Shymbulak Ski Resort

Shymbulak is one of the largest ski resorts in Central Asia, located in the Zailiyskiy Alatau mountain range above the Medeu Valley. The resort is located 25km outside of Almaty city at an altitude of 2260m. It is known for its ski slopes and proximity to the Ile-Alatau National Park. The resort offers a range of amenities including ski lifts, a large café, sauna facilities and classic-style accommodation. A popular destination for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts, Shymbulak attracts visitors who want to enjoy winter sports in a picturesque mountain setting.

There are 5 ski lifts that operate all year round.

1) Medeu – Shymbulak. Lifts from the Medeu skating rink to the base station of the resort (2,200m). The length is 4.5 km, the average time for the ascent is 22-24 minutes.

2) Комби- 1. lift from the base station of the resort to the transfer station (2,800m). Ascent takes an average of 12-13 minutes.

3) Комби – 2. lift from the transfer station to the Talgar Pass (3,200m). Ascent takes an average of 7-8 minutes.

4) KKD – Chair lift. From the base station of the resort it takes you up to the “Конус” mountain, mainly used by advanced skiers.

5) Gondola at the pass. After going down towards the gorge, the Left Talgar goes back up to the Talgar Pass.

The ski resort is famous for its mild climate, large number of sunny days and plenty of snow throughout the winter.

Shymbulak is one of Almaty’s main attractions and you can enjoy the beautiful nature and fresh air at any time of the year.

The resort also has ski and snowboard schools, rental and changing facilities, security services, lifeguards and an information centre.

The resort was founded in 1954. From the mid-1950s, Shymbulak was a training base for Soviet alpine skiers and its slopes hosted USSR and Kazakhstan championships. Every year at the beginning of February, skiers compete in Shymbulak for the

“Prize of Alexandra Artemenko, 11-time USSR champion, champion of sports, participant of the 1956 Olympic Games.

The annual “Artyemenko Prize has been held in Shymbulak since 2011. The competition takes place in February. Almaty hosted the 2011 Asian Winter Games, bid for the 2014 Winter Olympics, considered bidding for the 2018 Winter Olympics, but decided to bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics instead; Shymbulak was a venue for alpine skiing events (both speed and technical) and would have been for the latter.

There are also many restaurants, cafes, hotels and other entertainment options such as the Alpine Park and Gorilla zip line.

The winter skiing season runs from November to April. The total length of the ski slope is 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) and includes steep red zone and green zone for beginners.

In summer, the Shymbulak resort offers cable cars for hikers who come to see the mountains, take pictures and enjoy the surroundings. As an alternative, you can also enjoy a horse trekking excursion and enjoy the best spots.