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Kazakhstan's natural splendour, from mountains to salt pans, magnificent lakes, gorges, and dense forests, makes it a worthwhile tourism destination. Kazakhstan is also well-known for its snowy peaks, and is considered to be a great alternative to the Swiss Alps, especially when it comes to winter sports like skiing. In exciting news, the Kazakh authorities have granted Indian passport holders visa-free travel to Kazakhstan, allowing for a continuous stay of up to 14 days. If you are a winter sports enthusiast, the country has several excellent ski resorts. There are excellent stay options, and various bars and restaurants around where you may enjoy an après ski experience with a post-ski drink and delicious meal.
Shymbulak, Central Asia's most modern ski resort, features slopes for skiers of all levels. It is located in the Almaty region and is also known as Chimbulak. There are 20 kilometres of slopes for skiing and snowboarding here, as well as 8 lifts to transport people. The winter sports area is situated at an elevation of 2,260 to 3,180 metres above sea level. Almaty is nestled in the beautiful Zailiysky Alatau mountain range, making it a great setting for a variety of outdoor activities. Locals take pride in believing that Almaty is the origin of the apple, which adds a particular touch to the city's appeal.
Located at a short distance from Almaty, Ak-Bulak is known for its steep terrain, with more gullies and trees. On a clear day, the views from the summit are spectacular, with the majestic Peak Talgar rising over the slopes. This place has to rank among Central Asia's finest winter sports getaways, with 1,000m of vertical terrain. The wide piste at the lower endis perfect for beginners.
Tekeli, the gateway of Dzhungarian mountains, is a popular snowboarding, water skiing, skiing, and slopes resort in Kazakhstan.
Tabagan, located in the Talgar area of Almaty region, is known for winter sports and has hosted the Federation of Snowboarding and Extreme Sports (FESES), the seventh Asian Winter Games on freestyle acrobatics, and a Winter Universiade event. The name comes from "toboggan" which means "to descend, to ride down the mountain."
Oi-Qaragai is situated at a relatively low elevation (1,550-1,820m) and offers 11 lifts and 13km of piste, the majority of which are aimed for beginners and intermediates.
Ridder town is slowly becoming a a winter sports hub for the wider region, with some ski resorts as well as backcountry skiing. In March 2013, Ridder hosted the World Ski Orienteering Championships.
The Almaty region is Kazakhstan's most popular ski destination, with several resorts in and around it. If you can arrange transportation and have an adventurous attitude, you can find a few good skiing areas in the Altai and Dzhungarian mountains as well. Kazakhstan's ski season typically begins in late November or early December and lasts until late March. Some ski locations, such as Shymbulak, have significantly longer seasons that can run into April or even May, while a few skiing activities can begin as early as mid-October.
