Central Asia’s 2026 / 2027 ski season is entering its most ambitious phase yet, with new lifts, larger resort plans, and simpler visa rules arriving across the region.
If you have been waiting for a reason to ski in Central Asia, this is the year to pay attention. The region is not just adding a few runs. It is building connected ski areas, modern gondolas, and easier access for visitors from the U.S., Europe, and beyond. The 2026 / 2027 season offers the first look at that change.
The sequence matters. Visa changes come first, then construction, then lift openings, then the longer promise of connected domains. For you, that means the 2026 / 2027 season is less about perfected resorts and more about early access.
2026 brings easier visas, construction and first openings
The year starts with simpler paperwork. Uzbekistan introduced 30-day visa-free entry for U.S. citizens on January 1, 2026, a major simplification for American skiers. Kazakhstan already offers 30-day visa-free access for EU, U.S., UK, Canadian, Australian, and many other nationalities, while Kyrgyzstan offers 60-day visa-free entry for most Western tourists.
Together, these rules make a multi-country ski trip more realistic. You can combine Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan with less friction, especially if you are traveling from North America or Europe.
Kazakhstan is Expanding it’s Ski Resorts
Construction follows quickly. In May 2026, work began on the first of seven new cable cars at Shymbulak.
Shymbulak is expanding from 6,000 to 30,000 daily visitors, a fivefold capacity increase. The plan adds 151 km of slopes and 30 new cable cars, merging Shymbulak with Oi-Qaragai into a single network.
By July 2026, Kazakhstan’s mega-resort push moves ahead. Almaty SuperSki began construction in July 2026, connecting Shymbulak, Oi-Qaragai, and the new Kok-Zhailau/Kumbel area into one 200+ km domain. POMA is building 11 cable cars for the new Kok-Zhailau sector, and Foster + Partners is designing yurt-inspired lift stations.
Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and Joining the Party
Uzbekistan also adds hospitality. Hyatt opened its first Uzbekistan mountain property at Beldersay in July 2026. The country’s Amirsoy resort is growing through a €75 million second stage with 16.8 km of slopes, two lifts, one cable car, and new hotels.
Kyrgyzstan’s Ala-Too Resort launches Phase 1 in December 2026 at Jyrgalan, offering 46 km of trails served by six Doppelmayr cable cars. The base sits at 1,727 m, and the top station reaches 2,296 m.
Two lifts are already operational, with four more expected by year-end. The inaugural season offers core ski infrastructure rather than full hospitality, as accommodation is still developing.
Uzbekistan’s Chimgan is also targeting full resort delivery by the end of 2026. The Beldersay-Chimgan-Nanai masterplan will invest up to $500 million to modernize Soviet-era infrastructure. Chimgan is installing an ORIZON 10-passenger gondola, two chairlifts, and automated snowmaking with 80 snow guns and 14 fan guns.
2028 and beyond: larger domains take shape
Almaty SuperSki’s first phase targets December 2028. The full connected domain will have 58 lifts and a unified base terminal at Medeu. Ala-Too’s full project is even longer range: 250 km of trails across three phases through 2038, backed by a €1.2 billion investment. On top of that, Kyrgyzstan is building Baytik resort near Bishkek with 50+ km slopes to be completed between 2028 and 2030 and Uzbekistan is building Zomin Suffa with 20+ km slopes.
That scale turns Central Asia into a serious, more attainable ski trip for many ski travelers.
For a first trip, choose Ala-Too if you want fresh lift-served terrain and can accept limited lodging. Choose Uzbekistan if you want more hotels, a Hyatt mountain property, and Chimgan’s full resort delivery target by the end of 2026. Kazakhstan’s biggest connected domain is a longer-horizon story, with its first phase aimed at December 2028.
The lifts are arriving. The domains are growing. The paperwork just got easier. See you at the slopes!