Cost Estimate and Online Booking

prices and reservations

tour information

Key Details

Included Features

Booking Procedure

Clothing Recommendations

Tariffs and service levels

Purchase Instructions

Why Choose Us?

Cancellation Policy

3 days

Distance

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Backcountry Skiing & Yurt Stay at Shymbulak

Starting Point: Almaty

Tour Duration: 3 days

Available: from April to June

Best Period: May

Age Restriction: 18+

A moderate-difficulty route designed for fit skiers and snowboarders with a strong ability to navigate wild terrain

If you have any specific dietary requirements, please inform us at the time of booking so that we can make appropriate arrangements. Local cuisine typically includes lamb or beef, dough, and milk products

To take part in this program, you must have a valid insurance policy covering extreme sports

What's Included in the Price?

Round-trip transfer from your hotel to Medeu in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle
Medeu-Shymbulak-Medeu cable car ride
Services of a professional English-speaking skiing guide
Ski Pass on Day 1 at Shymbulak
Meals (dinner on Day 1, breakfast and dinner on Day 2, breakfast on Day 3)
Accommodation in a yurt at Talgar Pass

Not included:

Ski and avalanche equipment rental
Lunches (can be arranged in the yurt or a nearby restaurant)
Personal expenses
Visa fees and services (if required)
Accommodation in Almaty before or after the tour
Additional services not listed in the program
Insurance

Booking Procedure

Select the tour you want to book.
On the tour page, use the calendar to choose your desired date and the number of participants. Fill in your personal information and click the Buy Online button.
To secure your booking, you need to pay the full cost of the tour. For details on the online payment process, refer to the Purchase Instructions tab.
After payment, save your voucher and the electronic receipt containing your order details and payment information.

Alternative booking options:

You can also book a tour by contacting our managers and paying in cash or via bank transfer. To reach our managers, click the round button in the lower right corner of the screen or message us on WhatsApp at +7 (700) 348-00-00 (responses available in English).

Alternatively, you can call us at:

+7 (727) 326-96-16, +7 (702) 006-57-87 (Almaty)

+7 (7172) 76-00-56 (Astana)

Essential items for your tour:

Comfortable clothing for skiing, including thermal underwear, a Gore-Tex jacket and pants, additional insulation layers (down sweater or vest), and socks
Extra set of warm clothes
A spare pair of shoes
Sneakers or lightweight shoes for the yurt
Sleeping bag suitable for temperatures from 0°C to -5°C
Gloves, mittens, a hat, cap, and neck gaiter
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Headlamp
Swimsuit, towel, and flip-flops for the SPA center
Personal first aid kit
Thermos and a water bottle
Personal hygiene items
Snacks (such as protein and muesli bars, energy gels, and isotonic drinks or other special nutrition)

Required Equipment:

Avalanche safety gear (airbag system, shovel, probe, transceiver)
Helmet, goggles with a spare lens for bright sunlight and cloudy conditions
Backpack (25-35 liters) with ski/snowboard attachment
Appropriate ski-touring or snowboard boots
Skis with ski-touring bindings or splitboard
Climbing skins, poles, and ski crampons

Tour Pricing Options

The prices for this tour are based on the Standard tariff, which includes reliable tourist transport in good condition, and the services of an experienced guide and driver.

In addition to the Standard tariff, we offer the following options:

Economy: We provide lower-class vehicles for transfers, and accommodations consist of more budget-friendly hotels and guesthouses. This option is ideal for tourists looking to minimize costs.

Note: Be cautious of companies that misrepresent their Economy tariff as Standard. These companies may offer lower-priced tours with poor service quality, such as outdated vehicles and inexperienced guides. They might also operate illegally and neglect essential safety standards.

Comfort: This option features high-comfort vehicles in excellent condition, with the most experienced guides accompanying tourists. Tourists stay in high-class hotels.
VIP: Luxury transport is provided, and guests stay in upscale hotels. Premium services are offered throughout the entire trip.

If you wish to adjust your tariff, please inform your manager before booking the tour.

For more information about our rates and transport options, refer to this section.

Purchase Instructions

Choose your desired date and fill in all required information. The total order amount will be displayed based on your selections.
Click the Buy Online button to be redirected to a secure payment page. Here, enter your bank card details to complete your payment.

