Describe a tourist attraction in your country that you would recommend to visitors

One tourist attraction I always recommend to foreigners who ask me for advice is the Charyn Canyon in southern Kazakhstan. It is sometimes called the little brother of the Grand Canyon in America, but I think it has its own character.

The canyon is about two hundred kilometres from Almaty, and most people go there by car or on a one-day organised trip. It takes around three hours, and the road is quite good. When you arrive, you walk down a path into a deep valley with enormous red rock formations on both sides. The most famous part is called the Valley of Castles, because the stones look like ancient towers and walls. You can follow the river at the bottom, take photographs, or simply sit on a rock and enjoy the silence. Some visitors camp overnight, and I have heard that sunrise there is spectacular.

I would recommend it for a few reasons. First, the scenery is truly breathtaking, and the colours change throughout the day from orange to deep red. Second, it is relatively easy to reach and does not require special equipment, so almost anyone can go, even children and grandparents. Third, it is still much less crowded than many famous natural sights around the world, which means you can have a peaceful experience. I went last autumn with my cousins, and we kept saying that we could not believe such a place existed so close to home. It is an unforgettable experience.