Join us on a unique ski touring adventure in Ridder and enjoy an unforgettable deep powder skiing in the woods! Kazakhstan is an amazing country for adventures, offering new experience, new destination as well as new culture for skiers. We offer you the opportunity to ski in the Altai Mountains that stretch over 4 countries: Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan.
The unique geography and climate of the Altai mountain range means it gets early and heavy snowfall every year, allowing us to open the backcountry season early in November and December. The Kazakh Altai is truly considered to be one of the snowiest mountain regions of Kazakhstan!
We can organise custom trips on dates to suit your group – please contact us for more details and to agree dates.
Best timing: November – December and late February – March (deep winter is usually considered too cold even for locals)
Group size: 4-6 people
Please note that this programme is designed for skiers / snowboarders who are confident on the piste, have some experience of riding off piste. You should also be in a good physical shape and up for an exciting adventure!
Our trip starts from Ust-Kamenogorsk (Oskemen in Kazakh), the capital of the East Kazakhstan Region.
There are direct flights from Almaty, Nursultan, Moscow and Novosibirsk to Ust-Kamenogorsk (UKK), giving a choice of arrival times. Then we drive to Ridder that is the gateway to the northern and western part of Kazakhstan’s Altai. The city is situated in the Altai Mountains along the Ulba River at an elevation higher than 600 metres.
“While the town of Ridder is not much of a draw in itself, its surroundings most definitely are. Tremendous tracts of taiga forest harbour big wildlife like elks and bears while the nearby hills and mountains are a year-round playground for pioneering hikers, mountainbikers, rafters and skiers.
Accommodation for the 7-day programme is in a comfortable, heated lodge in the woods of the Altai. The lodge has a stove heating and provides warmth even in the bitter cold. Next to our lodge is a Banya (famous Russian sauna). You’ll have a chance to feel the difference between the Russian banya and the Scandinavian sauna 😉
Cost:
€850 per person (for a group of 5)
Cost includes:
The services of a ski guide (2 ski guides for a group of 6 people), return transfer from Ust-Kamenogorsk and all the transfers during the programme, 6-night accommodation in a lodge, full board, Russian banya (sauna) (as often as you wish:)
Programme:
Day 1. Arrival in Ust-Kamenogorsk. Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the mountain lodge (about 2-2.5 hours)
Days 2-6. Ski-touring / splitboarding from the lodge exploring the surrounding ridges. Our guides can offer more than 60 routes on skins on the Serzhinskiy, Prohodnoy, Ivanovskiy, Cherepanovskiy and Kholodniy ridges.
In Altai we will be exclusively in forested areas. Our lodge is situated at a height of 500m, and the highest peaks hit a height of around 2200m.
We’ll choose our routes based on the weather, the snow conditions and the ability of the group.
Day 7. Ski-touring (optional). Transfer to the Ust-Kamenogorsk Airport
If you’re interested we’re also able to organise a one/multi-day trip in Almaty on the way out or back (if you fly to Ust-Kamenogorsk via Almaty)
We’re happy to organise a tour to Shymbulak or Ak-bulak ski resorts (two main ski resorts in Almaty region) / a sightseeing tour in Almaty region (visiting the best nature spots around Almaty such as Big Almaty lake, Charyn canyon etc).
What to bring:
Safety:
1. Beeper
2. Avalanche probe
3. Avalanche shovel
4. Ski crampons
5. Helmet
Equipment:
1. Skis / snowboard / snowshoes
2. Ski boots / snowboard boots
3. Ski / splitboard poles
4. Goggles
5. Climbing skins
Clothing and accessories:
1. Rucksack
2. Sunglasses
3. Torch (with spare batteries)
4. Medical kit
5. Down jacket
6. Waterproof shell (jacket and trousers)
7. Ski gloves
8. Thermal underwear
9. Fleece / midlayer
10. Thinner gloves for ascending
11. Balaclava
12. Hat
13. Skiing / trekking socks
14. Regular socks (for wearing at base camp)
15. Thermos
16. Suncream
17. Individual snacks
18. Shower stuff
19. Travel insurance covering backckountry skiing in the remote mountain area.
