Combine ski touring and cat skiing for the off-piste adventure of a lifetime — on a sick week of deep, feathery pow in Kazakhstan’s wild woods!
Still under the radar, the Altai Mountains near Ridder deliver epic tree skiing on par with BC. Yet here you are likely to spend the entire day without seeing any other groups, let alone crossing their tracks.
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 guidingTwo guides; at least one guide per 5–6 participants during touring days. Guide named on the page: Andrew Golovachev, an IFMGA aspirant ski guide within the guides’ association of Kyrgyzstan.
Terrain, ability and who it is for
- 3 days of catskiing: 5-8 runs per day.
- 3 days of ski touring, 900-1,200m daily.
- Fun 20-35° slopes. Sparse larch trees.
- NO ADVERSE EFFECTS OF HIGH ALTITUDE which can be an issue in the Alps. Most skiing in Ridder is below 2,000m.
- 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.
- Unless you are coming as a group of athletic friends, this ski touring trip in Kazakhstan has rather relaxed pace of about 250-300 vertical meters per hour and total gain of about 900-1200 meters.
- Sport
- Ski + Snowboard
- Max group size
- 12 guests
From the trip description by Primalscapes
What the price includes
Included
- Lodging
- Meals
- Transfers
- 3 full days of cat skiing — our own private snowcat, just our group of 10–12 skiers and our guides. No strangers in the cabin.
- 3 days of guided ski touring, 900–1,200m of vertical gain per day at a sociable pace.
- Two guides. At least one guide per 5–6 participants during touring days.
- All accommodation: 7 nights at the lodge* (twin ensuite rooms) plus one night in a 4-star Almaty hotel for the overnight layover on the way back.
- Buffet breakfasts, packed lunches and 2-course dinners — 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 cost€70 per trip
- Wide skis or splitboard rental · extra cost€190 per trip
- Trip extension: 3 days yurt-based ski touring in the Trans-Ili Alatau · extra costPrice on enquiry
- International and domestic flights to Ust-Kamennogorsk airport (UKK) — usually around €700 roundtrip.
- Personal insurance.
- Alcohol. Spa. Single room upgrade (on request).
- Ski touring rental equipment — we can pre-arrange tested gear from a local supplier, ask us.
Not confirmed by the operator: Lift pass, Lesson.
Day by day
- Day 1: Morning arrival in Kazakhstan. 1.5hrs domestic flight. 2hrs transfer to the lodge. Welcome dinner. Arrival to Almaty and connection to a 1hr domestic flight to UKK airport where you will be met by your guide. We then hop on a private minivan transfer to Ridder which takes about 2hrs depending on the road conditions. We check into the hotel, have dinner, run gear check and safety briefing.
- Day 2: Warm-up catskiing.On the first ski day, we’ll do a hands-on avalanche search & rescue practice session to ensure everyone’s prepared for the unexpected. You can expect 5-8 runs per day, with verticals ranging from 300-800m each, adding up to 3,500-4,000m total.
- Days 3–5: Ski-touring in different areas, 2-3 runs per day.Three days of ski touring in quiet conifer forests with access to steeper terrain in different location,usually 2-3 runs per day and total elevation gain of 600-1,200m depending on the fitness of the group. One day may end with a ski-in to an authentic steam sauna in the woods! Drive from the hotel to the trailhead usually takes 20-40 minutes.
- Days 6–7: Two full days of catskiing. One evening we will visit Ridder town museum.
- Day 8: Domestic flight back to Almaty, farewell dinner, overnight stay.Drive back to the UKK airport and flight to Almaty, a short optional city tour, overnight in a 3-4-star hotel.
- Day 9: Sunday: Transfer to the airport and flight home.
From the trip description by Primalscapes
Where you stay
We will be based at a recently built timber chalet-style hotel with door-to-door access to snowcats and 20-30 minutes drive away from ski-touring spots. There are 17 spacious twin or double ensuite rooms featuring hand-made wooden furniture.
There is an upscale restaurant serving dishes of European and Kazakh cuisine and providing killer buffet breakfasts, a bar, a SPA center with saunas and massage, and a drying cabinet for ski boots and clothing.
Getting There
The nearest airport is Oskemen (UKK) in East Kazakhstan. A short 1hr domestic flight operated by reputable AirAstana airline takes you there from cosmopolitan Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city.
The best international flights to Almaty are AirAstana’s DIRECT from London or Frankfurt.
Once you arrive in Oskemen, our driver will greet you at the airport and take you on a smooth 2-hour ride to the lodge near Ridder. On the way back, you’ll need an overnight stay in Almaty, but we’ve got that covered too — enjoy an evening exploring this vibrant city before heading home.
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 23 – Jan 31, 20272026/27 · 9 days3,160 EUR€3,160 per person for 6 days skiing, exclusive of flights; group of 10–12AvailableChoose these datesBook on company website
Printed as "Join a group: 23-31 Jan 2027".
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
- A selection of wide planks, as well as splitboards, is available for rent locally at €190 per trip.
- Avalanche kit rental consisting of transceiver, shovel and probe is €70 per trip.
- 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.
- Private groups: Dec-March, Sat to Sun
From the trip description by Primalscapes
Reviews
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