★4.9Aidos Serikov
Senior guide, mountain routes
Family tour · Ski resort
Winter day at Shymbulak with kids
4.9 · 23 reviews
One-day tour from Almaty to Shymbulak — skiing/snowboarding for children and adults. Mountain air, snowy slopes and fun descents await you. The guide will help with equipment rental and choose a suitable route.
WhenWinter season
DurationDay
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $31/person
Program
Winter day program at Shymbulak by the hour
07:00
Meeting in Almaty
Group meeting at the chosen location (hotel or metro). Transfer to Shymbulak (about 30 minutes).
07:45
Cable car ride
Boarding the gondola lift to Medeu, then to Shymbulak. Views of the Zailiysky Alatau.
09:00
Briefing and equipment rental
The guide helps with choosing skis/snowboard, helmet and poles. Short briefing for beginners.
10:00
Skiing on the slopes
Free time on the slopes: green trails for children, blue for confident skiers. Hot tea break.
13:00
Lunch at a cafe
Lunch at one of the cafes on Shymbulak (included in the price). Rest and warm-up.
14:30
Continued skiing
Second half of the day — skiing, play areas for children, photo session against the mountains.
17:00
Descent and Return
Cable car descent, transfer back to Almaty. Estimated arrival — 18:00.
What's included
What is included in the winter day at Shymbulak
Included in Price
Already included in the tour price
- Transfer from Almaty and back
- Guide-instructor services
- Cable car ride (Medeu — Shymbulak)
- Lunch at the resort cafe
- Bottle of water and tea throughout the day
Paid separately
Optional, on site
- Ski/snowboard and helmet rental (from $7)
- Ski pass (lifts within the resort)
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
What to Bring
To make the day comfortable
- Warm waterproof clothing and pants
- Ski goggles or sunglasses
- Gloves and hat (helmet can be rented)
- Thermos with tea and snacks for children
- Sunscreen (mountain sun is active)
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.
★4.9
★5Dinara Kassymova
Guide-lecturer in Almaty
★4.8Marat Zhunussov
Trekking instructor
★4.9Oleg Kim
Driver-guide, jeep tours
★4.8Zhanna Abenova
Tour manager
★4.9Timur Beketov
Multi-day tour guide
★5Aliya Nurlan
Group coordinator
★4.8Sergey Volkov
Instructor, ski tours
Reviews
Reviews about winter day at Shymbulak with kids
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
Yulia A.
Google ·
★★★★★A wonderful vacation for the whole family. We took a tour to Shymbulak. The kids enjoyed tubing, and I liked the views. The only downside was the long drive.
Natasha R.
Google ·
★★★★★Shymbulak in winter is just a fairy tale. The kids had a great time, and I relaxed too. The guide helped with cable car tickets and sorted everything out quickly. Thank you so much!
Ksyusha B.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Riding is super! Everything's good. My family and I have long wanted to ski. The cable car ride is a separate pleasure, the views are mesmerizing. The instructor helped with rental, suggested slopes for beginners. The kids rode the slides, we tried too. Lunch at the cafe was tasty. The weather is sunny, the mood is great. Thanks for the organization!
Irina M.
2GIS ·
★★★★★Davno hoteli v gorah. Vse poluchilos'. Deti rady. Mne po ponravilas' kanatka. Spasibo Olge za sovety
Laura M.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Very satisfied. Zhanna organized everything clearly. The kids are thrilled. We'll definitely come again. Went with the family to show the kids the mountains. The cable car ride impressed, the views are incredible. The instructor helped with the gear, the kids quickly got the hang of the green slopes. Lunch was filling, we relaxed at the cafe. Liked that there's a play area for little ones. Thanks for a great vacation!
Marat T.
Yandex ·
★★★★★We took a trip to Shymbulak with kids. Everything was great! The cable car works perfectly. Only the road was a bit bumpy.
Aliya S.
Google ·
★★★★★The children liked it very much. Skiing is wonderful. The tea is also delicious. Aidos helped. Thanks
Sergey N.
Our website ·
★★★★★We went to Shymbulak. The skiing was good. We waited in line for the cable car a bit, but it was worth it.
Damir Sh.
Google ·
★★★★★Good tour. All inclusive. Only thing, departure was delayed by 15 minutes. But it didn't spoil the mood on vacation.
Yelena D.
Our website ·
★★★★★The tour was good. We brought a thermos but tea was provided for free. Downside: about an hour-long queue for the cable car.
Bakhtiyar D.
2GIS ·
★★★★★Hello. We went to Shymbulak. The kids really liked it. The guide helped. We'll go again.