We accept payments via Visa, MasterCard, and other electronic payment systems. The total amount will be charged in the national currency of Kazakhstan – tenge. The conversion to Kazakhstani tenge will occur at the official exchange rate set by the National Bank of Kazakhstan on the day of payment. You can view the current exchange rates for the Kazakhstani tenge against other currencies on this page.

Once your payment is successful, an electronic receipt with your order details and payment information will be sent to the email address you provided. Additionally, you can download and print a voucher for the paid service during your browser session. Please ensure you save this voucher.

For details about the payment service and the security measures for electronic transactions, refer to this page.

Why Choose Us?

Highly Qualified Staff
We invest over 300 hours each year in training our staff and guides to ensure top-notch service.

Charity
Our company contributes up to 1% of your service cost to support charitable causes and create a positive impact.

Guarantee
We guarantee the quality of our services. If we do not meet your expectations, we will refund your money.

Experience
With over 26,000 satisfied guests from 67 countries and 10,000+ tours completed, our experience speaks for itself.

Cancellation Policy:

If you cancel the tour less than 24 hours* before its start, 50% of the total cost will be retained
If you cancel less than 12 hours* before the tour or do not show up, 100% of the total cost will be retained.

*Please note that if a cancellation notice is received outside of our working hours (evening, night, or weekends) and our managers have not confirmed receipt of your cancellation or change request in writing, the company reserves the right to consider the request when business hours resume. Therefore, we encourage you to notify us of any changes or cancellations as early as possible.

During non-working hours, you can try to reach us through our duty phone, corporate email, or corporate messengers. Duty managers monitor these channels and can respond promptly. If you have the contact information for your guide, driver, or other responsible parties (often listed in your voucher), we recommend reaching out to them directly as well.

Tour Schedule

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

After meeting your guide in your hotel lobby at 8:00 am, you'll board comfortable vehicle for a transfer to the Medeu Skating Rink. From there, you'll take the cable car to the highest point of Shymbulak Ski Resort (3,163 meters/10400 ft above sea level). Upon arrival, you'll be accommodated in a traditional Kazakh yurt. You’ll then embark on a backcountry skiing adventure in the area surrounding the resort. Depending on snow and weather conditions, you may explore some of the most exciting spots, including Til Glacier, Shkolnik Peak, Chkalov Peak, and Edelweiss Peak.

After a day of skiing, you'll return to the yurt, where you'll have dinner and sleep on the floor in sleeping bags. The floor is heated, and the yurt is equipped with electricity and water, although the restroom is outside.

Overnight stay in the yurt
Elevation gain: 800 meters (2625 ft)
Ski slopes total length: approximately 5 km (3 mi)
Duration: 4-5 hours
Piste rating: 20-40%

Today, you'll have an early wake-up around 6:00 a.m. After breakfast and preparing your equipment, you'll head out for a backcountry adventure on the slopes of Fizkulturnik Peak or Pioneer Pass. After skiing, you'll return to the yurt and enjoy some free time. Dinner will once again feature traditional Kazakh cuisine.

Overnight stay in the yurt
Elevation gain: 900 meters (2950 ft)
Descent length: approximately 5 km (3 mi)
Duration: 4-5 hours
Piste rating: 20-40%

Today, you’ll have another early wake-up at around 6:00 am. After breakfast, aim to set out by 7:30 am, heading west toward the Bogdanovich Glacier. Your main objective for the day will be the ascent to Karlytau Peak, situated near the glacier. After a thrilling day of skiing, you'll return to the yurt to rest. Then you can unwind with après-ski at the 3200 bar on Talgar Pass. Enjoy some free time before packing up in the evening and returning to the city, where you'll have dinner at a café in Almaty.

Elevation gain: 1,000 meters (3280 ft)
Descent length: 6 km (3.7 mi)
Duration: 5-6 hours
Piste rating: 20-40%

The guide may adjust the program based on weather and snow conditions.

Copy

Day 1

After meeting your guide in your hotel lobby at 8:00 am, you'll board comfortable vehicle for a transfer to the Medeu Skating Rink. From there, you'll take the cable car to the highest point of Shymbulak Ski Resort (3,163 meters/10400 ft above sea level). Upon arrival, you'll be accommodated in a traditional Kazakh yurt. You’ll then embark on a backcountry skiing adventure in the area surrounding the resort. Depending on snow and weather conditions, you may explore some of the most exciting spots, including Til Glacier, Shkolnik Peak, Chkalov Peak, and Edelweiss Peak.

