Kazakhstan’s Mega Ski Resort Ambition | A New Giant in Winter Tourism
Kazakhstan is embarking on a mega ski resort project near Almaty that aims to be the largest in Central Asia and rival the world’s top ski destinations. Dubbed “Almaty Super Ski,” this project will create an immense interconnected ski area by combining existing resorts and building new ones.
The plan envisions between 300 and 700 kilometers of ski trails across the region’s mountains, making it a potential record-setter in the ski world. Set in the breathtaking Ili Alatau range of the Tien Shan, just outside Almaty city, the Super Ski project promises to transform these snowy peaks – renowned for their beauty and powdery snow – into a world-class winter sports paradise.
Officials stress that with Almaty’s unique mountain landscapes and reliable snow, it’s an untapped ski potential that’s too great to ignore.
Integrating Resorts from East to West
At the core of the plan is the integration of major ski resorts Shymbulak and Oi-Qaragai, along with several smaller resorts between them. Currently, Shymbulak is the region’s flagship ski area, but its capacity is limited by the length of its runs.
The Super Ski project will link Shymbulak with Oi-Qaragai (a resort in the Talgar area) via new lifts and trails, effectively creating one vast ski circuit. Skiers will be able to explore multiple resorts on a single pass, seamlessly skiing from one area to another.
This expanded network spans the Almaty mountain cluster from the eastern Turgen/Talgar region to the western Kaskelen area, knitting together three zones (eastern, central, western) into one colossal all-season tourism corridor.
As part of this integration, new ski hubs will be developed in untouched areas like the Kok-Zhailau gorge, bringing previously isolated valleys into the ski domain.
Almaty SuperSki: The Flagship New Resort
A highlight of the project is the creation of a brand-new resort named “Almaty SuperSki.” This flagship resort will span the Kok-Zhailau Gorge and Kumbel Peak, offering a spectacular 65 km of ski slopes on its own. By itself, Almaty SuperSki would already rank among the largest ski areas in Asia.
The terrain is designed to cater to all skill levels – from gentle beginner runs to challenging tracks for experts. This new resort alone is projected to create over 5,000 new jobs in the region, with state-of-the-art facilities including modern lifts, luxury hotels, chalets, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
Visitors can expect world-class amenities and a blend of Kazakh hospitality with international standards, as the development team includes experts from the U.S., France, and Andorra to ensure a truly global-class resort.
The Almaty SuperSki concept, unveiled by ski industry veteran Joan Viladomat of PGI Management, is poised to be the crown jewel of the entire cluster.
Unprecedented Scale and Features
The numbers behind the Almaty Super Ski project are staggering. Key features of this mega-resort cluster include:
- Hundreds of Kilometers of Trails: A total of 300–700 km of ski trails built to international standards, making it one of the longest combined ski networks on the planet. (For comparison, the largest linked ski areas in the Alps offer around 600 km of runs – Almaty’s vision is on that scale or bigger.)
- Dozens of Lifts: Installation of 58 ski lifts (up from just 16 currently in the central zone), including high-speed gondolas and chairlifts to efficiently connect all zones. Visitors will be able to move across the mountains with ease.
- Massive Capacity: Facilities to handle up to 34,000 skiers per day – a 5.6-fold increase from today’s capacity of around 6,000. Slope design and lift infrastructure will minimize wait times even at peak season.
- Year-Round Infrastructure: Although skiing is the centerpiece, the plan is for a full all-season resort. Spring through autumn will offer mountain biking trails, hiking routes, and glamping sites amid alpine meadows. There are even concepts for ethnic-style eco-hotels and scenic cable car rides for non-skiers.
- Modern Services: The cluster will feature new access roads and transport networks into the mountains, ample parking and shuttle systems, ski schools, equipment rentals, medical centers, and other services to support large volumes of tourists. Everything is being planned with international tourism standards in mind – from multilingual signage to reliable high-speed internet on the slopes.
Catering to Every Skier – From Novice to Pro
A major goal of Almaty Super Ski is to welcome skiers of all ages and abilities. In fact, about half of the ski runs are being designed for beginners and easy recreational skiing, making the sport accessible to families and first-timers. A dedicated 35 km of new beginner-friendly tracks is included to help nurture a mass skiing culture in Kazakhstan.
Modern ski resorts are being built to be inclusive for all, meaning children, seniors, and people with disabilities will find appropriate facilities and slopes. At the same time, expert skiers and snowboarders will have their share of thrills – from long cruising pistes to off-piste freeride zones in the high alpine.
