Medeu Trip from Almaty by Private Minibus
The mountains closest to Almaty, with your whole group in one minibus. A 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver pulls up right at the Medeu gates and picks you up from the same spot after your walk.
from 30,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip
Pickup at your address · passenger insurance · available 24/7
Our drivers don’t speak English. Phone calls are in Russian or Kazakh, so WhatsApp works best: write in English and we’ll reply using a translator. Need an interpreter? We can arrange one for an extra fee, agreed in advance.
How the trip works
Pickup at your door in Almaty
You choose the address and time: home, office, hotel or airport. When you book, we name the vehicle and give you the driver’s phone number; the driver arrives early and helps with the luggage.
The minibus is yours
The 13-seat Toyota Hiace travels with your group only. The price is for the vehicle, so the bigger the group, the less each person pays. If there are more than 13 of you, you can book a second minibus, or we do two runs in a row on a short route.
Driver, fuel and road included
The driver’s service, fuel, toll sections and pickup in Almaty are all in the quoted price. Paid separately, if your route needs them: national park entrance fees, ski passes, a local off-road vehicle, paid parking and pickup outside the city.
Round trip
The round trip is one price. The driver waits for your group on site for as long as you said when booking; if you stay longer, you pay only for the extra hours.
Luggage: 13 traveling light, up to 9 with suitcases
Bags and gear go in a separate compartment. If everyone has a large suitcase or a stroller, we take up to 9 people; with skis and snowboards, 9–10. Tell us what you’re bringing when you book.
Payment: cash, Kaspi or invoice
Trips in the city and nearby are paid after the trip. Long intercity trips and trips of several days need a partial prepayment to hold the date, the rest before departure. Companies get an invoice, a contract and closing documents.
A group trip to Medeu costs from 30,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace, round trip: 13 seats, a driver, drop-off and pickup at the gates of the complex, and waiting time while you walk by the dam.
Medeu is a mountain valley right above Almaty and one of the main reasons to head up above the city. The high-altitude complex sits on the slope of the Trans-Ili Alatau, at 1,691 meters, and is best known for its high-altitude skating rink, one of the highest in the world. Above the rink stands the famous mudflow protection dam, created with directed explosions in 1966: a long staircase of 842 steps leads to its crest, and from the top you get a view of the Malaya Almatinka gorge and a panorama of the city. It is only about 15 kilometers from Almaty, and the drive takes about half an hour.
For a group, it is easier to go up to Medeu in your own minibus: no crowding and no changing vehicles. You leave when it suits you, and after your walk by the dam you return to a warm cabin with climate control: even in freezing weather you won’t have to stand at a bus stop or hunt for a taxi.
Almaty to Medeu: distance and travel time
The road runs from the center up Dostyk Avenue straight to the Medeu gates, about 15 kilometers and roughly half an hour, allowing for city traffic and the climb up the switchbacks. The last few kilometers are mountain bends where parking is tight on weekends, and the lot at the entrance fills up quickly in season.
On weekends people ride public transport up the mountain standing, and a group with gear, thermoses and children is squeezed in, especially on the switchbacks with a child in your arms. Your own minibus takes everyone together from your door, drops you right at the entrance and waits while you climb to the dam, and your things stay in the cabin. For a short trip like this, people usually book the minibus by the hour, with waiting at the gates.
The rink, the dam and the views: what to see at Medeu
The valley’s main landmark is the Medeu high-altitude skating rink with artificial ice, opened in 1972. More than two hundred world records were set at this altitude, and the rink has long been one of the symbols of Almaty. The complex is now closed for a major renovation (expected to last until 2027), so skating isn’t possible for now, but the valley itself, the dam and the viewpoints are open for walks, and on the way back to the city many people add Kok-Tobe in the same minibus.
