Kok Zhailau Ski Resort Video

A New Ski Resort in the Kok-Zhailau Gorge and on Kumbel Peak

Imagine skiing on 65 kilometers of pristine slopes in the towering Tien Shan mountains, right above Kazakhstan’s largest city. That vision is now coming to life in Almaty. Kazakhstan is building a new ski resort in the Kok-Zhailau Gorge and on Kumbel Peak.

Slopes for Everyone near Almaty

Those 65 kilometers of slopes will be designed for all skill levels. In fact, half of them will be easy runs for beginners and families. This is deliberate — Kazakhstan wants to encourage more people to learn skiing, not just cater to experts.

Ski Lifts and Year-Round Fun

There will be roughly 16 ski lifts, including gondolas and chairlifts, to ferry people up Kumbel Peak and across Kok-Zhailau’s ridges. And it’s not just about winter. The planners are also developing year-round attractions.

Summer in the Mountains

In summer, visitors will be able to use the same infrastructure for mountain biking, hiking, and sightseeing, and stay in new glamping sites or mountain lodges.

Resort Base with a Light Footprint

The resort’s base area is expected to include hotels, restaurants, rental shops, and even a ski school. But officials insist they will only build on a small fraction — about 2% of the land — to keep the rest as untouched nature.

Part of the Ambitious Almaty Super Ski Project

It’s an ambitious development that will form part of Almaty Super Ski — a network of ski areas around the city that could become Central Asia’s largest all-season mountain resort by 2029.

Controversy in the Mountains

It’s a bold plan to put Kazakhstan on the world ski tourism map, but it’s also stirring controversy because Kok-Zhailau is a treasured natural valley that activists have long fought to protect.

Kok-Zhailau’s Natural Beauty

Kok-Zhailau is a beautiful alpine plateau just 10 km from downtown Almaty, located within the Ile-Alatau National Park. Locals know it as a favorite spot for hiking and picnics, with green meadows, wildflowers, and a stunning panorama of snowy peaks.

Wildlife Sanctuary

For years, this place has been off-limits to development — partly because it’s home to wildlife like bears, ibex, and even snow leopards.

The Temptation of Development

Yet its very beauty and proximity to the city have made it an attractive site for a ski resort. The idea of a Kok-Zhailau ski area has been around for nearly two decades.

Public Outcry Halts Plans

Back in the mid-2000s, investors actually wanted to build a private resort here, but public outcry and environmental concerns put a stop to their plans.

The Project Returns

Despite local resistance, the project kept resurfacing. Around 2014, officials even removed the land from the national park to prepare for construction.

Save Kok-Zhailau Movement

Environmental activists mobilized thousands of citizens to save Kok-Zhailau. Under public pressure — and after an economic downturn — the government hit pause in 2015.

Government Hits Pause

Then in 2019 came a turning point. The new president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, ordered a complete stop to the Kok-Zhailau resort plans, effectively siding with environmental experts.

Mountains Preserved

For the first time, it seemed the mountains were safe from bulldozers. Kok-Zhailau was returned to the national park, and development was banned.

Kok-Zhailau Back in Focus

Fast forward to 2025, and Kok-Zhailau is back in the spotlight. Why? Because Kazakhstan’s leaders now have a broader dream — to turn Almaty’s entire mountain range into a world-class tourism hub.

The Almaty Mountain Cluster

They call it the Almaty Mountain Cluster — a connected system of ski resorts and outdoor attractions. Kok-Zhailau, along with the adjacent Kumbel Peak, is the missing puzzle piece between existing ski centers.

Almaty Super Ski Unveiled

In May 2025, the concept for Almaty Super Ski was officially unveiled — a mega resort spanning Kok-Zhailau and Kumbel with over 65 kilometers of ski runs, tying into Almaty’s other ski areas.

Linking the Resorts

Essentially, the plan is to link the famous Shymbulak Resort on one side and the Oi-Qaragai Resort on the other by building new lifts and trails through Kok-Zhailau.

A Skier’s Dream Comes True in Kazakhstan

Just picture it — a skier in Almaty who can start at one resort, glide through the mountains, and end up on the other side of the city’s peaks, all on skis. That’s the vision. The Almaty Super Ski Resort will be enormous by regional standards.

Construction Begins

As of mid-2025, Kazakhstan’s government is moving full steam ahead. They’ve announced that construction will begin this year on Kok-Zhailau’s infrastructure. The initial focus is on access roads, base facilities, and extending existing ski lifts toward Kok-Zhailau.

Connecting Multiple Resorts

They are essentially expanding outward from current resorts. For example, Shymbulak will get a new phase of lifts stretching further up and west toward Kumbel. Meanwhile, from the other side, infrastructure will extend from Oi-Qaragai and adjacent areas.

When Will the Resort Open?

If all goes well, parts of the expanded ski network could open within a few years. By 2029, the full Almaty Super Ski circuit is expected to be operational, coinciding with Almaty’s goal of becoming Central Asia’s number one all-season resort hub.

A Critical Crossroads

The Kok-Zhailau ski resort project, as part of Almaty Super Ski, stands at a critical crossroads. It represents a classic dilemma — development versus conservation. On one hand, Kazakhstan wants to unlock the potential of its majestic mountains, diversify its economy, and give Almaty a tourism boost. On the other, many citizens remind leaders that once you build on a pristine natural area, it can never truly be undone.

Many residents remain hopeful but cautious. They want to enjoy new ski slopes while still preserving the wild, quiet Kok-Zhailau they love when the snow melts.

Outro

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