Private Minibus Transfer from Almaty to Oi-Qaragai
Your family or group goes to Oi-Qaragai, the former “Lesnaya Skazka,” in one minibus, with kids, strollers and suitcases, and skis in winter. A 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
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.
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. Our Hiace easily seats 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 return transfer is built in from the start, so 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 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 both to ski and 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 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.
It is best to settle the way back in advance: getting a car from Oi-Qaragai back to the city can be tricky, especially in the evening and off-season. 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.
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.
Even for half a day
The drive takes 40–60 minutes, so you can visit Lesnaya Skazka for half a day: the driver waits or comes back at the agreed time.
Oi-Qaragai: trip price
from 50,000 ₸ — 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
Oi-Qaragai: frequently asked questions
How much is a transfer from Almaty to Oi-Qaragai?
From 50,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip. Tell us the pickup address and how long you’ll stay at the resort. We’ll give you the exact amount right away, by phone or on 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.
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?
Yes. 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.
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.