Where to Go in Winter from Almaty: 8 Places and What They Cost

Skiing: Shymbulak, Ak-Bulak and Oi-Qaragai

These three resorts account for almost all winter demand, and they differ more in the kind of getaway they offer than in how far they are from the city.

Shymbulak is the best known and the closest: about 25 km from the center, roughly an hour with city traffic, from 30,000 ₸ round trip for the minibus. The minibus takes you to the lower cable car station at Medeu, and the cable car takes you up to the resort: on winter weekends parking on the switchbacks above Medeu is tight, and getting dropped off at the cable car and leaving from the same spot in the evening is easier than spending half the day looking for a space.

Ak-Bulak lies farther east, beyond Talgar: about 40 km and roughly an hour on the road, from 30,000 ₸. The base sits at around 1,600 meters, the gondola goes up past 2,000, and there are about 14 km of runs — from beginner slopes to long descents. The main winter challenge at this resort is getting back in the evening, and it’s better to sort that out before you leave than on the spot.

Oi-Qaragai, also known as “Lesnaya Skazka” (Forest Fairy Tale), is about 25 km toward Beskainar, 40–60 minutes on the road, from 50,000 ₸. It’s family-oriented: spruce forest, chalets, gentle slopes for beginners, a spa and cafés. People come here more for a weekend with the kids than to ski until the last lift.

• Shymbulak: about 25 km, roughly an hour on the road, from 30,000 ₸ for the whole minibus.
• Ak-Bulak: about 40 km, roughly an hour, from 30,000 ₸; around 14 km of runs and a gondola up past 2,000 meters.
• Oi-Qaragai: about 25 km, 40–60 minutes, from 50,000 ₸; family getaways and gentle slopes.
• Skis, snowboards and their bags ride in the luggage compartment. All 13 fit when traveling light; with everyone bringing their own gear, it’s 9–10 people.

Hot water: Chundzha and Tau-Dastarkhan

In winter the hot springs are in full swing: steam over the pool, snow-covered steppe all around. That contrast is exactly why people go in the cold.

Chundzha is about 250 km and roughly 4 hours one way, from 140,000 ₸ round trip for the minibus, or from 70,000 ₸ one way. Thermal radon water at about 40°C, resorts with outdoor and indoor pools, and rooms for those staying overnight. You can do it as one long day, but in winter, with ice on the road, the drive takes a little longer than usual.

Tau-Dastarkhan is an evening option without a long drive: a complex in the lower part of the Alma-Arasan Gorge, about 20 km from the city and roughly half an hour on the road, from 50,000 ₸. Going there with a driver is convenient above all because after the saunas and hot pools nobody has to get behind the wheel and drive down an icy gorge in the dark.

• Chundzha: about 250 km, roughly 4 hours, from 140,000 ₸ round trip; from 70,000 ₸ one way.
• The spring water is about 40°C, with outdoor and indoor pools.
• Tau-Dastarkhan: about 20 km, roughly 30 minutes, from 50,000 ₸; good for an evening outing.
• Riding back with a driver after the hot water and the sauna is the most relaxed option.

Snow and views near the city: Medeu, Kok-Tobe, Turgen waterfalls

Medeu is about 15 km and roughly half an hour from the center, from 30,000 ₸. One thing to know in advance: the rink itself is closed for reconstruction until roughly 2027, so you can’t skate there for now. The valley, the mudflow protection dam and the staircase of 842 steps are open, though, and the winter view down over the Small Almaty Gorge is still there. The steps can be slippery in freezing weather, so wear non-slip shoes.

Kok-Tobe is the easiest winter outing: 10 km from the center, 20–30 minutes on the road, from 30,000 ₸ including pickup and waiting. The snowy city from above, a cable car, cafés and a viewing platform — a good option for a couple of hours with guests or kids when you don’t feel like going far.

The Turgen waterfalls are about 90 km and roughly an hour and a half away, from 70,000 ₸ for the minibus for the day. In winter the waterfalls freeze and look nothing like the summer photos. But the road to the far cascades deep in the gorge also gets much harder, so plan for the lower, accessible part of the route.

