Shymbulak is Central Asia's best-known ski resort, located about 25 kilometres south of Almaty in the Zailiysky Alatau mountains. The resort base sits at 2,260 metres, with runs ascending to around 3,163 metres. There are groomed pistes for all abilities, a terrain park, and reliable snow conditions from November to April — supplemented by snowmaking equipment when needed.
Getting there from the city is straightforward: take the city bus or a taxi to Medeu, then the gondola up to the resort base. A single gondola ticket connects Medeu to Shymbulak; ski lift passes are sold separately. Equipment hire is available at the resort. Outside the ski season, the gondola continues to run and the mountain is popular for summer hiking — the views of the city far below and the glaciated peaks above are worth the trip even without snow.