Medeu and Shymbulak

Medeu and Shymbulak form the main mountain recreation area of Almaty, Kazakhstan, in the Medeu valley of Ile-Alatau National Park about 13 km south-east of the city centre. Medeu is a high-altitude outdoor ice rink and dam complex at roughly 1,690 metres, and Shymbulak is the ski resort above it, reached by gondola. The journey to Medeu takes 30 to 60 minutes by Yandex Go or inDrive taxi, at about 2,000-3,500 KZT one way, or by city bus routes 12 or 21 (confirm in the Onay app) for about 100-200 KZT. From the Medeu gondola station the ride to the Shymbulak base takes 20 to 30 minutes, and further lifts climb toward the Talgar Pass area. The gondola fare was about 3,500 KZT round trip in older price lists, so check shymbulak.com for the current fare and hours. The Medeu ice rink is under reconstruction, with reopening reported for the end of 2027, so skating should not be planned. Private vehicles are restricted beyond Medeu on set dates in 2026, so check the notice at the entrance. In winter, from December to March, Shymbulak is the focus for skiing and snowboarding, with a day pass of about 15,500 KZT in the 2025-26 season. In summer, from June to September, visitors use the lifts for mountain views, short walks, hiking toward the Furmanov Peak and Talgar Pass routes, and open-air cafes at the resort. A comfortable one-day arc is to reach Medeu in the morning, climb the long stairway beside the dam for valley views, take the gondola to Shymbulak by late morning, walk or ski through midday, have lunch at one of the resort restaurants, and return in the afternoon before the evening rush on the road down. Restaurants and cafes at the base and mid-station serve Kazakh and European dishes, and hot tea and snacks are available at the viewpoints. Weather can change quickly at altitude, so warm layers are advised even in summer. Because it is so close to the city, Medeu and Shymbulak work as a half-day trip or a full day with hiking, and a bad-weather alternative is easy to find back in Almaty.