Above the rink rises the mudflow protection dam, built from 1966 to 1980 to protect the city from mudflows. A staircase of 842 steps climbs to the crest of the 150-meter dam, the main walk at Medeu: from the top you can see the whole Malaya Almatinka gorge and Almaty at its foot. The dam and the staircase are open year-round; in summer and early fall the climb is easier, while in winter the steps can be slippery; bring non-slip shoes and a warm jacket, as it is always cooler at the top than in the city.
From the station at Medeu, a cable car runs up to Shymbulak. If you want to go higher (to the ski resort and the snowy peaks of the Trans-Ili Alatau), we have a separate page: minibus to Shymbulak. Many people combine both places in one outing.
Minibus, your own car or a taxi to Medeu
Driving up to Medeu yourself on a weekend means traffic jams on Dostyk and a fight for a spot in the parking lot at the entrance, which is packed in season. Several taxis for a group cost more, get separated on the way and don’t wait for you. One minibus takes the whole group at once, drops you at the gates and stays nearby while you walk.
A group trip or a corporate outing is arranged with one call.
Medeu: how the trip works
Drop-off right at the Medeu gates
The minibus takes your group up from your door in Almaty and drops you at the entrance to the complex, where the climb to the dam begins.
The dam and its 842 steps
A long staircase leads from the rink to the crest of the mudflow dam, and from the top there is a panorama of the Malaya Almatinka gorge and the city. The climb takes 20–30 minutes.
Easy for groups and company outings
Family, friends or colleagues ride together in one 13-seat Hiace. The whole group rides in one minibus.
Waiting at the gates
While you walk by the dam or ride the cable car, the driver waits nearby; you head back from the same spot.
Medeu: trip price
from 30,000 ₸ — for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip
The driver and fuel are included. We quote the total before departure; it only goes up if you decide to extend the waiting time.
Only your group is on board, and you decide how long to stay at each stop.
All day trips from Almaty →Customer reviews on 2GIS
“Efficient and fast — a clean bus with a driver arrived on time.”
“Excellent — they provided a minibus with a driver very quickly.”
Toyota Hiace: cabin and luggage
All photos
- 13 passenger seats
- Air conditioning and heating
- High roof
- Soft reclining seats
- Electric door
- Luggage compartment
These photos show a 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a high roof and a wide aisle between the seats. We took them ourselves: the cabin, the seats and the luggage compartment.
13-seat cabin
Luggage compartment
Medeu: frequently asked questions
How much does a trip to Medeu from Almaty cost?
From 30,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip. Tell us how long you’ll spend at Medeu. We’ll give you the exact price as soon as you message us on WhatsApp or call.
How do I get to Medeu from Almaty, and how long does it take?
The road goes up Dostyk Avenue: about 15 kilometers and roughly half an hour, allowing for traffic and the switchbacks. We bring the minibus right up to the gates of the complex.
Is the Medeu skating rink open now?
The rink is closed for a major renovation, expected to last until 2027, so skating isn’t possible for now. The valley, the mudflow dam, the 842-step staircase and the viewpoints are open, though; the views and the walk still make the trip worthwhile.
How many people does the minibus to Medeu take?
The cabin has 13 passenger seats, with room left for jackets, thermoses and warm clothes for the climb to the dam. Family, friends or colleagues ride to the gates of the complex together, as one group. All 13 can travel light; if everyone has a large suitcase or bulky gear, we take up to 9 passengers.
Can we combine Medeu and Shymbulak in one trip?
Yes, a cable car runs from the station at Medeu up to Shymbulak, and many people combine both places in one outing. You will find the details on our separate Shymbulak trip page.
Does the driver wait for us at Medeu or leave?
He waits. While you walk by the dam or ride the cable car, the driver stays nearby and keeps the cabin warm, so he can take the whole group back from the same spot.
Tell us where and when
We’ll bring a Toyota Hiace minibus with a driver to any address in Almaty at the time you need. Available 24/7.
Our drivers don’t speak English. Phone calls are in Russian or Kazakh, so WhatsApp works best: write in English and we’ll reply using a translator. Need an interpreter? We can arrange one for an extra fee, agreed in advance.