TonyM

Anybody make the trip up to Chimbulak?

Sideshow Bob

I'm sure Boris the gypsy cab driver will move over his chickens and take you. Just under-dress so he doesn't hand you over to the Russian mob, since neither one of our companies will pay the ransom demands.

USMCFDX

That's another way to look at it!!

She was not a "professional" lady of the evening, I was kidnapped and had to pay her ransom to let me go.

Sorry Tony I know it does not answer you question.

cma2407

I got some good info from the concierge there at the ALA hotel, who set us up real well so we could go golfing there. We just "thumbed" our way across town to the course. That was fun; Kazahk military sentry was watching the bridge over the creek, and selling golf balls when you crossed. Ain't capitalism grand?

Skiing is similar, the hotel can set it up for you. Evidently, it's not that far a drive (Most of it vertical...so don't expect many rope tows). The Hill looks varsity level, which it must be since the Sov ski team used to train there. Good luck!

FR8Hauler

I have skied there a couple times. You can rent everything including snow suit, gloves skis...the whole nine yards out in town at I think it was Xtreme Sports. Equipment was good just really short skis. Hotel will line up a ride up and pick up at the end of the day. Lift tickets were cheap and great bbq on the deck at the lodge if it is a nice day. The whole thing for rental, ride and tickets was under $100 each for the three of us. It is a great time and I highly recommend it. Runs are intemediate nothing too challenging the lifts don't slow down when you get on and kind of slam into the back of your legs which will be sore at the end of the day from the bashing. Have fun.

Blackbeard

It's been a couple of years, but the KLM crews used to meet in the lobby around 9 or 10 in the morning. I hitched a ride with them one time. They had a regular driver that took us up in an old troop carrier-type truck. I rode on their coattails and being an honorary KLM crewmember, I received discounts on the equipment rental and lift ticket! It was awesome. I tried to pitch in for the ride up but they would have nothing of the sort. I at least made a point of buying a couple of rounds at the bar on the hill. The dudes jumped up and went skiing again leaving me to hang out with the girls on the sun deck. Hurt me. I bought them a round of cappuccinos before a few more runs.

I brought my own bibs. Plan A was a taxi with the hotel's assistance. It was about a 45 minute drive but taxis were cheap. The skiing was okay -- not many bumps.

Go for it. It was well worth it just to get away from the hotel. Awesome mountain scenery as well. Have a blast.

TonyM

Thanks for all the replies. Keep 'em coming if there's more info.

Ski Patrol

Good post but your avatar is disgusting.

dutch747

Been there,done that.

I've done both, let the hotel set it up and gone to Extreme Sports and let them set it up. Definitely if I did it again, go to Extreme Sports. The equipment was better and overall a lot cheaper.