I'm Travis Livia's a travel journalist, and I went on a press trip to Kazakhstan to hear Maura about their community based tourism initiatives.

One of the village home states that I did was in Safety Village, one of the best models for community based tourism in Kazakhstan.

It was a family home.

So husband, wife and Children say hi.

Usually in a lot of this home stays, you have multiple beds in the room, almost like a hostile home.

Yeah, thes village home stays is quite a still.

When it comes to budget, they actually include the food.

So you actually get an authentic taste of Kazakh cuisine for breakfast and dinner, and you actually able to eat with the host is well, so it really, truly all encompassing experience being in the village.

The number one thing you should do is hiking.

What's special about Kazakhstan is you'll be blown away by the natural beauty.

They're amazing canyons and picturesque lakes.

There's a reason why Candy Lake and Kazakhstan is so popular.

Seeing these tree stumps just shut out of nowhere in this lake created by earthquake is just so fascinating to see.

Charon Canyon is just beautiful.

People think that the Grand Canyon, when they think of sharing canyon 50 miles long, amazing bread cliffs, the red and white mountains, I'd say is the must see place to see in Kazakhstan because you would feel like you're in Mars.

I think what surprised me most outside of the natural beauty of Kazakhstan was the reception I received.

So I just really love that I felt welcomed in their country.