• Season
    November - March
  • Duration
    8 Days / 7 Nights
  • Guiding Ratio
    Max 1:5
  • Price
    NZD $3,390.00

About this expedition

Discover one of Asia’s last great ski frontiers with our guided ski touring expedition in the Western Altai of Kazakhstan. Based in the historic mining town of Ridder, this 8-day trip immerses you in the UNESCO-listed Golden Mountains — a vast wilderness of complex ridgelines, deep powder bowls, and silent tree runs that see almost no tracks. With IFMGA-certified guides, dedicated avalanche training, and fully inclusive logistics, this is pure expedition-style ski touring far beyond any resort boundary. Experience true exploration, post-Soviet frontier hospitality, and the profound solitude of a region where wilderness begins at the edge of town.
Itinerary
Day 1
Day 1
Arrival and transfer to Ridder
We’ll meet you at Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk) Airport and head to the town of Ridder, following a scenic route surrounded by the snow-covered peaks of the Altai Mountains. After check-in, take some time to relax after your journey. In the evening, we’ll gather for a welcome dinner and a briefing to go over the week’s programme and prepare for the snowy adventures ahead.
Day 2-3
Day 2-3
Avalanche safety training, exploring the area, and first ski tours
Safety comes first, so these days begin with avalanche safety training: learning how to use beacons, probes, and shovels effectively. These essential skills will give you confidence on the slopes and serve you well on future ski tours. Once training is complete, we’ll explore the nearby ski touring routes. Snowmobiles or snowcats will take us to pristine powder and hidden freeride spots that few have experienced.
Day 4-7
Day 4-7
Ski touring in remote locations
For four days, we’ll venture further afield to explore the most exciting and untouched slopes of Western Altai. Far from the crowds, you’ll enjoy deep snow, sweeping views, and unforgettable descents on carefully selected lines. In the evenings, unwind with a traditional Eastern dastarkhan (feast), relax in a hot sauna, and share stories with your team over dinner in a warm, friendly atmosphere.
Day 8
Day 8
Farewell ski tour, transfer, and departure
We’ll cap off the week with a short morning ski tour, giving you one last chance to enjoy the mountains and fresh tracks. Afterward, we’ll transfer you to Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk) for your flight home. You’ll leave with lasting memories of endless powder slopes, breathtaking landscapes, and a strong desire to return for more.

What Makes This Trip Unique

True Exploration: You will almost certainly be making first descents, or skiing lines that see only a handful of tracks each season. This is skiing in its most exploratory, map-blank form.

Expedition Mentality: This trip is structured as a moving expedition from a fixed base, focusing on deep immersion into a single, vast wilderness zone rather than village-hopping.

UNESCO Wilderness: The "Golden Mountains of Altai" designation underscores the global significance and pristine nature of this mountain ecosystem.

Contrast & Character: The juxtaposition of Ridder's post-industrial atmosphere with the untouched wilderness just beyond creates a uniquely compelling and authentic sense of place.
Meet Your Guide
Dmitry Rybalchenko
IFMGA Mountain & Ski Guide
Elite ski-mountaineer & guide. Piolets d'Or nominee & Snow Leopard Award recipient. 10 years leading expeditions across Siberia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.

Inclusions and Details

This all-inclusive package covers all logistics: All ground transfers, seven nights of lodge accommodation in Ridder, and all meals at the destination. Expert guides provide the safety and local knowledge needed to unlock this final frontier, creating an adventure defined by untouched snow, profound solitude, and pure exploration

  • Accommodation

    7 nights expedition lodge in Ridder

  • Meals

    All meals at the destination

  • Transfers

    All ground transfers

  • Guides

    Professional guides including avalanche and safety training
Equipment
This trip requires ski touring equipment and avalanche rescue gear. Please bring your own transceiver, shovel and probe, and make sure you are comfortable using them. If you need to hire any items, let us know when you book.
View full equipment guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Trip Dates

Related Trips

Ridder is the early-season half of Kazakhstan — cold Altai powder and trees. For spring glaciers above Almaty see Tuyuk-Su or the Shymbulak yurt-camp trip.
Plan Your Western Altai Adventure
Have questions or ready to book? Contact us today, and let our experts help you craft the ultimate mountain adventure in the stunning Western Altai range.