• Medeu: about 15 km, roughly 30 minutes, from 30,000 ₸; the rink is under reconstruction, the dam and the 842 steps are open.
• Kok-Tobe: about 10 km, 20–30 minutes, from 30,000 ₸; an outing of a couple of hours.
• Turgen: about 90 km, roughly 1.5 hours, from 70,000 ₸; in winter the lower part of the gorge is accessible.

What changes on mountain roads in winter

In winter, the road is the hardest thing to predict. The switchbacks to Medeu, Shymbulak and into the gorges ice over, a snowfall can close the upper section for several days, and after heavy snow the road sometimes reopens only around midday. So we confirm the route the day before and check the actual weather in the morning.

Second, the days are short. In December the sun sets around 4:20 p.m., it’s dark by five, and the drive back down the mountain ends up being in the dark. In winter it’s worth leaving earlier than in summer: that way you have enough time on site and make the descent in daylight.

Third, some places are off-limits not just in winter. A minibus can’t get up to the Assy Plateau at all: a long dirt road for off-road vehicles leads to the top. We won’t promise you Assy in January or in July.

It’s a similar story with Kok-Zhailau: in snow it’s a hike for experienced people, not something you’d call a weekend stroll. We’ll do the transfer to the trailhead from 30,000 ₸ and pick you up afterward, but in winter the trail itself calls for gear and experience.

• Ice on the switchbacks and snowfall change plans — we confirm the route the day before.
• Upper road sections close depending on the weather and sometimes reopen only by lunchtime.
• It gets dark early, so we plan morning departures to come down in daylight.
• The minibus doesn’t go to the Assy Plateau: the road up is a dirt track for off-road vehicles.
• Kok-Zhailau in snow is a route for experienced hikers, not an easy walk.

What to bring in winter

The list is short, but every item comes from experience: in the mountains above Almaty it’s always colder than in the city, and what separates a great day from a ruined one is often a hat and dry socks in your backpack.

• A warm jacket, hat and gloves: it’s several degrees colder up top than down below.
• A change of shoes and spare socks — after the snow and the slopes, they save everyone.
• A thermos of tea: there aren’t always cafés at the waterfalls and on the far slopes.
• Sunglasses and sunscreen — in winter the snow reflects more sun than you’d think.
• Cash for entrance fees, ski passes and rentals: cards aren’t accepted everywhere.
• A power bank: phones drain faster in the cold, and you need to stay in touch with the driver.

In winter: with a driver or in your own car

The minibus is priced for the whole vehicle, so it pays off most noticeably from about five or six people: the cost is split among everyone, and the group rides together instead of splitting up into several cars and then regrouping in a parking lot.

Then there are the things that don’t depend on group size. On winter weekends the parking at Medeu and near Shymbulak is full by morning, and driving down an icy switchback road after a day of skiing is more tiring than the slope itself. A group’s gear doesn’t fit in a car, while the Hiace’s luggage compartment takes ski and board bags for 9–10 people. And a driver who drives these roads all year round knows them better in winter than any navigation app.

Flying in to ski? We’ll meet you at the airport, ski bags and all: an airport transfer to a hotel in the city is from 20,000 ₸ per vehicle.

If the trip isn’t tied to one place — first the slopes, then lunch, then somewhere else — hourly minibus hire is more convenient: the vehicle waits for you between stops and doesn’t leave.

And if you’d rather not plan the route yourself, take a look at day trips from Almaty — the same winter destinations, just with a ready-made plan.

• From five or six people, the split cost makes the minibus cheaper than several cars.
• In winter our driver handles the mountain switchbacks, not someone from your group.
• Gear for 9–10 people rides in the luggage compartment, and parking and switchbacks are no longer your problem.

How the price works and when to book

Winter trips are priced in two ways. Per trip — when there’s a clear destination: Shymbulak, the hot springs, a resort. By the hour — when you need the vehicle for a day with stops: from 10,000 ₸ per hour with a 3-hour minimum.

New Year holidays and weekends in peak season get booked up early, so it’s best to agree on a date a week or two ahead — especially if you need an early start.

• Per trip: a fixed amount for the route, known before departure.
• By the hour: from 10,000 ₸ per hour, 3-hour minimum.
• Payment in cash, by Kaspi transfer (a Kazakh banking app) or by bank invoice for companies.