Day hiking to Shymbulak Peak (3450 m)
|
Duration · 1 DAY
|
Season · SUMMER / WINTER
|
Activity · HIKING
|
|
From USD $80
Customer reviews 
|
This full-day hiking tour takes you to Shymbulak Peak (3,450 m), a summit on a mountain ridge in the Northern Tien Shan. Despite reaching the summit, this is a hiking route rather than a technical mountaineering ascent, with no rock climbing required. After a short drive from Almaty to Medeo, we take the cable car through Shymbulak ski resort to Talgar Pass (3,150 m), where the ridge hike begins.
The route offers some of the finest panoramic views in the Almaty mountains, including Talgar Peak (5,017 m), the highest summit of the Trans-Ili Alatau, Bogdanovich Glacier, Komsomol Peak (now Nursultan Peak), the Left Talgar valleys and the city of Almaty far below.
For travel trade partners: this tour can also be integrated into longer, tailor-made Kazakhstan itineraries. Explore our B2B services →
Route overview
|
Almaty – Medeo – Shymbulak – Talgarsky Pass – Shymbulak Peak – Almaty
Difficulty: ♦ ♦ ♦ ◊ ◊
Type: hiking
Group size: min 1 - max 8
|
|
Get inspired
|
- Almaty is surrounded by mountains — if you are an active traveller and hiking enthusiast, don't miss the opportunity to reach a real mountain summit at 3,450 m, surrounded by towering peaks and glaciers descending from their slopes, all in just one day.
- We take care of your safety and smooth logistics: pick you up in Almaty, provide comfortable transportation to Medeo and arrange the cable car ride to Talgar Pass. A professional mountain guide accompanies you throughout the hike, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience. All you need is suitable clothing and footwear for the season and a sense of adventure! Please check our Important notes for summer and winter equipment recommendations.
- Experience the excitement of reaching a mountain summit without ropes or technical climbing. You don't need to be a mountaineer to enjoy this high-altitude adventure! Along the way, you will also discover some of Almaty's best-known mountain attractions: Medeo, Shymbulak ski resort, the scenic gondola ride and Talgar Pass.
- The tour is organized on request and exclusively for you and your group. Your mountain guide accompanies you throughout the hike, adapting the pace to your needs and interests, with particular attention to your safety and comfort.
|
|
What to expect
|
- Seasonal hiking: This tour is available in summer, early autumn and winter (January–February). We do not offer it in spring or late autumn due to unstable snow conditions and seasonal maintenance closures of the cable car, usually in spring and October–November.
- Mountain conditions: Although this is a hiking route rather than a technical climb, reaching Shymbulak Peak requires a good level of fitness. The trail follows a high-altitude mountain ridge, where weather conditions can change rapidly. Summer thunderstorms and even snowfall are possible, while winter brings very low temperatures and deep snow.
- Clothing and equipment: Proper hiking boots and season-appropriate clothing are essential throughout the year, particularly in winter. Please check the detailed summer and winter equipment recommendations in Important notes before your trip.
- Food and drinks: Meals, snacks and beverages are not included. Please bring your own food and sufficient drinking water for the day.
|
Itinerary
· Almaty – Medeo – Shymbulak – Talgarsky Pass – Shymbulak Peak – Almaty ·
In the morning, we leave Almaty and drive to Medeo, where we take the cable car through Shymbulak ski resort to Talgar Pass (3,150 m). This is where our hiking route to Shymbulak Peak (3,450 m) begins.
From the pass, the trail climbs in zigzags along the steeper section of the mountain ridge, with a slope of approximately 30°. The trail is comfortable for hiking, and higher up, the ridge becomes gentler as the route continues towards the summit. Along the way, we encounter some rocky outcrops and large boulders, which can be easily bypassed on the left or right, depending on the conditions. No technical climbing is required.
The ascent takes approximately 2 hours. After enjoying the panoramic views from the summit, we descend along the same route, reaching Talgar Pass in about 1 hour. We then take the cable car back to Medeo and return to Almaty.
The total hiking distance is approximately 4 km, with an elevation gain of 300 m. In winter, the hike may take longer due to snow conditions, although the south-facing slope receives plenty of sunshine and the snow often melts.
Walking · 3–4 hours, ↑↓ 300m (3150m to 3450m), ↔ 4km
Driving · 1.5 hours, ↔ 30km (round trip)
Service and prices
|
Transfers
- private transportation, pick up and drop off in Almaty
- cable car tickets Medeo – Talgarsky Pass
|
|
 Guiding / Safety
- English-speaking guiding throughout the tour
- A comprehensive group first-aid kit is carried on every tour and is always easily accessible — with the guide at all times, whether in the vehicle or in the field
- All tours are continuously monitored by our coordination team. Guides maintain regular mandatory contact with the office, ensuring real-time awareness of the group’s location, progress and overall situation throughout the tour
- Clear communication is a core part of our safety system. For larger groups, radio communication is used between guides, vehicles or sub-groups to ensure smooth coordination at all times
- We use only our own certified technical equipment when applicable for this tour. All gear is regularly inspected, maintained and replaced when necessary to meet safety standards and operational requirements.
|
|
 Prices:
- $80 per person per tour – for groups of 4–8 people
- $105 per person per tour – for groups of 3 people
- $125 per person per tour – for groups of 2 people
- $235 – 1 person (individual service)
|
|
Price does
not include
|
- accommodation (hotel), any entertainment in Almaty before/after a tour
- meals, snacks, water / drinks
- personal traveller’s insurance
- personal expenses like souvenirs, calls etc.
- rent of personal clothes, shoes/boots, hiking gear etc.
- optional activities
- porters for personal belongings and backpack during the tour
|
Important notes
- We are responsible for your safety in the activities described in the tour program. Horseback riding, paragliding or other similar services provided by local residents on the spot are at your discretion and under your responsibility.
- Temperatures in summer in Almaty region depend on altitude, location and current weather conditions. The following figures are for information only:
– mountains, 2700–3600m ASL: +10 to +20°C during the day, 0 to +10°C at night. It can be cooler during rain or snowfall.
Temperatures in winter in Almaty region also depend on altitude, location and current conditions. For information only:
– mountains, 2700–3600m ASL: –10 to –25°C during the day.
- We recommend bringing the following for this trip:
Summer conditions: hiking shoes or light boots, trekking socks, long trekking pants, long-sleeved T-shirt, warm mid-layer (such as fleece), light down jacket, raincoat, hat, gloves, peaked cap, buff, sunglasses, sunscreen, small daypack, trekking poles, water bottle and snacks.
Winter conditions: warm high trekking boots, insulated pants, thermal underwear (top and bottom), warm mid-layer (such as fleece), down jacket, windproof/waterproof jacket, warm hat, gloves, buff, sunglasses, sunscreen, small daypack, trekking poles, small thermos with a hot drink and snacks.
- There may be no cellular connection in certain places along the route.
- This route is available in summer, early autumn and winter (January–February), subject to weather, snow conditions and cable car operations. We do not offer it in spring or late autumn due to unstable snow conditions and seasonal cable car maintenance closures, usually in spring and October–November. Winter hiking requires appropriate warm boots and clothing; please refer to the equipment list above.
|
