medeu skating rink and ski resort

The resort itself is not so big but the runs are long enough for most intermediate skiers. I went in March so the snow probably wasn't at its best but it's a fairly modern installation so there are snow cannons to top up the pistes. The runs were long, wide and well groomed so perfect for me, no surprises, and go up pretty high too, 3200 metres at the top. Probably the best thing about the resort is the complete and utter lack of queues, even at the weekend, so you can ski straight into the chair/gondola lift and up again. You can get there by taxi from the centre or just take the bus like everyone else, The number 12 runs up Dostyk Street, costs 80 tenge and takes about 30 minutes. Get on the bus and put your 100 tenge coin in the machine and it'll give you change. The bus goes up to the skating rink but the gondola lift is just before that, you can't miss it.You buy your ski pass and gondola pass in the booths and then take the gondola, 15 minutes, up to the ski resort. Once in the resort ski hire is left and downstairs in a spacious and well heated hall. You can also rent lockers for the day or for longer so no need to take skis back down if you have them with you. You need to leave your passport or ID at the ski hire as security. Skis were pretty decent.Prices compare with some places in Europe. I got a one day pass but you can get a 4 hour, 2 day, a week or a season. Prices as follow in tenge:Day pass with gondola: 80004 hour pass: 7000Plastic Pass card (reusable): 1500Complete Ski Hire: 5000Locker: 500 (2000 deposit)Be warned that some of the cafes in the resort are pretty expensive so it might be worth taking sandwiches and a flask of coffee if you want to cut costs.

Whether you ski or not, go to the Medeu Skating Rink. In a fantastic location high in the mountains it is easily accessible by bus from the City, no need to get a taxi; do what the locals do. At Medeu you can skate, go for a Cable Car ride or hike in the mountains. The scenery is stunning.

We went up there with a taxi (30 minutes, 3'500 KZT from downtown). The ice rink itself is huge and modern, and has nice views of the mountains (if there are no clouds). We hiked along the ice rink to the stairs going up the hill which offer nice views. Yet, we turned then back and took the cable car up to the ski resort, which was free of clouds and sunny. We liked this trip a lot, the resort is modern, there are lots of restaurants with outdoor seating to choose from, and if you want to ski, also a small number of long slopes.

Skate rink is nice one...Large but not recommended on Sunday`s due to overcrowd.Ski resort have not been visited..

- too crowded, far from the city center,+ cheap, beautiful view, clean, safe, some snakes and coffee are accessible

Very beautiful place! Not just the ring , but also the place around,mountains, nature. Wants to go again.

Its a nice and cold place up in Chimbulak. Good place for skiing and snowboarding. They have a good variety of restaurants and overall the facilities are quite good taking into consideration that many areas in Almaty still need development. Its easily accessible by cars and public transport. Good place to go with friends and family.

I went skiing at night, and found that the lighting was very poor, a lot of drunk people on the slope. Noting stops you going off piste on to the rocks. May be fun if you like extreme!

Slopes were not opened, but restaurants we in good condition! Clean blue sky, even it was dark day in Almaty.

Outdoor cafes (overpriced and not necessarily of high quality) with a good view of skaters. Weather permitting, enjoy the sun. Its only 20 minutes drive from Almaty.

Medey ice rink is impressive and the location is incredible, but Medey is also the starting point for the cable car going to Shymbulak, the ski resort. Cable car goes up in 20mins then hou have a a small but very well organized ski resort, a few restaurants at the bottom of the slopes, very good Irish coffee ;) . Unfortunately not yet enough snow to ski, but I would love to come back and try out the slopes ! The way back in the cable car as sunset is great, overlooking the fully lit Ice rink is a very nice site, pitty that the window opens on the weong side of the cable car, it makes taking pictures of the rink a little more challenging :)

I was on this rink in the early evening. Facilities are adequate. I just found toilets a little dirty.The place is very busy. Skaters from all over the world come here. Cable car-ing gives that other-world feeling. The view is breathtaking. For skaters this is a paradise, a must see in Kazakhstan.

beautiful area with clean air just outside Alma Ata, from the ice rink you can take the cable car up to the ski resort. both offer place to eat and to drink with spectacular views also the clean mountain air and the snowy peaks are wonderful.

Fun. Big rink. No barriers so be careful. A bit expensive but the bus there is very cheap and it's a beautiful place so well worth a visit. Walk or chairlift to chimbulak from medeu highly recommended.

We went to the very top of the mountain and it was beautiful. Mountains, sunny weather, nice restaurants on the 2nd stop. Photo with a huge eagle, snowballs. Great time! To get to the top you need to make 2 connections. I'd love to come back again!