2025 The 5 Stans. Kazakhstan, Almaty

Our last day in the Stans. And it was to be filled with a full day tour of Almaty

First was a visit to the Shymbulak mountain resort. The bus took us 25km from Almaty to the Medeu Sports Complex where we we took a cable car to the resort. This cable ride had some amazing views of the snow covered hills. The 4.5km ride took 15 minutes so we had plenty of time to admire the scenery. We were then up 3,200 metres. This was just the start of the ski season but it was a winter wonderland. In 1983 Shymbulak became the Olympic ski training centre for the USSR and restaurants and hotels were built. These days it is a popular winter sport area.

At the start of the cable car ride

Up we go

Icy ground below

Arriving at Shymbulak Resort

The ski slopes

Coffee time

Our group at Shymbulak

Icicles

Said to belong a prominent politician

Guards for heavy snow

Back in town, and after lunch, we strolled through Panfilov Park, also known as the Twenty-Eight Guardsmen Park. Twenty-eight soldiers from the local area died while delaying the German advance into Moscow. There is an eternal flame to commemorate the fallen soldiers. Behind this is an enormous bronze monument showing soldiers from all 15 Soviet republics, united in defense. It is called Monument of Glory and is a powerful work of art.

We visited two buildings in Panfilov Park. The first was the Museum of Kazakh Folk Musical Instruments, housed in a wooden building from 1908. It is home to more than 1,000 examples of musical instruments but is also dedicated to the collection, preservation, research, and popularization of the musical heritage of the Kazakh people. The building was designed by a famous architect, A.P. Zenkov, who was also the the designer of the cathedral we saw next. The Acension (or Zenkov) Cathedral is the world’s tallest wooden Orthodox Christian temple and one of the world’s tallest wooden buildings. Zenkov designed the building to be earthquake proof. Built with spruce timber, it was successfully tested by the 1911 earthquake. It is a beautiful building. Quite ornate and, very colourful.

View from the TV tower hill

Palace of the Schoolchildren in Almaty

Entering Panfilov Park

Monument to Soldiers-Internationalists

Eternal Flame to commemorate fallen soldiers

Memorial of Glory

Museum of Kazakh Folk Musical Instruments

Ascension (or Zenkov) Cathedral

Back on the road, more rental bikes

Last was a visit to the bustling Green Bazaar. Here was clothing, fruit, deli items, all the usual items. We had had a wonderful time both in the Stans and with the members of our group. So a last night drink and dinner was perfect to celebrate the wonderful sights we had seen and the friendships we had made.

At the Bazaar

Celebrating last night of tour with the group