Almaty Tour: mountains, ethno-village and city [Medeu + Shymbulak] · 3 days

A visit to Medeu ice rink at an altitude of 1691 meters, the highest-altitude stadium in the world. In winter, the ice is perfectly smooth, in summer, it is a cool mountain amphitheater with a walk along the dam and views of the gorge. In the first half of the day, a ride up to Shymbulak mountain resort (2260 m) on the three-stage cable car, which climbs to 3200 meters in 25 minutes and opens a full panorama of the Zailiysky Alatau. In winter, skiing and snowboarding, in summer, hiking and cafes with views. Around midday, a walk along pedestrian Zhibek Zholy, Almaty’s “Arbat,” with street artists, guitarists at sunset, stalls selling local handmade crafts and coffee shops where you can take a breather after an active itinerary. Return to Almaty by evening.

An immersion into nomadic culture at Hunny Nomadic Village, a reconstruction of Kazakh life 70 km from the city. Yurts, beshbarmak cooked over an open fire, horse performances and an introduction to the musical instruments of nomads. Return to Almaty by evening.

A walk through Panfilov Park, a shady green area in the city center with the memorial to the 28 Panfilov heroes who fell near Moscow in 1941. Centuries-old oaks, quiet alleys, the ringing of bells and the atmosphere of old Alma-Ata, preserved inside the modern metropolis. In the first half of the day, a visit to the 1907 Zenkov Cathedral, one of the tallest wooden churches in the world, built without a single nail and surviving the earthquake that leveled half the city. Inside is an iconostasis from the late 19th century, outside are golden domes 56 meters high. Around midday, a photo stop at the Kazakhstan Hotel, a 25-story building from the late 1970s with a huge smalt mosaic on the facade, a classic example of Almaty Soviet modernism. In the second half of the day, a visit to 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 let you taste everything before buying.