If you are looking for a winter destination that is as stunningly beautiful as it is adventurous, then look no further than Kazakhstan.
The climate in Kazakhstan is sharply continental and due to territorial features, the weather in winter can vary significantly in different regions of the country. When the extreme south of the country does not get much snow, the north can still have snow or blizzards.
In winter, the average temperature in the north of Kazakhstan reaches -18.7°C in January, and in the south -1.5°C. Thus, the average winter temperature ranges from -4 degrees Celsius to 19 degrees Celsius.
Absolutely anyone can come to Kazakhstan for winter holidays, whether they are fans of extreme sports or lovers of comfortable rest.
“Travel Land” travel agency in Bishkek decided to tell you about all the wonderful places and activities to visit in Kazakhstan.
Medeo – world’s largest high-mountain sports complex
Fans of winter sports will like Kazakhstan. During your trip in Kazakhstan or namely in Almaty, it is worth visiting Medeo, 14 km from Almaty, which is the world’s largest high-mountain sports complex.
Medeo is located at an altitude of 1691 m in the tract of the same name on the northern slope of the Zailiysky Alatau ridge and was opened in 1972. Ice rink Medeo, which can accommodate 2-3 thousand people at the same time, has the largest area of artificial ice cover – 10.5 thousand square meters, and the thickness of the front is 2.3 m. more than 200 world records and today this place is used for training and competitions in winter sports.
Shymbulak ski resort – former training base for Soviet skiers
An interesting place to visit during winter vacation in Kazakhstan will be the Shymbulak ski resort, located at an altitude of 2260 meters above sea level in the picturesque gorge of the Zailiysky Alatau, a 15-minute drive from the center of Almaty. You can climb to it directly from the Medeo stadium on the modern cable car Medeo – Chimbulak. The resort was founded in 1954 and was a training base for Soviet skiers.
Shymbulak is one of the best ski resorts in the region. There are ten lifts at the base, the ski season starts in mid-November and lasts until early April. The combination of a mountain road and a variety of entertainment facilities allows the ski resort to be one of the favorite places to visit.
Big Almaty Lake – a picturesque lake 15 kilometers from Almaty
Big Almaty Lake is a picturesque reservoir located in the spurs of the Zailiysky Alatau at an altitude of more than 2500 meters above sea level, 15 km south of the city of Almaty. The lake was formed as a result of a major earthquake.
Three main peaks rise above the lake: Sovetov Peak (4317 m), Ozerny Peak (4110 m) and Tourist Peak (3954 m). The color changes depending on the season, but the brightest turquoise can be seen in September and early October. In the spring, due to melting snow, the lake acquires a milky blue hue.
Kolsay lakes – Pearl of the Northern Tien Shan
Kolsay lakes are beautiful at any time of the year. If you go to Kazakhstan, Kolsay should be in the list of your visits. This place is a system of three lakes in the northern Tien Shan on the territory of the Kegen district of the Almaty region of Kazakhstan. Many people call the lakes the “pearl of the Northern Tien Shan”.
The lakes are surrounded by coniferous forest from the Tien Shan spruce. The depth of the lakes reaches 50 m. The national park in which they are located is included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
Surreal Kaindy Lake
Lake Kaindy, formed in 1911 as a result of a strong earthquake, is located in the Tien Shan mountain system at an altitude of about 1667 meters above sea level.
This place is called the “sunken forest” for its surreal appearance: trunks of giant fir trees rise from the turquoise surface of the lake, as this place is famous for a large number of dead and bleached fir trees that stick out of the water. Translated from the Kazakh “kaiyndy” literally – “abounding in birches”.
