Private cat skiing in Ridder, Kazakhstan. 6 days of dry Altai powder across two operators' terrain, max 10 riders, 2 guides. From €3,480. Solo skiers welcome.
Treat yourself to a sick week of cat skiing through deep, feathery pow in the woods of Kazakhstan’s West Altai mountains, based at a top-notch timber lodge, with an upscale restaurant on the premises. This is a lifetime off-piste adventure — shredding through cathedral larch glades, a universe away from noisy ski resorts and tracked-out slopes.
From the trip description by Primalscapes
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 guidingA local lead guide and an English-speaking tail guide; "Our English-speaking guides are local terrain experts, trained in first aid, avalanche forecasting, and mountain rescue."
Terrain, ability and who it is for
- Skiing in Ridder is laid back and playful!
- The slopes are fun 20-35º steep while small terrain features deliver ski revelations on a daily basis!
- You get to ski 5-8 runs first tracks, 300-800m vertical each, with a total vertical drop of 3,500-4,000m per day.
- THREE DIFFERENT MOUNTAIN RANGES.
- Our cat skiing operations span across three distinct ranges, offering a variety of slopes to suit any group and any weather.
- By joining a ski trip, you confirm that you can safely and comfortably ski ‘black’ runs, have already participated in off-piste skiing trips and feel confident about the difficulty level stated in the itinerary description.
- The cat is booked just for our group, and every rider is vetted before their seat is confirmed — off-piste experience, fitness, English.
- Sport
- Ski + Snowboard
- Max group size
- 10 guests
From the trip description by Primalscapes
What the price includes
Included
- Lodging
- Meals
- Transfers
- 6 full days of cat skiing in Ridder, Kazakhstan — a private snowcat, a group of 8–10 riders, a local lead guide and an English-speaking tail guide.
- Skiing across the terrain of both local snowcat operators — up to three mountain ranges in one week.
- All accommodation: 7 nights at a luxury lodge* (twin ensuite rooms, 4-star feel) plus one night in a 4-star Almaty hotel for the overnight layover on the way back.
- Big breakfasts, packed lunches and 2-course dinners — all tailored to your dietary needs.
- All private transfers, from airport pickup to drop-off.
- Personal trip-preparation call after you book.
Not included
- Avalanche kit rental (transceiver, shovel and probe) · extra costAround €150/trip (Not included list); the gear section says €70 per trip
- Wide skis or splitboard rental from a local supplier · extra costAround €350/trip (Not included list); the gear section of the same page says €190 per trip
- Spa center with Siberian steam sauna and hammam · extra cost€30 per visit
- Flights to Oskemen (UKK) airport, around €600 roundtrip from Europe – see our flight recommendations.
- Personal insurance.
- Alcohol. Spa. Single room upgrade (on request).
- Farewell a la carte dinner in Almaty city.
- Rental equipment — we can pre-arrange wide skis or a splitboard (around €350/trip) and avalanche kit (around €150/trip) from a local supplier. Ask us.
Not confirmed by the operator: Lift pass, Lesson.
Day by day
- Day 1: Morning arrival in Kazakhstan and domestic flight. Transfer to the lodge, welcome dinner.After landing in Almaty, you’ll catch a 1-hour flight to UKK airport, where your guide will meet you. From there, we take a smooth 2-hour private transfer to Ridder. Once at the lodge, we’ll settle in, enjoy a welcome dinner, and go over safety protocols and gear. Rentals, if needed, will be sorted here.
- Days 2–7: Six days of catskiing. New terrain every day.Now, here’s what makes cat skiing in Kazakhstan unique: NO road transfer needed on most days! Occasionally we’ll roll 15 minutes up a forest road, and once per tour we may mission about an hour for exclusive alpine terrain. Worth it.
- Day 8: Domestic flight back to Almaty, farewell dinner, overnight stay.After a transfer to UKK airport and a short flight to Almaty, you’ll have the option to explore the city before checking into a hotel for your final night.
- Day 9: Transfer to the airport and flight home.
From the trip description by Primalscapes
Where you stay
The accommodation will definitely exceed you expectations! Our newly built 4-star lodge with 30 double/twin rooms is located right next to the mountains and offers DIRECT ACCESS TO SNOWCATS.
Expect spacious rooms, cozy wooden interiors, hand-crafted furniture, and walk-in showers to recharge you for another day of adventure.
After a long day on the mountain, unwind in our spa center for just €30 per visit, complete with a traditional Siberian steam sauna and Middle Eastern hammam.
Getting There
- First stop: Almaty, Kazakhstan’s biggest and most cosmopolitan city.
- From Almaty, it’s a quick 1-hour domestic flight to Oskemen (UKK).
- On the return, you’ll need an overnight in Almaty, and yes, we’ve got that covered too!
From the trip description by Primalscapes
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
- Jan 9 – Jan 17, 20272026/27 · 9 days3,480 EUR€3,780 per person; first three seats on each date €3,480; exclusive of flights; group of 8–10 riders, confirms at 8AvailableChoose these datesBook on company website
Printed as "9-17 Jan 2027 Filling".
- Feb 13 – Feb 21, 20272026/27 · 9 days3,480 EUR€3,780 per person; first three seats on each date €3,480; exclusive of flights; group of 8–10 riders, confirms at 8AvailableChoose these datesBook on company website
Printed as "13-21 Feb 2027 Guaranteed".
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
- Group size: minimum 8, maximum 10.
- Departures confirm at 8 riders — all dates confirmed by 1 November either way.
- All participants must have a working transceiver, shovel, and probe, and we highly recommend wearing a helmet.
- We require financial commitment from the participants in a form of 20% deposit paid via SEPA bank transfer or Paypal/card.
- The remaining balance is paid in cash or wire transfer upon arrival.
- We promise a 14-day risk-free booking window: you can cancel at any point within two weeks after you put down the first deposit.
- Private groups: your own crew of up to 14 takes the whole cat.
From the trip description by Primalscapes
Reviews
Reviews reflect the named reviewer's experience and link to their original source. Powderscape does not verify individual claims.