The Almaty Atelier

Nestled at the foot of the Tian Shan mountains in southeastern Kazakhstan, Almaty is a city unlike any other in Central Asia. Once the nation’s capital and still its largest city, Almaty combines Soviet-era grandeur with a thriving modern energy — tree-lined boulevards, world-class restaurants, alpine ski resorts, and some of the most dramatic mountain scenery on the continent, all within a single city’s reach. From Shymbulak ski resort — one of the highest ski areas in the world, reachable by gondola in under 30 minutes from the city centre — to Charyn Canyon, often called Kazakhstan’s answer to the Grand Canyon, the outdoor options around Almaty are extraordinary. Hikers, cyclists, and mountaineers will find world-class terrain on their doorstep, while the Big Almaty Lake offers a high-altitude alpine experience accessible even to casual visitors.