Yurt-based Ski Touring in Tau Turgen
MORN. CURATED ESCAPE · SECTOR 02

Ski Touring in Tau Turgen

Duration
3 Days / 2 Nights
Group Size
1–10 guests
Season
December – March
865,000 ₸ (~$1,905) per person
The Journey

Tau Turgen is a touring stay for confident off-piste riders who want to leave the city base behind. Shared yurt life and repeated uphill days are part of the experience, so tell MORN about your fitness, touring background and equipment when requesting dates. Compare the group-size prices below at direct operator rates with 0% agency markup, then confirm your group’s arrangements before payment.

Bakhtiyar Peak (3,200 m) is a possible objective for suitable groups and conditions, not a promised summit.

Life at the camp

The lodge accommodates up to ten guests, with bunk beds, a simple kitchen, solar-powered lighting and a wood-burning stove. Water is accessible from a stream; the toilet is outdoors. Guests help cook, collect water and keep the fire going.

Required level and conditions

Confident off-piste skiing or snowboarding and fitness for daily backcountry activity are required. The guide may adjust the programme according to weather and snow conditions.

Plan your ski stay

Shymbulak and Ak-Bulak use resort access; the backcountry day focuses on a touring outing; Tau Turgen adds a shared yurt base for three days. Compare the format before choosing a date.

Shymbulak Off-Piste & Sidecountry Tour

Ak-Bulak Off-Piste Tour

One Day Backcountry in Almaty

Yurt-based Ski Touring in Tau Turgen

Compare the four winter formats

Plan your ski stay

Choose your base and arrange lessons, passes and rental.

Read the practical guide

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Questions before you go

When is the published season?

December–March is the published operating season. Snow, weather and guide confirmation determine the actual departure.

Can I book this outing now?

Send dates and party size through the request form. Confirm the departure and equipment with the provider before payment.

What is included?

The included and excluded services are listed together in the programme below. Check that section when comparing equipment rental, transport and personal expenses.

Is this a beginner ski lesson?

No. Tell MORN your off-piste experience and fitness so the guide can assess whether this format suits you.

Day by Day

Expedition Itinerary

DAY 1

Arrival and the first runs

  1. Meet the guide at your place in Almaty. Travel by SUV to Tau Turgen Gorge (80 km) and arrive at the Ile Alatau National Park checkpoint.
  2. Pack the belongings on sledges and ski-tour about 3 km, gaining 300 vertical metres, to the yurt lodge at the foot of the Karash ridge at 1,800 m. Rest and have lunch on arrival.
  3. A light ski tour on the nearest slope: one long or two short runs are possible, with 800–1,000 vertical metres. Return to the yurt for snacks and tea, then an evening sauna, dinner and rest.
DAY 2

Cone Peak

  1. After breakfast and preparations, ski-tour to Cone Peak (2,600 m). Views open onto the Turgen glaciers, Asy plateau and Talgar (4,979 m), the highest peak of the Trans-Ili Alatau.
  2. Two runs with 1,000–1,500 vertical metres are possible. Picnic lunch in the valley. Return to the yurt for rest, tea and snacks, followed by an evening sauna, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 3

Karash ridge and Tau Turgen Peak

  1. After breakfast and preparations, head out on the day's ski tour, gaining 1,000–1,500 vertical metres. Picnic lunch on the route.
  2. Return to the yurt for rest, tea and snacks, then pack up and return to the car. Drive back to Almaty, stopping for dinner at a local cafe.
Transparency

What's Included & Packing Checklist

Included in Price

  • Two nights in a shared yurt lodge
  • Return transfer from Almaty
  • Food for self-cooking
  • English-speaking KMGA skiing guide
  • National Park ecological fee
  • Sledge for transporting baggage and food to the yurt
  • Evening sauna
  • Dinner at a cafe on day three
  • Drinking water

Not Included

  • Ski-touring and avalanche equipment rental (available on request)
  • Visa support and registration in Kazakhstan, if required
  • Other food and drinks, personal expenses and expenses not specified in the programme
  • Accommodation in Almaty before and after the tour
  • Insurance policy. Travel insurance covering freeride and backcountry in remote mountain areas, including helicopter rescue, is required.

Recommended Packing Checklist

Apparel & Layers

  • Waterproof shell jacket and trousers; insulated down or synthetic jacket; touring trousers; thermal base layers; warm midlayers and a warm down jacket
  • Several pairs of ski socks; warm gloves and a spare pair; sun hat and warm hat; buff or balaclava
  • Light camp footwear and trekking shoes

Gear & Equipment

  • Avalanche shovel, probe and transceiver; airbag backpack optional
  • 35–40-litre freeride backpack with ski or splitboard attachment
  • Helmet; goggles with lenses for low light and sunshine, plus a spare lens for fog; two pairs of goggles are preferable
  • Ski-touring or snowboard boots; freeride skis or splitboard with touring bindings; climbing skins and telescopic poles
  • Repair kit: binding tools and spare parts, duct tape and rubber straps

Trail Essentials

  • Sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen and lip protection
  • Headlamp with spare batteries; spare transceiver batteries; power bank and cables
  • Thermos and water bottle
  • Personal first-aid kit: pain and flu medication, adhesive tape and individual medication for chronic conditions
  • Hygiene kit, wet wipes and a lightweight bath towel
  • Passport or official identification

Food

  • Personal snacks: energy and protein bars, muesli, dried fruit and nuts, mountain nutrition
Rates

Price

Exactly 0% markup. You pay the organizers directly, with no agency commissions or hidden markups.

