For terrain, think tree riding.
The forests are a mix of conifers and deciduous hardwoods (massive Japan-style birch trees), offering perfectly spaced glades, long lanes and chutes, and pillowy sections as well. Most of the riding will be from high points of only 1,000-1,600m/3,300-5,300ft, which means easy touring.
From the trip description by 40 Tribes Backcountry
On-snow support
- Independent: Below this trip's level of support
Ski or ride independently, without trip staff accompanying you on the mountain.
- Hosted: With your guide
Trip hosts ski or ride with the group, help everyone get oriented, and share local knowledge.
- Guided: Included
Professional guides lead the group and select suitable terrain and routes based on conditions and ability. Instruction is not included.
- Coached: Not confirmed
Professional coaches lead the group, select suitable terrain, and provide instruction and personalized feedback to help you improve.
- 6 days on snow with staff
- Backcountry guidingGuided by AMGA Ski Guide Peter Stone with support from KMGA Ski Guide Kasidin (Kas) Musaev; 40 Tribes Lead and Tail Guides
Terrain, ability and who it is for
- The typical vertical per run will be in the 400-900m/1,300-3,000ft range, and slopes will be anywhere from 25º to 40º.
- On many days, instead of touring directly from camp we’ll use the snowmobiles and passenger sledges to shuttle deeper up valley.
- This will give us access to the higher peaks and bigger north faces, and makes for a fun and super interesting start and end to the days.
- Participants must be advanced to expert level skiers or snowboarders, with at least 1 year touring experience.
- Participation does not require any formal avalanche safety certification or glacier travel or ski mountaineering experience.
- Participants must be in excellent physical condition, and comfortable touring for long distances carrying their own backcountry packs.
- Powder skis (at least 108mm underfoot) are recommended and splitboards are required for snowboarders.
- Participants must additionally be prepared with essential touring and avalanche safety gear.
- Sport
- Ski + Snowboard
- Max group size
- 6 guests
From the trip description by 40 Tribes Backcountry
What the price includes
Included
- Lodging
- Meals
- Transfers · partly
- Nightly banya sessions
- Snowmobiles and passenger sledges for accessing camp and deeper up valley
- 40 Tribes Lead and Tail Guides
- Private Sprinter van transfers between UKK and our destination (approx. 3 hours each way)
- Snowmobiles and passenger sledges for accessing camp and deeper up valley
- 7 nights accommodation in luxury yurts imported from Russia
- Scratch-made meals including gourmet sandwiches and snacks for touring days
- Nightly banya sessions
- 6 days of epic guided skiing/splitboarding!
Not included
- International airfare and baggage fees
- Domestic airfare and baggage fees (ALA-UKK-ALA)
- Transfers or accommodation in Almaty
- Medical/evacuation insurance
- Alcohol
- Tips for guides.
Not confirmed by the operator: Lift pass, Lesson.
Where you stay
From there, it’s a 10-minute snowmobile ride to our home for the week: a luxury yurt camp, built by our partners, featuring a kitchen/dining yurt, two guest yurts, a staff yurt, and a bathhouse with toilets, running water, and a banya for nightly sweats and showering.
The yurts are heated by woodstoves, maintained by the camp staff, and each of the sleeping yurts features 4 bedrooms with 2 beds per room.
Breakfasts, lunches, après ski soups, dinners and desserts are prepared from scratch by a dedicated chef, and will have your mouth watering.
Getting There
From there, we’ll take a short domestic flight to Ust-Kamenogorsk, also known as Oskemen in the Kazakh language.
Participants will need to arrive in Almaty (airport code ALA) in time to catch Air Astana’s domestic flight to Ust-Kamenogorsk (UKK) departing on December 5 at 11:30am.
On the tail end, the flight from UKK to ALA arrives at 3:40pm on December 12.
From the trip description by 40 Tribes Backcountry
Pins show the approximate main trip area—not a route, meeting point, or full itinerary. Confirm exact locations in the company's trip details.
Dates and prices
- Dec 5 – Dec 12, 20262026/27 · 8 days4,400 USDUSD $4,400/person; 6 days riding / 8 days total; domestic flights ALA-UKK-ALA and Almaty stays excluded; max 6AvailableChoose these datesBook on company website
Printed as "DECEMBER 5-12" under 2026 dates.
Prices, taxes and fees, required extras, inclusions, availability, and booking terms can change. Confirm the current price and trip details on the company website; source last reviewed September 24, 2026.
Good To Know
- Kazakhstan offers visa-free entry for up to 30 days for many nationalities.
- We will distribute a mandatory gear list closer to the expedition start date.
- A 20% deposit is required to secure your spot, with the remainder due 4 months prior to the expedition start date.
From the trip description by 40 Tribes Backcountry
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