Ski Safari Kazakhstan

This winter you can ski five days in the ski resorts of Kazakhstan. You will make panoramic descents ,with a view of the metropolis of Almaty. You will also hike in the deepest canyon of Kazakhstan. It is going to be a remarkable journey in the foothills of the Himalayas.

The Kazakhstan ski safari is for every type of skier. The most important is that you are enthusiastic about the mix of culture and skiing. As usually when booking a tour with Ryce Travel you will enjoy local attractions. During this trip you will experience the vastness of Kazakhstan. The city of Almaty is the largest in Central Asia, the steppes are endless and the ski resorts surprisingly modern.

As always we are predominantly working with local partners and local guides. As a non profit tour agency we are supporting tourism in developing countries. That means that you will have a local experience and that locals have a decent income. Moreover do we help foster local initiatives to grow (winter)tourism.

Almaty

On Saturday afternoon you will usually depart from your point of origin. We will pick you up from Almaty Airport on Sunday morning. From here we will take you to the center of Almaty. It's just a 30 minute drive. We have arranged an early check-in so you can recover from the flight. You have the entire day to independently discover the largest city in Kazakhstan. With 2 million inhabitants, Almaty is the most important city in Central Asia. It is definitely worth visiting the Zenkov Cathedral. Don't forget to go to the 'Green Bazaar', take a gondola to Kok Tobe and plan a ride on the metro. You can book a city walk, but of course you can also ask us for tips in the WhatsApp group.

Shymbulak

The first ski day is Monday at Shymbulak ski resort. From the Medeu skating stadium you take the gondola to an altitude of 2200 meters. This is where the ski resort of Shymbulak begins. There are several lifts that take you to a height of 3200 meters. From the iconic Bar3200 you have a beautiful view of the Talgar glacier. You can explore the slopes on your own and we make sure that you are picked up again at the end of the day at the Medeu stadium (at the bottom of the gondola). In the evening you can visit a wonderful restaurant.

We will pick you up again the next morning for a second day of Shymbulak. If you want, you can go down a little earlier at the end of the afternoon. Then you can take a look at the ice skating stadium of Medeu. Many world records were set here. It was the era before indoor skating stadiums. 

Oi Qaraqai

Op woensdag rijden we naar het nieuwste skigebied van Almaty, Oi Qaraqai. De naam betekent letterlijk “sprookjesbos” en daar heeft het wel iets van weg. De afdalingen gaan door loofbossen en onderaan de pistes staan sculpturen en yurts. Je kunt zelfs lunchen in een traditionele yurt. Die ervaring raden we zeker aan.

On Thursday the legs get a little rest. Today we travel to the Charyn Canyon in eastern Kazakhstan. Along the way we see the vast steppes that Kazakhstan is known for. In the south we can still see the foothills of the Himalayas. It's going to be a mighty ride. We might spot a camel, so keep your eyes open.

Once at the Canyon we start our descent to the Charyn River. The red rocks give a surreal feeling. As we walk further north, the formations of the rocks change. Some formations resemble castles. The nickname for the valley is therefore the 'Valley of Castles'. We walk to the swirling Charyn river. From here we walk over a steep path back to the start of the hike.

We have lunch in the local village of Bayseit. We stroll around the local market and are probably amazed about the simple life people have here. The residents are poor and the facilities are very limited. Fortunately, we can give back something by doing some shopping and having lunch.

Ak Bulak

Op vrijdag en zaterdag rijden we naar het skigebied van Ak Bulak. Dit is het tweede skigebied van Almaty. Er is een lange gondel die je halverwege de berg brengt. De afdalingen vanaf de gondel zijn eenvoudig en heerlijk breed. Vanaf de gondel vertrekt een stoeltjeslift naar een hoogte van 2700 meter. Je hebt vanaf de top een schitterend uitzicht op de machtige bergtoppen van meer dan 4000 meter. De afdalingen naar het tussenstation zijn niet geprepareerd en behoorlijk steil. Dit gedeelte is echt voor de ervaren skiër/boarder.

After a good night's sleep, we will bring you back to Almaty airport on Sunday. We hope that you have experienced an amazing week. Kazakhstan is developing quickly. The nomadic country is trying to connect with the West. This is most evident in the metropolis of Almaty. Hopefully you got a good impression of the local culture though. We say goodbye and see you soon at another Ryce Travel destination.

Ski Safari Kazakhstan for who?

• Adventurers who want something different than the Alps
• Ski enthusiasts who can easily tackle a blue slope
• Lovers of other cultures and traditions
• Independent travelers with ONLINE guide support

Including

• Transfers on site
• 7x overnight stay in Hotel Almaty
• Breakfast
• ONLINE tour guide
• Entrance Charyn Canyon National Park
• 2 day ski pass Shymbulak
• 1 day ski pass Oi Qaraqai
• 2 day ski pass Ak Bulak

Not included

• Flights with Lufthansa or Turkish Airlines (between €300 and €600 from Europe/Middle East)
• Lunch and dinner
• City walk Almaty (€25 per person)
• Souvenirs & gratuities
• Ski or Snowboard rental (€100 per week)
• Travel insurance (NSBV)

Flight tickets

There is a guaranteed departure for this trip. The tour is always on, regardless of the number of participants. The flights can be booked. Let us know as soon as possible about your flight schedule. We can adjust the pick-up / drop-off. We recommend booking with Turkish Airlines. You can usually take ski equipment free of charge. Prices are normally between €300 and €600 for a return ticket to Almaty.

Travel as a group?

If you want to travel as a group of at least 5 people, you can request a tailor-made trip. Other departure dates are usually possible in consultation. Please contact us via mail@rycetravel.com or WhatsApp at +31 6 48 72 90 47. 

Ski Safari Kazakhstan

• 8 days Kazakhstan
• Bed & Breakfast, excl. flight
• Visit to the metropolis of Almaty
• 5 days ski resort
• Local markets and museums
• Ski resorts Shymbulak, Ak Bulak and Oi Qaraqai
• Charyn Canyon and vast steppes