May is an ideal time to visit the Northern Tian Shan Mountains in Kazakhstan, specifically the Trans-Ili Alatau mountain range. Several valleys are rising to high mountain glaciers, surrounded by 4000+ peaks. Our destinations are the Tuyuk-Su valley, the Bogdanovich glacier, and their surroundings. 

Even close to Almaty (the largest city and cultural capital of Kazakhstan), these places are still wild and untouched, and very few groups visit them during the year. In May, we have long daylight, relatively easy access to the valleys, and generally good snow conditions for ski-mountaineering.

And of course, not only superb skiing but also a Kazakh cultural experience - is it the best way to wrap up your ski season?

Logistic

The beginning of our journey is Almaty, the largest city and the former capital of Kazakhstan. There are both direct flights from Europe and connections via major hubs, such as Istanbul.

Arrival, rest time, and a small cultural program. The next day, early in the morning, we leave for the Shymbulak ski resort, which is the largest ski resort in Central Asia. There, we stay either in a comfortable hotel at Shymbulak ski resort or in the comfortable yurts on the Talgar pass at 3200 meters. If we stay in the hotel, we will use ski lifts to get access to the high alpine terrain, but if we stay in the yurts, we will get ski-in/ski-out access to the glaciers. Over the next two days, we will be skitouring and acclimatizing on Bogdanovich glacier and its surroundings.

Then we descend to the central valley and follow it to the foot of the Tuyuk-Su glacier. Our gear and belongings will be transported by a 4WD truck or snowmobile, depending on conditions, while we will hike / ski tour. On the last stretch, we may have to skitour with our backpacks and all the gear to the base camp, for a few hundred vertical meters.

The following 5 days we will spend here, in the tent camp at 3500 meters above sea level. Our peaks and goals will be determined depending on the situation (weather, snow and avalanche conditions) and the participant's wishes. The choice of routes and lines is more than sufficient for the entire period of our camping.

On our last day, Sunday, we’ll ski-tour till mid-day, then ski/hike/ride down to Almaty and spend the evening exploring Almaty.

Bookings

Due to the nature of the program, I run it only for private groups upon request. Contact me for further details. 
PERIOD:
May to early June

Prerequisites:

  • Advanced/expert level of skiing in any snow conditions.
  • Very good to excellent physical shape.
  • Basic ski-mountaineering skills (use of boot crampons and ice axe).

Details

Group size
Depending on your wishes and level, I can run this program for groups of 2 to 4 people. In case of bigger groups, I may assign a local certified guide for co-guiding.

Base camp
If you are experienced in winter camping, then this small expedition does not have anything special for you; it will be a standard camp with personal tents and a separate dining tent. Night temperatures are comfortable (about -5 degrees Celsius), and in the afternoon, there are stable positive temperatures.

If it's your first time at a winter/spring tent camp, I will do my best to make it as positive as possible. I can provide advice on equipment and camping life, and I have 20+ years of personal winter camping experience. I assure you, such a camping is not only easy but a lot of fun!

Meals
During your stay at the resort, we have several restaurants with a variety of cuisines available nearby.

During the tent camp stay, freeze-dried food is the best way to get a varied and nutritious meal. Lightweight, tasty, and easy to cook are the most important advantages. There is a good choice of different dishes on the market, and you can choose whatever suits your wishes and dietary requirements. I have been using this for winter and summer expeditions since 2008 and have never been disappointed. I'll be glad to share my personal experience and suggestions of brands, online shops, etc.

Acclimatization
Taking into account the fact that our touring and skiing will take place at altitudes from 3000 to 4000 meters, all participants will need to acclimate. The first three days of the program will help you get started, but ideally, I recommend pre-acclimatization before the trip, if possible. This will improve your well-being at the altitude and help you reach your goals. All recommendations will be given and discussed with you upon booking.

Gear
In addition to standard equipment, each participant must bring ski mountaineering kit (ice axe, boot crampons, harness, several carabiners and slings) and base camp gear (sleeping mattress and bag). 2-person tents will be provided. Full list will be sent and discussed with you upon booking.

Visas
Kazakhstan offers a visa-free policy for most nationalities, including EU countries, the USA, Canada, and many other countries. See here for the full list of countries included in this visa-free policy.

INQUIRIES & BOOKINGS

Thanks to my colleague Konstantin Bartosh for the photos