Sabay Sai
Travel Club

We spent many winters in Thailand and found the Sabai philosophy deeply resonant with us — something we often miss in modern life: a slower pace, the joy of simple pauses, and the ability to accept life as it is, with all its ups and downs. Travel, in many ways, feels like a small life in itself — and this is how we want it to go: sabai sabai.

So why “sabay” with a y?
Honestly — just for SEO :) No extra philosophy here.

“Sai” is a word from the Kazakh language used to describe a dry hollow, gorge, or ravine. While traveling across Kazakhstan, you’ll see it often in place names — like Kolsai (köl – lake), Ayusai (ayu – bear), or Ermensai (ermen – mugwort).

For us, Sabay Sai describes a place where that slow-life mood lives — where you want to turn off notifications, pick up a book, and accidentally fall asleep under a tree. A place for big thoughts and quiet conversations. A place where your inner voice finally stops talking, even without meditation.

A place where you feel the real pace of life, can see the sky, touch the grass, and feel the elements.

To collect and support the best family-run stays in beautiful, lesser-known corners of Kazakhstan — helping travelers discover unique places, meet inspiring people, and create meaningful memories.

We let families focus on growing and nurturing their place, while we help improve hospitality and connect them with the guests who will truly appreciate what they’ve created.

In March 2023, we accidentally discovered a wooden house for rent in a secluded mountain gorge inside the National Park. Within a few weeks, we dropped our city life and careers, moved there, and spent three months preparing the house to welcome guests. It had three guest bedrooms and a small summer café.

Over the next two years, we hosted big families, groups of friends, couples, and solo travelers from Europe, the Gulf countries, East Asia, South Asia, and USA.

We took them with us to local bazaars, cooked national dishes together, shared hiking trails, and had long, heartfelt conversations. Along the way, we gained deeper insight into the questions and challenges travelers often face when visiting Kazakhstan.

We created personalized guides and recommendations, helped guests plan their itineraries, and assisted with organizing tours. Throughout this time, we maintained a 9.6+ rating on Booking.com and Superhost status on Airbnb.

In spring 2025, we closed the guesthouse — not because the journey ended, but because it was time to grow. We launched the Travel Club to help more people discover the Kazakhstan we love: by finding unique places, and supporting incredible local families in bringing more warmth and hospitality to travelers from around the world.