[2024 Almaty ] Travel Guide for Shymbulak (Updated Nov)

🇰🇿Off-the-beaten-path visa-free travel destination Kazakhstan (Part 2)

Almaty is located in the Alatau Mountains outside of Ili, and was once a territory of China during the Qing Dynasty. After the establishment of Kazakhstan, it was also the capital of the country for a period of time. Due to the abundant production of apples in the suburbs, Almaty is also known as the "Apple City". 🍎 As the largest member state of the former Soviet Union, here you can not only see modern skyscrapers and experience the ethnic customs of Central Asia, but also see many marks left by the Soviet era. 🏢 Recommended attractions are as follows, it is suggested to take two to three days for sightseeing. 📝 Day one, you can visit the following attractions, the first four are within walking distance. 🚶🏻 1️⃣Ascension Cathedral is an Eastern Orthodox church located in Panfilov Park in the city center. It is the second tallest wooden structure church in the world and the only surviving ground building after the 1911 Almaty earthquake. After the renovation of the interior a few years ago, visitors can now enter and visit the church. It is also recommended to visit the 28 Panfilov Heroes Memorial in the park.⛪️ 2️⃣Green Bazzar is a traditional market where local residents purchase food and daily necessities. Various freshly squeezed fruit juices can be tasted in the market. 🍇 3️⃣️Central Mosque is a religious place where people worship, and female visitors are required to wear headscarves. 🕌️ 4️⃣️Albert Street is a typical shopping street with music performances and shops selling oil paintings on the side of the street. It's a great place to stroll around and have a cup of coffee in your leisure time. 🏞️ 5️⃣️Take the cable car from the foot of Kok Tobe Park to see the panoramic view of Almaty and the surrounding snow-capped mountains. It is also a great place to watch the sunset, and it is recommended to arrive around 4pm. If the cable car is not in operation, you can purchase a bus ticket at the front desk to go up the mountain. 🌄 6️⃣️The Kazakhstan Hotel is located near the entrance of Kok Tobe and has always been the most luxurious hotel in Kazakhstan during the Soviet era. The exterior design is very unique, and if you like the Soviet architectural style, you can take a walk and enjoy it. 🏨 On the second day, you can visit the following attractions 🚶🏻 1️⃣The National Museum of China mainly displays the ancient and modern history of China, with not many cultural relics but worth spending one or two hours to understand the culture of China. 🏛️ 2️⃣️Independence Square, a memorial square built after the independence in 1999, is a ten-minute walk from the museum. 📷 3️⃣️The National Art Museum has unexpectedly diverse collections of paintings, sculptures, and crafts, including a Chinese porcelain exhibition hall. 🖼️ 4️⃣️The National Opera House starts opera or ballet performances at 6pm, with ticket prices under 100 yuan. You can check the performance schedule in advance on gatob.kz. 💃🏻 Additional recommendations are as follows 📝 1️⃣Almaty Metro Station🚇 2️⃣️Various buildings left over from the Soviet era 🏠 3️⃣️National Circus🎪 4️⃣️Qiongubulake Ski Resort in the suburbs 🎿 5️⃣️Outside the city, the great Almaty Lake 🌊

