Shymbulak Mountain Resort – Kazakhstan’s Outdoor Playground

7 Minute Read

When people think of Central Asia, Kazakhstan and the Silk Road, skiing isn’t usually the first thing that springs to mind. However, Almaty in southern Kazakhstan is home to Shymbulak Mountain Resort; one of the only two places you can hit the slopes in Central Asia.

Shymbulak is a great destination for lovers of winter sports and the great outdoors given its close proximity to the centre of Almaty. So, let’s explore all there is to do at Shymbulak!

The Shymbulak ski resort is located 25km south of Almaty in Southern Kazakhstan, close to the border with Kyrgyzstan. It is easily reachable from the centre of the city in under one hour and makes for a perfect day out in any season!



Top Things to do At Shymbulak Mountain Resort

  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • Hiking
  • Horse Riding
  • Paragliding
  • Buggy Rides
  • Tracked Vehicles Rides
  • Eating and Drinking
Shymbulak Ski Resort
Shymbulak Ski Resort

Shymbulak Ski Resort

Shymbulak Ski Resort is the largest such resort in Central Asia. The resort lies at 2,200 metres (7,200 feet) above sea level in the Zaiilisky Alatau Mountain Range (part of the Tian Shan) above Almaty in Kazakhstan. Shymbulak was the first downhill ski run in the former Soviet Union.

There are three ski lifts at the resort which culminate at Talgar Pass (3,200 metres) with great views to the city below. If you do not ski, it’s still possible to buy a ticket for the ski lifts to take in the views. The resort is easily reachable by cable car from nearby Medeu (home of the world’s highest ice-skating rink). See below for exact information on getting to the resort.

The resort has many other activities available including horse riding, tracked vehicle rides, paragliding and more. See their website for more info.

Shymbulak Ski Resort
Shymbulak Ski Resort above Almaty

Ski Passes

  • Weekend single-day* ski pass costs 9,500₸ for adults and 3,500₸ for children under 10 years old.
  • Weekday single-day* ski pass costs 6,500₸ for adults and 3,000₸ for children under 10.

*10am to 5pm

It’s also possible to purchase a 4-hour pass or night pass. See the resort’s website for more details and to book online.

Ticket Prices for Cable Car and Ski Lifts

TripAdult TicketChild Ticket
Cable Car (One Way) 2,000₸ ($4.60) 1,000₸ ($2.30)
Cable Car (Round Trip) 3,500₸ ($8.00) 1,500₸ ($3.45)
Cable Car + SkiLifts 4,000₸ ($9.15) 2,500₸ ($5.70)
Ski Lifts 3,500₸ ($8.00) 2,000₸ ($4.60)
Shymbulak 360 (Glass Floor) 4,000₸ ($9.15) 2,500₸ ($5.70)

The cable car leaves from the penultimate bus stop on routes 6 and 12 (the stop before Medeu Ice Rink).

Don’t worry if you miss the stop as the bus terminates at the ice rink and it’s a five-minute walk down to the gondola station. The cable car takes around 30 to 40 minutes and arrives directly at the mountain resort.

Operating Times:

  • Monday to Friday: 10:00 to 17:30
  • Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 to 18:30
  • The cable car operates year-round.

Equipment Hire

You can hire all the equipment you need for a day on the slopes at Shymbulak from skis and snowboards to boots, gloves, goggles and helmets. It is cheaper to hire equipment in Almaty, but unless you have a hire car it will be a pain taking everything on the bus, and other passengers won’t thank you for it (speaking from experience).

See the table below for a breakdown of prices. Equipment is graded from 2 to 5 stars and priced accordingly. There is equipment for both adults and children available.

There are lockers on site for a fee of 500₸ ($1.15). A 2,000₸ refundable deposit is required ($4.60).

Rental Prices

EquipmentAdultChild
Full package with boots 5,000₸ ($11.45) 3,000₸ ($6.85)
Skis or snowboard 3,000₸ ($6.85) 2,000₸ ($4.60)
Boots 3,500₸ ($8.00) 2,500₸ ($5.70)
Helmet 2,000₸ ($4.60) 2,000₸ ($4.60)
Ski Poles 2,000₸ ($4.60) 2,000₸ ($4.60)
Goggles 1,000₸ ($2.30) 1,000₸ ($2.30)
Trekking Poles 3,000₸ ($6.85) N/A
GPS Tracker 3,000₸ ($6.85) N/A

Hiking at Shymbulak

For those not interested in winter sports, Shymbulak is a great starting off point for hikes into the mountains.

There are many trails in the area and it’s possible to do anything from day hikes like the Four Peaks Trail (7 hours) to multi-day hikes such as Shymbulak to Big Almaty Lake (3 days).

Be aware that altitude sickness can affect anyone at over 2,500 metres (8,000 feet) and to plan accordingly.

Shymbulak
Hiking Shymbulak in Winter

Packing list for Shymbulak

Be sure to be well prepared when heading into the mountains and tell hotel staff where you are going and when you expect to be back. Better yet, rent a GPS tracker from the resort (see above)!

  • Extra (warm) layers of clothing
  • Waterproof clothing
  • Sturdy boots
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Food and water

Backpacking in Kazakhstan? Check out my new guide for top destinations and some great money-saving tips!


Food and Drink at Shymbulak Mountain Resort

There are many dining options at Shymbulak from bakeries to fine dining. You can even enjoy lunch or dinner in a traditional yurt or igloo.

You can enjoy a range of cuisines from traditional Kazakh to European and Russian. Obviously, prices will be higher than in the city. Also, consider taking a picnic to cut down on costs.

Shymbulak Ski Resort
Shymbulak Mountain Resort

See below for a list of all cafes bars and restaurants.

