Medeu & Shymbulaq

These are Almaty’s playgrounds in the foothills of the Zailiysky Alatau, both easily visited on a day trip from the city.

Medeu is a world known scattering of buildings around the huge Medeu ice ring, 1700 meters high about 15 km southeast of central Almaty. Shymbulak at 2300 meters is one of Central Asia’s top skiing centers. Medeu is always several degrees cooler than Almaty, and Shymbulaq cooler again. The Medeu skatingring is made for speed skating, which normally functions from about October to May.