After a day of skiing, you'll return to the yurt, where you'll have dinner and sleep on the floor in sleeping bags. The floor is heated, and the yurt is equipped with electricity and water, although the restroom is outside.

Overnight stay in the yurt
Elevation gain: 800 meters (2625 ft)
Ski slopes total length: approximately 5 km (3 mi)
Duration: 4-5 hours
Piste rating: 20-40%

Day 2

Today, you'll have an early wake-up around 6:00 a.m. After breakfast and preparing your equipment, you'll head out for a backcountry adventure on the slopes of Fizkulturnik Peak or Pioneer Pass. After skiing, you'll return to the yurt and enjoy some free time. Dinner will once again feature traditional Kazakh cuisine.

Overnight stay in the yurt
Elevation gain: 900 meters (2950 ft)
Descent length: approximately 5 km (3 mi)
Duration: 4-5 hours
Piste rating: 20-40%

Day 3

Today, you’ll have another early wake-up at around 6:00 am. After breakfast, aim to set out by 7:30 am, heading west toward the Bogdanovich Glacier. Your main objective for the day will be the ascent to Karlytau Peak, situated near the glacier. After a thrilling day of skiing, you'll return to the yurt to rest. Then you can unwind with après-ski at the 3200 bar on Talgar Pass. Enjoy some free time before packing up in the evening and returning to the city, where you'll have dinner at a café in Almaty.

Elevation gain: 1,000 meters (3280 ft)
Descent length: 6 km (3.7 mi)
Duration: 5-6 hours
Piste rating: 20-40%

The guide may adjust the program based on weather and snow conditions.

Peaks and Glaciers near Shymbulak

Fizkulturnik Peak and Pioneer Pass

Karlytau Peak and Bogdanovich Glacier

Til Glacier (3,900 m/12800 ft), clearly visible from Talgar Pass, lies next to Ayak Glacier and Fizkulturnik Peak. It is wide and relatively gentle at the upper section, transitioning into an almost vertical and sharply descending wall at the lower section. Til Glacier is one of the glaciers closest to Shymbulak.

Shkolnik Peak (3,850 m/12630 ft) has heavily eroded eastern slopes that descend toward the lateral moraine of Bogdanovich Glacier. To the north is a rocky ridge that drops steeply toward the Talgar Pass, while several spurs fan out to the west and northwest, separated by deep ancient cirques. The summit is not glaciated.

Chkalov Peak (3,892 m/12770 ft). Its western slopes face the Sauryksay Gorge, and the eastern slopes descend into the narrow Komsomolsky Gorge. The summit is of medium difficulty, offering routes that vary from easy to intermediate levels. All routes start from the moraines of the Bogdanovich Glacier.

Edelweiss Peak (3,600 m/11810 ft) is accessible both from Talgar Pass and from the middle station of the cable car. It features a series of steep couloirs ideal for advanced climbs and descents.

Fizkulturnik Peak (4,068 m/13350 ft) is situated between Chkalov Peak to the south and Nursultan Peak to the east. It offers routes ranging from easy to moderately challenging. All routes begin on the moraines of the Bogdanovich Glacier.

Pioneer Pass (3,870 m/12700 ft)
This pass links the Mametova and Bogdanovich glaciers, with a ski slope angle of 30°.

Karlytau Peak (4,170 m) is located in the Small Almaty Gorge. Its northern side is entirely covered by the Bogdanovich Glacier, while the southern slope features rock outcrops and steep scree fields. Due to the absence of rocks and scree, the northern slope has become a popular spot for extreme skiing and snowboarding. The steep slopes of Karlytau are prone to avalanches, making descents from the summit suitable only for those with solid athletic ability and specialized ski equipment.

Bogdanovich Glacier is named after Professor Karl Bogdanovich, a Polish-Russian geologist who studied the earthquake in Verny (now Almaty) in 1910. From the glacier's observation point, visitors are treated to stunning views of surrounding peaks, including Abay, Amangeldy, Pioneer, Karlytau, Nursultan, and more.

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