Restaurants

Assorti; European & Kazakh cuisine with a speciality in kebabs.

  • Meal for one 4,500₸
  • Open: 10:00 to 18:00 7 days

Base Camp Yurt; Kazakh cuisine served at 3,200 metres in a traditional yurt.

  • Meal for one 4,000₸
  • Open: 10:00 to 16:00 7 days

Chalet; a restaurant specialising in venison and beef so avoid if you are vegetarian.

  • Meal for one 5,500₸
  • Open: 10:00 to 22:00 7 days

Igloo Food & Drinks; Upmarket European cuisine in an igloo!

  • Meal for one 6,000₸
  • Open: 09:30 to 17:00 7 days

S.N.e.G; a boutique hotel and restaurant serving international cuisine with a veranda overlooking the mountains.

  • Meal for one 5,500₸
  • Open: 09:30 to 17:00 7 days

Cafes

Marrone Rosso; a gourmet coffee shop selling hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, salads and pastries.

  • Snacks & drink for one 3,000₸
  • Open: 09:00 to 17:30 7 days

Paul Café; world-renowned French café and bakery.

  • Meal for one 3,000₸
  • Open: 09:00 to 18:00 7 days

Bars

Bar 3200; the highest bar in the former Soviet Union serving hot and cold drinks and snacks.

  • Meal for one 4,000₸
  • Open: 09:30 to 17:00 7 days

Saray Bar; a homely bar serving a selection of European and Eastern dishes.

  • Meal for one 5,500₸
  • Open: 08:00 to 02:00 7 days
Shymbulak
Shymbulak

Shymbulak Hotels

There isn’t too much need to stay overnight given that Almaty is so close, but if you feel you would rather stay in the mountains then there are two hotel options within the ski resort.

Hostel Shymbulak

A great budget option. Book with Booking.com

Shymbulak Resort Hotel

The main hotel of the resort complex. Doubles from $79. Book with Booking.com

S.N.e.G Boutique Hotel

An upmarket log-cabin style hotel with onsite restaurant and veranda overlooking the mountains and Almaty below. Doubles from $92

If you would like to stay in Almaty then I can recommend the following options:

Budget: Sky Hostel

Why this hostel? The roof terrace has some of the best views in Almaty!

Dorm beds from: $10

Mid-Range: Hotel Astana

Why this hotel? Walking distance to the centre and good option for those on a budget but not wanting to stay in a dormitory. Book with Booking.com

Twin/Double Room from: $44

Luxury: Hotel Kazzhol

Why this hostel? Pool, gym and the best buffet breakfast in town! Book with Booking.com

Twin/Double Room from: $89

How to get to Shymbulak Mountain Resort

By Bus:

Take bus 12 from opposite Hotel Kazakhstan on Dostyk Street to Medeu. The journey is approximately 30 minutes.

From Medeu you can take the cable car or shuttle bus from the ice rink.

Alternatively, you can hike from Medeu (around 2 hours, all uphill). Walk behind the ice rink and follow the steps.

By Taxi

A taxi to Shymbulak from central Almaty should cost around 5,000₸ and take 45 minutes. Just flag down any passing car and negotiate the price.

How to get to Almaty

Almaty is easily reachable from the rest of Kazakhstan by air, train and bus.

  • From China: Take a weekly train or daily bus from Urumqi. Journey time is 25 to 30 hours.
  • From Kyrgyzstan: There are daily marshrutkas (minibus with a fixed route) from Bishkek to Almaty.
  • From Uzbekistan: From Tashkent take a taxi to the border, cross on foot and then take a taxi to Shymkent. From Shymkent take the overnight train to Almaty.

Shymbulak Weather

Shymbulak (Chimbulak)
Cable Car from Medeu

The weather around Shymbulak Mountain Resort is typical of mountainous regions and will always be cooler than Almaty.

The summers are known for being mostly clear and dry. However, temperatures can still reach freezing in the mountains and snowstorms are possible at any time of year, so be prepared!

Winters are freezing and cloudy with plenty of snow and this is when the resort really comes alive.

The summer season in Almaty lasts from May to September, and the cold Winter season lasts from November to March.

The warmest month to visit Almaty is in July with an average high temperature of 29°C. The coldest month to visit is in January, with an average low temperature of -10°C. The coldest recorded temperature of an Almaty winter was -16°C in the 1930s.

When is the Best Time to visit Shymbulak?

The skiing season runs from November until late March, but Shymbulak is a great destination all year round. Outside of winter, the area is perfect for outdoor activities from hiking and picnics to horse riding.

Remember that the temperature will be a lot colder than in the city, even in summer.

Shymbulak Mountain Resort, Almaty
Shymbulak Mountain Resort, Almaty

Health, Safety & Insurance Shymbulak

Due to the elevation even in summer, the weather in the mountains can deteriorate quickly. It may be beautiful and sunny down in Almaty, but a snowstorm could be blowing further up the mountains with zero visibility making it very dangerous.

Always check the weather forecast before setting off for the mountains and ensure you have enough layers to keep warm, drinking water and food.

Read this guide on mountain safety for more!

If hiking in spring and summer there is a danger from ticks carrying encephalitis and other diseases.

Our partners at World Nomads specialise in insurance for adventurous destinations and you can get a free no-obligation quote on their website.



Dunhuang, Gobi Desert, China

About the author:

Steve Rohan is a writer from Essex, England. He has traveled to over 60 countries, lived in Armenia, China and Hong Kong, and is now living the digital nomad life on the road.

Steve prefers “slow travel” and has covered much of the world by train, bus and boat. He has been interviewed multiple times by the BBC and recently featured in the documentary Scariest Places in the World. See the About page for more info.

Where I am now: Yerevan, Armenia 🇦🇲

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