Where can you enjoy views of Almaty City? Kok-Tobe and Medeu to Shymbulak Cableways

Almaty is a big city at the foot of majestic mountains. One way to enjoy the magnificent views of Almaty landscapes is to ride the Kok-Tobe and Medeu-Shymbulak cable cars.

Kok-Tobe

Location: 104B, Dostyk Avenue

In the eastern part of Almaty, there is one of the most popular viewing points with an altitude of more than 1100 meters above sea level - Kok-Tobe. Passengers of the Kok-Tobe cable cars can enjoy panoramic views of the city and the mountains surrounding it. Modern cabins take visitors to the top of the Kok-Tobe mountain in 6 minutes. At this time, the cableway covers a distance of 1620 meters. You will see the city at a glance - private houses and huge high-rise buildings and the view becomes more spectacular in the evening. When the sun goes down, and after that, the city is illuminated by millions of lights.

The peak of Kok-Tobe isn’t only a place for panoramic views but also an entertainment center where you can spend time with the entire family. Here you will find restaurants, attractions, playgrounds, and souvenir shops. There is also a TV tower on the mountain - one of the most fascinating sights in Kazakhstan.

"Medeu" - "Shymbulak"

This unique transport route connects two well-known destinations - Shymbulak Ski Resort and Medeu Sport Complex. Cableway is now the fastest way to get to Shymbulak; alternatives to it are eco-buses and eco-taxi.

The length of the whole cableway is 4.5 kilometers. It takes about 18 minutes to lift from an altitude of 1691 meters above sea level to the ski tracks (the lower level of the cableways at Shymbulak at an altitude of 2260 meters). There are 115 eight-passenger cabins on the line. On your way up, you will see Medeu, a mudflow protection dam, and beautiful mountain peaks with forests and meadows.

The cableway is busier in winter. "Shymbulak" attracts both beginners and professionals due to its excellent tracks and snow cover. The cabins are equipped with ski and snowboard holders. It is important to note that in winter, in the morning and evening; when daytime skiing begins and ends, there is a long queue for cable cars; the waiting time can take 30 to 40 minutes.

However, you can also climb here in the summer when the Medeu tract is covered with greenery, and the weather in the city is too hot. In this case, tourists have access to a unique entertainment - lift to the upper level of the Shymbulak resort (to do this, after riding the Medeu - Shymbulak cableway, you also need to go up to Combi-1 and Combi-2) and have a snowball fight in the summer.

The Kok-Tobe and Shymbulak-Medeu cableways provide an incredible opportunity to appreciate the beauty and diversity of Almaty’s nature. These two locations combine adventure, sport, entertainment, and magnificent views of the city and the mountains.