First RV campground opens in Kazakhstan, Japan expands RV park network

Thomas Len and Constanze Kühnel from Munich have been living in a motorhome since 2012, visiting 70 countries. They arrived in Kazakhstan for the third time, traveling from Germany to Atyrau in 60 days. The couple plans to continue to Mongolia, China, Laos, and Cambodia.

A family of tourists from the UK got stuck on a salt flat in the Mangystau region. Their motorhome became bogged down in mud near the Tuzbair tract. The rescue operation lasted over a day, with emergency workers manually digging out the camper and using special equipment. None of the two adults and a 12-year-old child inside the motorhome were injured.

A British family of three (two adults and a 12-year-old child) got their motorhome stuck in a salt marsh near the Tuzbayyr tract in Mangystau District. Emergency services used specialized equipment to free the vehicle, with operations lasting over 24 hours due to difficult terrain and sticky soil. No injuries were reported, and the tourists did not require medical assistance.

A motorhome carrying two Swiss tourists overturned on the Beyneu–Aktau highway in Mangystau Region. Rescuers helped the passengers out and accommodated them in a hotel; no medical assistance was needed.

Almaty's Tourism Department admitted it does not separately track tourists arriving in RVs. The issue gained relevance after the KITF 2026 exhibition, where RVs were first showcased. Authorities are developing documentation for parking, but without special consideration for RV travelers.

American travel blogger Connor in Almaty invited a police officer to inspect his motorhome, a converted Lamborghini Urus. The officer stopped him at Medeu, after which the blogger gave a tour of the interior, showing the sleeping area and two refrigerators. Users on Kazakh social networks suggested the officer initially intended to issue a fine for the vehicle conversion.