Lodge based hiking tour: Shymbulak peak & Touyuk-Su glacier
|
Duration · 2 DAYS
|
Season · SUMMER / WINTER
|
Activity · HIKING
|
|
From USD $225
Customer reviews 
|
Intensive 2-day hiking itienary, which includes an ascent to the Shymbulak trekking peak 3450m, hiking to the Tuyuk-Su glacier and an overnight stay in our alpine cabin at an altitude of 2600 meters. The best views of the snow-capped mountains and glaciers of the Northern Tien Shan await you, an ascent on the famous gondola road through Shymbulak to the Talgarsky Pass. You will see the oldest weather station Mynzhylki and the glaciological station T1 - an island of Soviet scientific heritage. And you will spend the night in our cozy mountain hut, from the window of which you can watch the sun rise over the mountain peaks while drinking your morning coffee..
Route overview
|
Almaty - Medeo - Talgarsky Pass - Shymbulak peak - Trekking Club cabin - Touyuk-Su glacier - Almaty
Difficulty: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ◊
Type: hiking
Group size: min 1 - max 4
|
|
Get insipired
|
- The best hiking routes near Almaty, combined into one program. Reach the top of Shymbulak Peak to see the highest point of the ridge - Talgar Peak 5017 meters. And look at the largest glacier in the area - Touyuk-Su.
- Besides great hikes, there are additional bonuses: a ride on the famous gondola road from Medeo through the Shymbulak resort to the Talgar Pass, a visit to the glaciological station and the oldest weather station in Kazakhstan.
- Unforgettable night at 2600m at a cozy Trekking Club alpine lodge.
- Full service and smooth logistics: we take care of transfers, tickets, meals, accommodation and safe guiding - for your best high altitude hiking experience.
- The tour is organized on request and only for you. The guide accompanying you throughout the tour will focus on your needs, interests and safety. You can fully enjoy personalized service and comfort.
|
|
What to expect
|
- The tour is available in summer / early autumn and winter (but consider winter high altitude conditions - you will need appropriate warm boots and clothes). In spring and late autumn the areas above 2500m become dangerous (high avalanche danger).
- It is a hiking tour and you must be ready for a challenge at heights of 3500 meters: long walking up and down, snow on the trail. Even in summer it may start snowing suddenly. In winter it is all covered by the deep snow and really cold.
- Make sure you have appropriate hiking clothes, boots and gear for this tour. The list is different for summer and winter seasons. It is below in the Important notes section.
- If the guide notices in the morning, when meet you at a hotel, that your clothes and shoes are inappropriate for current conditions in the mountains, he/she may refuse taking care of your safety.
- Alpine cabin at an altitude of 2600 meters above sea level is not a guest house or a hotel. This is a mountain shelter (although cozy, clean and comfortable) owned by our company and used for our customers only. Please find more info about conditions and facilities below.
|
Itinerary
Day 1· Almaty - Medeo - Shymbulak - Talgarsky Pass - Shymbulak peak 3450m - Trekking Club cabin ·
We pick you up in the morning in Almaty and drive up to the Medeo skating rink. Here we take a cable car to Talgarsky pass via Shymbulak ski resort. At the pass, at a height of 3200 meters above sea level, the pedestrian part starts.
The trail to Shymbulak peak (3450m) starts at the pass and follows the mountain ridge to the very top. There are no technical difficulties on the route, it does not require any special skills or usage of climbing equipment. In the summer, the trail is quite comfortable and safe, logically bypasses rocky areas. In winter, the trail is covered with snow, but even at this time it is quite safe - crampons are not required, but if you like walking with snow spikes, you can take them with you.
The ascent to the top takes from 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on the season and trail conditions/walking rate. In a good weather the lunch can be taken on the top, surrounded by incredible panoramas. From Shymbulak peak, not only the best view of the snow-capped peaks of the Northern Tien Shan, headed by the highest point of the ridge - Talgar Peak, opens up. But the best panorama of Almaty: the city looks like spread out at the foot, and in the distance to the north in clear weather you can even see the blue strip of the Ili River and the large Kapchagai reservoir.
The descent from the summit goes along the same way/ridge - to the pass. From the pass we take the cable car down to Shymbulak ski resort.
From Shymbulak we walk up for another 45 minutes to the Trekking Club alpine cabin, located at 2600 meters. Here at a cabin we accommodate, take dinner and stay overnight.
Meals · lunch, dinner
Accommodation · Trekking Club alpine cabin
Walking · 4-5 hours, ↔ 5.5km, ↑↓ 850m
Driving · 1,5 hours
Day 2· Touyuk-Su Gates - Mynzhylki - T-1 station - Touyuk-Su glacier - Medeo - Almaty ·
After a breakfast at a cabin, we start hiking up the gorge.
While hiking, we witness dramatic change of geographical zones. At the start point, coniferous forest prevails. But at 2800m you see that trees disappear (upper forest line) and the landscape changes into the zone of alpine meadows, which are perfect in early summer when colorful alpine flowers are blooming. Above 3300m there is already a zone of glaciers - there is almost no vegetation here, only rare specimens are found on southern exposures. Varieties of plants and flowers also change as the altitude rises.
