Cat-Skiing holiday in Kazakhstan — ALTAÏ:
Siberian Powder, the Snowcat, and the End of the World
8 days / 7 nights / 6 days of skiing
There are destinations that few European skiers have put on their bucket list. Not because they don't deserve to be there—but because they don't yet know what awaits them. The Kazakh Altai is one of them. Wild mountains on the edge of Siberia, continental snow of rare lightness, and untouched slopes accessible only by snowcat, which you will be among the first Europeans to ski. This week doesn't exist in mainstream catalogs. It never will.
PowderWeGo takes you to Ridder, in the Kazakh Altai Mountains, for six days of cat-skiing in Kazakhstan. Experience pristine nature and a dry cold that transforms every inch of snow into light powder. The fitness level is accessible—the snowcat makes the ascent—but advanced skiing skills are essential. Here, the mountain doesn't forgive mediocrity. It generously rewards those who know how to enjoy it.
Cat-skiing Kazakhstan — Altai Ridder
from €5,500*
DECEMBER
Kazakhstan
12 people per group / 2 guides
Ascents +800m
Catskiing
Snowcat or snowmobile included
Personalize this trip
Or contact us at +33 6 51 66 58 53
-
The Siberian powder snow of December — cold, dry, light as icing sugar, fresh with every departure
-
The snowcat climbs while you enjoy the scenery — then drops you off at the top of a virgin face
-
Mountains that almost no European skier has yet explored — a true terra incognita
-
Altai eagles circling above the ridges, fir and birch forests blanketed in fresh snow
-
The warmth of the lodge or dacha in the evening, the Kazakh cuisine, and the rare feeling of having skied where no one else skis
SKIING IN KAZAKHSTAN: The Altai Mountains, the last great unexplored mountain range of Central Asia
In the far east of Kazakhstan, where the borders of Russia, China and Mongolia almost touch, the Altai Mountains rise from the steppe in a succession of snow-covered massifs that very few Western skiers have ever approached.
The Ridder region — formerly Leninsk, nestled in the Siberian taiga in the shadow of Mount Ivanov and Mount Prokhodnoy — is the epicenter of what we consider to be one of the best off-piste skiing destinations in Central Asia .
North and northeast slopes protected from prevailing winds, wide and technical couloirs, and already exceptional December snow cover thanks to the Siberian flow which pours its dry snow onto the Kazakh foothills.
A backcountry skiing paradise in the pre-season.
The Altai's continental climate is what makes all the difference. Far from any ocean, Atlantic weather systems never reach this terrain. The snow that falls here is cold, light, and remains powdery for days after the last snowfall. December temperatures regularly drop below -15°C at night—which, for a skier, is excellent news.
The powder snow of the Kazakh Altai is every bit as good as that of Japan or Utah. It also has the added advantage of having been discovered by only a very select few.
Around you, the Altai Mountains live at their own pace. Steppe eagles soar over the frozen peaks. Wolves roam the taiga clearings at night. The Kazakh villages around Ridder perpetuate a millennia-old nomadic culture, and the warmth of their hospitality contrasts sharply with the harsh cold outside. Skiing in Kazakhstan is also about this: a destination that offers a complete change of scenery, going far beyond just skiing.
CAT-SKIING IN ALTAI — FROM RIDDER TO THE SUMMIT OF IVANOV MOUNTAINS
The principle of cat-skiing in Kazakhstan is simple, and that's precisely what makes it so addictive: the snowcat ascends, you ski. No effort on the way up, no skins to use, no vertical gain to manage. All your energy and concentration go towards the descent—on northeast-facing slopes that accumulate fresh snow and keep it pristine for days after each snowfall. The Prokhodnoy and Ivanov mountain ranges offer an exceptional array of lines: technical couloirs framed by fir trees, wide, open bowls with ideal aspects, and steep faces reserved for skiers who love to feel the slope beneath their edges.
Six days of skiing, early morning departures by van from the hotel, the snowcat at the foot of the first slopes, and guides who know this mountain range like the back of their hand. The day's lines are selected in real time: recent snowfall, wind direction, snowpack stability. Nothing is set in stone—everything is optimized so you ski the best terrain available that morning. For those seeking an extra thrill, a heli-skiing day can be arranged as an option, subject to availability—another way to reach the most remote areas of the mountain range.
Accommodation is in a hotel or traditional dacha in Ridder—two options depending on your comfort preferences. Hearty breakfasts are served before departure, followed by lunches in the mountains and dinners at the hotel or in town. Kazakh evenings have their own unique flavor: the food is generous, the tea is piping hot, and the conversations around the table have that special something that only small expedition groups share. Maximum twelve people. Two guides. An entire mountain.
Questions about your catskiing trip to Kazakhstan ?
We respond within 24 hours.
This stay is available both as a group package and as a private package — contact us for a personalized quote.
