Shymbulak Resort Hotel, Almaty

Shymbulak Resort Hotel - A ski resort with balconies offering city and mountain views, a Guinness World Record rope park, and 7 ski lifts

Set in the middle mountains above Almaty, Shymbulak Resort Hotel features rooms with balconies overlooking the city and surrounding foothills. The property includes 7 ski lifts, a 20-kilometer ski slope, and the highest mountain rope park in the world at 3300 meters above sea level. Dining at the on-site Saray-Bar restaurant includes Central Asian, European, and Russian dishes, such as Uzbek pilaf, manti, and shish kebab. Guests can access skiing and snowboarding lessons at the resort's school, staffed by over 80 instructors. A summer terrace with a heated pool and Finnish sauna offers year-round leisure. Public bus №12 runs regularly from Medeu base station, where a gondola connects directly to the resort.

Pros

The property offers direct access to skiing, snowboarding, and the Guinness World Record-certified Rope Park Shymbulak.

Rooms on the first and second floors feature balconies with views of Almaty and the surrounding mountains.

The on-site Saray-Bar restaurant serves signature dishes like barbecue and manti alongside European and Central Asian cuisines.

Ski and snowboard school provides instruction in Kazakh, Russian, and English.

Cons

Some standard rooms lack balconies and face the ski slope instead of mountain or city vistas.

Public transport requires a transfer at Medeu base station.