Almaty Tour: mountains, ethno-village and city [Medeu + Shymbulak] · 2 days

A visit to the Medeu skating rink at an altitude of 1691 meters, the world’s highest-altitude stadium. In winter, it has perfectly smooth ice; in summer, it becomes a cool mountain amphitheater with a walk along the dam and views of the gorge. In the first half of the day, head up to the Shymbulak mountain resort (2260 m) by a three-stage cable car that climbs to 3200 meters in 25 minutes and opens up a full panorama of the Zailiysky Alatau. In winter, there is skiing and snowboarding, in summer, hiking and cafés with views. Around lunchtime, visit the Green Bazaar, operating since 1875, a true Eastern market with piles of dried apricots, apricots and raisins, rows of kazy and shuzhuk (horse sausage), barrels of honey from the jailyau, and friendly vendors who will let you taste everything before you buy. Return to Almaty by evening.

Ride up to Kok-Tobe by cable car (1070 m), the city’s signature viewpoint. Almaty lies spread out below, with the Alatau mountains at your back, especially striking at sunset, when the peaks turn pink and the lights of the metropolis begin to glow in the valley. In the first half of the day, take a walk through Panfilov Park, a shady green space in the city center with the memorial to the 28 Panfilov Heroes, who fell near Moscow in 1941. Centuries-old oaks, quiet alleys, the sound of bells and the atmosphere of old Alma-Ata remain here inside the modern metropolis. Around lunchtime, visit the Zenkov Cathedral from 1907, one of the tallest wooden churches in the world, built without a single nail and surviving an earthquake that leveled half the city. Inside is a late-19th-century iconostasis, while outside are 56-meter golden domes. In the second half of the day, stop for photos at the Kazakhstan Hotel, a 25-story building from the late 1970s with a huge smalt mosaic on its façade, a classic example of Almaty Soviet modernism. After that, walk through Republic Square, the central square with the Monument of Independence topped by a replica of the Golden Man, and a view toward the snowy peaks of the Alatau. By evening, make a short stop at the signature Rahat chocolate shop, the oldest Kazakh brand, with gift boxes in 1970s-style design. A good place for souvenirs and gifts to take home.