Kazakhstan-Central Asia mysterious journey - partner recruitment in progress···

Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country in the world, bordering Xinjiang, China. It has always been a familiar and unfamiliar presence in my heart. My understanding of it is not only based on the Central Asian history I read in books, and that it is one of the member states of the former Soviet Union, but also that some of its land used to belong to the historical territory of China. As the largest member state of the former Soviet Union, here you can not only see modern skyscrapers and experience the ethnic customs of Central Asia, but also see many marks left by the Soviet Union. Travel guide 1 Kazakhstan offers Chinese citizens visa-free entry for 14 days in Asia. 2 Phone cards can be purchased at Almaty Airport, Almaty International Airport. 3 Kazakhstan's overall consumption is not high, and the consumption in Almaty is equivalent to that of second-tier cities in China. The public transportation system in Almaty is relatively developed. There is a subway line that does not go to the airport, but you can take a few stops to experience it. 5 Always use the app to call a taxi. Online payment and cash payment are supported. 6 Hotels can be booked in advance, it is recommended to book in the city center area. 7. Russian and Kazakh are commonly used in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 8. In Kazakhstan, besides tasting the characteristic cuisine of the Kazakh ethnic group, you can also enjoy many authentic Russian and Chinese dishes. Itinerary plan Dayl Urumqi to Yining, Xinjiang - Yining, Ili, Xinjiang, 9:10-14:40, Yining to Horgos, Horgos, Ili. Yining to Khorgos takes 2 hours. Buy tickets at the Dingmen Port Passenger Station for 35 yuan. Day2 Khorgos Free Activities Horgos International Passenger Terminal Day3 You can visit the following attractions, the first four of which are within walking distance. 1 Altyn Emel Cathedral is an Eastern Orthodox church located in Panfilov Park in the city center. 2 Green Bazzar. Greenbrier Valley Airport. 3 Central Mosque is a religious place where people worship, and female visitors are required to wear headscarves. 4 Albert Street 5 Koko Tobi Park. 6 National Museum of China, National Museum of Kazakhstan 7 Independent Square 8 National Opera House, opera or ballet starts at 6pm, tickets are less than 100 yuan, and performance schedules can be checked in advance. Day4 In the early morning, depart for the Qiongbrak Ski Resort in the suburbs and experience the largest ski resort in Central Asia. Ski equipment can be rented. Take a bus in the afternoon. Outside the city lies the beautiful Lake Almaty, the most beautiful lake in the Ili River Valley. Day5 Carpool to the breathtaking Aljin Ayimu'er Desert Park, a stunning desert geological park! Day6 Return trip - Charter to the port - Khorgos - Urumqi

Global Travel | Shymbulak Mountain Travel Notes: Ethnic Customs and the Beauty of Snow Mountains

1️⃣ In the early morning, we drove to Shymbulak Mountain in the suburbs of Almaty for a day of snow mountain travel. The air in early winter was particularly fresh. After arriving at the foot of the snow mountain, we decided to go to the nearby restaurant "Auel" to taste authentic Kazakh ethnic specialties and store energy for the day's activities. The food here is unique in flavor, and the stewed horse meat, lamb pilaf, and thin-skinned buns are especially delicious. The rich aroma of spices and the soft texture are unforgettable. The wooden decoration of the restaurant and the ethnic decorations on the walls also add an exotic touch. 2️⃣ After the meal, we came to Shymbulak Ski Resort. This is one of the most popular ski resorts in Central Asia. Although we have no skiing experience, just watching skiers gallop down the slopes is enough to make people yearn for it. The ski resort is well-equipped and full of tourists, but the whole environment still looks orderly. We boarded the cable car at the ski resort and slowly ascended into the air. When the cable car moved slowly, the surrounding scenery was like a picture unfolding continuously. 3️⃣ After the cable car reached the rest area halfway, we stopped to take a break. Here, there is a small stall offering ethnic costumes for photos. We enthusiastically put on traditional Kazakh robes and headdresses. After dressing up, we took photos in front of the snow mountain background, instantly blending into the local ethnic customs, and the photos were full of strong regional characteristics. The stall owner was also very enthusiastic, not only patiently dressing us in costumes but also telling us many stories about Kazakh traditional culture, which gave us a deeper understanding of the history of this land. 4️⃣ After a day, we felt the perfect combination of the natural beauty and cultural charm of Shymbulak Mountain. From food to ski resorts, from the magnificent scenery on the cable car to the unique experience of wearing ethnic costumes, this day's journey is unforgettable and makes us cherish the diverse charm of this land even more.

