Oi Qaragai
From 545 $

Almaty Mountains Tour: Medeu, Shymbulak and Surroundings · 2 days

5.0(3 Reviews)Private tour

2d / 1n · From 545 $

A two-day tour of Almaty Region: Oi-Qaragai. Included: transport and guide, eco fees, cable cars.

  • Free cancellation within 24 hours
  • Pay after confirmation

$545From / per person

Itinerary

What's Included

How to get there

FAQ

A comprehensive route through Almaty and its surroundings, mountains, canyons, and city classics in one trip. Key stops on the route: Medeu ice rink at 1691 meters, the highest in the world, Shymbulak ski resort with a three-stage cableway up to 3200 meters, and the Oi-Qaragai eco-resort with alpine meadows. Comfortable transport and a professional guide are included in the price; the program is adjusted to your pace. Small groups and a private format are available on request. The route adapts to the group's pace. The program is equally good for a first visit and a return trip. The best time is from May to October, when the roads are open and the landscapes are at their most vivid.

Tour Highlights

RegionAlmaty / Nearby Mountains: Medeu, Shymbulak, Butakovka / Issyk and Turgen Gorge
ComfortStandard
Duration2d / 1n
ComplexityEasy

The meeting place

You choose the meeting place: an address, a hotel, or Almaty Airport, arranged at booking

Highlights

  • Medeu — the world’s highest mountain ice rink (1691 m)
  • Shymbulak — a ski resort with a cable car up to 3200 m
  • Oi-Qaragai — an eco-resort in the Turgen Valley with a cable car
  • A car or 4×4 is selected for the specific route
  • The guide does more than follow the route; they explain the context and stories of the place
  • Photo breaks and viewpoint stops are built into the schedule
  • Only your group is on the route — the pace and stops are adjusted accordingly
  • In severe bad weather, some sections may be replaced with equivalent alternatives

Worth taking

  • ✔ID card or passport
  • ✔Trekking shoes with good tread
  • ✔Sunscreen (SPF 30+), sunglasses, and a hat
  • ✔A warm jacket or fleece — it is cool in the mountains even in summer
  • ✔A light raincoat or membrane jacket in case of mountain rain
  • ✔A water bottle (to refill in villages and hotels) and a light snack for the road
  • ✔Cash (cards are not accepted everywhere, especially in villages and national parks)
  • ✔Power bank and a camera or phone for photos
  • ✔Seasonal clothing: in summer — light and breathable; in autumn and spring — layers; in winter — a down jacket and warm boots
  • ✔Basic first-aid kit: for headache, food poisoning, bandages, and, if needed, medication for altitude sickness

Why this tour

◉

Easy for any level

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WhatsApp support 24/7

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Small groups

Complexity

Easy level

Private tour

Suitable for

  • ✔Suitable for everyone: families, seniors, couples, groups of friends, solo travelers

Itinerary

Gorges of the Alatau: Oi-Qaragai

Relax at the Oi-Qaragai eco-resort in Turgen Gorge, alpine meadows, conifer-scented air, and the LesnayaSkazka cableway (in winter). Return to Almaty by evening.

Medeu and Shymbulak · the Tian Shan cable car

Visit to the Medeu ice rink at an altitude of 1691 meters, the highest stadium in the world. In winter, the ice is perfectly smooth; 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, take the ascent to the Shymbulak mountain resort (2260 m) by a three-stage cableway, which in 25 minutes climbs to 3200 meters and opens a full panorama of the Zailiyskiy Alatau. In winter, skiing and snowboarding; in summer, hiking and cafés with a view.

Good to know

Free cancellation up to 72 hours before the tour starts — full refund. After that — according to the operator’s rules.

What's Included

  • Transport along the entire route
  • Professional guide services
  • All eco-fees and entrance tickets to national parks and protected natural areas
  • Cable car and lift tickets (Shymbulak)

Paid separately:

  • Meals (breakfasts, lunches, dinners)
  • Entertainment and additional activities outside the main program
  • Personal expenses
  • Tips

Safety notes

Please follow the guide's instructions, check the weather forecast before departure, and bring appropriate clothing and footwear.

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545 $

Private tour

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