STATION DE SKI DE SHYMBULAK

Above the Medeu skating rink lies the Shymbulak ski resort, the other popular winter resort for Kazakhs. The facilities are modern, the resort having been widely tipped to host the Winter Olympics in 2022 and ultimately losing by just 4 votes to Beijing. The resort has several slopes for all levels. They adjoin a snow park and, further up, snowboard runs, four red runs and three black runs for advanced skiers. Four chairlifts and one ski lift provide access to the slopes. A number of leisure facilities add to this already tempting offer, including an Alpine park, a ski obstacle course (secured by a lifeline), a zip line... And for a change from downhill skiing, you'll also find everything you need for snowshoeing, horseback riding, cross-country skiing... A number of restaurants and cafés have opened in the resort over the years, and all the hotels on site have been modernized. Try to avoid weekends. During the week, you'll have the slopes to yourself!

In summer, Almaty residents also come to Shymbulak for the fresh air and milder temperatures than in the city. Numerous hiking trails start from the resort or the skating rink. In particular, you can explore the Malaya Almatinka valley and get a good view of the Komsomol peak, which rises to 4,375 m above sea level.