Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 6 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip worth booking?
Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip is a 90-hour experience in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from $1,500 per person. It scores 66 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 5/5 rating across 6 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 66 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (6)
- Duration
- 90 hours
- From
- $1,500 per person
You will feel the spiritual power of ancient Nomads when get to the Shymbulak Yurt Backcountry Camp located an altitude of 3163 meters and surrounded by the impressive glaciers with panoramic view to Almaty city. It’s a unique chance to test yourself in the backcountry with altitudes reaching 4000 meters and leave your tracks on the wild slopes of Tien Shan mountains. National dishes and beverages, stunning sunsets and sunrises, apre-ski above the clouds, nights under the starry sky, ski-touring and split-boarding and acquaintance with local culture will make this experience impressive and unforgettable. This trip is suitable for for fit skiers and snowboarders with off-piste experience and confident riding on piste.
What you get
About this experience
You will feel the spiritual power of ancient Nomads when get to the Shymbulak Yurt Backcountry Camp located an altitude of 3163 meters and surrounded by the impressive glaciers with panoramic view to Almaty city. It’s a unique chance to test yourself in the backcountry with altitudes reaching 4000 meters and leave your tracks on the wild slopes of Tien Shan mountains. National dishes and beverages, stunning sunsets and sunrises, apre-ski above the clouds, nights under the starry sky, ski-touring and split-boarding and acquaintance with local culture will make this experience impressive and unforgettable. This trip is suitable for for fit skiers and snowboarders with off-piste experience and confident riding on piste.
What's included
Included
- Drinking water
- Private transportation
- 3 nights in Yurta Shymbulak Base Camp & Restaurant
- Dinner
- Skiing guide services
- All Fees and Taxes
- Breakfast
- Daily ski-passes at Shymbulak for 4 days
Not included
- Alcoholic beverages
- Snacks
- Insurance policy
- Lunch
- Rental of avalanche safety and ski-touring gear
What you'll see and do
Medeu Skating Rink and Ski resort
Medeo Gorge (1690 meters above sea level) well known due to the highest mountain skating rink in the world and the dam, protecting the city from the mudflows.
Pass by without stopping
Mountain resort “Shymbulak” is located in famous Small Almaty gorge of Trans-Ili Alatau mountains in Kok Ashyk valley at an altitude of 2260 meters above sea level, 30 minutes drive from center of Almaty. The resort was founded in 1954. Since mid-1950s, Shymbulak served as training base for Soviet skiers, the USSR and Kazakhstan championships were held on its slopes. Every year in the beginning of February skiers competed for “Alexandra Artemenko Prize”, 11-time champion of the USSR, master of sports, participant of the Olympic Games 1956.
720 minutes here · Admission included
Ascent to the Talgar pass (altitude 3163 meters) by cable car. Yurt Lodge check-in. There is a traditional yurt, so the sleeping places will be arranged on the floor in the sleeping bags. Pillows and mats will be provided. The whole yurt and the floor are heated. It has electricity and outlets. Meals are served in seperate Yurt-Restaurant located nearby. There is a seperate bathroom near the Yurt-Restaurant with hot tab water and toilet seat. There is no shower or sauna, only wet wipes and snow (but for those who will be suffering too much it will possible to boil the water and wash from the bucket). Hiking to the Baiseitova peak (3450 meters) for acclimatization. Coming back to the Yurt. Short avalanche safety training. Dinner in the Yurt-Restaurant, rest.
720 minutes here · Admission included
Breakfast in the Yurt-Restaurant. Ski-touring or split boarding in the area close to the Shymbulak resort with elements of sidecountry. Depending on snow, weather conditions and skill level of the participants we will choose the most suitable slopes. There are few interesting spots nearby, such as: Shkol’nik, Edelweiss, Chkalov, Abay peaks. Elevation range: 3200-3800 meters. Coming back to the Yurt and rest. Dinner in the Yurt-Restaurant in traditional style. Overnight in the sleeping Yurt.
720 minutes here · Admission included
Breakfast at 05:00. Ski-touring or split-boarding in the area of Bogdanovich glacier to the Karlytau peak. Elevation range: 3200-4100 meters. Duration: 6-8 hours. Coming back to the Yurt. Dinner in Kazakh national style. Overnight in the yurt.
720 minutes here · Admission included
Breakfast at 06:00. Ski-touring or split-boarding in the surroundings of Bogdanovich glacier to Fizkul’turnik, Til' or Pioneer glaciers. Elevation range: 3200-4000 meters. Duration: 4-6 hours. Coming back to the Yurt. Packing and check-out. Descent to the Medeu. Transfer to the hotel in Almaty.
720 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Almaty
Meeting point at the parking lot of "Ritz-Palace" shopping center near the main entrance. Address: Samal-3 micro-district, building 1. The guide will be standing with nameplate "Powder Nomads".
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 15 minutes before departure.
Ends at
Meeting point at the parking lot of "Ritz-Palace" shopping center near the main entrance. Address: Samal-3 micro-district, building 1. The guide will be standing with nameplate "Powder Nomads".
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- ru, en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 8 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Powder Nomads Freeride and Backcountry Trips in Kazakhstan
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 6 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
4 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
3 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Organization
3 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Knowledge and storytelling
2 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
6 verified traveler reviews for Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Total reset
Unforgettable overnight ski touring experience. Stunning terrain, peaceful routes, and the reward of staying overnight in a cosy yurt after a full day in the mountains — remote, quiet, and incredibly grounding. Everything was well organized and felt natural, from the touring to the skiing. Sasha was a calm, knowledgeable guide who made the whole experience feel safe and enjoyable. A true backcountry adventure and a complete reset. Highly recommend.
