Kazakhstan Ski Diary: Shymbulak Ski Resort
Deciding to ski in Kazakhstan was a rare spur-of-the-moment decision. To sum it up, it was a trip that exceeded expectations in terms of convenience, ski resort fun, leisure dining, and the skiing experience itself. While Shymbulak, the largest in Central Asia, may not have as much skiable area as Hemu in Xinjiang, its direct flights from various cities in China, comparable convenience to Jiangjun Mountain, comprehensive facilities, and exotic Central Asian charm make it a highlight of any ski trip.
Transportation 🛫: There are direct flights from Xi'an, Hangzhou, Beijing, and Urumqi to Almaty, with Urumqi being about a 2-hour flight. Due to the time difference, you can "turn back time by a few minutes." China Southern Airlines offers a new route promotion "New Route, Enjoy Flying," allowing unlimited exchanges for flights between Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Almaty for 1600 RMB plus a small amount of fare and tax until the end of June. The main cost of the ticket can be eliminated. It takes about half an hour from Almaty Airport to the city center, and the same from the ski resort to the city center, although it may take longer if there's traffic. The "Russian-speaking Didi" Yandex Go is very convenient for taxis, costing about 50 RMB. For larger groups, you can choose a minibus, but the economy taxis can be quite wild.
Ski Resort 🎿: Shymbulak, also known as Chimbulak, was the host of the 2011 Asian Winter Games and lost the bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics to Beijing. Starting from the Medeu at an altitude of 1626 meters, you take a cable car, which is similar to the lower section of the Keketohai cable car or the position of Gem Valley, and reach the 2260-meter Base in about 15 minutes. There are two more mixed cable cars and chairlifts that go straight to the 3200-meter summit. The ski resort has a significant vertical drop, is long and narrow, with forests, valleys, snow gullies, and white slopes. It has a European feel but is far smaller in skiable area than European resorts, more like a stop in a ski area. The summit has a separate chairlift to a small back mountain, with off-piste areas on the left snow gully and right valley, offering varied terrain that is fun and challenging for those with some skill. There are rocks on the slopes, and you need to avoid the "Central Asian torpedoes." The snow quality is decent at the end of January, but the snow outside the trails is thin, requiring caution. The terrain is very diverse, resembling a mix of Keketohai and Hemu.
A full-day ski pass, excluding the ski card fee, is about 120 RMB, which reminds me of my trip to Gudauri, Georgia, six years ago, so I can't complain.
Facilities 🥢: There are ski-in, ski-out hotels at various altitudes, from resort hotels to unbeatable top-door cabins, though the prices are not low. We used Marriott points to stay at the Ritz-Carlton in the city for over 20,000 points, costing about 1200 RMB per night, which is a good deal compared to the 3000+ RMB rack rate. Restaurants, shops, rentals, and ski schools are all well-equipped, but the only inconvenience is the low prevalence of English. It's recommended to have a basic understanding of Russian or a translation app to avoid difficulties.
Stay tuned for the next update on the small Akbulak ski resort and Almaty travel highlights. To be continued.
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