Medeu and Shymbulak

The Malaya Almatinka valley runs straight from the city of Almaty into the mountains, and within 15 km the road climbs from the leafy streets to alpine scenery. Medeu lies at about 1,690 metres, and Shymbulak a little higher up the same valley at about 2,200–2,260 metres. Together they are Almaty's mountain playground, busy in winter for skating and skiing and in summer for walks, cool air and views.

Medeu

The Medeu outdoor skating rink opened in 1972 and quickly became famous for its fast ice: the thin air and the clean mountain water used to make it helped skaters set many speed-skating world records in the 1970s and 1980s. Today it is a public rink in winter, typically open from late autumn to early spring, and an events venue in summer. Above it stands the Medeu dam, built after a destructive mudflow in 1921 and reinforced after another in 1973; a long stairway of more than 800 steps climbs to the top for a view down the valley.

Shymbulak

A gondola runs from Medeu to Shymbulak, Central Asia's best-known ski resort, in about 15 minutes. From there, chairlifts continue in stages to the Talgar pass at about 3,200 metres, where the panorama takes in glaciers and the peaks of the Ile-Alatau. In winter the resort offers groomed runs for all levels; in summer the lifts carry walkers and sightseers, and cafés at the top make it an easy half day.

How to experience it

Take a taxi or bus to Medeu in the morning, ride the gondola to Shymbulak and then the upper lifts while the sky is clear, since clouds often build up after midday. Temperatures at the pass can be more than 15 °C lower than in the city, so bring a warm layer even in summer, and remember that the altitude makes exercise harder. Lift tickets are sold at Medeu and Shymbulak.