Elik-Sai Ski Center Guided Tour
About this tour
Elik-Sai ski center is an ideal place for those who love shredding among the trees in deep pow and appreciate an authentic atmosphere of small family resort. It doesn't have modern cable cars and chair lifts, luxury restaurants and 5 start hotels, it's ski slopes are never groomed and the road is not cleaned properly.. Your heart will be won after you meet hosts of this amazing place, see the live shine of their smiling eyes, try to make first ascent by old soviet drag ski-lift and make unforgettable descent in the fluffy snow. There are 4 rope drag ski-lifts of the Soviet times and it's ideal start point for reaching Bukreev peak (3010 m a.s.l.). The base is also famous for ridiculous names of some slopes, like "vegetable garden", "bottle" or "bathhouse".
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Almaty, Kazakhstan to Besqaynar, Kazakhstan
Departure from Almaty at 08:00. Arrival to the ski-center at approx. 09:00. Preparations, instructions from the guide, renting the rope hooks and short briefing about how to use them on drag lifts. Freeriding with guide on the local spots. At lunch time, you will have a rest on the deck of a mighty pirate ship, where you can sunbathe, eating snacks and recover. In the afternoon you will be skiing in the upper part of the slopes from the third and fourth drag lifts. At the end of the day you will make descent to the neighboring gorge, where "Pioneer" ski resort is located. After making descent, you will have short walk in the forest to come back to Elik-Sai. Final descent at 17:00. Coming back to Almaty at around 19:00.
What's included
1. Services of professional English-speaking skiing guide 2. Transfer Almaty - Elik-Sai Ski Center - Almaty 3. Daily ski-pass at the ski resort 4. Lunch snack (sandwish with tuna/chicken/cheese/vegetables, apple, chocolate bar) 5. Bottled water (1 l)
1. Rental of ski/snowboard and avalanche equipment (rental is possible upon request) 2. Meals and beverages not indicated in the program 3. Accommodation in Almaty before or after the tour 4. Visa support and registration in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, if required 5. Insurance policy
What to know
Required clothing and equipment: - Freeride skis/snowboard - Ski/snowboard boots - Poles (for skiers) - Set of avalanche equipment (air bag system, shovel, probe, transceiver) - Freeride backpack with volume 20-35 liters and with skis/snowboard fixation - Goggles with extra lens - Helmet - Gloves or mittens - Light puff vest or jacket - Sunscreen - Sunglasses - Thermos with hot tea - Personal AID kit - Additional snacks
Route & locations
Almaty, Kazakhstan to Besqaynar, Kazakhstan