Air tickets Istanbul — Aktau

Want to fly from Istanbul to Aktau and find a good fare? On the Freedom Travel website and app you can choose a suitable flight, compare airline terms, complete the booking and pay for it online by bank card.

This page gathers the essentials of the route: the distance and flight time, the time difference, which airlines operate the service, what makes up the ticket price, plus details about the arrival airport and what to see in Aktau.

General information about flights between Istanbul and Aktau

The distance between the cities is about 1,847 km, one of the shortest links between Turkey and Kazakhstan. A nonstop flight takes roughly 3 hours 20 minutes. The time difference is 2 hours, with Aktau ahead of Istanbul. Many foreign nationals may enter Kazakhstan visa-free; the conditions depend on your citizenship, so check them before you travel. The route is popular with business travellers, oil and gas specialists and tourists heading for the Caspian Sea.

Why buy tickets from Istanbul to Aktau with Freedom Travel

• We work with every airline serving this direction
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• A low-fare calendar helps you pick the cheapest dates
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Istanbul — Aktau flight schedule

Nonstop flights are operated by Pegasus from Sabiha Gokcen airport, with about four departures a week and a flight time of roughly 3 hours 20 minutes. Istanbul's main airport has no nonstop service to Aktau; from there the journey involves a connection.

Frequency changes with the season and the day of the week, so check the current schedule for your date in the Freedom Travel search. Fares are dynamic and depend on demand and how early you book.

How much does a flight from Istanbul to Aktau cost

The fare depends on the departure date, the airline, the season and how far in advance you book. We do not publish a fixed price because it is updated daily. The Freedom Travel search shows the current total including all fees, and you can pay for the ticket online by bank card.

Which airlines operate the Istanbul — Aktau route

• Pegasus — nonstop flights from Sabiha Gokcen airport
• Air Astana — operates one of the legs (via Astana or Almaty)
• Turkish Airlines — operates one of the legs (via Astana or Almaty)
• SCAT — operates the connecting leg to Aktau
• FlyArystan — operates the connecting leg to Aktau

The list of carriers and the timetable change from time to time, so the full range of options for your date is easiest to review in the Freedom Travel search.

How to get from Istanbul to Aktau: your options

The quickest option is the nonstop Pegasus flight from Sabiha Gokcen airport: about 3 hours 20 minutes in the air and no connections at all.

If you would rather depart from Istanbul's main airport, or the nonstop does not suit your date, a connecting itinerary works well: Air Astana and Turkish Airlines fly to Astana and Almaty, from where SCAT, Air Astana and FlyArystan continue to Aktau.

A nonstop saves a noticeable amount of time but does not run every day, while connecting options give you more flexibility on dates and are sometimes cheaper. If your layover is in a third country, check in advance whether you need a transit visa.

Find return flights from Aktau to Istanbul

Aktau airport

Flights are handled by Aktau International Airport (SCO). It lies about 25 km north of the city centre, and taxis and buses run into town.

What to see in Aktau

Aktau is Kazakhstan's only seaside city, set on the shore of the Caspian Sea. It is known for its unusual layout, in which addresses consist of microdistrict numbers.

• Caspian Sea embankment — the main place for a walk and a rest by the water
• City beaches — swimming spots along the Caspian shore
• Lighthouse on the embankment — one of the recognisable symbols of the city
• Mangystau Regional Museum of Local History — exhibits on the history, nature and archaeology of Mangystau
• Mangystau Regional Mosque — the main mosque of the city and the region
• Monument to Taras Shevchenko — one of the best-known monuments in town

Open the Freedom Travel search, look through the available dates and book your Istanbul — Aktau ticket in a couple of minutes.