Aktau (Also Actau) serves primarily travellers arriving from ferry over the Caspain Sea into Kazahstan. Predominent traffic comes from Baku, Azerbaijan (about one ferry a week) but also ferry links are established with Russia to the north.
As a place it is separated from the rest of Kazakhstan by a large section of desert. Rumour has it that attempting to travel to Aktau to and/or from the south of the country (e.g. Turkmenistan or Almaty, Kazakhstan) is a real problem simply because it is so remote - having said that the bits that I saw were incredibly beautiful - full of folling sand dunes and rockscapes. Aktau is so remote that the Kazakh government once designated it a nuclear testing zone. Thankfully it is not anymore but instead sucks oil out of the Caspian and is a large factor in Kazakhstan's ranking of 3rd highest country of Oil stocks in the world.
As a town Aktau displays a successful wealth. Frequent cash machines accept VISA and some of the best petrol can be found here (Grade 98). I drove across the entire country to Semey / Russia at the North-east and this was the only place that supplied good, filtered and pure fuel. Aktau also has a nice city centre, even if it is a little spawled, but hosts several well recommended restaurants and hotels. You won't run out of supplies if stuck here for any amount of time.
The port of Aktau is relatively efficient with the ferrys crossing the Caspian predominently transporting cargo and even whole trains! The port/customs office boasts free wifi, a cash machine and a small kiosk for food. Not bad for an Asian border. Full marks Aktau!
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Welcome to Ciao. This is a pretty good first review, but could really do with a bit more information about what there is in the town for a visitor to see, where to stay, where to eat and so on. I hope you will write more about your travels, because it sounds as if you've been to some interesting places.
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