1 Guest
865,000 ₸ per person
(~$1,905)
2 Guests
560,000 ₸ per person
(~$1,235)
3 Guests
485,000 ₸ per person
(~$1,070)
4–6 Guests
430,000 ₸ per person
(~$950)
7–8 Guests
380,000 ₸ per person
(~$840)
9–10 Guests
355,000 ₸ per person
(~$785)
Guide Team

Your Mountain Guides

Languages on site: English
Darya Ponomaryova

Darya Ponomaryova

Certified KMGA/KTA Guide • Expedition Leader & Ski Mountaineer

🇬🇧 Fluent English⛷️ 1st Female Ski Guide in RK (KMGA)🏆 RK Book of Records Record Holder❄️ Avalanche Safety (AST 2)🏔️ NAMG Board Member

The first certified female ski guide in Kazakhstan (KMGA) and the first CIS woman to ski down Peak Lenin (7,134 m). Darya led Kazakhstan's inaugural ski-touring expedition to Antarctica, holds AST 2 avalanche safety credentials, and earned a Tourism degree from Turan University. She seamlessly blends elite high-altitude safety with mindfulness, passion, and genuine hospitality.

“Adventure isn’t just about reaching a peak — it’s about personal growth, inspiration, and living every moment fully. The mountains teach us to stay grounded and deeply connected.”
Alexander Zadneprovskiy

Alexander Zadneprovskiy

Certified KMGA/KTA Guide • Ski Mountaineer & Expedition Leader

🇬🇧 Fluent English⛷️ Certified Ski Guide (KMGA)🏔️ Descent from Lenin Peak (7,134 m)📜 KMGA / KTA Certification🐴 Horseback & Trekking Expeditions

Born and raised in Almaty, Alexander has 20+ years of skiing experience. Certified through the International Mountain Guiding School (KMGA), he completed a historic ski descent down the North Face of Peak Lenin (7,134 m) and pioneered over 15 first ski descents in the Tien Shan. Having guided across Central Asia and Europe, he combines high-altitude mastery with authentic hospitality.

“Nature is our greatest teacher. Mountains aren't just about the summit, but about the genuine connection, stories, and wild freedom we share along the trail.”
Alyona Gulyayeva

Alyona Gulyayeva

Certified KTA Trekking Guide • Expedition Organizer & Yacht Skipper

🇬🇧 Fluent English🏔️ Certified Guide (KTA)⛰️ Elbrus Ascent (5,642 m)⛵ Yacht Captain (IYT Bareboat Skipper)🐧 Antarctica Expedition Organizer

Born into a family of geographers, Alyona grew up surrounded by maps and expedition notebooks. She organized Kazakhstan’s first ski-touring expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula, summited Mount Elbrus (5,642 m), and is a certified IYT sailing skipper. Alyona brings calm confidence, deep environmental insight, and authentic warmth to every mountain journey.

“The wilderness allows you to meet your true self far from city noise and artificial roles. Mountains are places of pure power, clarity, and lifelong connection.”
Rakhman Baibolatov

Rakhman Baibolatov

WFTGA Regional Guide • Jeep Tours, Trekking & Horse Riding Expert

🇬🇧 Fluent English📜 WFTGA Certified Guide (2025)🏔️ 3rd Category Mountaineer🩹 First Aid🚙 Jeep Tours & Expeditions

Formerly a finance graduate and banker, Rakhman left the corporate world behind to follow his true calling in the wild landscapes of Kazakhstan. Since 2020, he has guided hundreds of custom day-trips and multi-day expeditions (including Baikonur). Combining deep cultural insight with genuine warmth and strict safety standards, Rakhman creates deeply meaningful experiences for international travelers.

“The mountains revealed something I didn’t even know I was looking for. Guiding travelers from all over the globe and sharing the authentic spirit of Kazakhstan is what truly fulfills my soul.”
Natalya Salnikova

Natalya Salnikova

3rd Category Alpine Instructor • Certified Mountain Guide & Ski Mountaineer

🇬🇧 Fluent English🏔️ 3rd Category Mountaineering Instructor🏆 RK Championship Medalist⛰️ 100+ Ascents (Lenin Peak, Elbrus)🎿 Ski Touring & Trekking

With over 15 years of mountain experience, Natalya is a certified alpine instructor (since 2016) and a medalist in National Ice Climbing and Winter Duathlon Championships. Having completed 100+ major ascents — including Lenin Peak (7,134 m), Kazbek, and Elbrus — she prioritizes group harmony, calm confidence, and deep respect for every climber along the trail.

“In the peaks, true connection and safety matter most. I guide without rush, focusing on mutual respect, calm presence, and the genuine freedom to be yourself.”
Igor Malkin

Igor Malkin

Certified Mountaineering Instructor • High-Altitude Trekking & Ski Expedition Leader

🇬🇧 Fluent English🏔️ Mountaineering Instructor🏆 RK Championship Bronze Medalist (2017)⛰️ 150+ Technical Ascents🎿 High-Altitude Ski Touring Expeditions

Igor has completed 150+ technical mountain ascents across Central Asia and the Caucasus, including Peak Lenin (7,134 m), Marble Wall, Free Korea, Kazbek, and a pioneer first ascent on Bayankol (2018). As a certified mountaineering instructor and bronze medalist at the Kazakhstan National Championships, he blends high-level alpine mastery with a calm, reassuring, and supportive presence.

“My passion for the wild began in childhood. Today, my mission is to share mountain wisdom so you feel completely confident, secure, and at home among the high peaks.”