Another Almaty gem, this resort ticks a lot of boxes for all ability levels
Oi Qaragai is a great ski resort just outside Almaty. A small yet still sprawling resort with a number of slopes, it is a popular alternative to Shymbulak Mountain Resort. It also takes just as long to arrive at as Shymbulak, if you leave from the corner of Dostyk Avenue and Al Farabi. Read on to find out why you should make this resort your next ski destination in Kazakhstan.
What are the Oi Qaragai slopes like?
Skiing and boarding at Oi Qaragai is good. There are a range of slopes to choose from and they are well spread out, with decent variation in steepness. Plenty of the runs are fine for you if you are beginner/intermediate. There is one terrifying looking Black run, which I have avoided so far. I am not an expert skier 😉
This resort has many different routes you can take from the mountain top and there are four lifts for the different slopes. Make sure to head over to the Lesnaya Skazka side for some pretty forest skiing. Its a tiny right turn just after the first bit of main slope from the top.
How busy does it get?
In my opinion the biggest selling point of Oi Qaragai, after the variation in slopes, is the lack of crowds. Oh yes, its does get busy. It’s a mountain resort near a big dense city, so of course there are crowds here on a weekend. But have you seen Shymbulak on a Saturday afternoon? Jokes aside, the earlier in the day you arrive, the quicker you’ll be renting your equipment, the fewer people in line for the chairlift, the more of the slope you’ll have to yourself. Then, even once the crowds start arriving, Oi Qaragai has so many slopes to ski down and so everyone is spread out across the different pathways. On the other hand, Shymbulak has one main slope, so the density of skiers and boarders is quite…high.
And when you want to leave, oh boy, Oi Qaragai is much easier. You simply walk to your car (or wait for your taxi) near the base of the chairlift and then you’re off. As much as I love the gondola at Shymbulak, there is that feral time in the hour before everyone’s gondola passes expire. You have to shuffle along with all of the other Shymbulak visitors in a massive line in the frigid mountain air for 15 minutes to reach the gondola so that you can make it back down the mountain. It sucks when you have your kids with you and you get stuck in this crowd. Yes, leaving the ski resort at the end of your visit is one aspect that Oi Qaragai wins hands down.
What kind of facilities are there?
There are plenty of restaurants in Oi Qaragai Resort, though it might not be immediately obvious when you first arrive at the entrance. On the entrance side of the resort you can find a cafe at the baby slope Ride School, another kiosk right near the base of the main chairlift, and then the great Aport restaurant a bit further along the road, right next to the incoming slopes. On top of the mountain is Restaurant 1820 (which I have not tried yet but looks lovely and is quite new!). Across the other side of the resort, in Lesnaya Skazka, you will find three more restaurants against the slopes. They are the Italian Restaurant (Storia Trattoria), the Georgian Restaurant (Restaurant Gruzinskoy Kukhni Chashnagiri), and the Kazakh restaurant (Restaurant Vostochnoy Kukhni Ak Aulin – its the giant yurt!). There are also a range of smaller eateries off the main slope area in Lesnaya Skazka serving diner and kiosk fare.
If you’re not bringing your equipment, Oi Qaragai has several rental shops on the resort itself. The most obvious ones are next to the Ride School as you enter the resort, another one underneath the Aport Restaurant, and on the other side of the resort, in Lesnaya Skazka, next to the Italian Restaurant. They offer an online Price List but it’s all in Russian, so you might want to check it with the help of the Google Translate app. I mean, you could use any translation app, but Google’s one has the camera function which is perfect for this. Please remember to bring your passport or relevant ID document with you to rent equipment.
Is the resort good for kids?
Yep, this resort is a great place for kids. Not only are the slopes well suited for a wider range of ages, but the facilities for the littlest skiers and non-skiers are also very good.
There are creche facilities here called the Ugusha Children’s Centers, one is in Lesnaya Skazka, the other is just up along the road behind Aport Restaurant. We’ve used the one next to Aport before, which consists of a couple of warm yurts stocked with games, and also a small ski slope for lessons. We used it just for babysitting (the children didn’t attend a ski lesson that time) but they do advertise a program where your child gets a ski lesson as part of a babysitting package.
Whats the bathroom situation like?
Oi Qaragai has plenty of clean, western-style toilets and you do not have to pay for them. You’ll find them scattered all over the main side of the resort: next to the main chairlift (Lift A), near the baby slope in the Ride School building, under Aport restaurant in the ski rental area, in all the restaurants of course. On top the mountain they are just below Restaurant 1820, and in Lesnaya Skazka they are to be found between the Italian restaurant and the ski rental shop (near Lift E), as well as next to the reception of the resort hotel (near Lift B).
How long is the season at Oi Qaragai?
The resort’s season is usually December through to early March. This is a little shorter than neighbouring Shymbulak, as it is lower in altitude. In 2023 the season finished in mid March, whereas you could still ski in Shymbulak in early April.
Consider downloading the apps for iPhone and Android that Oi Qaragai has developed. You can buy ski passes, pay for parking and access information about the resort. Adult all day lift passes on a weekday go for about 11,000 KZT (25 USD) and a on a weekend for about 14,000 KZT (30 USD). Oi Qaragai also sells a 2 day ski pass (on weekdays they’re about 15,000 KZT, and weekends 19,000 KZT) which is a fair discount.
How to get to Oi Qaragai Resort
For this resort, you will want to either drive or take a Yandex taxi. There is a bus serving this route, number 210, apparently every 25 minutes. You could catch it from Astana Square and pay less than 100 KZT. However, I have NEVER seen this bus. My friend swears she has and I trust her completely. But, I would still highly recommend you go by car or Yandex taxi.
Parking is straight forward; there is an easily accessible car park across from the main chairlift, though you’ll want to be early to get a spot! If you’re staying at the resort then you’ll want to park in the Lesnaya Skazka side, where there is a multi level car park right beside the hotel reception. Parking is about 1,000 KZT, and you can pay via the app or at the parking machines or booths. According to the app, parking for guests of the hotels is free. Im pretty sure we paid for parking last time we stayed as an overnight guest, but I shall investigate and report back!
Staying in Oi Qaragai
On the Resort: There are many types of accommodation in the resort itself. Stay in a traditional, yet luxurious, Kazakh yurt right on the slope for a ski in/ski out experience. Alternatively you can opt to spend your night in the trees in one of the gorgeous treehouses. There are also Cottage Rooms (hotel rooms) or the fabulous 5-bedroom Chalets for bigger groups. See Oi Qaragai’s hotel style accommodation availability on booking.com. Cheaper options for the budget-conscious can be found in the hostel style rooms at the Tourist Village.
Off the resort: There are also plenty of options in the surrounding areas if you don’t mind driving into the resort each day. If this is your preference, then check out Airbnb’s options nearby.
What do I know about Oi Qaragai?
I’ve been living here and visiting Oi Qaragai 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 take a look at my other posts on Oi Qaragai and skiing in Kazakhstan!