The 7 Almaty Ski Trips That Earn Their Price

1.Medeu and Shymbulak ski resort private excursion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $147Our pick

Travel privately from Almaty to the Medeu skating rink and Shymbulak ski resort with hotel pickup, a guide, bottled water, and cable-car access to 3,200 meters. Guide Nursultan is especially helpful with resort logistics and ski lessons, though lunch and equipment cost extra.

“It was a wonderful trip to Shimbulak and the guide was so helpful in all the ways. My kids had never done skiing, there we have the opportunity to learn with proper instructors. Kids confidently did skiing within 10 minutes which is really appreciable.”

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2.Private Trip to Medeu Ice Skating Rink and Shymbulak Ski Resort

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 28 reviews · from $215

Spend about seven hours with a guide-driver exploring Medeu’s famous alpine rink, climbing the Stairs of Health, and riding cable cars to Shymbulak and its third station. Miras, an epidemiologist who also guides, has led this trip with strong knowledge of Almaty’s history, nature, and people.

“We are a family of 3 with a 19 month old baby. We booked this tour for Sunday June 16th and no one showed up!! We tried contacting the tour operator the day before and nobody responded, nor did they try to contact us and tell us if there was any problem. Our money is GONE!”

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3.Almaty city, Medeu, Shymbulak, Green Bazaar,Panfilov & Cathedral

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · from $44Best value

Spend six hours with an English-speaking guide exploring Almaty’s mountain resort, Medeu ice rink, Republic Square, Panfilov Park, Ascension Cathedral, and Green Bazaar. The mountain cable car is the main draw, while the city stops add useful context. Assem may guide the tour.

“Assem was a wonderful guide, very informative and professional. We both had an enjoyable day and learned a lot about Almaty.”

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4.One Day Ski Tour Near Almaty

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $277

Ski the Zailijskij Alatau near Almaty with Max, a certified local guide who adjusts the route to your fitness and riding level. Expect private transport, backcountry touring, wild slopes, and a six to ten-hour day. Safety gear costs extra.

“Great experience of free riding and ski touring with Maxim both around Almaty and in Kyrgyzstan. Very safe guide, I had a wonderful time and definitely recommend him !”

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5.Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $1,100

Stay three nights in a heated yurt at 3,163 meters, then ski-tour or splitboard across the Tien Shan near Bogdanovich glacier. Guides including Sasha, Igor, Darya, and Alex lead routes up to 4,100 meters. Expect basic sleeping, strong mountain views, Kazakh meals, and serious off-piste days.

“Most amazing skiing experience I've ever had. It was a yurt and lodge based ski touring with some ski retrack. Guides were eventually friends and we enjoyed snow in several mountains and spots”

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6.5 Days Shymbulak Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $907

Join FrozenRocks Backcountry Adventures for five demanding days above Shymbulak, skiing couloirs and summits around the Bogdanovich glacier. You need strong piste skills, black-run confidence, some off-piste experience, and good fitness. Nights are spent in a yurt at 3,150 meters.

“Great experience and adventure in the beautiful kazakhs' mountains. Great crew taking care of the level of the group, the snow conditions and the motivation. I recommend to travel with them it was perfect to visit the country and do the sport that we love. Bisous”

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7.Private high mountain ice rink Medeo and ski resort Shymbulak tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $143

Travel privately from Almaty to Medeo, the world’s highest open ice rink, then climb the 842-step Health Staircase and ride cable cars to Shymbulak. Ice skate rental, bottled water, transport, facility fees, and a mountain guide are included. Guide Ilyas is noted for careful timing and clear explanations.

“It was a magnifique experience of something you cant miss in Almaty. Our guide Elias was very good, csrong, concerned about our necesities and times and good at explaining rhings within or outside the tour. Totally recomended tour.”

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