“Shymbulak is undoubtedly one of the most stunning mountain resorts I’ve seen so far, with a breathtaking view of the Kazakh Alps, often compared with Switzerland.”
Probably one of the best mountains I’ve seen so far is Shymbulak. It is one of the places that left marks on my travel journey in Almaty. The mountain peaks were unbelievable, and the Gondola ride is amazing. I really enjoy every moment regardless of the negative temperature during Winter. On top of that, the ski resort is near Almaty City only, hence can be done DIY. If you are a ski sport enthusiast or mountain lover and would like to experience snow activity or wander and be amazed with mountain views, then Shymbulak is one of the best places to visit. I never thought that there is a place like this in Asia. You don’t need to travel to Europe to experience the same vibe; here in Kazakhstan, it’s everything.
So, what are you waiting for? It is about time to discover and explore this mountain resort.
About Shymbulak Mountain Ski Resort
Shymbulak Mountain Resort is one of the most popular ski destinations in Almaty, or probably in Kazakhstan. It is considered as the largest ski resort in Central Asia; hence, it is visited by many skiers’ sport enthusiasts around the globe during winter holidays. It is located in the upper part of Medeo Valley. The ski resort has three ski lifts, with the highest going to 3200 meters above sea level.
How to get to Shymbulak Ski Resort?
Shymbulak is about 30 kilometers away from the city of Almaty and takes about 40 minutes or less to travel and reach this place.
Below are the some of the options in order to visit to this stunning mountain ski resort.
DIY, Public Transportation:
Take Bus #12 on the road near Kazakhstan Hotel. The fare is 200 Tenge (0.4 USD) and mostly takes around 30 to 40 minutes. Remember that the last station is Medeo, so make sure to go down before that in Shymbulak Ski Resort Cable Car Ticket Station. Please see below photo for reference.
Alternatively, a second option for public transportation is to ride a taxi from Almaty directly to Shymbulak Cable Car Ticket Station. Please download Yandex Go for booking a taxi.
Private Vehicle: Drive directly to Shymbulak from Almaty. If you are unsure of the location, use Google Maps for route guide. Don’t worry, Parking area is available in the Cable Car Station of Shymbulak.
Renting a Car in Almaty: There are many cars for rent to select in Almaty. If you are group or a couple, this option is great if you are planning to explore many places in Almaty and would like to travel at your own pace and time. Just ensure that at least one or two of you have an international driver license that is accredited in Kazakhstan.
Tours with transfer: For convenience, join a day trip from Almaty available at any travel agency offering this experience to reduce your cost. You can check Trip Advisor (viator.com), Get your guide website. I believed the cost is around 100 USD package. Although for me, I do not recommend this option since it is bit expensive and Shymbulak is close only to Almaty City and easy to locate, hence, can be done DIY.
By the way, in my case, I took Yandex Taxi going to Shymbulak Cable Car station which cost me around 3000 Tenge (5.74 USD), then paid 6500 Tenge (12.43 USD) Back & forth for Cable car ride to reach the 3200 Meters top of the mountain, after that took Bus #12 going back to main City of Almaty since I went to Koktobe in the afternoon.
My Experience
Last December 11, 2024, I had the chance to visit Shymbulak Mountain Resort and did it alone. I tried to explore this amazing place through public transportation and not joining any group tours. Good thing I did research before going to this place. And I was extremely happy about it because I was able to explore this place at my own pace and time with no rush. I started traveling at 9 am after I took my breakfast in my Hotel in Almaty. I decided to take a taxi using Yandex Go going there that cost me around 3000 Tenge (5.74 USD) and then stop at Shymbulak Cable Car station. The line was short in the cashier for paying for the gondola ride since it is weekdays and paid 6500 Tenge (12.4 USD) for back-and-forth ride going up to top of the mountain resort which is about 3200 meters.
The cable car ride took about 40 minutes before reaching the top. It was freezing cold, around -19 Degree Celsius. The good thing is I am prepared, so I have 4 layers of winter clothing, so somehow I manage to fight the coldness. Winter gloves were necessary, so don’t forget them, as well as 3 to 4 layers of socks. Since there are only a few tourists during the weekdays, I manage to ride the cable car from combi 1 to combi 2 line alone. In the ski area, you can see a lot of people enjoying skiing with their friends and family. It was fascinating to wander in Shymbulak Mountain; I feel like I am in Switzerland.