Response from the operator: Dear Aneesha, Thank you so much for your kind words! We are thrilled that you enjoyed the peace and grounding energy of our yurt camp. There is something truly special about the silence of the mountains after a long day of touring, and we’re glad you felt that 'complete reset.' Sasha is a vital part of our team, and his calm expertise is exactly what makes these backcountry adventures so rewarding. We’ll be sure to share your feedback with him, he’ll be happy to know you felt safe and inspired throughout the journey. Thank you for choosing to explore the wild with Powder Nomads. We hope to see you back in the skin track again soon! Stay wild, Darya & the Powder Nomads Team
via Tripadvisor
Once-in-a-Lifetime Ski Touring Adventure with Powder Nomads
We had an unforgettable experience with Powder Nomads on our ski touring trip to Kazakhstan. From the moment we arrived, Sasha and Igor went above and beyond to make sure everything ran smoothly—even when the airline lost our luggage! They reorganized the entire plan with incredible flexibility and professionalism, ensuring we could still enjoy every part of the journey. We started in Shymbulak, surrounded by breathtaking alpine terrain, and then moved on to the wild beauty of Katon Karagay, where the snow, scenery, and solitude were just magical. Throughout the trip, Sasha and Igor were not only expert guides, but also kind, attentive, and genuinely passionate about the mountains and the experience they were creating for us. They always made us feel safe and supported, while also sharing local culture, insights, and a lot of good laughs. If you're looking for a true adventure in untouched nature, guided by people who care deeply about what they do, Powder Nomads is the way to go. We came home with not just incredible memories, but a deep connection to a part of the world we never imagined we'd fall in love with. Thank you, Powder Nomads—you made this trip one of the best of our lives.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for sharing this all with us! We high appreciate it and it was such a luck to meet you and enjoy every wonderful moment of this beautiful and wild backcountry adventure together! Sasha and Igor are missing you and wish all the best!!!
via Tripadvisor
Altay and Tien San skin touring
Most amazing skiing experience I've ever had. It was a yurt and lodge based ski touring with some ski retrack. Guides were eventually friends and we enjoyed snow in several mountains and spots
Response from the operator: Raul, thank you so much for your review and all the wonderful moments we had together in Kazakhstan! We are missing you and looking forward of meeting again! All best, Darya and Alex
via Tripadvisor
The trip you must do in Almaty
It was amazing experience. We go to exotic and cozy yurt in middle of mountain and enjoyed backcountry skiing. The snow at high portion of mountain was very soft and it's enough reward for uphill. Also, Alex has very good attitude and instruct skill of powder skiing for my husband.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful mountain backcountry adventures with us! Keep practicing freeride and hope to see you again anywhere!
via Tripadvisor
Almaty circuit trek with Alex
Got to know Alex through recommendation of a friend who had an epic hike in Almaty, before I arrive Alex already helping me with my invitation letter for visa and picked me up from airport to have the best experience from the very beginning, really appreciated the warm hospitality through out the whole journey. Our hike planed for 3 days 2 night camping, due to the weather and our good luck 😎we spent 4 days 3 nights in a luxurious emergency hut, the experience and beauty of the trip blow me away, the first day we started at 3200M, walking through gorges, rivers, tree line, descend 1000M was quite a good challenge for me, the place we stayed overnight was like a dreamland, stars in the night sky was beautiful...the 2nd day normally is the tough elevation day but it was raining heavily, and Alex made the wise decision to reach the second hut stay over, it was best for me I realized even more on the next day, while gaining elevation on different terrain. hike with the experienced professional mountaineer Alex, you are in a good hand,he always find great spot to stop for tea/snack with fantastic view, cooking is one of my favorite relaxing time, Alex is good chief, we shared stories and laughters, inspired by his passion and love towards mountain and Ski... 3rd day we reached 3945M, surround with Snow, Glacier, Moraine lake, gorge, high peaks... Was brethtaken and not sure if there is word can discribe the magic moment, I will try😂 freedom, calm, healing, leveraged spirit&energy, soul cleansing,fullfiled with joy and greatfulness... 4th day we decend to big almaty lake... Honestly the trip was beyond my expectation, thank you very much Alex for your professionalism, very well organized and detail-oriented, knowledge/story sharing, positive energy, it was really a VIP private tour 😂will definitely come back one day to try ski with you 😊
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 90 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $1,500 to $2,300
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 2
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by Powder Nomads Freeride and Backcountry Trips in Kazakhstan, who run 3 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 59.4.
See everything Powder Nomads Freeride and Backcountry Trips in Kazakhstan runsWhy this scores 66
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Almaty.
How much does Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip cost?
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Prices start at $1,500 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Almaty usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip take?
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Plan for about 90 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Almaty is not rushed.
Is Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 66 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 6 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Almaty, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 90-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip?
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Around 2 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Almaty can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Almaty and add a light layer if any part of the 90-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Almaty within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Almaty?
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On Outty we rank every Almaty experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon Small Group Tour, Kolsai Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyons 2-day tour, Kolsai, Kaindy lakes & Charyn canyon with Yurt stay and Campfire. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Almaty?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Almaty?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip?
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Included: Drinking water; Private transportation; 3 nights in Yurta Shymbulak Base Camp & Restaurant; Dinner; and Skiing guide services. Not included: Alcoholic beverages; Snacks; Insurance policy; and Lunch. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point instead from 4 listed pickup locations in and around Almaty. Be ready about 15 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip offered in?
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It is offered in Russian and English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Not recommended for pregnant travelers. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Yurt Based Shymbulak 4-day ski-touring and split-boarding trip?
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Across 6 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, photo opportunities, organization. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
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