Zhanna P.
Our website ·
★★★★★Davno hoteli poehat' na Shymbulak s det'mi. Vse poluchilos'. Mne ponravilas' kanatka i vidy. Spasibo gidu za podderzhku.
Ivan Z.
Google ·
★★★★★Meh, so-so. The road is long and bumpy. But the kids liked it
Aigul K.
Google ·
★★★★★We had long wanted to show the mountains to the kids, and finally made it. The cable car ride impressed us, the views are incredible. The kids are thrilled with skiing, especially the snow slides. Thanks to Zhanna for the excellent organization!
Timur K.
Our website ·
★★★★★Vse proshlo otlichno. Detyam ochen' ponravilos'. Kanatka s vidami prosto klass. Spasibo Aydosu za organizatsiyu
Oleg V.
Google ·
★★★★★We got together with friends on the weekend to go skiing. Skiing and the slides are great, the weather is sunny. The departure was a bit delayed, but not critical. Lunch was tasty, the tea was hot.
Gulnara I.
Yandex ·
★★★★★First trip to Shymbulak with kids. Liked everything. Organization is top-notch. Zhanna helped with the choice. Recommend. We spent a long time choosing where to go for the weekend and settled on this tour. No regrets: there was plenty to keep the kids busy, and interesting for adults too. The cable car runs smoothly, almost no queues. The instruction for beginners was clear. Lunch included, portions are big. The kids are thrilled with the slides and snow. Thanks for unforgettable impressions!
Tatiana L.
Our website ·
★★★★★Great tour. We rented all-inclusive gear. The kids were happy. Only the cable car had a long queue at lunch.
Azamat B.
Google ·
★★★★★Shymbulak is the best place. The kids really enjoyed it. Thanks to Zhanna for the great organization. We'll be back.
Nina K.
Our website ·
★★★★★Liked it a lot. Rode the slides, drank tea. The guide organized everything perfectly. Big thanks. My friends and I decided to spend a day off at Shymbulak. The weather was sunny, the views stunning. We rented snowboards, the instruction was quick. Lunch at the cafe was tasty, hot tea kept us warm. The only thing, I'd like more time on the slopes. But overall a great day!
Ruslan H.
Google ·
★★★★★Everything is top. Skiing is fire. After the descents, hot tea is just the thing. The guide was by my side all day and gave tips. Thanks for the company!
Olga F.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Great day. Tubing and tea. Everything's super. Only waited a bit for the bus. My friends and I decided to ride at Shymbulak. The cable car ride was thrilling, especially when passing over the gorge. We took tubes, rode to our heart's content. Snacked at the cafe, tea warmed us up. The weather was great, the snow sparkled in the sun. We'll definitely come back!
Anatoliy G.
Google ·
★★★★★Family outing was a success. We went sledding and had tea. Thanks to Zhanna for her help. Only issue was a 20-minute delay at the exit.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about a winter day at Shymbulak with children
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 questionMeet in Almaty at 07:00; we choose the meeting point together with you — for example, at your hotel. The drive to Shymbulak takes about 30 minutes, and at 17:00 we start the descent and return transfer, arriving in the city around 18:00. We will confirm the place and time on WhatsApp before the trip.
Yes, the tour is designed for children as well: the guide gives a brief introduction for beginners and helps choose a suitable route. On the slopes there are easy runs for beginners and more challenging ones for confident skiers, and between skiing there is time to rest and warm up in a café. If your child gets tired, there are play areas and a break for hot tea.
You need warm waterproof clothing and trousers, a hat and gloves, as well as ski goggles or sunglasses. A helmet can be rented, but goggles and gloves are better to bring your own. Sunscreen will also come in handy — the sun is strong in the mountains — and a thermos of tea for children.
This is a one-day tour without an overnight stay: we leave Almaty in the morning and return in the evening the same day. The day is packed — transfer, cable car, briefing, skiing with a break for lunch, and more time on the slopes. The exact arrival time may shift due to weather or cable car queues; the guide will let you know before departure.
The $31 per person already includes round-trip transfer from Almaty, a guide-instructor, the cable car ride up to Shymbulak, lunch in a café, and water and tea throughout the day. Ski or snowboard rental with a helmet — from $7 — and a ski pass for the lifts within the resort are paid separately. Personal expenses and souvenirs are also at your own cost.
The tour is designed for families with children; if you'd like to go with just your own family, message us on WhatsApp — we'll check what can be arranged for your date and agree on the meeting point. Booking is simply a WhatsApp message, with no prepayment. Payment on the day of the trip — Kaspi, card or cash; cancellation is free.
