Shymbulak

Shymbulak lies at 2,200 metres in the Zailiysky Alatau above Almaty, with lifts running up to around 3,200 metres on Talgar pass, which makes it the country's principal ski resort and unusual in being twenty-five minutes from a city of two million. The gondola from Medeu carries skiers up from the rink, and the runs above cover a range of grades with a season that generally holds from December into March or April. In summer the lifts run for walkers and cyclists, giving access to the ridge and views across to Talgar peak and down over the city haze. Hotels and restaurants cluster at the base station. Avalanche risk in the surrounding gorges is real and controlled.

History

Amateur skiers found the slopes in the 1940s, and it soon became the first downhill route in the Soviet Union; at first skiers climbed for about three hours on foot, until a 1,500-metre tow was built in 1954, and in 1983 it became the Soviet Olympic ski training centre (Wikipedia, Shymbulak).

What to look for

• The gondola - the lift line from Medeu up to the base and the passes.
• The pistes - the runs between 2,200 and 3,200 metres.
• Talgar pass - the top station and the ridge views beyond.
• Summer walking - the trails accessible by lift out of season.

When to go

December to March for the ski season, with the most reliable snow in January and February. Summer from June to September for walking and the lifts. Weekends and Kazakh holidays fill the slopes and the road.

What to expect

The resort is small by Alpine standards with limited terrain. Prices are high relative to the rest of the country. Weekend queues at the gondola are long. Avalanche closures and wind holds affect the upper lifts.

Nearby

Medeu is at the bottom of the gondola; Almaty lies below.

Key facts