Borovoe) by private car
Astana to Burabay is about 240 km and roughly 3 hours door to door, 211 km of it on the four-lane Astana–Shchuchinsk toll motorway, from $150 for the whole car with an English-speaking driver. Your driver collects you at your Astana hotel or apartment and drops you at the door of your resort, whether that is Rixos Borovoe on Lake Shchuchye or a lodge in Burabay village. Tolls, fuel and a stop on the way are included; the only thing paid on the spot is the national park vehicle fee of 1,298–1,730 ₸. One warning that matters more than anything else on this page: between November and March blizzards can close this highway for most of a day, so plan the winter return leg with a buffer.
- Distance≈240 km, 211 km of it toll motorway
- Drive≈3 h; 3.5–4 h in snow
- Pricessedan $150 · minivan $190 · 4x4 $230 · Sprinter $320
- Toll roadAstana–Shchuchinsk, included in the price
Astana → Burabay (Borovoe): price per car
| Car | Per car one way | Per person if you are 2 · 3 · 4 · 6 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan up to 3 Toyota Camry or similar | $150 | $75 | $50 | — | — |
| Minivan up to 6 Hyundai Staria / Toyota Alphard or similar | $190 | $95 | $63 | $48 | $32 |
| 4x4 up to 4 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado / 300 | $230 | $115 | $77 | $58 | — |
| Sprinter up to 16 Mercedes Sprinter | $320 | $160 | $107 | $80 | $53 |
licensed guide +$100/day · English-speaking driver included. Prices in US dollars, updated 13 October 2026.
How long is the drive from Astana to Burabay, and what is the road like?
The route is simple and fast. Your driver leaves Astana on the northern exit and joins the Astana–Kokshetau–Petropavlovsk highway, which is a divided four-lane motorway as far as Shchuchinsk. Expect long, straight steppe with wheat fields, shelter belts of birch and almost no villages on the road itself: the towns of Shortandy, Akkol and Makinsk sit just off the motorway with fuel stations and cafes at the junctions. Speed is camera-enforced and our drivers keep to the limit, so in summer the run is a steady 2 h 45 min to 3 h from central Astana.
At Shchuchinsk the motorway ends and the last 20–25 km run through pine forest to Burabay village and the lakes. The landscape changes abruptly here: after three hours of flat land you see granite hills, which is exactly why this patch is called the "Kazakh Switzerland". Mobile signal is good along the motorway and patchy in the deeper forest around the far shores.
A natural break is around Akkol or Makinsk, roughly halfway, for coffee and clean toilets at a modern fuel station. Stops of up to an hour are included, so tell the driver if you want lunch on the way.
Is the Astana–Shchuchinsk road a toll road?
Yes. The 211 km from Astana to Shchuchinsk is one of Kazakhstan's tolled motorways. There are no booths to stop at: the charge is tied to the number plate and is paid by app, SMS or terminal, with a fine if it is not settled within seven days. For a passenger car the 2026 tariff is about 504 ₸ prepaid and 586 ₸ post-paid each way; minivans and Sprinters pay a higher category. You never deal with any of this, because all tolls are included in the fixed price, as are fuel and parking.
Is the road to Burabay closed in winter?
Sometimes, and this is the single most important thing to know about Burabay between November and March. When a blizzard or black ice hits the Akmola steppe, the road authority KazAvtoZhol closes whole sections of highway to all vehicles, and police turn cars back at the city exit. Two real examples: on 20 January 2025 the Astana–Petropavlovsk road was closed from km 18 to km 232 from 17:00 until the next morning, and on 16 December 2025 the same km 18–232 stretch (Astana to past Shchuchinsk) closed at 09:45 with reopening estimated for 08:00 the next day, about 22 hours later. Closures are announced only hours in advance and can also happen in late October and early April.
How we handle it:
- We watch KazAvtoZhol notices and the forecast the evening before and the morning of your trip, and message you on WhatsApp if a closure looks likely.
- If the road is closed, we move your transfer to the first slot after it reopens at no charge, or refund you in full.
- If you fly out of Astana after a stay at the lakes, in winter come back the day before your flight, not the morning of it.
- Your driver carries water, a full tank and warm layers; a closure while you are already on the road usually means waiting it out in a roadside cafe in Akkol or Makinsk.
Outside closures, winter driving itself is fine: the motorway is ploughed and a sedan copes. Book the 4x4 ($230) if you want extra peace of mind on packed snow, or if you will use the car around the lakes.
Can I take the Burabay Express train instead?
You can, and it is a decent option for a solo traveller with light luggage. Kazakhstan Railways launched the Burabay Express electric train in July 2025: six air-conditioned carriages, 374 seats, three classes. It leaves Astana at 11:00 and reaches Kurort-Borovoe station at 13:35; the return leaves at 14:15 and is back in Astana at 17:00. Fares were 2,962 ₸ (third class), 3,586 ₸ (second) and 5,805 ₸ (first) as of January 2026. It runs five days a week (reportedly not on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; check the current timetable), and trains have kept running on days when the highway was closed, which makes it the classic winter backup.
The catch is the last mile. Kurort-Borovoe station is not in Burabay village, and Rixos Borovoe is about 15 km from it, so you still need a taxi with your bags, arranged in Russian. Summer weekend trains sell out. With a family, luggage or a fixed check-in time, a car from your door is simply easier.
