Shymbulak

Shymbulak is Kazakhstan’s premier ski resort, located 25 km south of Almaty in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau at an elevation of 2,510 meters. Established in 1954 as a training base for Soviet Olympic athletes, Shymbulak has evolved into a world-class sports and tourism complex. Its ski runs exceed 6 km in length with slopes ranging from 11–29°. Facilities include cable cars reaching up to 3,200 meters, hotels, restaurants, a ski school, and children’s zones. In addition to winter sports, summer activities like hiking and mountain biking are popular. In 2025, Shymbulak was named the best ski resort in the CIS region.