Leila, Year 12, tells us about this exceptional trip:

This October, Latymer and Presdale pupils ranging from Year 10 to Year 13 spent an unforgettable week in Kazakhstan for the Russian department’s second ever visit to a ‘Stan’ country.

The schedule was action-packed from the moment we stepped off the plane. After a first day of sightseeing and trying out our Russian in Almaty (the capital city), we paid a visit to the breathtaking Tien Shan Mountains, which form a part of the Himalayan orogenic belt.

We then boarded a sleeper train (a new experience for most of us, and great fun!) for the 16-hour journey to visit gorgeous Turkestan and Shymkent.

Upon finding ourselves back in Almaty, we were treated to a visit to Aubakirova School. Here, our language skills were again put to the test when we attended different classes and participated in an incredible Halloween party that the school had organised.

Over the next two days, we were lucky enough both to visit the stunning Issyk Lake and to hike through the 10-million-year-old Charyn Canyon.

The trip was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we'll never forget - thank you so much to the Russian department for making this trip possible and planning such a fantastic schedule for us!

Video of the trip available on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DByXePMya58/?igsh=MWhwbnZsMmE5dXpkdg%3D%3D