Discover one of the world’s most remote skiing destinations on this 8-day ski touring adventure in the Altay Mountains of East Kazakhstan. We’ll venture far away from civilization, but we’re bringing all the essentials: an expert guide, accommodation in comfy yurts with daily banya sessions, all meals and snacks and in-country transfers are taken care of. Gear up and disappear into the dream of every powder hound.
Arrive at Ust-Kamenogorsk Airport (UKK), where we’ll all meet at 2 pm for the group transfer. From there, it’s a 3–3.5-hour journey to the lodge: a bus ride into the mountains, then a 15-minute snowmobile ride to finish. Once we arrive, we settle into the yurts, sit down for a welcome dinner, and warm up in the banya.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Yurt, Altay Mountain Lodge
After breakfast, we head out for a full day of touring. Snowmobiles help us reach the more distant zones when needed. Most of the skiing is around treeline: open lanes through the trees, snow pillows, and lines through the rocks. The runs are 400–900 m (1,312–2,953 ft) long on slopes of 25–40°. We’re back at camp in the afternoon for après soup and snacks, followed by the banya and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Skiing: About 1,000 m (3,281 ft) of climbing and 1,200–1,300 m (3,937–4,265 ft) of descent per day
Accommodation: Yurt, Altay Mountain Lodge
After an early breakfast, we leave the lodge at 8 am and arrive at Ust-Kamenogorsk Airport around noon, in time for afternoon flights.
Meals: Breakfast
Included:
Add-ons (leave a note at checkout if interested):
Not included:
In order to join this Altay ski touring trip, great fitness is required, as well as at least one week of previous ski touring experience. You should be an intermediate skier or snowboarder (or better), comfortable in deep snow.
Expect to skin up about 1,000 m (3,281 ft) a day, six days in a row. Thanks to snowmobile support, you’ll ski down more than you climb, averaging 1,200–1,300 m (3,937–4,265 ft) of descent a day. Your guides adjust each day to the group, so be honest about your level when booking.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Clothing:
Ski gear:
Avalanche gear:
Personal equipment:
Please note that there is no ski-service or rental option in the area (except a limited number of ski touring skis). Make sure you bring your equipment with you in good condition. Service your skis or board before arrival and bring pocket waxes.
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Yes, your guides have a limited number of powder touring skis (with skins and poles) and avalanche safety kits (transceiver, shovel, and probe) for rent. Since supplies are limited, leave us a note at checkout if you’d like to rent, and your guides will confirm. Touring boots aren’t available to rent, so you’ll need to bring your own.
There’s no ski service or hot waxing at the lodge, so service your gear before the trip and pack pocket wax and a repair kit.
Group sizes and pricing
A guided Altay ski touring adventure can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your Altay ski touring trip is Ust-Kamenogorsk (Oskemen), in East Kazakhstan. To get there, most people fly into Almaty or Astana, then take a domestic flight to Ust-Kamenogorsk Airport (UKK). Your guides recommend an early-afternoon arrival.
You will meet your guide at 2 pm at Ust-Kamenogorsk Airport for the group transfer. If your flight lands after 3 pm, you’ll need a private transfer (latest pickup is 5 pm). On departure day, the group leaves the lodge at 8 am and arrives at the airport around noon. If your flight leaves before 1 pm, you’ll need a private transfer and a night in Ust-Kamenogorsk.
Covering all your bases with insurance is mandatory. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.