Winter in Kazakhstan: The Itinerary

Do you want to have an off-the-beaten trip for enjoying winter vacations? Kazakhstan is the perfect answer! Kazakhstan is located in Central Asia Region, bordering with Russia in North. It’s the 9th largest country in the world, but it’s also one of the world’s most sparsed country with its total population of 19 million people. Because of this, Kazakhstan’s nature is still untouched, and bot so many people yet to come to this destination. If you want to come here, I recommend you at least have 5 days to explore Kazakhstan, ranging from nature, culture, or even history. Here is my recommended itinerary Day 1: You will arrive in Almaty by night. And if you arrive in Almaty before sunset, you could see this beautiful mountain range from above! So, have a great rest because tomorrow, the snow capped mountain is waiting for you! Day 2: Head to Shymbulak Mountain Resort. You could use online taxi or bus to go to this place. Enjoy the beautiful snow capped mountains and don’t forget to play skis if you like! Day 3: Take A Day Tour to Kolsai Lake, Kaindy Lake, along with Charyn Canyon. This trio will give you a sense on how beautiful and diverse Kazakhstan’s nature truly is! Day 4: Explore the city. Almaty is a small city, but there are several landmarks that you could visit. Take a walk at Zhibek Zholy and see how the locals activity look like. Then, Head to Zenkov Cathedral to see the Russian-style Church along with chilling in the garden. Lastly, don’t forget to try the Soviet-style Almaty Metro. Central Asia was also a part of the famous silk road, so the culinary scene is so diverse! You could try Plov, Shashlik, Lagman, or if you like to try something exotic, try a horse meat! I’m not joking, the Soviet Metro is not just a regular public transport, it’s also an art! I recommend you going to Zhibek Zholy and Baikonur Station! Day 5: It’s your last day in Kazakhstan, don’t forget to buy souvenirs for you, friends, and families! That’s all from me, hope you enjoy it! #kazakhstan #centralasia

Top of the view at mountain in the symbulark, khazastan during summer season.

Powder Paradise: Shymbulak, a Kazakhstani Ski Dream

#grouptravel I discovered a skiing paradise in the heart of Central Asia - Shymbulak! Nestled in the majestic Tian Shan mountains, this resort boasts an expansive terrain of pristine powdery slopes, diverse trails for all levels, and awe-inspiring views. Modern lifts, cozy cabins, and warm hospitality from the staff made my experience truly exceptional. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned skier, Shymbulak has something for everyone. The stunning scenery, crisp mountain air, and welcoming atmosphere made my skiing adventure in Kazakhstan an unforgettable experience. If you're a ski enthusiast, add Shymbulak to your bucket list - you won't be disappointed!

#Travel #beauty

Shymbulak Ski Experience

It takes only 30 minutes from Almaty city center to reach the ski resort, Shymbulak Ski Resort, which is very convenient and not crowded. I highly recommend everyone to go. Here is my experience After arriving at the ski resort, the first thing to do is to go to the ticket office to buy tickets, including snow field tickets and cable car tickets. If you are a beginner and want to find a coach, it is best to book in advance, because there are fewer coaches and more people, and there may not be enough coaches, so you may have to queue up; after buying the tickets, you can go to the snow field to rent ski equipment, but it is a bit more expensive than the city's snow equipment shop, but it is not as exaggerated as in China, but overall it is very convenient. After buying the tickets at the ticket office, you can go to the beginner's field - children's field from the back door; the beginner's field, the slope is very, very gentle, and the coach even disdains to take you to this field for practice; after the beginner's field, the quasi-intermediate field, the slope is slightly steep, it is best not to go directly without a coach for beginners, it is easy to hit confidence. Note that there is another place for ski enthusiasts to go up the mountain, near the beginner's trail, no need to squeeze the cable car with others.

Chimbulak Ski Resort | Benefits of Skiing in Almaty

| Benefits of Skiing in Almaty. The Chimbulak Ski Resort, located a few kilometers from Almaty city, is a place worth visiting. You can spend most of the day playing there, with no admission fee 😁🚌Bus No. 12 can reach there, the penultimate stop Medeu cableway is the cable car station, the terminal Medeu Sports Complex is the mountain entrance on foot, the interval between the two stations is about ten minutes walk🚶 ⚠The unified bus fare in Almaty is 200 Tenge, get on the bus from the front door, give the driver and get a paper ticket, you can get change, it is best to prepare change in advance🪙 ⚠In winter, the ground is covered with snow and ice, which is quite slippery. It is recommended to choose to climb the mountain on foot in other seasons🥾 🚡The cable car has several sections, and the fare is also very complicated. The round trip for the whole journey on weekdays is 5000 Tenge, holidays 6000 Tenge, 11-23 years old on weekdays 3000 Tenge, no discount on holidays, and there are various combinations of only the first half or only the second half The cable car time is very long, the whole journey takes more than an hour, the scenery along the way is very beautiful, worth the fare. There are some restaurants and coffee shops at the place where the cable car is changed midway☕.💡When the cable car is not busy, it will not require full people, two or even one person can have a car🚡 ❗Please keep the cable car ticket, both up and down are scanned to enter❗