A real outdoor family mountain resort in a forested Tian Shan gorge near Almaty, Kazakhstan, formerly known by its Russian name Lesnaya Skazka.
- 1,558 m Base
- 1,820 m Top lift
- 262 m Vertical
- 5 Pistes mapped
- 5 Lifts
Best known for
Après & vibe
The resort offers restaurants, an ethno-spa in Kazakh yurts and cultural attractions rather than a party scene.
The snow centre
Oi-Qaragai, whose name means 'forest in a gorge' and which was long known as Lesnaya Skazka, is a real all-season mountain resort tucked into a wooded valley of the Trans-Ili Alatau range, part of the greater Tian Shan, a short drive east of Almaty. Its ski slopes are mostly easy to intermediate, set among spruce forest, making it a favourite for Kazakh families and beginners rather than hardcore skiers. The resort leans heavily into experience and culture, with treehouse lodging, an ethno-spa in traditional yurts, ziplines and other year-round attractions alongside the pistes. At genuine mountain altitude it enjoys a proper Central Asian winter, with cold, dry snow through the season. Come for a scenic, family-friendly mountain break close to a major city.
The slope
Plenty of gentle, forested slopes ideal for families and first-timers.
Comfortable cruising runs make up much of the ski area.
Limited steep terrain; advanced skiers will find it easygoing.
Not a resort for expert lift-served challenge.
Treehouse village and yurt spa
Beyond skiing, the resort is known for its treehouse lodges, ziplines and an ethno-spa set in traditional yurts.
On the map
Legend
Run difficulty
- Novice
- Easy
- Intermediate
- Advanced / Expert
- Freeride / Extreme
- Unknown
Run types
- Downhill — groomed
- Downhill — ungroomed
- Downhill — gladed
- Nordic (groomed)
- Ski tour
- ☾Lit (night)
- △Not patrolled
- →One-way
- ❄Snowmaking
Lifts
- Operating
- Operating (private)
- Non-operating
- Lift station
Slope-gradient grading
Downhill / ski tour
- Flat<3°
- Easy3–14°
- Intermediate14–22°
- Advanced / Expert22–45°
- Freeride / Extreme>45°
Nordic
- Easy<6°
- Intermediate6–9°
- Advanced>9°
Aspect (sun exposure)
- N — least sun
- E — morning
- S — most sun
- W — afternoon
Legend after OpenSkiMap
Stay near Oi-Qaragai
Stay on-site in the resort's treehouses and lodges, or day-trip up from the city of Almaty.
A base in town — the snow centre is a day trip, not a resort stay.
Self-catering flexibility for a family visit or a longer city break.
Handy if the centre is a stopover between flights.
Book access to Oi-Qaragai
Snow sessions, lessons and slope passes for Oi-Qaragai.
Online access tickets for Oi-Qaragai will be bookable here shortly. In the meantime, book direct on the venue's own site.
How to get there
Almaty International Airport is the gateway, with the resort a short drive east into the mountains.
Roughly a 40-minute drive from Almaty up into the Oi-Qaragai gorge.
Best time: Best from December to March for cold, settled Tian Shan snow.
Nearby resorts
Other resorts within reach.
Горнолыжная база "Каракол", Ski resort "Karakol"
- Vertical
- 616 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 9
- Lifts
- 4
Горнолыжный комплекс "ЗиЛ", ZiL Ski Resort
- Vertical
- 480 m
- Lifts
- 4
Горнолыжная база Чункурчак, Ski base Chunkurchak
- Vertical
- 406 m
- Lifts
- 6
Getting to Oi-Qaragai
Book an airport transfer up to the resort, or pick up a car at Almaty (ALA) — search and compare without leaving the page.
Ski data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via OpenSkiMap & Skimap.org. Basemap © OpenFreeMap / OpenMapTiles. Editorial: mynext.holiday. Accommodation via Stay22; transfers via Kiwitaxi; car hire via Travelpayouts.