Shymbulak

Thurs 6/6/24

Our room booked at hotel Edelveis did not come with breakfast, so we ate some dates that we brought with us and would have breakfast later at Shymbulak mountain. Our hotel is located only 2km from Medeu cable car station that would take us up Shymbulak mountain. We left the hotel at 8.30am and drove to Medeu and parked at the outdoor parking which cost 500 KZT per entry. 

The cashier for the cable car only opens at 9am but there was already a queue, although not that long yet just before 9am. We purchased the cable car up which includes Combi-1 and "Combi-2 ,up to the Shymbulak peak for return trip which cost KZT 5000 per person. There are 2 cable car rides per way, the first ride takes you to Shymbulak Resort, the second ride takes you to the top. 

view from the cable car

view of another cable car

We got off the first cable car to Shymbulak resort and had our breakfast at one of the cafes there - Café gusto. We had cheese and chocolate croissants, latte and mocha which cost KZT 7920. The food is pricey up here.

croissant, latter and mocha

After breakfast, we took the second cable car ride up to the Shymbulak top where we walked a bit towards the start of the hike path. We didn't plan to hike today and just wanted to have a relaxing day up at the mountains. It was really hot this morning, even at the top. There is still remaining ice, which reminded us of our trip to Dachstein mountain in September when it was also hot, but there were remaining ice at the top. 

remaining ice at the top

Unfortunately we didn't bring our drone today, thinking there would be many tourists, but there were actually no one at the hiking path and there were flat surfaces for the drone to take off and land. It would have been beautiful to take the drone videos and pictures from up here.

hiking path at Shymbulak

no one here

Then we proceeded to the Chimbulachka Yuzhnaya peak trail where I only climbed halfway and waited for Partner In Crime who continued to the peak. It was getting colder at 1pm, probably the wind have brought in the clouds. Luckily we brought our jackets although it was really hot this morning and didn't need to wear it.

Chimbulachka Yuzhnaya peak

Chimbulachka Yuzhnaya peak

view from the peak

another view from the peak

From there, we climbed down to have tea and baursak at a yurt restaurant up there, which cost KZT 4200 while enjoying the views. 

enjoying tea and baursak

baursak

We originally planned to have lunch here, but the restaurant only had chicken soup today. So we decided to go to yesterday's restaurant Bauyrdaq. We descended via the cable car using the same ticket that we purchased in the morning and reached back down around 3pm.

For late lunch / early dinner today, we had Naryn (horse meat jerky with beef broth and home made noodles) and roast kuyrdak with lamb ribs and a pot of mint tea which all cost KZT 11000. 

Naryn (horse meat jerky with beef broth and home made noodles)

what's left of the roast kuyrdak with lamb ribs (forgot to take pic before eating) 

what it's supposed to look like 

We then drove to our hotel Ibis Almaty, but were confused to find the hotel parking. We ended up circling the hotel a few times, then decided to ask for help from reception. There was indeed a basement parking in the hotel area which is free of charge for hotel guests. We booked our room through the Accors app which cost KZT 52637 (or RM 520) per night without breakfast. 

We didn't go out tonight, only rested in our room.