★5Senior guide, hiking & jeep-tour organizer
hiking tour · Shymbulak
Trails of Shymbulak: hike to glacier and cave
4.9 · 21 reviews
In one day you will traverse scenic trails of Shymbulak, see the glacier and visit an ice cave. The route starts from Almaty and suits any fitness level.
WhenMon, Wed, Sat — departure 07:00
Duration6 h
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $72/person
Program
Shymbulak tour program by hour
07:00
Departure from Almaty
Meet at Republic Square, transfer by minibus to Shymbulak gorge.
08:30
Arrival at Shymbulak
Cable car ride to Talgar Pass station (about 3,200 m).
09:00
Start of trekking
Hike along the trail to Shymbulak glacier (5 km, elevation gain 400 m).
11:00
Glacier and cave
View of the glacier tongue and entrance to the natural ice cave (photos, rest).
12:00
Lunch
Picnic with hot tea and sandwiches with glacier backdrop.
13:00
Return
Descent along the same trail to the cable car station.
15:00
Arrival in Almaty
Transfer to Republic Square, tour ends.
What's included
What's included in the Shymbulak tour price
Included in Price
Already included in the tour price
- Transfer from Almaty and back
- Guide services
- Cable car ride to Shymbulak
- Lunch (hot tea, sandwiches, snacks)
- Insurance on the route
- Group equipment (first aid kit, radios)
Paid separately
Optional, on site
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra drinks)
- Rental of trekking poles ($2)
- Cancellation insurance
What to Bring
To make the day comfortable
- Trekking boots or sneakers with tread
- Warm jacket and windbreaker (windy at glacier)
- Sunglasses and sunscreen (snow reflects UV)
- Water bottle (1 L)
- Backpack for personal items
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.
★5
★4.52Alexander Пашкин
Driver-guide, инструктор по трекингу
★4.74Andrey Шевелёв
Driver-guide
★4.27Анжелика Чвыкова
Гид-фотограф
★4.27Ильяс Дарбеков
Гид-переводчик
★4.55Мадина Данина
Организатор туров
★4.49Сергей Бабичев
Personal guide-водитель
Reviews
Reviews of the hike to the glacier and cave
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
Maria P.
Google ·
★★★★★The hike to the glacier was a bit tough but beautiful. The only downside was a slight delay in departure due to traffic jams. My friends and I had long wanted to test ourselves in the mountains, and this route seemed suitable. The cable car ride added adrenaline, and the views from the top are just a fairy tale. The ice cave impressed us, especially the ice walls that shimmer in the sun. Lunch in nature with hot tea was very welcome.
Ruslan M.
Google ·
★★★★★The ice cave at Shymbulak is just super but it was cold, dress warmer. Thanks to Madina for the organization
Aizhan K.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Tabigattyn korki - osy tur. Muzdyk pen ungir koz zhauparady. Rakhmet Andreyge!
Dinara N.
Yandex ·
★★★★★We took the tour for the weekend. A great option for active recreation. The glacier and the cave are strong impressions. With friends we decided to test ourselves before more serious hikes. The cable car ride was exciting, and the trek to the glacier gave a good workout. It's cool in the cave, but very beautiful, the ice sparkles. The weather was clear, the views of the mountains are stunning. The guide encouraged us and monitored safety. On the way back we were tired but satisfied. We will definitely come back in winter.
Olga G.
Google ·
★★★★★Tur khoroshiy. No est' chego dobat'. Vremya na lednike ochen' malo. A tak - krasivo.
Kanat Zh.
Our website ·
★★★★★Wherever I go, I haven't seen anything better than this tour. The glacier is amazing!
Meruert A.
Yandex ·
★★★★★I dreamed of seeing the glacier with my own eyes. It came true! The tour is awesome. Madina organized everything clearly. I went alone, but quickly found company in the group. The trail to the glacier turned out not too difficult, but rocky in places, so comfortable shoes are needed. In the cave it's cool and mysterious, the ice sparkles. It's a pity there was little time for photos at the glacier, I would have liked to stay longer.
Zhanna B.
Our website ·
★★★★★The tour was well organized, but I would have liked more time at the glacier. Other than that, everything was great.
Vitaliy K.
Our website ·
★★★★★The hike to the glacier is a good workout. But the views are worth it. Also the cave is interesting. Thanks to the guide for the company.
Bekzat T.
Our website ·
★★★★★Pohod k ledniku i peshchere ochen' ponravilsya, no doroga traskaya byla. Vse ravno raduemsya
Laura I.
Our website ·
★★★★★My friends and I chose this tour. Everything was very well organized.
Natalya R.
