Minibus with Driver from Almaty to Tabagan Resort
A resort in Beskainar, an hour from Almaty: in winter, ski runs, a lift and tubing; in summer, horses, bikes and paragliding. Your own 13-seat Toyota Hiace takes your group, skis and all, right to the resort and picks you up in the evening.
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 transfer to Tabagan from Almaty costs from 30,000 ₸ for the whole 13-seat Toyota Hiace minibus with a driver, round trip. Skis and snowboards ride in the luggage compartment, and the driver waits for you in the resort parking lot or comes back at the agreed time.
Tabagan is a year-round resort near the village of Beskainar in Talgar District, about 25 km east of Almaty, at around 1,600 m. In winter it has several runs of different levels, a chairlift, tubing, equipment rental and a school for beginners; in 2017, Tabagan hosted Universiade events. In summer the slopes turn into a recreation area: horseback riding, bikes, paragliding flights and a ropes course. The hotel and restaurants are open all year.
We also drive to neighboring Ak-Bulak and Oi-Qaragai; if you plan to visit several resorts over a weekend, tell us when you book.
How to get to Tabagan from Almaty
The road heads east toward Talgar and then up into the mountains to Beskainar (formerly Gorny Sadovod): about 25 km from the city, roughly an hour including getting out of Almaty. The last stretch is a winding climb; it’s cleared in winter, but in a snowfall it’s best to leave extra time.
The minibus pulls up at the resort parking lot, where the lifts start. On the same road near Beskainar are the Pioneer family resort and the Almatau resort; if your group is splitting between two places, we’ll drop you at both in one run.
Tabagan in winter and summer
The winter season usually runs from December to March: runs for beginners and confident skiers, a chairlift, a separate tubing slope and a kids’ area, so the resort works well for families and mixed groups. Gear rental is available on site.
In summer people come for cool air and an active day: horses, bike rental, paragliding, a ropes course or simply walks on the conifer-covered slopes. With the hotel and cottages you can stay overnight; you book the accommodation, and we handle the ride. To compare other ski options, see Ak-Bulak and Shymbulak.
Tabagan by minibus, your own car or taxi
Not everyone is comfortable driving their own car up the mountain road to Beskainar, and taxis for a group with skis turn into three or four separate rides with luggage on your laps. One Hiace picks everyone up from one address, carries the gear separately from the people and gets the whole group to the lift at the same time.
Tell us your plan for the day (when you want to hit the slopes and when to head back) and we’ll suggest a convenient pickup arrangement.
Tabagan: how the trip works
An hour from Almaty
About 25 km to Beskainar in the Talgar direction: you make the first lifts and are home in time for dinner.
Gear in the back
Skis, snowboards, boots and a change of clothes ride in a separate compartment; with your own gear, up to 9–10 people.
Your ride back is sorted
The driver waits in the resort parking lot or arrives at the agreed time.
Rentals on site
The resort rents out skis and boards: when you book, tell us how many people are bringing their own gear: that determines how many seats are available.
Tabagan: 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
Tabagan: frequently asked questions
How much is a transfer to Tabagan from Almaty?
From 30,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip. Tell us the pickup address and how many hours you’ll ski. We’ll give you the exact amount right away, by phone or on WhatsApp. Ski passes and rentals are paid for separately at the resort.
How long is the drive from Almaty to Tabagan?
About 25 km and roughly an hour’s drive toward Talgar and Beskainar. In winter, during a snowfall, allow extra time for the mountain section.
Will skis and snowboards fit for the whole group?
With your own gear, for 9–10 people: skis, snowboards and boots go in a separate luggage compartment, and thirteen sets won’t fit in there. All 13 can travel light, so when you book, tell us how many sets you’re bringing and who is renting at the resort.
Does the driver wait for us at the resort all day?
Whichever suits you: either the driver stays in the parking lot and you leave whenever you like, or drops you off in the morning and comes back at the agreed time. The second option is often cheaper; we’ll offer both when we quote.
Do you go to Tabagan in summer?
Yes, the resort is open year-round: in summer there are horses, bikes, paragliding and a ropes course. The road is easier in summer, and the price is the same.
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.