Almaty to Balkh flights
Balkh lies 1,116 km (694 mi) south-west of Almaty, -0.5 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 2 h 11 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Almaty | Balkh | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Kazakhstan | Afghanistan |
| Population | 2 million | 114,883 |
| Elevation | 783 m (2,569 ft) | 348 m (1,142 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+5 (Asia/Almaty) | UTC+4:30 (Asia/Kabul) |
| Nearest large airport | ALA, 16 km out | MZR, 29 km out |
Clocks in Balkh are 30 min behind Almaty right now, so a 2 h 11 min journey lands only 1 h 41 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Balkh
Crossing from Kazakhstan into Afghanistan: money changes from the Tenge to the Afghani (AFN); sockets are AC power s and sockets: British and related types, Euro, Schuko; the dialling code becomes +93; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1061257 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648793.
Airports at each end
Leaving Almaty
Almaty is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Almaty International Airport (ALA), 16 km (10 mi) from the centre, whose 14,764-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Issyk-Kul International Airport (IKU, 76 km).
Arriving in Balkh
Balkh is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport (MZR), 29 km (18 mi) from the centre, whose 10,437-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Termez Airport (TMJ, 70 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport | MZR | 29 km (18 mi) | 10,437 ft | 1,284 ft |
| Termez Airport (regional) | TMJ | 70 km (43 mi) | 9,843 ft | 1,027 ft |
Book a flight to Balkh
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Staying in Balkh
Live rooms and prices for Balkh are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Balkh
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Common questions
How far is Balkh from Almaty?
1,116 km (694 mi) in a straight line, south-west of Almaty.
How long does it take to get from Almaty to Balkh by air?
About 2 h 11 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Almaty and Balkh?
Balkh is 30 min behind at the moment (Asia/Kabul against Asia/Almaty).
Which airports are used for Almaty to Balkh flights?
Typically Almaty International Airport (ALA) to Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport (MZR); Balkh also has TMJ.
What currency do I need in Balkh?
The Afghani (AFN).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.