Our website ·
★★★★★I spent a long time choosing a tour to Shymbulak. Thanks to Anzhelika for her help. I liked everything, the views are mesmerizing. I went alone, but quickly found company in the group. The glacier impressed with its size, and in the cave it's like you find yourself in a fairy tale. The cable car ride was convenient, I didn't get tired. Lunch in nature added coziness. The only thing is, I would have liked more time for photo stops. But overall I was satisfied.
Elena F.
Our website ·
★★★★★Davno hoteli s muzhem s'ezdit' kuda-nibud'. Vybrali etot tur. Ochen' ponravilos', no malovato vremeni v peshchere.
Olga V.
Our website ·
★★★★★We had been planning with my friends for a long time. We chose this route. Sergey gave a great tour. I recommend it. We had long wanted to get out of the city and see something unusual. The glacier and the cave exceeded expectations: the ice walls shimmer in the sun, and inside the cave it's cool and mysterious. Lunch in nature with hot tea was very welcome. The only thing is, I would have liked a little more time for photos at the glacier. But overall the organization is top-notch, thanks to the guide for the interesting stories.
Dmitry Ch.
Yandex ·
★★★★★I took the tour on a whim. Didn't expect it to be so cool. Cave and glacier in one, super.
Rinat Kh.
Our website ·
★★★★★We liked the tour, but we would have liked more details about the cave. Otherwise, well done, great organization! We went as a family, the kids are delighted with the cable car and the glacier. It's a pity that in the cave they didn't tell the story of its formation, they just gave time for photos. The trail is picturesque, but rocky in places, you need comfortable shoes. Lunch against the backdrop of the glacier is a great idea. Overall impressions are positive, but there wasn't enough information. Maybe it's worth adding more facts about nature.
Asel K.
Our website ·
★★★★★Great tour, guide Aleksandr told us a lot of interesting things about the glacier. Impressive!
Aliya S.
Google ·
★★★★★Shymbulak is beautiful at any time of year. The glacier is impressive. It's a pity the tour ended quickly. My husband and I decided to spend the weekend actively, we had long wanted to see the glacier in real life. The cable car ride added adrenaline, and the views from above are just like postcards. The trail to the glacier turned out to be not too difficult, but slippery in places. We especially liked the cave, it's a real ice palace. It's a pity there wasn't enough time for everything, we would have liked to stay longer at the glacier. But even so, there are plenty of impressions.
Timur D.
Our website ·
★★★★★We were planning a team outing with colleagues and chose this route. We didn't regret it. The cave is very big and beautiful.
Kuanysh E.
Google ·
★★★★★We like this tour. I recommend it to many people, because the beauty of nature is special. Together with my friends, we went on a day off and saw the glacier and the cave. It made a wonderful impression, especially the ice inside the cave amazed us. But there was a bit little time, we wanted to be at the glacier more. However, the organization is good, thanks to the guide.
Erbol Zh.
Our website ·
★★★★★I've been looking for a tour like this for many years. The beauty of nature amazed me. Everything is a solid 5.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the Shymbulak trails
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 questionOn the glacier it is noticeably colder and windier than in the city, so even on a warm day a warm jacket and a windbreaker will come in handy, and it is best to choose footwear with good grip — the trail and the area near the cave can be slippery. Take sunglasses and sunscreen: the reflected radiation on the snow is bright, and it is easy to get sunburned without protection. A 1 L bottle of water and a small backpack for personal items will also be useful.
Yes, the route suits any fitness level, but the walking part is about 5 km of trail with 400 m of elevation gain, so basic stamina will help. We go at a calm pace with a guide who makes stops for rest and photos. If you're unsure about your strength, message us on WhatsApp — we'll advise you on how to pace yourselves.
Arrival in Almaty and the end of the tour is at 15:00. The walk up to the glacier takes about two hours, from 09:00 to 11:00, followed by the cave and lunch, and at 13:00 we start descending the same trail to the cable car — going down is quicker. The exact return time may shift slightly depending on the group's pace and the weather.
The tour runs as a mini-group, with the meeting point at Republic Square in Almaty, departing at 07:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. We will confirm the exact group size for your date on WhatsApp. Before departure the guide will tell you how to recognize them at the meeting point.
Yes, this amount covers all the main parts of the programme: transfer from Almaty and back, a guide, the cable car, lunch at the glacier, insurance on the route and group equipment — a first-aid kit and radios. Optional extras are trekking poles for $2 and personal expenses such as souvenirs and drinks.
Booking is done simply with a message on WhatsApp — no prepayment, just write to us and secure your departure date. Payment is made on the day of the trip: Kaspi, card or cash. Cancellation is free, so if your plans change, just let us know on WhatsApp.