Once I reached the top, I could really feel the numbness in my body due to the cold weather. So, I continuously walk to heat up my body. Fortunately, it was a sunny day at that time, which makes it more convenient for me. I was amazed to see the Kazaks alps at the top; it was breathtaking. The mountain peaks are amazing. While taking photos, I saw the guy who was offering a drone shot and convincing me to try it. To his surprise, I was actually looking for him also, because I decided to have this shot once, and I saw that the weather is good for video. I believe it was one of my wonderful video shots in Almaty Trip, and I am happy about it. After taking the drone shot, I explore a little bit and walk around the top of Shymbulak. I also took pictures at the 3200-meter constructed photo booth area and did light trekking.
After I was satisfied, I went down and took a cable ride back to the lower station. Overall, I stayed around 3 hours in Shymbulak Mountain Ski Resort. Restaurant and coffee shop were also available, but since I am not hungry yet and wanted to visit more places at that day, I decided to visit Medeo skating instead and then took bus #12 and paid around 200 tenge (0.4 USD) going back to the city of Almaty and visited Koktobe.
When is the best time to visit Shymbulak Ski Resort?
The Mountain of Shymbulak is exceptional either spring, summer, autumn or winter. However, it is most visited during winter to experience winter sports activities like skiing and snowboarding. Having said that, in my case, I visited this in winter at the second week of December. It was very cold at that time, but sunny and the temperature reached about -19 Degree Celsius. The mountain is covered with snow and looks fantastic. You can see locals and tourists doing ski sport activities. Just visit during the weekdays to avoid crowds, as many tourists visit this during the weekend.
Below are the months season in Almaty for reference:
- Spring: March to May
- Summer: June to August
- Autumn: September to November
- Winter: December to February
How many days required to visit Shymbulak?
A day trip from Almaty is plenty enough to explore and experience the beauty of Shymbulak Mountain Resort.
Where to stay?
If you are planning to do ski activity, I suggest staying one night in Shymbulak and book nearby hotels with breathtaking view of the mountain, depending on your budget. One of the best hotels there is the Tenir Eco Hotel situated at the top of the Mountain Resort. Other option is the Shymbulak resort hotel which also offers hostel type room. Just book in advance to ensure your reservation. I usually reserve on booking.com.
In my case, to lessen my travel cost, I stayed in the city of Almaty since it is only 30 minutes away from Shymbulak. I only took day trip alone using public transportation going to Shymbulak since I am not planning to do ski activity.
Travel Tips when planning to visit Shymbulak Mountain Ski Resort
Below are some tips you should consider when visiting to this amazing ski resort.
- Please wear with many layers suitable for winter as the temperature here reach below –20 Degree Celsius. A good winter shoes is also recommended.
- Don’t forget to wear thermal cloth, I did 4 layers by the way for my winter outfit to protect me from extreme cold weather.
- Shymbulak Ski Resort opens around 9 am to 4:30 pm in weekdays, while 9 am to 5:30 pm in weekends.
- Parking lot in Shymbulak Cable Car station is available.
- Remember that weekends are the busiest day in the resort, so if you are coming as a tourist, better to avoid this day and schedule in weekdays instead.
- Always keep your Cable Car Ticket with you.
- Remember to bring small bill/coins to be used for paying in Comfort Room/Washroom just in case required.
- If you are traveling solo, bring your own selfie stick stand to capture solo video and photos. I was alone in this tour, so, I know how difficult it was to capture good photos and videos including myself.
- If you have extra budget, Try the drone shot offered at the top of the mountain for around 12000 Tenge (22 USD)
- Don’t forget to take a photo in the 3200 meters banner.
- Be updated of the weather forecast before traveling to this place.
- Be a responsible traveler and keep Shymbulak Mountain Resort clean.
- Take only memories, leave only footprints.
Budget when travelling to Shymbulak Ski Resort
The cost of traveling to Shymbulak Ski Resort is considerably budget-friendly, especially if you do it your own. Overall, I only spent around 20 USD.
If you join a group package tour. Based on my experience, most tourists spend around 100 to 130 USD, including the food. This is already a package tour where you can visit four tourist spots like Shymbulak, Medeo Skating & Koktobe. You can also check viator.com or tripadvisor.com or get your guide for other tour options.
What to bring.
- Money in Cash (Kazakhstan tenge) or credit card (note that in Almaty, Kazakhstan online payment is common, only in small store or in rural area you are required to use cash.
- Comfortable shoes depends on the season you will visit
- Please wear winter shoes if you are traveling in the month of December to February
- For foreigners always bring your passport and kept it in safe bag.
- Sunscreen for skin protection
- Bottle of water, always stay hydrated during your travel.
- Sun glass
- Light Snacks
- Cap for head & face sun protection
- Jacket applicable for summer or winter depends on season
- Power bank for your phone
So, have you been to Shymbulak Mountain Ski Resort? Please share your thoughts, I would like to know your experience.
RELATED POST
Leave a Comment