Hidden Gem Ski Resort: Shymbulak, Kazakhstan

Skiing Guide: A Week in Almaty for Under £1,500

Skiing in Kazakhstan sounds random, right? Until you try it. Shymbulak, just outside Almaty, is full of surprises: 3,200m altitude, consistently good snow, modern infrastructure, and refreshingly small crowds. Here's everything I learned from a week exploring Central Asia's hidden ski gem.

Why Kazakhstan for Skiing?

Kazakhstan offers incredible skiing at prices that will make you do a double-take. We're talking:

• £250 return flights from Bangkok

• £90 for a 5-day lift pass (compared to £300+ in Europe)

• £5-10 per meal

• Incredibly cheap taxis

• Free natural hot springs!

Plus, the mountains are stunning, the locals are friendly, and it's perfect for beginners and families with low-stress, uncrowded slopes.

Getting There: Flights & Arrival

Flights

Bangkok to Almaty: Direct flights take about 6 hours outbound, 7 hours return. Evening flights on both legs worked perfectly for us. Cost around £250 for return flights.

Airport Essential: Buy a local SIM card immediately at the airport (6,000-8,000 Tenge, roughly £9-12). You'll need this for the Yandex Go app - Kazakhstan's version of Uber that everyone uses.

Essential App: Yandex Go

Download this before you arrive. You can choose different car types, and the prices are incredibly cheap. Taxi transport will pleasantly surprise you.

Important tips:

• Select an electric car option when going up to Shymbulak resort - only electric vehicles can make the full journey up the mountain

• Carry cash for taxis in case you can't connect to the app or if you're booking through hotels

Currency

Kazakhstan Tenge (KZT): 1,000 Tenge ≈ £1.50

Get cash out once you're in the city, rather than exchanging money, was simpler. Most places accept card but having cash is useful.

Where to Stay

In Almaty City: Hotel Kazakhstan

Cost: £60/night

Why stay here: It's a main landmark so all taxi drivers know it, making navigation super easy.

What we loved:

• Excellent breakfast spread

• Clean rooms with comfortable beds

• Top floor rooms have stunning city and mountain views

• Central location, walkable to restaurants

• About 30 minutes from the airport and 30 minutes from the slopes!

On the Mountain: Shymbulak Mountain Resort Hotel

Cost: £100/night

Why this is a game-changer: This hotel is located right at the top of the mountain - no walking with heavy ski gear!

Note: There are other accommodation options at the top including a hostel and other hotels at various price points. We chose this one for the most convenient and nicest experience for a relaxing stay.

What we loved:

• Basically Ski-in/ski-out convenience, 

• Sauna and heated pool just off the slopes

• Amazing snowy mountain views

• Helpful staff and lift pass discounts

• Perfect location for maximizing ski time

Most ski resorts make you walk with all your equipment - this hotel eliminates that hassle entirely. Worth every penny.

Weather & What to Pack

December conditions we experienced:

• City temperature: Around -2°C with snow

• Mountain temperature: Down to -12°C (colder than we expected!)

• Gets dark at 4pm

• Snow was falling when we arrived (early December is start of ski season)

• Streets can be very icy

• Not many people walking around in winter evenings in the city

Packing tip: If you're coming from somewhere tropical like we did, bring ALL the warm layers! The -12°C on the mountain is no joke. Full winter gear is essential.

Ski Equipment Rental

Our recommendation: Rent in the city, not on the mountain!

City Rental Shops: Tolagai and SKADI

• High-quality, well-maintained equipment

• Suitable for all skill levels

• Full kit: jacket, pants, helmet, goggles, skis/board, boots

• Cost: £129 for 6 days (roughly £20/day)

• You can rent everything you need besides socks and warm layers.

Money-saving tip: Equipment rental on the mountain is brand new and well-kept, BUT it's double the price. I paid £36 just for a snowboard and boots for one day vs £20/day for a full kit in the city. Rent in the city before you go up!

Lift Pass - 5-day pass: £90

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Arrival from night flight Sunday - Monday, check in to Hotel Kazakhstan.

Day 1: Hot Springs 

The Hot Springs (Absolute Must-Do!)

This was one of the highlights of the entire trip. Here's what to expect:

• 40-minute drive from city center

• We asked our Yandex Go driver to wait (offered extra money - he was happy to)

• BBQ stall at entrance with good signage

• 10-minute boardwalk through snowy trees to reach the pools - absolutely gorgeous!

• Natural hot pools with boiling water (wear a hat to keep your head warm!)

• Cold pools and river flow water for the EXTRA brave

• During the daytime, trails lead up to Almaty Lake from the pools

• Best part? It's completely FREE!

If you're brave enough to risk getting into a swimming costume and running across to the baths in the freezing cold, it's absolutely worth it. 

Dinner: Navat Restaurant

Short walk from Hotel Kazakhstan. Traditional Kazakh food in a cozy setting. 

If you go wait you’ll even get a Kazakh surprise.

Note: Streets are pretty empty and icy in winter evenings, so dress warmly for the walk.

Day 2: Gear Up & Head to the Mountain

Morning: Picked up all our ski equipment from Tolagai/SKADI in the city.

Afternoon: Ordered a Yandex Go electric car that took us with all our gear straight up to Shymbulak Mountain Resort Hotel. Our driver was so helpful with all our stuff!

