Ak Bulak Kazakhstan
Ak Bulak in Kazakhstan in the Almaty Region which shouldn’t be confused with Ak Bulak in Kyrgyzstan which is set to be part of the
Ala-Too Resort. Ak Bulak Ski Resort in the Talgar District is a little more rustic than
Shymbulak and
Oi Qaragai near Almaty and is renowned for the off-piste terrain as well as the wide mellow slopes near the base. It doesn’t compete highly on an international stage, and the main drawcard is that you can ski or snowboard there whilst soaking in the adventure of being in a foreign land that’s likely to be quite different to home.
Pros and Cons of Ak Bulak
Pros
- The upper parts of Ak Bulak Ski Resort offer varied challenging terrain on ungroomed slopes, there’s plenty of off-piste, and it’s steeper than Shymbulak Ski Resort.
- It’s a good ski resort for beginners.
- Lift passes are inexpensive.
- On a fine day the views can be outstanding from the top, especially across to the mighty Peak Talgar (Pic Talgar).
Cons
- It’s a small ski resort and terrain variety can further shrink because not many slopes are groomed.
- The tenability of the ungroomed and off-piste zones is contingent on snow conditions, yet Ak Bulak generally doesn’t get big or frequent powder resets.
Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective
- Whilst there are some great sidecountry zones, these are quasi regulated and if you run into the ski patrol they may not permit you to enter if you don’t have a “guide”.
- Whilst weekends can be very popular, it generally has fewer crowds compared to Shymbulak, and weekdays are quiet.
Ak Bulak Ski and Snowboard Terrain
Ak Bulak is a long narrow ski area with plenty of vertical from 1,632 metres up to 2,664 metres elevation (1,032m). It only has 6 official trails and 5 lifts (1 gondola, 2 chairlifts, 2 surface lifts).
The ski area is loosely divided into 3 vertical parts. At the base are wide-open mellow beginner (green) runs. Further up and serviced by the gondola are intermediate (red) groomed runs. From 2,050m to 2,664m is a chairlift that provides access to ungroomed advanced (black) runs that are treelined or have light vegetation, which taper into intermediate slopes.
Outside the resort boundaries is some pitchy sidecountry that feeds back into the ski area nicely. Ski patrol may monitor your intentions closely if you don’t have a guide.
Ak Bulak Snow
Like the other Almaty ski resorts, Ak Bulak doesn’t typically receive large volumes of snow, and it’s unknown what impact the shrinking Caspian Sea has on snowfall in the region. Thankfully the ski area has some snowmaking capabilities to supplement Mother Nature’s snow.
Whilst not as high as
Shymbulak, the snow quality is reasonable because it’s mostly below the tree line and the foliage helps to shade the snow, along with a northwest aspect. Purportedly the slopes are not very rocky, so a huge amount of snow is not required to provide adequate coverage.
Where is Ak Bulak Kazakhstan?
The Ak Bulak Ski Resort is in the Talgar District, 13km southeast of the town of Talgar, and the big Talgar Peak is not too far away. Ak Bulak is 50km east of the city centre of Almaty (just over 1 hour drive) in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau, the northern most mountain range of Tian Shan.
Buses take a long time to get there, so you’ll want to have your own wheels, get a taxi, or be on a
multi-resort tour.
Ak Bulak Accommodation
There are a few overpriced hotels at the entrance to the resort or you could stay down in the town of Talgar. Or Ak Bulak might be a resort that you visit for just one day from your base in Almaty.
Almaty Hotel Listings
Ski Resort Facilities
The best option for your dining needs is Restaurant Alatau, which serves a mixture of European and Asian cuisine and has big windows for views across the slopes.
For equipment rentals there is a shop at the base, whilst if you need ski or snowboard lessons, there are some instructors that speak English if you book these in advance.
Below the base of the ski area is an ice-skating rink.