6-Day Kazakhstan Winter Escape from Almaty: Shymbulak Skiing, Medeu & Tabagan
- Free cancellation up to 14 days before
- Instant confirmation
- Guided tour in English
About this experience
Almaty is one of very few cities in the world where you can be on a chairlift twenty-five minutes after leaving your hotel. The Zailiysky Alatau rises straight out of the southern suburbs, and Shymbulak sits in a bowl at the top of it with a lift system that climbs to 3,200 metres. Snow is reliable from December, the season runs to March, and lift passes cost a fraction of the Alps. This six-day private winter tour gives you three days of skiing across two resorts, a day on the Olympic ice at Medeu, and enough time in the city to see why Almaty is worth the trip on its own.
Why you will remember this trip
Ski Shymbulak’s three linked gondola stages up to Talgar Pass at 3,200 metres
Skate on the Medeu rink, the highest Olympic-size speed-skating oval in the world
Spend a day on the gentler, tree-lined runs at Tabagan, ideal for mixed-ability groups
Warm up properly in a Kazakh banya with birch venik and a cold plunge
Walk a snow-covered Almaty: Zenkov Cathedral, Panfilov Park and the Green Bazaar in winter
Private transfers to the slopes each morning, so no queueing for the shuttle bus
Your 6 days
Day 1 — Arrive in Almaty, the old centre under snow and an evening briefing
Day 2 — First ski day at Shymbulak, from the Medeu gondola to Talgar Pass
Day 3 — Second ski day at Shymbulak, then skating on the Olympic ice at Medeu
Day 4 — Tabagan resort, tubing and an afternoon Kazakh banya
Day 5 — Kok-Tobe in the snow, the museums and the city’s winter food
Day 6 — Departure from Almaty
Private from start to finish
Ski holidays fall apart on logistics: equipment hire in a language you do not speak, lift passes, and getting up the mountain before the crowd. Your guide handles all of it, your driver is at the door each morning, and the days can be rebalanced on the spot if the snow is better on one mountain than the other. Nobody else joins your party.
Next available dates
What’s included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver for the whole itinerary
- Private English-speaking guide throughout the touring days
- 5 nights' accommodation with daily breakfast, as described in the itinerary
- Arrival and departure transfers at Almaty International Airport (ALA)
- All fuel, road tolls, parking and driver expenses
- Bottled drinking water in the vehicle every day
- Three-day lift pass covering Shymbulak and Tabagan
- Ski or snowboard equipment hire for the three skiing days, fitted on arrival
- Medeu skating session including skate hire
- One Kazakh banya session with birch venik
- Daily private transfers between your hotel and the resorts
Not included
- International flights to and from Almaty
- Kazakhstan visa, where your nationality requires one
- Lunches and dinners, unless individually listed as included
- Travel and medical insurance, which we strongly recommend
- Personal expenses, laundry, minibar and telephone charges
- Gratuities for your guide and driver, which are at your discretion
- Ski school and private instruction, which we can book on request
- Lunches on the mountain
Itinerary
- 1
Arrival in Almaty
Your driver meets you at Almaty airport and brings you into the city. The afternoon is kept light so you can adjust before the first day on the mountain. Zenkov Cathedral and Panfilov Park — the wooden cathedral is at its best against snow, and the park is usually full of families. Green Bazaar — winter is the season for dried fruit, nuts, horse sausage and hot samsa straight from the oven. Equipment fitting — your skis or board, boots and helmet are fitted this afternoon so there is no queue tomorrow. Overnight in Almaty.
- 2
Shymbulak: the first day on the mountain
Twenty-five minutes from the hotel to the bottom gondola, and you are on snow before the day-trippers arrive. Medeu to Shymbulak gondola — the first stage lifts you over the mudflow dam and into the resort bowl at 2,260 metres. The main bowl — wide blue and red pistes on the shoulder below the resort, the right place to find your legs. Talgar Pass — the second and third stages climb to 3,200 metres, with the glaciers of the Zailiysky Alatau directly ahead and a long descent back. Late afternoon — back down the gondola, with your gear left at the resort overnight. Overnight in Almaty.
- 3
Shymbulak and skating at Medeu
A second morning on the mountain, now that you know the runs, and an afternoon on the most famous ice in Central Asia. Morning at Shymbulak — the upper bowl before the snow softens, including the Left and Right pistes off the second stage. Medeu rink — at 1,691 metres this is the highest Olympic-size skating oval anywhere. More than 200 world records were set on it, helped by the thin air and the exceptionally pure meltwater used to make the ice. The dam stairway — 842 steps up the mudflow barrier for anyone with energy left, and a view back down the valley at the top. Overnight in Almaty.