Evening: Night skiing! They have night skiing every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Queue warning: The first night skiing took me 40 minutes in the lift queue. The resort has 2 main gondolas that go up to 3,200m at the very top. Very worth the wait and wasn’t always this busy, especially when you looped round. Night skiing was definitely busier than during the daytime.

Days 3-5: Skiing Shymbulak

The Mountain Layout

• Elevation: 2,200m to 3,200m at the very top

• Lifts: Two main gondolas, one red chairlift, one blue chairlift, two carpet lifts, and one T-bar

• Cafés: Mid-station has 2 cafés; at the very top there's a yurt and a bubble café serving food with spectacular views

The Skiing Experience

We visited in early December (start of season), so not all slopes were open yet due to snow coverage. The longest open slope was a red from the top - you ski from 3,200m to the mid-lift station and loop around. When all slopes are open, you can ski from the very top to the bottom, which would be a very long run!

The snow quality was great and slopes were well-maintained. Perfect for beginners and families - it's low stress and very convenient.

Food on the Mountain

6 restaurants total in the main area. Some close around 6pm when lifts close, but restaurants stay open later on night skiing days (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday).

The food was surprisingly good with enough variety for 5 days. Reasonably priced too!

Other Activities Available

• Horse riding - right by the Shymbulak resort hotel

• Snowmobiling

• Paragliding (weather dependent)

• Ice skating

• Hiking to the glacier (recommended to go with a guide for safety and navigation)

Day 6: The Best Meal of the Trip

Ayul Restaurant - Cannot Recommend Enough!

We booked a hotel taxi to take us to Ayul Restaurant (located near Medeu). This was hands down one of the nicest, most authentic restaurants of the entire trip.

What makes it special:

• Themed around traditional nomadic routes through Kazakhstan

• Cocktails inspired by nomadic journeys

• Absolutely gorgeous atmosphere and decor

• Everything about the experience was authentic and memorable

Cost: £32 for 2 people (starter, main, shared dessert, cocktail each)

Pro tip: After dinner, walk to the nearby gondola station and ride back up to the top of the mountain!

Day 7: Back to the City

Dropped equipment back at rental shops and explored Almaty before our evening flight.

City Spots to Explore:

• Kok Tobe: Cable car ride up to viewpoint with panoramic city views. Also features an amusement park with mountain rides and activities - great for families or a fun afternoon

• Arbat Street: Worth a walk, though quiet in December

• Sandyq Restaurant: Very traditional Kazakh cuisine, live music from 8pm onwards

• Bars and nightlife: The city has bars and Irish pubs, but they were empty when we visited in December. Likely more of a summer scene or a later night thing.

Restaurant Guide

Must-Try Restaurants:

1. Ayul (near Medeu) - Themed nomadic experience, £32 for 2 people

2. Sandyq - Traditional with live music from 8pm

3. Navat - Walking distance from Hotel Kazakhstan, great local food

4. Paul Shymbulak - By Shymbulak mountain resort - French patisserie style

Night Skiing Schedule

Available Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings. Saturday also features après at Le Mont Restaurant (one gondola up from main area). Plan accordingly as some mountain restaurants stay open later on these nights.

Total Cost Breakdown (Per Person, 7 Nights/7 Days)

Fixed Costs

• Flights (BKK-Almaty return): £250

• Accommodation:

  • Hotel Kazakhstan (2 nights): £120

  • Shymbulak Resort Hotel (5 nights): £500

  • Total accommodation: £620 /2 people

• Ski equipment rental (6 days): £129

• Lift pass (5 days): £90

• SIM card: £10

Subtotal: £1,099

Variable Costs (Estimates)

• Food: £5-10 per meal × 3 meals × 8 days = £120-240

• Taxis: Approximately £50-80 for the week (very affordable)

• Hot springs: Free!

• Other activities: Kok Tobe cable car and amusement park, ice skating, etc. = £20-40

Subtotal (Variable): £190-360

TOTAL TRIP COST: £1,290-1,460 per person

Top Tips for Your Trip

1. Stay on the mountain if possible - The convenience is worth the extra cost

2. Rent equipment in the city - Half the price of mountain rentals

3. Use Yandex Go for everything - Reliable and cheap

4. Carry cash for taxis - Essential backup if you can't connect to the app or booking through hotels

5. Ask taxi drivers to wait at remote locations - They're usually happy to for a little extra

6. Don't skip the hot springs - Magical winter experience and it's FREE!

7. Book Ayul Restaurant - The highlight meal of the trip

8. Bring proper cold weather gear - It gets properly cold (-12°C on mountain)

9. Early December is start of season - Not all runs may be open yet

10. Hire a guide for glacier hiking - Safer and better navigation for this activity

Why Kazakhstan for Skiing?

Pros:

• Incredible value for money

• Low-stress, uncrowded slopes

• Perfect for beginners and families

• Friendly, helpful locals

• Unique cultural experience

• Beautiful mountain scenery

• Convenient resort setup

Cons:

• Very cold if you're not used to winter

• Limited slopes open early in season

• Gets dark early in winter

• City streets can be icy and quiet in evenings

Final Thoughts

Highly recommended for anyone looking for an affordable ski trip with authentic culture, gorgeous mountains, and friendly people. The combination of staying on the mountain, the hot springs experience, and the incredible local food made this a memorable trip. Perfect for those who want great skiing without the stress and expense of major European resorts.

Have you been to Kazakhstan? Or are you planning a trip? Let me know in the comments!!