Oi-Qaragai (Lesnaya Skazka) Mountain Resort near Almaty

Oi-Qaragai is a year-round mountain resort about 40 minutes from Almaty, in the foothills of the Ile-Alatau. Its official name is Oi-Qaragai, but almost everyone calls it Lesnaya Skazka – “Forest Fairy Tale” – and the two names refer to the same place. In winter it is a ski resort aimed at beginners and families; in summer it becomes a base for walking, biking and rope-park activities among the pines.

Where it is and how to get there

The resort sits in the Oi-Qaragai gorge in the Talgar district, inside Ile-Alatau National Park. The address is Beskainar 225.

• By car: 35-45 minutes from central Almaty on good asphalt, about an hour from the airport. Parking on site is paid, with the first 15 minutes free and concessions for hotel guests.
• By bus: route 210 runs from the Palace of Sports directly to the resort, no changes, around an hour.
• By taxi: roughly 4,000-5,000 tenge each way with Yandex or Uber.
• Resort transfer: can be booked by phone on +7 727 312 00 08.

There is a national park eco-fee of 595 tenge per person on top of any resort charges.

Altitude, snow and when to go

The resort spans roughly 1,550 to 1,820 m, with the newer Ak-Tas zone topping out at 2,140 m. That is noticeably lower than Shymbulak, and it cuts both ways. The upside is shelter: less wind, and a gentler feel for anyone still learning. The downside is snow – less of it falls here, and the season is shorter and ends earlier than at the higher resorts.

The ski season typically runs from mid-January to the end of February, with a separate higher-priced window over the New Year holidays. Outside those months the resort stays open and switches to its summer programme. Because the resort sits above the city, conditions there can differ from Almaty – a clear morning downtown is no guarantee. Check the mountain forecast before you set out.

Skiing and snowboarding

• Terrain: more than 25 km of runs across 20+ pistes, over an area of 110+ hectares
• Lifts: 14, a mix of chairlifts and drag lifts
• Grading: mostly blue, with some red and black
• Ak-Tas zone: a newer summit area at 2,140 m adding around 6 km of runs

The runs are wide and not especially long, which makes this a good place to learn – you get a rest on the lift between descents, and falling over is less intimidating on an open piste. There are tree runs in places, which come into their own after fresh snow. Strong skiers may find the standard terrain tame, though Ak-Tas adds more interest.

Ski passes are sold in morning, afternoon, day, night and full-day blocks, with reduced rates for children aged 7-14 and for pensioners on production of ID. Children under 6 ski free. Night skiing runs daily except Tuesdays. A reusable plastic pass card is a one-off purchase. Prices change each season, so check the resort’s current tariffs before you travel.

Rental and lessons

Five rental points operate across the Old and New Skazka areas, holding over 800 sets of skis and more than 300 snowboards, plus boots, helmets, poles, gloves and outerwear. Equipment is dried and treated daily and the stock is refreshed each year. There is a workshop on site for edge sharpening and repairs, and lockers are available.

The resort’s Ride School has more than 100 certified instructors teaching in Kazakh, Russian and English, with isolated beginner slopes and a dedicated four-hour learner pass. The school also works with people with developmental disabilities.

Ski pass prices

These are the 2025/26 season rates, the most recent published tariff. The resort sets prices each autumn, so use them as a guide to what to expect and check the resort’s own channels before you travel. A reusable plastic ski-pass card costs 3,000 ₸ and is bought once.

Standard season

High season – New Year holidays

A short peak window over New Year, which ran 1-11 January in the 2025/26 season.

Worth knowing before you buy

• Children under 6 ski free.
• Night skiing runs every day except Tuesday.
• National park eco-fee: 595 ₸ per person, on top of the pass.
• Pensioner rate requires ID.
• The full-day combination (day plus night) is not refundable for the night portion once bought.
• Best value is usually the morning pass – four and a half hours of skiing for the lowest adult rate of the day.
• Equipment rental starts from around 10,000 ₸ per day for a set, with clothing charged separately and lockers at 2,000 ₸.

For comparison in the same season, a weekday adult day pass was 9,000 ₸ at Shymbulak and 5,800 ₸ at Ak-Bulak. Oi-Qaragai is the most expensive of the three, which reflects what it is: a family resort with wide, gentle terrain, extensive infrastructure and a large ski school, rather than a mountain aimed at strong skiers.

Beyond the slopes

In winter there are four tubing runs, an ice rink, and Moonbikes and electric bikes to hire. In summer the focus shifts to hiking, mountain biking, ziplining, a rope park, horse riding and archery. A spa operates year-round.

Eating and sleeping are well covered: the Mountain Pub Aport-Alatau seats over 300, the restaurant “1820” serves fusion cuisine, and there are Georgian and Kazakh restaurants on site. Accommodation ranges from cottages and chalets among the pines to treehouses, VIP chalets sleeping up to 15, and yurts – breakfast is served in what the resort bills as the world’s largest yurt.

Is it worth a visit?

It depends what you want from the mountains. Oi-Qaragai is the most comfortable mountain day out from Almaty: infrastructure, restaurants, a spa, organised activities, and terrain that suits children and beginners. For families, mixed groups where not everyone skis or walks, or a rest day, it is hard to beat.

If what you are after is wild country and a proper mountain day on foot, the gorges above Almaty offer far more. The resort works best as a comfortable base or an easy day, rather than as a hiking objective in its own right – and it pairs well with the easier trails elsewhere in the Ile-Alatau.

Weighing up where to ski? Our guide to ski resorts near Almaty puts Oi-Qaragai side by side with Shymbulak and Ak-Bulak on price, terrain and crowds.