First Time in Almaty: Mountains, City & Nomad Culture

Start at Medeu ice rink, at 1691 meters one of the highest mountain rinks in the world. In winter the ice is smooth and busy, in summer it is a cool amphitheater with a walk along the dam and views of the gorge. In the first half of the day, ride up to Shymbulak mountain resort (2260 m) on a three-stage cable car; the ride takes 25 minutes to reach 3200 meters and opens a wide panorama of the Zailiyskiy Alatau. Skiers and snowboarders have the slopes in winter, walkers and café lovers have them in summer. Around lunchtime, walk along the pedestrian Zhibek Zholy, Almaty's Arbat, with street artists, stalls of local handmade goods and cafés where you can rest after the mountain route. By evening, ride up to Kok-Tobe by cable car (1070 m), the city's signature viewpoint. All of Almaty lies at your feet with the Alatau behind; at sunset the peaks turn pink and the lights of the city come on in the valley. Return to Almaty by evening.

In the morning, an immersion into nomad culture at the Huns Ethno-Village, a reconstruction of Kazakh life 70 km from the city. Step into the yurts, taste beshbarmak cooked over an open fire, watch horse performances and learn about the instruments the nomads played. A golden-eagle handler gives a falconry demonstration. In the afternoon, back in the city, stroll through Panfilov Park, a shaded green area in the center with the memorial to the 28 Panfilov heroes who fell near Moscow in 1941. Old oaks, quiet alleys and the bells of the nearby cathedral keep a bit of old Alma-Ata inside the modern city. Finish at Zenkov Cathedral, built in 1907 entirely of wood without a single nail, one of the tallest wooden churches in the world, which stood through the earthquake that destroyed much of the city. Inside is an iconostasis of the late 19th century, outside are golden domes 56 meters high.