- 4
Tabagan and the banya
A change of mountain. Tabagan is lower, wooded and gentler, and it suits a mixed group far better than Shymbulak does. Tabagan resort — tree-lined runs, short lift queues and a beginner area, about 45 minutes from the city. Tubing and sledging — a dedicated slope, which is the part children remember. Kazakh banya — the traditional steam and birch venik treatment, followed by a cold plunge. It is the correct way to end three days of skiing. Overnight in Almaty.
- 5
Kok-Tobe and winter Almaty
A day off the snow, on the city itself. Kok-Tobe cable car — the hilltop park above the city, with the whole of Almaty below and the mountains behind. Central State Museum — the national collection, including the replica Golden Man, and a warm couple of hours. Museum of Folk Musical Instruments — dombra and kobyz, played rather than just displayed. A winter Kazakh dinner — beshbarmak, shubat and hot black tea, which is the local answer to the cold. Overnight in Almaty.
- 6
Departure from Almaty
Time in the morning for anything missed, then the transfer. Free time — for last shopping on Arbat or a final coffee. Airport transfer — to Almaty airport for your flight home. End of the tour.
Good to know
- Duration
- 6 days
- How you meet
- Meet on location
- Confirmation
- Instant confirmation
- Cancellation policy
- Free cancellation up to 14 days before
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Guide
- Guided tour in English
- Start times
- 12:00
Know before you go
- This is a land-only tour: it starts and ends at Almaty International Airport (ALA). Please book your own flights to arrive on Day 1 and depart on the last day.
- This is a private tour. You travel only with your own party, your guide and your driver.
- Children aged 3 and over pay the traveller price. For children under 3, contact us before booking.
- Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date in Kazakhstan.
- Citizens of more than 80 countries, including the UAE, the UK, the EU, the USA and Malaysia, may enter Kazakhstan visa-free for up to 30 days. Please confirm the rule for your own nationality before booking.
- The national currency is the tenge (KZT). Cards are widely accepted in Almaty and Astana; carry cash for rural stops, small museums and roadside stalls.
- Kazakhstan uses a single time zone, UTC+5, across the whole country.
- Your guide speaks English. Russian and Kazakh are the everyday languages; English is limited outside the main hotels.
- Driving distances in Kazakhstan are long. The itinerary states each day's approximate road time so you can plan realistically.
- Dress modestly at mosques, mausoleums and other sacred sites: shoulders and knees covered, and a headscarf for women.
- Please tell us about any dietary requirement, allergy or reduced mobility at the time of booking so we can plan around it.
- This tour runs from December to March only, when the resorts are open.
- Almaty winter temperatures range from about minus 15°C in the city to minus 25°C at Talgar Pass. Proper thermal layers, goggles and gloves are essential.
- The lift pass covers the lifts. Ski school is separate, and we recommend booking it in advance for beginners.
- Shymbulak’s upper stages close in high wind. On those days the lower bowl stays open and we adjust the plan.
- You do not need to ski to enjoy this tour — the gondolas carry foot passengers to the top and back.
- A clear copy of the passport of every traveller, at least 7 days before arrival
- Your inbound and outbound flight numbers and times, so we can meet you correctly
- Comfortable closed walking shoes; the itinerary includes uneven ground
- Sun protection: hat, sunglasses and a high-factor sunscreen
- A reasonable level of general fitness for the walking described in the itinerary
- Warm layers — Kazakhstan's temperature swings sharply between day and night
- Waterproof ski jacket and trousers, thermal base layers, goggles and gloves
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 14 days before the experience starts.
- 14 days or more before: full refund
- 7–13 days before: 50% refund
- Less than 7 days before: no refund
Meeting point
View on map
Almaty Airport (ALA) arrivals hall
- Address
- Almaty International Airport (ALA), arrivals hall, Almaty, 050039, KZ
- How you meet
- Meet on location
- Coordinates
- 43.35210, 77.04050
Illustrative map. Open it in Maps for the exact spot and live directions.
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Write a reviewFrequently asked questions
How long does this experience last?
It lasts 6 days.
Can I cancel this booking?
Free cancellation up to 14 days before the experience starts. 14 days or more before: full refund · 7–13 days before: 50% refund · Less than 7 days before: no refund
Is this experience guided, and in what language?
Guided tour in English
Is hotel pickup included?
No — you make your own way to the meeting point.
Where does this experience start?
It starts at Almaty Airport (ALA) arrivals hall, Almaty International Airport (ALA), arrivals hall, Almaty, 050039, KZ.
Still have a question?
Message our team on WhatsApp — we can help with dates, group bookings and anything else before you book.
From AED 4,778 per person (4–6 travelers)Free cancellation
