Shymbulak
FAQFrequently asked questions
What is Shimbulak and where is it?
A ski resort in the Zailiyskyi Alatau ridge near Almaty (Kazakhstan). The base lies at an altitude of about 2,260 m, and the highest point near Talgarsky Pass is as much as 3,200 m, so there is less oxygen here than snow.
How to get there?
The ropeway starts 800 meters from the legendary Medeu skating rink and pulls up to the resort for 4.5 km. The whole way up is no more than a quarter of an hour, so you will have time to change your mind three times.
When is the best time to go for a ride?
The winter season is supported by decent snow - about 1200 mm falls here in a year. For lovers of the dark: night skating is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 19:00 to 23:00.
What is interesting here, apart from the tracks?
About 20 tracks of varying difficulty with a height difference of almost 940 meters. And in 2023, Shymbulak entered the Guinness Book of Records as the world's highest night skiing track - at an altitude of 3,200 m.
Is it an old resort?
They have been skating here since 1954 - first as a Soviet training base. Hosted the championships of the USSR, and since 1983 became the center of Olympic training.