Where in Burabay are you staying? Lake Burabay vs Lake Shchuchye
"Burabay" covers a national park with several lakes and villages, so send us the exact hotel name. The price is the same for all of them.
- Lake Shchuchye (Shchuchinsk side): the larger, deeper and colder lake, with clear water and steep forested shores. This is where the big resorts are: Rixos Borovoe, the five-star flagship with a spa, private beach and a wake park; the boutique Dom u Ozera; and Les Hotel with its A-frame cabins and hot tubs. Reached first, about 2 h 50 min from Astana.
- Lake Burabay (Burabay village): smaller, shallower and warmer for swimming, ringed by granite cliffs. Here are the promenade, cafes, the Okzhetpes and Zhumbaktas rocks and Blue Bay, plus hotels such as Wyndham Garden Burabay on the shore and the family-oriented Altyn Kun with heated outdoor pools.
- Katarkol, Zhukey and forest lodges: quieter shores and private villas, often down short gravel tracks. Fine for a sedan in summer; in deep snow the 4x4 is wiser.
Arriving straight off a flight? Book Astana airport to Burabay instead and skip the city entirely. Want to see the lakes and sleep back in the capital? See the Burabay day trip from Astana.
Do I pay a national park fee to enter Burabay?
Yes, per vehicle. Burabay National Park charges at its entry posts, and from 1 January 2026 the tariff for a passenger car is 1,298 ₸ on weekdays and 1,730 ₸ on weekends and holidays from 1 May to 30 September. A minivan or Sprinter (up to 16 seats) pays 4,325 ₸ on weekdays and 6,488 ₸ on summer weekends. The fee is not part of our price; your driver pays it at the gate and you settle it with him at the end, in tenge or with the fare. No personal permit is needed, but carry your passport: hotels register foreign guests.
How booking and payment work
Prices are per car, not per person: sedan $150 (up to 3 guests), minivan $190 (up to 6), 4x4 Land Cruiser Prado $230 (up to 4) and Sprinter $320 (up to 16). The driver speaks English, the car is under about six years old, and child seats and ski bags are free on request. You pay the driver at the end, by card or cash in USD or tenge; there is no deposit, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. Write to us on WhatsApp with your hotel, date and flight or train if relevant, and a person replies in about 15 minutes. Planning more of the north? See our Astana hub, hire a driver by the day in Astana, or compare all routes on the price list.
Ways to do it, compared
| Option | Time | Price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burabay Express train | 2 h 35 min + taxi | 2,962–5,805 ₸ per seat (Jan 2026) | 11:00 from Astana, 5 days a week; station is outside Burabay village |
| Intercity bus / minibus | 3.5–4 h | check at Saparzhai bus station (2026) | fixed times, Russian and Kazakh only, drop-off in Shchuchinsk or the village |
| Ride-hailing (Yandex Go, inDrive) | 3–3.5 h | negotiated per trip | driver may refuse intercity, little English, park fee and tolls often extra |
| Private car with RideKZ | ≈3 h door to door | from $150 per car | English-speaking driver, tolls included, road-closure monitoring |
What’s included
- Private car with a licensed, English-speaking driver
- Fuel, tolls and parking
- Stops where you ask — photos, coffee, viewpoints
- Bottled water, phone charger, child seats on request
- Free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup
- Pay online by Visa / Mastercard, or pay the driver
Not included
- Your hotel
- Meals
VISAMastercard Fixed price, licensed and insured driver, secure card payment by Stripe.
Questions
How much is a private transfer from Astana to Burabay?
$150 for a sedan with up to 3 guests, $190 for a 6-seat minivan, $230 for a Land Cruiser Prado and $320 for a 16-seat Sprinter, one way per car. Tolls, fuel and an English-speaking driver are included. The national park vehicle fee of 1,298–1,730 ₸ for a car is paid at the gate.
How long does it take to drive from Astana to Borovoe?
About 3 hours for the 240 km in summer, most of it on the four-lane toll motorway to Shchuchinsk. Lake Shchuchye resorts such as Rixos Borovoe are reached slightly sooner than Burabay village. Allow 3.5–4 hours in snow and on Friday evenings, when half of Astana heads north.
Is the road from Astana to Burabay closed in winter?
On blizzard days, yes. KazAvtoZhol closes the Astana–Shchuchinsk section to all vehicles, as on 16 December 2025 for about 22 hours. We monitor the road, warn you on WhatsApp and either move your transfer free of charge or refund in full. In winter, return to Astana a day before your flight.
Is there a train from Astana to Burabay?
Yes. The Burabay Express runs 5 days a week, leaving Astana at 11:00 and reaching Kurort-Borovoe at 13:35; the return is 14:15–17:00. Seats cost 2,962–5,805 ₸ (January 2026). The station is outside the villages, so you still need a taxi to your hotel.
Which lake should I stay on, Burabay or Shchuchye?
2 different moods. Lake Shchuchye is larger, deeper and colder, with the big resorts such as Rixos Borovoe. Lake Burabay is smaller and warmer, with the village promenade, Okzhetpes, Zhumbaktas and Blue Bay. The transfer price is the same to either.
Is the toll road included in the price?
Yes, 100%. The Astana–Shchuchinsk toll (about 504–586 ₸ per car each way in 2026) is charged by number plate and included in your fixed price, along with fuel and parking. The only extra on the day is the national park vehicle fee, paid at the gate.