Almaty SuperSki’s construction update brings a revised Kok-Zhailau plan, public access, and a cautious 2028 target
As of August 2026, Almaty SuperSki is moving through public hearings and concept refinement for a new all-season mountain resort on the Kok-Zhailau plateau near Almaty, Kazakhstan. The updated plan is being presented by Kazakh Tourism Development Ltd. CEO Yerzhan Yerkinbayev to scientists, ecologists, athletes, and city residents. The question is whether this version can win trust after years of debate.
The 2026 concept is a major revision from the controversial 2018 proposal. It eliminates private chalets, removes perimeter fences, and drops large-scale cottage development in favor of open-access public infrastructure. For skiers and summer visitors, the resort is designed as a year-round destination, with skiing and snowboarding in winter, plus hiking trails, eco-tourism programs, and active outdoor recreation in summer.
Accessibility is now central. The developer signed a five-year memorandum with the Almaty City Society of People with Disabilities to meet international standards, including adaptive sports programs, accessible hotels, restaurants, and navigation routes.
Environment, pets, endorsements, and the 2028 question
Environmental claims remain the hardest part. Field studies found six red-listed plant species on the territory, but researchers from KazNU al-Farabi confirm they lie outside the main construction zone. Tree removal is planned only along roads, while buffer zones protect rare plants. Water impact is projected at no more than 14% of the Kazachka River’s natural flow, which developers say poses no risk to Almaty’s drinking water supply.
The project is also promoted as Kazakhstan’s first pet-friendly mountain resort, with dedicated pet walking trails, lift carriers for animals, and zones separated from wildlife habitats to protect local fauna. Olympian Elena Khrustaleva and renowned alpinist Maksut Zhumayev have publicly endorsed the revised plan. Zhumayev said public pressure in 2018 forced developers to make the project more ecological, better, and more humane.
The resort is reportedly targeting a 2028 opening, though this timeline has not been independently confirmed by the sources reviewed. This construction update shows a project still being shaped, not rushed. For now, the real milestone is whether the new concept can hold up under public scrutiny.