Medeu

Медеу

The world's highest outdoor speed skating rink, at 1,691 meters above sea level. Its 10,500 square meters of ice are surrounded by mountains, and it is the starting point for the Shymbulak gondola.

Medeu is located in the Medeu valley about 15 km south of central Almaty, at an altitude of 1,691 meters. Completed in 1972, it is the highest large outdoor skating rink in the world. It has set more than 100 speed skating world records. The ice surface covers about 10,500 square meters and is open to the public in winter (roughly November to March). Skate rental costs about 2,500 to 3,500 tenge per session. Weekends and holidays are crowded, so it is best to go on a weekday morning. In summer, the rink is closed, but you can take photos around the venue and climb the 842 steps of the 'Health Stairs' (Lestnitsa Zdorovya) to the top of the mudflow protection dam next to it. From there, you can see the whole rink and valley, a visit that takes about 30 minutes.

Medeu is also the lower station of the Shymbulak Gondola. The gondola has three sections. The first goes to the Shymbulak ski resort at 2,260 meters, where you can transfer to the Talgar Pass at 3,200 meters. The full trip takes about 25 minutes. A round-trip winter ticket costs about 5,000 to 7,000 tenge and is cheaper in summer.

Getting there: take bus No. 12 from Dostyk Avenue in the city center (about 150 tenge with an Onay card) directly to the terminus, about 40 minutes. A taxi costs about 3,000 tenge.

Visitor notes: the valley is 5 to 8 degrees colder than the city in winter, so wear gloves and protective gear. Food prices around the rink are high, so bring your own water. In summer, bus No. 12 has long queues on weekends.

Opening hours

Ice rink 10:00–17:00, 18:00–23:00 (winter; closed Mondays for maintenance); cable car 09:00–17:00

Ice skating · High mountains · Cable car · Landmark

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