Ideal tour to cover surroundings of Small Almaty gorge in one single day. Medeo (dam/skating rink) and Shymbulak areas from the bird’s eye view.

Upon reaching the highest point of Shymbulak ski resort by cable car, Big Talgar pass (3200masl), it takes 1-2 hours to get close to the most accessible glacier (Bogdanovich) near Almaty. Wintertime the most popular thing around is Oktyabrskaya cave, beautiful chunk of glacial ice in the middle of the rocks. No descents to the cavern.

After lunch at the Pass’ cafes, it is time for an easy ascent to the Shymbulak peak (3450) to observe the whole panorama.

Fee per person: $200/1 person, $150/2, $130/3, and so on. What’s included?

WARNING: implies fast ascent (car and tram) by more than 2200 meters and may cause mountain sickness. Not recommended for preconditioned people and recently arrived (not yet acclimatized in the area). Though no one ever in our practice got affected a this altitude.