M D Harding Travel Photography

10/09/2026

Planning your next big photography adventure? It's time to put Almaty, Kazakhstan on your radar. 🗺️📸

Almaty completely blew me away with its contrast of dramatic nature and urban charm. In just one day, you can go from wandering through Soviet-era modernist architecture and bustling spice markets to standing 3,200 metres above sea level surrounded by snow-capped peaks.

To help you plan your itinerary, I’ve published a new, deeply detailed photography guide on the website. I’m breaking down:
✅ How to photograph the iconic Big Almaty Lake
✅ Hidden gems inside the Green Bazaar
✅ Essential tips for navigating the city with camera gear

Check out the full post here: https://www.mdhardingtravelphotography.com/post/10-most-photogenic-places-in-almaty-kazakhstan-a-photographer-s-guide

Drop a comment below—have you ever visited Central Asia, or is it on your travel wishlist? 👇

09/09/2026

Hello from St Andrews, the home of golf.

The sun has been splitting the skies. So beautiful walking along the sand dunes, having a look in the shops and a refreshing salted caramel ice cream from Jannettas Gelateria St Andrews But we also are visiting for another another fun reason...watch this space on Friday!

08/09/2026

When I saw this, I could not resist! My two favourite things in one wee bottle, chocolate and stout. Has anyone else tried this? It's really nice 😋

Aldi Scotland

07/09/2026

So excited! The "ber" months have arrived and I have a copy of

What's more magical 🍁🍂📚

03/09/2026

Hello ✈️

We all love traveling for different reasons, to experience a new culture, food, and museums/galleries.

Have you travelled to experience the local music scene?

We were blown away on our opening night of the TBEX conference with Kazakh folk band - Serileri

Here is a short clip from their incredible performance at The Ritz Carlton Hotel!

03/09/2026

I’m heading to WTM London 2026, where global travel comes together to connect, innovate, and move forward. Ideas spark, partnerships grow, and the future takes shape. Join me and be part of it: https://invt.io/1fxb519y9ee ✈️

Book your ticket now

02/09/2026

Welcome to 🚶‍♀️

Every time I travel, I always look to see if the city has a botanic garden, and I was thrilled to see and visit Almaty Botanic Garden - Общественный Фонд "Фонд развития Главного ботанического сада" Just a short walk from the Park Dedemen Hotel. It is filled with beautiful rose beds, cultivated borders, tree-lined avenues, Carp fish and water lily ponds, sculptures, and a relaxing cafe.

It costs 1,800 KZT (Tenge) £2 to visit!

Open daily 9am - 8pm Monday to Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at any of the three gates by cash or credit card. Please retain your ticket if exiting for use of the cafe/toilets. I have also read that if you plan to use an SLR Camera, there is an additional charge of between 3,000 - 5,000 KZT. Allow at least two hours to explore.

Thank you to Ipanema Travels for this beautiful photo:)

Where will you wander first on your visit to Kazakhstan?

01/09/2026

It's 😋

While visiting Almaty, don't miss the Green Bazaar (Zeleny Bazar) with fresh, local fruits, desserts, and more.

We loved the pistachio naught! It is customary to try before you buy, but beware of the quantity/amount before buying. Pistachios are said to be called "naughty" a fun name for pistachios that are shell-less 😅

Did you know informal trading began back in 1868 on the same site? What will you buy?