Burabay — or Borovoe — is Kazakhstan's most popular domestic resort destination, a series of forested granite hills rising dramatically from the flat steppe about 70 km south of Kokshetau. The area encompasses several lakes (among them the large Lake Shchuchye and smaller Lake Borovoe), surrounded by Scots pine and birch forest — a startling landscape for a region so dominated by open grassland. In summer the lakes are warm enough for swimming; in winter the area is used for cross-country skiing and ice fishing.
The resort infrastructure is a mix of Soviet-era sanatoriums, now renovated to varying standards, and newer hotel developments. The quality ranges from basic to comfortable rather than luxurious. Marshrutkas from Kokshetau central bus terminal run to the resort throughout the day and are the practical way to get there without a car. Allow a full day at minimum; staying overnight gives access to the evening lake light and morning mist that make Burabay so photogenic.