Shymbulak Resort in Almaty, Kazakhstan is an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and is nestled in the majestic mountains, offering a way to see the natural beauty of what Almaty has to offer. Despite being a ski resort and hot spot during the winter season, the resort is also open during the summer and offers a great way to see the beautiful view of the city.
Symbulak is not just a winter sports haven but also a popular spot to visit during the summer. I visited at the end of July 2022 and the resort offers a variety of activities during the winter months such as hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and paragliding. They offer a variety of well-marked trails that cater to different skill levels. The scenic beauty of the surrounding mountains and the cooler climate make it an ideal spot for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers, and those wanting to get fresh air.
ABOUT SHYMBULAK RESORT
Shymbulak is a popular ski resort located in the Zailiyskiy Alatau mountain range near Almaty, Kazakhstan. The resort's history dates back to the Soviet era, specifically to the mid-20th century when it was initially developed as a training base for Soviet athletes. The resort is famous for its high altitude, up to 3,200 meters above sea level, and excellent snow quality during the winter months.
The resort officially opened its doors to the public in 1954, becoming a popular destination for athletes and recreational skiers. They underwent significant modernization and expansion including the installation of modern ski lifts, and the construction of new facilities to accommodate the growing number of visitors.
HOW TO GET TO SHYMBULAK RESORT
Symbulak Resort is located just 25 kilometers from Almaty and can be easily reached by car or public transport. I ordered a car through Yandex, a popular ride-sharing application, and surprisingly it was only a 25-minute drive! I recommend setting your destination to the following address on Google Maps. This is the base of the Symbulak Resort and you can park your vehicles, purchase your cable car tickets, and take the first cable car.
You can also take the bus Route 12 from the Dostyk–Kurmangazy bus stop daily from 7:00 to 20:00 (every 30 minutes) to the Medeu Base Station.
COSTS FOR SHYMBULAK RESORT
To start, there are multiple stops that the cable car makes, and the higher you go, the more expensive your ticket will be. To start, the ticket prices range from one-way or round-trip cable car usage. I've seen many people purchase one-way tickets to take the cable car up and walk down. There are various ticket prices and types so I recommend you to visit their website.
1. First Stop: Medeu Base to Shymbulak
The first stop will be from the Medeu Base to Shymbulak. You'll be able to take a gondola and I was pleasantly surprised to see how brand new and well-equipped the gondola was. The distance from Medeu Base to Shymbulak is the longest and takes approximately 10 minutes. Once you get off at Shymbulak, you'll be able to see various restaurants, tourist attractions, and various hotels such as Shymbulak Resort Hotel and Shymbulak Medeu Camp. So, if you want to spend a few nights that's always an option you have! You can see more about the hotel offerings from their official website https://shymbulak.com/en/hotels. This is where a majority of the people spend their time since there are tons of restaurants and shops for souvenir shopping.
2. Second Stop: Shymbulak to Combi-1
3. Third Stop: Combi-1 to Combi-2
If I'm being honest, I don't remember too much from going from Shymbulak to Combi-1 and Combi-2. At this point, I got terrible altitude sickness and heat exhaustion so wasn't able to take the final cable car to go to KKD-4. By the time you get to Combi-2, you can see the slight slivers of snow on the mountain caps but it is too far and not recommended for you to walk up there.
4. Fourth Stop: Combi-2 to KKD-4
Note that each stop has different cable car operating hours on weekdays and weekends. So I recommend you to check their website for updated information and ticket prices.
THINGS TO PREPARE FOR
I visited at the end of July 2022 when the weather was ranging from 33 to 39 degrees Celsius. Coming from Toronto, Canada, I am not used to this type of weather especially because Almaty is extremely dry. Since I was going to Shymbulak, I expected the higher elevation to give a cooler breeze. I found this to be the opposite, since there were no clouds and technically we're closer to the sun, I felt like it was burning my skin. Bringing a light long-sleeve layer was suggested, but that was not needed. I wore a white T-shirt and blue jeans, but I wish I had worn thinner layers and shorts. Considering I'm not used to this weather, I got heat exhaustion by the time we reached the second point.
The path is relatively well paved so you can wear sneakers or Birkenstocks. If you're planning on hiking, you should wear running or hiking shoes but I went to ride the cable cars. In addition, I recommend bringing tons of water. I made the mistake of not bringing any water and there are stores at Shymbulak where you can buy them. Unfortunately, we didn't, and the altitude sickness didn't help. We couldn't finish the entire route and had to return to Shymbulak and I had to get some rest at a cafe and get some food in my system before going down to the base.
ACTIVITIES TO DO AT SHYMBULAK RESORT
If you look at Shymbulak's official website, they offer a myriad of activities that cater to adults and children. One of the most popular activities is hiking, as the resort is surrounded by a network of trails, allowing you to explore stunning landscapes, alpine meadows, and beautiful views of the mountains. They also have ziplines, rope parks, paragliding, horseriding, and an alpine park. They also have an events page so I recommend you to follow their Instagram and Website to get the latest updates.
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