Kazakhstan should make your list for great ski destinations

A woman and a man in ski attire smile at the camera on the piste — The Kazakhstan ski season lasts from December till March/April

If you’ve not thought of Kazakhstan as a destination for your ski adventures, then now is the time! Skiers and snowboarders of all levels will enjoy skiing in Kazakhstan. Nestled against the Tien Shan mountains in Central Asia, you’ll find many modern and well developed resorts based in the country’s south east, especially around the city of Almaty. Skiing and snowboarding are never exactly cheap, but here you will find they are not nearly as expensive as elsewhere. And with a season stretching from late November till early April most years, there’s plenty of time to enjoy some of the best skiing on the continent.

Do you have to be a good skier to ski in Kazakhstan?

No you don’t have to be a good skier to enjoy skiing in Kazakhstan! I have skied and snowboarded before, but coming from sunny Perth in Australia, I didn’t have much opportunity to develop my skills (eg balance!) as a kid. So I have stumbled my way through many ski holidays, in Australia, Europe, and Japan, with my much more able husband. I arrived here in Kazakhstan still at a beginner level. However, living in such close proximity to the mountains has given me a great opportunity to become a better skier, and so now, with regular practice (and lots of lessons!) I am improving. I might even be on my way to reaching an intermediate level! And I have enjoyed skiing here in Kazakstan as both a novice and now as an (almost!) intermediate skier.

How long is the ski season in Kazakhstan?

The Kazakhstan ski season generally starts late November/early December and ends around mid March to early April. The higher the altitude, the longer the season. Shymbulak Resort, being at the highest altitude, typically gets a longer season than the other Almaty resorts. To illustrate, in 2023 I enjoyed one of the last ski days at Oi Qaragai Resort in mid March and I was still skiing at Shymbulak in early April.

How good are the Ski Resorts in Kazakhstan?

So what are your choices for skiing in Kazakhstan? Around the city of Almaty you’ll find Shymbulak, Oi Qaragai/Lesnaya Skazka, and Ak Bulak resorts all within a hour or so from the city centre. This is where I live and have experience, so I’ll focus on them here in this post. However, there are other ski resorts in Kazakhstan, including in the Altai Mountains, and Dzhungarian Mountains, as well as some smaller ones near Almaty too. If I get the opportunity I will visit and update this post with information about those locations too!

In terms of development of Almaty ski resorts, Shymbulak and Oi Qaragai are ahead of Ak Bulak. However, don’t let this deter you from choosing the latter. Ak Bulak is said to have some lovely runs, and ski passes are even cheaper than those at the former resorts. Of course, all the resorts here are great value for money compared to the more well known resorts around the world.

Day ski passes on a weekday range from 7,000 KZT (~15.50 USD) at Ak Bulak to about 12,000 KZT at Shymbulak and Oi Qaragai (~26.50 USD). The lifts usually run 9.00 through till 17.00.

It’s generally considered that Oi Qaragai is the better resort for beginners. It has more choice of slopes, which also tend to be less steep. Shymbulak, on the other hand, has one main slope which can be rather steep in places. Also, being the most popular of the 3 resorts with the city folk, Shymbulak gets the biggest crowds. Which reminds me, please do wear a helmet while you’re on the slopes here 🙂

And while each resort is a relatively easy drive from the city, they each also have great accommodation options. Why waste part of your ski day on the road when you can get your full day’s worth on the slopes!

How to get to the Ski Resorts in Almaty

Taxis are available to each of the resorts around Almaty. Buses (Number 12) can get you up to Shymbulak.

Flights to Almaty are served by many well known airlines: Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa. National carrier, Air Astana is also a great premium option, with flights most days from London Heathrow.

Where to stay while on your Kazakhstan Ski Vacation

Your first option is to stay at the resort itself, in one of the available accommodations. Each resort around Almaty has multiple hotels, and Oi Qaragai also has options via AirBnB and Booking.com. Depending on which resort you choose, the following options are available:

Ak Bulak: For a budget friendly option choose the Economy Class Hotel. For the hotel experience, you can stay at Hotel Ak Bulak.

Oi Qaragai: Oi Qaragai has some cute options for overnight guests. Apart from the yurts (!), they also have lovely treehouses, a hotel (referred to as Cottage Rooms), and larger chalet houses all in close proximity to the slopes. Check booking.com for availability. I have stayed in the yurts, the treehouses, and the chalet. My favourite was the yurt, but you need to book well in advance to nab one! For the budget conscious check out the Airbnb options. If you choose AirBnb do consider that they tend to be a little farther away in Besqaynar and require a car to get to the chair lifts.

Shymbulak: There are several hotels on the resort. At the base you can choose Hotel Shymbulak with a range of rooms, and also a couple of hostel type dormitories. Stay here if having a pool is a plus for you! Nestled in the middle of the mountain is the cozy Sneg, located to the right after you exit the first chairlift. And for epic scenery you can opt for Tenir Eco Hotel, located at the very top of the slope. This hotel has the best ski in/ski out set up of all the options. Please note that children under 8 cannot stay at Tenir.

What do I know about Kazakhstan?

I’ve been living here since mid 2021 with my family. Visit my About Me page to understand more about my perspective. And check out my Kazakhstan page to find out more about why I think why you should travel to Kazakhstan! Also, I have the following blog posts on skiing in Kazakhstan!