Our strengths:
-
Our knowledge of the Kazakh Altai massif and its best December routes
-
22 years of experience in off-piste skiing , cat-skiing and backcountry skiing in adventure terrain
-
Groups of no more than 6 skiers per guide — size makes all the difference
-
A snowcat access that maximizes the number of runs and opens up areas inaccessible on foot
-
An uncompromising approach to safety: daily snowpack assessment, avalanche equipment provided
You will enjoy:
-
Siberian powder snow — some of the lightest and driest snow in the world
-
Untouched slopes in December, the first snowfall of the season, no tracks before you
-
Off-piste skiing in the Altai region with a variety and quality rarely seen in Europe
-
A complete change of scenery: Central Asia, the taiga, the dry cold, Kazakh culture
-
The quality-experience ratio: exceptional conditions at a price unbeatable elsewhere
CAT-SKIING PROGRAM in Kazakhstan — 8 days in the Altai
Day 1 — Saturday: Arrival in Öskemen (Oskemen)
Arrival at Öskemen Airport in the late afternoon, around 5:00 PM — after a flight from Paris via Istanbul, the last gateway before Central Asia. Quick snack followed by a minibus transfer to Ridder: a two-hour drive through the snow-covered steppe and taiga, at the foot of the first foothills of the Altai Mountains. Arrival at the hotel, check-in, and a first glimpse of the massif in the darkness and cold of December.
Days 2 to 7 — Sunday to Friday: Cat-Skiing in the Altai
Early breakfast, then off by van to the operational area. The snowcat is already there, engine warm. It climbs as you watch—the birch forest passing by, the ridges rising, the cold intensifying with altitude. At the top, the face opens up. Your guides have chosen the line. The snow is cold, light, deep—off-piste skiing in the Altai like you've probably never experienced before.
The Prokhodnoy and Ivanov mountain ranges offer lines for all levels of experienced skiers: wide, sweeping bowls with generous shoulders, more technical couloirs framed by snow-covered fir trees, and northeast-facing slopes that rarely see the sun and retain their powder for days on end. The runs continue, one after another, until mid-afternoon. Return to the hotel. Debriefing. Dinner.
For those who want to go even further into the mountain range, a day of heliskiing in Kazakhstan can be organized as an option depending on the availability of the aircraft — access to the most remote areas, lines with more than 1,000 meters of vertical drop, another view of the Altai from the sky.
Day 8 — Saturday: Departure from Öskemen
Last free morning in Ridder. Lunch, transfer by minibus to Öskemen Airport. Return flight via Istanbul. You return with snow in your legs that few French skiers have yet experienced — and a persistent desire to return before everyone else discovers it.
Optional
A package including heli-skiing is an option, which must be requested before booking.
This program is indicative and may be modified depending on weather conditions, snowpack conditions, and the availability of the snowcat or snowmobiles . The guide has sole discretion in this matter.
Number of travel days: 8 (allow an extra day before and 1 day after)
Number of skiing days: 6
Technical level: 3/5 experience in ski touring and off-piste skiing in deep snow.
Physical level: 2/5 capable of moderate effort for several hours.
Number of participants: maximum 2 groups of 6 pax + 2 guides.
Our package includes:
For a group of 6 participants + 1 professional mountain guide
-
Accommodation in a hotel or traditional dacha in Ridder, in a twin room
-
Transfers to/from Öskemen Airport (2-hour drive)
-
Supervision by professional PowderWeGo guides/instructors
-
Safety equipment: ABS® airbag backpack, avalanche transceiver (DVA), probe and shovel
-
Snowcats or snowmobiles for accessing the terrain
-
Full board: breakfasts, lunches in the mountains and dinners at the hotel
Our package does not include:
-
The round trip to Öskemen (connections via Istanbul and Almaty — we recommend an overnight stay in Istanbul the day before departure; we can arrange your transfer upon request)
-
Travel and repatriation insurance (mandatory — to be provided before departure)
-
Ski equipment: warm clothing (prepare for -20°C), powder skis (110 mm width recommended), boots, bindings, helmet
-
Drinks and meals in town
-
Tips
-
Single room supplement: €170/night for 1 person, €85/night for an even number of people
Essential cold-weather gear: December temperatures in the Kazakh Altai regularly drop to between -15°C and -25°C. Bring appropriate thermal base layers, mittens, and a balaclava. We will provide you with a detailed equipment list upon booking.
We can help you book your flights upon request. We also recommend an overnight stay in Istanbul before your flight to Öskemen, or a transit through Almaty — contact us.
Special dietary requirements or allergies? Let us know when booking, our chef will take care of it.
Options and extras:
-
Heli-skiing in the Altai : access to the most remote areas of the mountain range — on request, subject to availability
-
Private Snowcat : exclusive use of the snowcat for your group — upon request, advance booking recommended
-
Ski touring as a complement or alternative: on request
-
Private group: the entire stay privatized for your group — dedicated rates, flexible dates
-
Private suite at the hotel: upon request, subject to availability
-
Premium chauffeur-driven vehicle for transfers: on request
-
Overnight stay in Istanbul on arrival or departure, or extended stay: we organize everything upon request
We also recommend spending a night in Istanbul before your flight to Öskemen, or transiting through Almaty — and why not spend a few days visiting Almaty or Astana on your return? Contact us to create your tailor-made trip.
This trip is for skiers who want to go where neither they nor their friends have ever been before—and return with images that no one will recognize. December in the Kazakh Altai is the most unique start to the season you can experience. Places fill up quickly, especially for private group bookings. Don't miss this opportunity.
If you hesitate, it will be too late.
And placing an option costs nothing.
Your level doesn't quite match? Contact us before registering — we'll tell you in five minutes if this week is right for you, or if another option would be a better fit.