The route all the way follows the main grount track. We will walk through so called "Touyuk-Su gates" - the narrowest place of the gorge with high vertical rocks both sides. Then pass by Mynzhylki dam with oldest kameteostation, locataed at a height of 3000m. Then cross a stream (this is the beginning of the river Small Almaty, which feeds the upper part of the city with pure water), move to the left side of the gorge and follow hiking up to the T1 glaciological station. Behind the station, if walk further along the path, you can find the moraine lake under Molodyozhny peak. The lake is formed by Molodyozhny glacier, "hanging" on the northern slope of the mount. The panoramas are indeed great - even on the way up to the station: stunning view of the circus of the Touyuk-Su glacier, surrounded by peaks over 4000 meters.
We hike back to the cabin, where take lunch and get ready for the descent to the city.
Having packed, we hike down to Shymbulak, from where take a cable car (or eco-taxi) to Medeo. Drive to Almaty
Meals · breakfast, lunch
Walking · 5-6 hours, ↔ 16km, ↑↓ 1300m (2200m to 3500m)
Driving · 1,5 hours
Service and prices
|
Transfers
- transfers according to the itinerary, pick up and drop off in Almaty
- cable car tickects
|
|
Accommodation
- accommodation at a Trekking Club alpine cabin in Touyuk-Su, 1 night
|
|
Meals
- 2 lunches, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast
|
|
 Guiding
- English-speaking guiding throughout the tour
|
|
 Prices:
- $225 per person per tour - if there are 4 people in group
- $250 per person per tour - if there are 3 people in group
- $320 per person per tour - if there are 2 people in group
- $530 - 1 person (individual service)
|
|
Price does
not include
|
- accommodation (hotel), meals and any entertainment in Almaty before/after a tour
- water: please take your own bottle or flask with water, you will be able to refill it
- personal traveller’s insurance
- personal expenses like souvenirs, calls etc.
- rent of personal clothes, shoes/boots, hiking gear etc.
- porters for personal belongings, backpacks during the tour
- menu does not include water, soft and alcohol drinks, snacks, beverages
- optional activities
|
Important notes
- We are responsible for your safety in the activities described in the tour program. Horseback riding, paragliding, ATV or snowmobile rides or other similar services provided by local residents on the spot - at your discretion and under your responsibility.
- We do not provide water for a tour. Please take a bottle or a flask with water on the first day morning with you. You will be able to refill it during a tour in clear sources.
- Let us know in advance if you have any specific food requirement (like vegetarian menu or food allergies)
- There is no way to deliver your luggage from the tour start point to the cabin, thus ALL your stuff must be packed in one backpack. You will have to carry it all the way on the first day of the tour (to the Shymbulak peak and then to the cabin). And will have to carry it down from the cabin on the second day. DO NOT take excessive gear and clothes, otherwise your backpack will become too heavy. Take ONLY necessary things, which you will use on the hikes and at a cabin. The list is below.
- Facilities at an alpine cabin: alpine cabin at an altitude of 2600 meters above sea level is not a guest house or a hotel. This is a mountain shelter (although cozy, clean and comfortable) owned by our company and used for our customers only. It has everything you need for an overnight stay in the mountains. There is a heater inside, a kitchen, 2 rooms with beds, mattresses, sleeping bags, pillows and blankets (one room has 2 beds, the second room has 6 beds). There is also a dining area with a table, chairs, and all the necessary utensils. In the evening, electricity is turned so you can recharge your gadgets. Single accommodation can only be arranged if you purchase an individual tour and we have no other reservations/guests on your dates. There is no shower. The toilet is outside (this is an outdoor toilet without flushing). More info about the cabin is here.
- We recommend having for this trip:
- summer conditions: hiking shoes/light boots, trekking socks, long trekking pants, t-shirt with long sleeves, warm jacket (middle layer like fleece), light down jacket, wind/waterproof jacket or even costume, thermo-underwear for a night, hat, gloves, peaked cap, buff, sunglasses, sun protection lotion, backpack of 30l-40l which will suite all your stuff, trekking poles, water bottle, small personal hygienic set.
- winter conditions: warm high trekking boots, warm high socks, insulated pants, thermo-underwear top and bottom, warm jacket (midle layer like fleece), down jacket, wind/waterproof costume, warm hat, gloves or mittens, buff, sunglasses, sun protection lotion, backpack which will suite all your stuff, trekking poles, small thermos with hot drink, small personal hygienic set.
Sleeping bags, mats are provided at a cabin.
- Temperatures in summer in Almaty region depend on the height above sea level, location and current weather conditions. Below data is for information only:
- mountains, 2700m - 3600m ASL: +10..+20C degrees daytime, 0..+10C in the night. Can be cooler when raining/snowing.
Temperatures in winter in Almaty region depend on the height above sea level, location and current weather conditions. Below data is for information only:
- mountains, 2700m - 3600m ASL: -10..-25C degrees daytime. In the night you stay at a cabin, where there is a heater.
- There can be no cellular connection in certain places (e.g. on a way to the glacier).
- This tour is available in summer / early autumn and winter (but consider winter high altitude conditions - you will need appropriate warm boots and clothes). In spring and late autumn the areas above 2500m become dangerous (high avalanche danger).
|
