Tour from Almaty

Tandem paragliding over Shymbulak

5 · 22 reviews

Start from the ridge above the ski resort: spruce slopes, cable car, and glaciers of Zailiysky Alatau below. The flight is longer and higher than from the foothills — bring warm clothes.

WhenDaily, weather permitting
DurationHalf day
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $118/person

Program

Tour itinerary: Tandem paragliding over Shymbulak

09:00

Departure from Almaty

Meet the group at the agreed spot in Almaty. Transfer to the foot of Shymbulak. The drive takes about an hour; along the way, a safety briefing and an introduction to your pilot.

10:00

Ascent to the ridge

Transfer to the cable car and ride up to the launch site. On the way — views of the gorge and glaciers. Arrival at the ridge, paraglider preparation and pre-flight check.

11:00

Paragliding flight

Launch from the ridge above the resort. In the air — 20–30 minutes, depending on the weather. Views of the spruce slopes, the cable car and the panorama of the Trans-Ili Alatau.

12:00

Landing and rest

Landing on the meadow at the foot. A short rest and a snack (optional). Talk about the flight and a photo session.

13:00

Return to Almaty

Transfer back to the city. Arrival in Almaty around 14:00. End of the program.

What's included

What is included: Tandem paragliding over Shymbulak

Included in Price

Already included in the tour price

  • Transport along the whole route
  • An experienced guide accompanying you
  • Route and stops planning

Paid separately

Optional, on site

  • Personal expenses
  • Meals, unless stated otherwise
  • Entrance tickets to individual sites

What to Bring

To make the day comfortable

  • Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing
  • Water and a light snack
  • A charged phone or camera
  • A hat and sun protection

Team

Our team — guides and instructors from Almaty

Routes are led by working guides and instructors. The same people answer in WhatsApp and accompany groups on tour.

Aidos Serikov — Senior guide, mountain routes★4.9

Aidos Serikov

Senior guide, mountain routes

187 reviews · experience 14 years

Dinara Kassymova — Guide-lecturer in Almaty★5

Dinara Kassymova

Guide-lecturer in Almaty

142 review · experience 11 years

Marat Zhunussov — Trekking instructor★4.8

Marat Zhunussov

Trekking instructor

96 reviews · experience 9 years

Oleg Kim — Driver-guide, jeep tours★4.9

Oleg Kim

Driver-guide, jeep tours

164 review · experience 13 years

Zhanna Abenova — Tour manager★4.8

Zhanna Abenova

Tour manager

78 reviews · experience 7 years

Timur Beketov — Multi-day tour guide★4.9

Timur Beketov

Multi-day tour guide

118 reviews · experience 10 years

Aliya Nurlan — Group coordinator★5

Aliya Nurlan

Group coordinator

64 review · experience 6 years

Sergey Volkov — Instructor, ski tours★4.8

Sergey Volkov

Instructor, ski tours

103 review · experience 12 years

Reviews

Reviews of the tandem paragliding flight over Shymbulak

Leave a review
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
PK
Pavel K.
Our website ·
★★★★★

In December we flew paragliding with Aliya, she picked us up and stayed in touch on the way. The flight over Shymbulak was very impressive.

Verified review · Order #40631
AK
Albina K.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

I booked through Zhanna, we flew in November. It was a good idea to bring warm clothes.

Verified review · Order #40203
SE
Sholpan E.
Our website ·
★★★★★

I gave myself this for my birthday, went with my sister. In October it's cold up top, but the impressions are worth it.

Verified review · Order #38097
AT
Azamat Ts.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

My wife and I had long wanted to try paragliding, and in October we finally decided. We gathered in the city, drove to Shymbulak by car for about an hour, with a briefing along the way. We went up to the ridge by cable car, where they prepared the paraglider and checked the equipment. We started from the ridge, spent about half an hour in the air, though the weather was cool and windy. From above there is a wide view of the spruce slopes, the cable car and the glaciers. We landed on a meadow at the foot, rested a bit and took photos as a keepsake. We returned to Almaty by two o'clock, everything went calmly and without haste.

Verified review · Order #37887
AT
Anton Ts.
Google ·
★★★★★

We gathered with friends spontaneously, in September. Aliya organized the group gathering, we met without problems.

Verified review · Order #37170
SG
Svetlana G.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

My husband gave me a certificate for my birthday, we went together. In August it's windy on the ridge, but fine in a jacket.

Verified review · Order #35766
AR
Aibek R.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

I've long wanted to try a paraglider, but kept hesitating. My wife suggested celebrating our anniversary this way, and we went together in July. Zhanna helped choose the date and explained everything in detail via WhatsApp. We left Almaty at nine in the morning, the road to Shymbulak took about an hour. We went up to the ridge on the cable car, it's cool there even in summer, good thing we took jackets. The flight lasted about twenty-five minutes, under the wing are spruce slopes, the cable car and glaciers. Landing on a meadow, we rested a bit and took photos. We returned to the city by two o'clock. The sensations are indescribable, I recommend.

Verified review · Order #35132
OZ
Olga Zh.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

We flew in July, took a paragliding tour over Shymbulak. The road to the foot took about an hour, then we went up to the ridge by cable car. We were in the air for about twenty minutes, the weather was clear. The start from the ridge scared us a little, but the pilot controlled everything. After landing we rested and returned to the city.