By catering to every skill level – novices, intermediates, and professionals – the Super Ski cluster aims to attract a broad global audience, from casual vacationers to serious winter sports enthusiasts. This diversity of terrain, combined with instruction programs and events, will make Almaty a perfect destination whether you’re learning your first turns or seeking your next big mountain adventure.
World-Class Amenities and Year-Round Appeal
Beyond just skiing, the Almaty Super Ski project is about creating a full-service mountain destination. Plans include luxury resort hotels and cozy lodges with stunning mountain views, a variety of dining options from gourmet restaurants to casual cafes, lively après-ski entertainment, and even shopping and spa facilities for relaxation.
Visitors can enjoy an array of winter activities like snowboarding, snowshoeing, sledding, and ice skating, and in summer months the mountains will offer hiking trails, mountain biking parks, horseback riding, and zip-lines for year-round adventure. The nearby city of Almaty – a vibrant cultural and culinary hub – complements the mountain experience, allowing tourists to ski by day and enjoy urban comforts by night.
This integrated approach of winter sports + summer recreation + city tourism will position Almaty as a unique four-season destination, not just a ski resort. Developers emphasize that Kazakhstan’s natural beauty, when paired with modern infrastructure, can finally put the country on the map alongside the Alps and Rockies as a bucket-list mountain getaway.
Shymbulak ski area (near Almaty) is one of the existing resorts to be expanded and linked in the Almaty Super Ski cluster, offering skiers new vistas and experiences across the connected mountains.
Commitment to Sustainability
Building a giant resort in pristine mountains naturally raises environmental concerns, and the Almaty Super Ski project is placing sustainability at the forefront. The Kok-Zhailau area, in particular, has been a sensitive site – a previous attempt to develop it was halted in 2019 due to public outcry over environmental impact. Learning from that, the new plan promises “green” development practices.
This includes using renewable energy sources, eco-friendly building materials, and strict waste management protocols to minimize the ecological footprint. Comprehensive environmental monitoring systems (leveraging digital technology) will track the health of the ecosystem in real time. Large portions of the terrain will remain protected, and architects are working to ensure facilities blend into the landscape.
The project will be carried out with full transparency and input from environmental experts, adhering to high conservation standards. An Eco-Park at the Medeu area has already been introduced to preserve natural spaces while educating visitors. By balancing development with conservation, Kazakhstan aims to make the Super Ski cluster a model for sustainable alpine tourism, proving that economic growth can go hand-in-hand with protecting natural heritage.
Economic Impact and Tourism Boost
The Almaty Super Ski initiative is not just about sports – it’s a cornerstone of Kazakhstan’s tourism growth strategy. Officials project that this mountain cluster will dramatically boost visitor numbers and revenue. In 2024, Almaty saw over 2.3 million tourists (almost 700,000 of them international visitors), and tourism in the city grew 30% year-on-year.
The Super Ski project is expected to accelerate this trend, potentially drawing millions of additional visitors annually once fully operational. The daily capacity increase to 34,000 skiers means Almaty could host major international ski events and festivals, further raising its profile. Economically, the development will create thousands of jobs in construction, hospitality, and service sectors.
Building and operating the resort network is estimated to directly create more than 10,000 new jobs (guides, instructors, hotel staff, etc.) by completion, with countless more supported indirectly in the local economy. The government is heavily investing in infrastructure (roads, lifts, utilities), banking on a significant return: it’s expected that every dollar invested will yield two dollars in private sector growth and tourism spending.
The Prime Minister has stated this project will “reshape the economic landscape” of not only Almaty, but the entire country. By positioning Kazakhstan as a top winter sports destination, the Super Ski cluster should diversify the economy and put the nation on the global tourism map, lessening reliance on traditional industries.
Local businesses from ski equipment shops to restaurants stand to thrive from the influx of visitors. In short, Almaty Super Ski is a transformative venture that could elevate Kazakhstan’s international standing and bring substantial prosperity to the region.
Conclusion: A Winter Wonderland in the Making
With its bold scope and enthusiastic backing, the Almaty Super Ski project represents a new frontier for winter tourism. By 2029, Kazakhstan aims to unveil a ski destination that can stand toe-to-toe with the famed resorts of Europe and North America.
Skiers from around the globe may soon find themselves carving down long sun-kissed trails in the Tien Shan, surrounded by views of alpine lakes and peaks, all on slopes that didn’t exist a few years before. The combination of scale, modernity, cultural charm, and natural splendor will make Almaty’s mountain cluster a must-visit for international winter sport enthusiasts.
In an industry always seeking the next big thing, Almaty Super Ski is poised to deliver – a dreamlike expanse of powder and possibility, inviting the world to ski the “Roof of Central Asia.”