Private Minibus Transfer from Almaty to Oi-Qaragai
Your family or group goes to Oi-Qaragai, the former “Lesnaya Skazka,” in one minibus — with car seats and suitcases, skis in winter and strollers in summer. A private 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver pulls up right at the resort gates and picks you up again at the time you need.
from 50,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip
Not a scheduled bus or a taxi: the whole minibus for up to 13 people — just your group · a driver with 20+ years of experience
The same terms for every destination — price per vehicle, not per seat
Pickup at your door in Almaty
You choose the address and time: home, office, hotel or airport. No bus station and no meeting the group “at the bus stop”.
The whole minibus — just your group
The 13-seat Toyota Hiace takes no other passengers. One person or 13 — the price is the same; we don’t sell individual seats or tickets. More than 13 people — we’ll find a partner minibus for your date; on short routes two runs in a row also work.
Driver, fuel and road included
Our regular driver with 20+ years of experience, fuel, toll sections and pickup in Almaty are all in the quoted price; you don’t pay extra per passenger. National park entrance fees, ski passes and a local off-road vehicle, if your route needs them, are not included.
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.
We drive families and groups from Almaty to Oi-Qaragai in a 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver, from 50,000 ₸ for the whole minibus, round trip. We pick you up at your door with suitcases, strollers and skis, drop you at the gates of Lesnaya Skazka and come back for you on the agreed day and time.
Oi-Qaragai, also known by its former name “Lesnaya Skazka” (Forest Fairy Tale), is a year-round mountain resort in the gorge of the same name, about 25 km east of Almaty, in the foothills of the Ile-Alatau near the village of Beskainar. The resort sits in dense Tian Shan spruce forest, and in winter its wooden chalets stand among snow-covered spruces — hence the old name. There is a ski area with lifts and runs of different levels, hotels, a spa, cafés and the Ak Auyl yurt restaurant, which entered the Guinness World Records in 2015 as the largest yurt in the world and is used as an event hall. The drive from the city takes about 40–60 minutes, so you can come here even for half a day.
Oi-Qaragai was designed above all for quiet family holidays. A 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver comfortably carries a big family with children, strollers and suitcases, or a group heading to Oi-Qaragai for the weekend. In winter we load skis and snowboards, in summer bikes and gear for walks. The price is for the whole minibus, not per person, and the return transfer is built in from the start — you won’t have to figure out how to get from the resort back to the city.
Almaty to Oi-Qaragai: the road and stops
The way to Oi-Qaragai heads east from Almaty toward Talgar and the village of Beskainar — about 25 km and roughly 40–60 minutes on the road, including getting out of the city. The resort itself is tucked into a gorge in spruce forest, and the last kilometers climb a mountain road. In winter this stretch is safer with a driver of 20+ years than in your own car.
We bring the Hiace to your address or meeting point, help load your things and drive you right to the Oi-Qaragai gates. Hotel stays, ski passes, the spa and activities at the resort are paid separately — they are not included in the transfer price. If you are staying overnight, we schedule the return pickup for the day and time you need in advance.
What Lesnaya Skazka offers all year round
In winter Oi-Qaragai works as a ski resort: lifts and runs of different levels, equipment rental, and skiing for beginners as well as confident skiers. If you want more serious runs, Shymbulak is a better fit — we run a separate transfer there — while Oi-Qaragai is more often chosen for relaxed family skiing. Besides the slopes, there are hotels, restaurants, a spa and lounge areas, so people come not only to ski but simply to spend a weekend in the mountains among the snowy forest.
In the warm season Oi-Qaragai becomes a place for walks, time with the kids and outdoor activities — hiking trails, cycling, horseback riding and the clean mountain air of the Tian Shan spruce forest. The resort’s landmark is its yurt restaurant, recognized by Guinness World Records in 2015 as the largest in the world. The family format and closeness to the city make Lesnaya Skazka an easy choice for a day trip or a couple of nights.
Minibus to Oi-Qaragai: the family and luggage in one vehicle
A family with children, strollers and luggage usually doesn’t fit into one car, and several taxis for a group cost more and get separated on the way. One Hiace carries everyone together, with room for bags and gear, in a warm, air-conditioned cabin — and drops you right at the resort gates, not somewhere on the highway.
The way back deserves its own thought. Getting a car from Oi-Qaragai back to the city can be tricky, especially in the evening and off-season. With us it is settled in advance: the driver picks you up at the agreed time from the same spot and drives you home. A weekend trip for a big group or a company outing is arranged with one call.
Oi-Qaragai: how the trip works
Easy for families with kids
Strollers, suitcases and children’s things fit in the luggage space, and the little ones ride next to their parents in one cabin — no need to split the family across several cars.
Skis in winter, bikes in summer
We load your gear in Almaty and unload it at the Oi-Qaragai gates: ski and board bags in winter, bikes and things for forest walks in the warm season.
Return transfer included
No need to hunt for a car from the resort in the evening. The driver takes you to Lesnaya Skazka and brings you back to the city at the agreed time.
One minibus for the whole group
A weekend trip for a big group or a company outing is covered by one minibus, priced for the whole Hiace, not per person.
Oi-Qaragai: trip price
from 50,000 ₸ — for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip
The driver, fuel, toll roads and pickup in Almaty are included. Not included: national park entrance fees, ski passes, a local off-road vehicle, paid parking and pickup outside the city. We quote the total before departure; it only goes up if you decide to extend the waiting time.
This is the price for the minibus, not per seat as on shared group tours: the minibus is only for your group, with no other passengers and no one else’s schedule.
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.”
Real photos — not a manufacturer’s catalog
All photos
- Driver with 20+ years of experience
- Air conditioning and heating
- DVD · TV · MP3
- Soft reclining seats
- Electric door
- Luggage compartment
These photos show our own 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a high roof and a wide aisle between the seats. We took them ourselves: the cabin, seats and luggage compartment of this very vehicle. We have one minibus: this is the one that will come for you, with its own driver at the wheel.
13-seat cabin
Luggage compartment
Oi-Qaragai: frequently asked questions
How much is a transfer from Almaty to Oi-Qaragai?
From about 50,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip. The exact amount depends on the waiting time — or the number of days if you stay overnight — and on the pickup point in the city; we will quote it when you book by phone or WhatsApp. Accommodation and ski passes are paid separately.
How long is the drive to the Oi-Qaragai resort?
About 40–60 minutes each way — some 25 km east of Almaty, toward Beskainar. The last kilometers climb a mountain road into the gorge, so in winter it is easier to go with a driver than in your own car.
Will a family with kids, strollers and suitcases fit?
Yes, that is a typical trip for us. The Hiace has 13 passenger seats plus a separate compartment for suitcases, strollers and gear. The whole family rides together in one cabin, side by side, without splitting into several cars. All 13 can travel light; if everyone has a large suitcase or bulky gear, we take up to 9 passengers — tell us what you are bringing when you book.
Can we book the minibus for an overnight trip?
Yes. We take you to Oi-Qaragai on your arrival day and schedule the return pickup for the day and time you check out. That way you don’t have to look for a way back from the resort to the city after your stay.
Will you take skis and snowboards in winter?
Of course. The luggage compartment carries ski and snowboard bags, boots and warm clothes. All 13 can travel light; if everyone brings their own gear, count on 9–10 people: that is how many sets fit without crowding. We load in Almaty and unload at the Oi-Qaragai gates.
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.