Verified review · Order #34830
VL
Vitaliy L.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Poehali s bratom na paroplane nad Shymbulakom, hoteli poprobovat chto-to novoe. Zimoy, v yanvare, bylo holodno, no nam dali tepluyu odezhdu i vsyo ob'yasnili pered poletom. Snachala edem na mashine k podnozhiyu, potom na kanatke na greben. Startovali s grebnya, v vozduhe okolo poluchasa. Sverkhu otkryvaetsya vid na elovye sklony, kanatku i ledniki Zailiyskogo Alatau. Posle posadki otdohnuli na polyane, sdelali foto. Obratno v gorod priehali okolo dvuh. Organizaciya normalnaya, nikto ne toropil.

Verified review · Order #30608
DK
Denis K.
Our website ·
★★★★★

I wanted to surprise my girlfriend for our anniversary, so I chose a paragliding flight over Shymbulak. In winter, in January, it was frosty, but they gave us warm clothes and explained everything in detail. First we drove by car to the foot, then went up to the ridge by cable car. We started from the ridge, spent about half an hour in the air, there was wind, but the pilot steered confidently. From above you can see the spruce slopes, the cable car and the glaciers of the Trans-Ili Alatau. After landing on the meadow we rested a bit and took photos. We returned to the city by two o'clock, with lots of impressions.

Verified review · Order #30395
AS
Andrey Sh.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

We went with my wife in September. The road to Shymbulak took about an hour, everything was explained along the way. It's cool on the ridge, we took jackets. The flight lasted about twenty minutes, the views of the glaciers and the cable car are excellent.

Verified review · Order #27332
ME
Marina E.
Our website ·
★★★★★

We flew in September, took warm clothes as advised. We liked that the transfer from the city is organized.

Verified review · Order #26846
AZ
Adil Z.
Google ·
★★★★★

We took a paragliding tour for a friend's birthday in July. We flew over Shymbulak, everything went well, we just had to wait in line for the cable car.

Verified review · Order #24797
ZR
Zhanna R.
Our website ·
★★★★★

In June my husband and I flew paragliding over Shymbulak. We left Almaty in the morning and arrived in about an hour, then went up to the ridge by cable car. We were in the air for about twenty minutes, around us we could see spruces and glaciers. After lunch we returned to the city, we liked everything.

Verified review · Order #24478
ZA
Zarina A.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

My husband persuaded me to try on the May holidays. In May it's still cool on the ridge, but the sun warms. We flew together, were satisfied.

Verified review · Order #22501
OS
Oksana S.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

We gathered with colleagues to unwind after winter. In April it's still cool up top, but the flight is worth it.

Verified review · Order #21543
ZK
Zhansaya K.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

Friends persuaded me to try a paraglider in winter. In January we went to the ridge, there's wind and snow but it's still beautiful. The instructor is calm, explained everything.

Verified review · Order #20306
ME
Marina E.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

My husband and I decided to celebrate our anniversary unusually and flew in December. We took warm clothes as advised and didn't regret it.

Verified review · Order #20007
YP
Yana P.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

We went with my boyfriend in October to ride. It's windy on the ridge, the hat came in handy. The flight is short but cool.

Verified review · Order #19275
DY
Dana Ya.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

We chose this tour because we wanted something unusual for our anniversary. We went together with my husband. In September the weather was clear, on the ridge there's wind but tolerable. The flight was memorable, though it was a bit scary at the start.

Verified review · Order #17777
KK
Karina Kh.
Our website ·
★★★★★

We gave mom a certificate for a flight, she had long wanted it. In May we flew to Shymbulak and were satisfied.

Verified review · Order #13455
TT
Tamara T.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

My k hoteli poprobovat chto-to novoe na godovshchinu, poehali s muzhem. V yanvare na grebne ochen holodno, nado teplo odetsya. Polyot dlisya okolo 20 minut, no vpechatleniy hvataet. Transfer iz goroda udobnyy.

Verified review · Order #11169

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the tandem paragliding flight over Shymbulak

We've collected the questions travelers ask most often. Didn't find your answer? Write to us — a guide will reply in a couple of minutes.

Ask a question

It is noticeably cooler on the ridge than in Almaty, so bring warm clothes even on a warm day. Wear comfortable shoes, and also bring a hat, sun protection, water and a light snack. Charge your phone or camera in advance.

There are no walking sections in the programme: we drive to the foot of Shymbulak by car, then go up by cable car. The main effort is the flight itself, not walking. No special training is needed.

The tour is private, so we tailor the conditions to the individual person. The decision to fly is made by the guide and the pilot on site, taking how you feel into account. If you are unsure, message us on WhatsApp and we will check for your date.

Meet in Almaty at 09:00; we will agree the exact location in advance. The drive to the foot of Shymbulak takes about an hour, we go up to the ridge by 10:00, and we return to the city at approximately 14:00. How much time you actually spend in the air depends on the weather — the guide will give an estimate before departure.

The price of $118 per person covers transport along the route, an experienced guide, and arranging the stops. Meals, personal expenses and entrance tickets to individual sites are paid by you. If you wish, after landing you can have a snack at the foot.

The format is private, so only you and your close ones fly — we arrange the booking for your date via WhatsApp message, with no prepayment. You pay for the flight over Shymbulak on the day of the trip: Kaspi, by card or in cash. If your plans change, you can cancel the booking with no payment or penalties.