Medeo Tour from Almaty: the High-Altitude Ice Rink
Twenty minutes from the city centre, at 1,691 m, stands the highest Olympic-size outdoor skating rink in the world. Skate on mountain meltwater in winter, walk the dam and the 842 steps in summer, with hotel pickup and a local guide in English, Russian or Turkish.
- Duration: 3–4 hours
- Start: flexible, morning or afternoon
- Distance: 20 km, about 30 minutes each way
- Altitude: 1,691 m
- Season: all year; skating November–March
- Group tour: daily, minimum 2 people
- Private tour: any day, any group size
- Walking: easy, stairs optional
- Rated 5.0 on Google (38 reviews)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Change or cancel up to 72 hours before departure
- Reply within 24 hours, usually much faster
Medeo tour itinerary
- Pickup at your hotel or apartment in Almaty, at the time that suits you.
- +30 min Arrive at Medeo. Your guide tells you how the rink was built in 1972 on mountain spring water, and why more than a hundred world speed-skating records were set on this ice.
- 1–1.5 h Skating in season: rent skates at the rink, warm up with tea between sessions. Outside the season: walk the stands, the stadium area and the viewpoints.
- +45 min The Medeu dam: a 150-metre earth barrier built after the 1966 and 1973 mudflows that threatened the city. Climb the 842 steps to the top, or drive up, for the view back over the gorge and Almaty in the distance.
- Optional Continue by gondola to Shymbulak at 2,260 m, or to the Talgar Pass at 3,200 m, and come back down for the return transfer.
- Return Drop-off at your hotel, or continue to another sight in the city.
Medeo is a half-day trip that fits well around other plans. Many guests take it in the morning and add Kok Tobe or the Green Bazaar later the same day.
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Almaty
- Comfortable air-conditioned vehicle; 4x4 in winter conditions
- Local guide (English, Russian or Turkish)
- Bottled water
Not included
- Rink entry and skate rental (paid on site)
- Gondola tickets if you continue to Shymbulak
- Food and drinks
- Tips for guide and driver (optional)
Why Medeo is more than a skating rink
Medeu opened in 1972 as a Soviet showpiece: a 10,500 m² ice field at almost 1,700 m, frozen with water from the Almatinka river, in air so thin and clean that skaters went measurably faster. Between the 1950s and the 1980s more than a hundred world records were set here, and the rink earned the nickname "the factory of records". It is still the highest Olympic-standard outdoor rink in the world and it still fills with locals on winter evenings.
Directly above it stands the dam, which is a monument of a different kind. After a catastrophic mudflow in 1973 the barrier held back a wave of rock and water that would have reached the city. Climbing its 842 steps is a small Almaty ritual; from the top you see the rink below like a blue lens in the forest.
Medeo in photos
Winter and summer at Medeo
November to March
The skating season. Public sessions run through the day and into the evening, when the floodlights and the surrounding dark forest make the rink especially photogenic.
- Skate rental in all sizes at the rink
- Warm-up rooms, cafés and hot drinks
- Evenings are colder but the atmosphere is best
April to October
No ice, but the valley is green and the site hosts concerts, festivals and sports events. The dam, the stairs and the gondola all work normally.
- Walks in the gorge and up to the dam
- Gondola to Shymbulak for alpine meadows
- Cool escape when the city is above 30 °C
What to bring
Medeo sits 800 m higher than the city, so it is usually 5–8 °C colder, and the gorge holds shade for much of the day in winter. If you plan to skate, gloves are not optional: the ice is hard and very cold when you fall.
Bring with you
- Warm jacket, hat and gloves in the cold months
- Thick socks if you are renting skates
- Shoes with grip; paths around the rink can be icy
- Sunglasses — the sun off the ice is bright
- Cash or card for skate rental and cafés
Fitness level: easy. The rink and viewpoints are all on the flat; the 842 steps are entirely optional and there is a road to the top of the dam.
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Medeo without skating?
Yes. Many visitors come for the setting alone: the rink from the stands, the dam, the stairs and the mountain views. In summer there is no ice at all and the site is used for walks and events.
When is the skating season?
Usually from November to March, depending on the weather. Public sessions run during the day and in the evening under floodlights; the schedule changes with events, so we check before your visit.
Can I rent skates, or bring my own?
Skates in all sizes are available at the rink, and you may also bring your own. Staff sometimes check blade condition before letting you on the ice.
Is rink entry included in the tour?
No, entry and skate rental are paid on site and depend on the session. Your guide helps you buy tickets and find the rental counter.
Can I combine Medeo with Shymbulak?
Yes, this is the most popular combination: the gondola leaves from Medeo and reaches Shymbulak at 2,260 m and the Talgar Pass at 3,200 m. Together they make a half to full day; see our Shymbulak tour.
How many steps are there on the dam?
842. Most visitors climb them in 20–30 minutes with breaks; there is also a road, so you can drive to the top and walk back down instead.
Are there cafés at Medeo?
Yes, small cafés and kiosks near the entrance and along the stands serve hot tea, coffee and light meals; there are more restaurants higher up at Shymbulak.
How do I book and pay?
Send your dates and group size on WhatsApp or through the contact form, and say whether you want to add Shymbulak. We confirm within 24 hours. Group tours usually need no deposit; private tours are confirmed with a deposit, and the balance is paid on the day.
Related tours
- Shymbulak tourGondola from Medeo to 3,200 m
- Kok Tobe tourCity views, easy afternoon add-on
- Ile-Alatau National Park tourFull day in the same mountains
- Almaty city tourThe city in one day
Book your Medeo trip
Tell us your date, number of travellers and whether you want to skate or continue to Shymbulak. We reply the same day.
WhatsApp +7 707 717 71 01 info@almatytourkz.comAlmaty Tour KZ · 22 Zenkov Street, Medeu District, Almaty · Local tour operator
Medeo · high-altitude ice rink & dam
See Medeo before you book
Filmed on one of our own departures — the drive up the gorge, the rink itself and the staircase to the top of the dam. No stock footage.
Get your price for this tour today
Tell us your dates and group size. We come back with availability and an exact price — usually within a couple of hours.
- Rated 5.0 on Google
- Answer within 24 hours
- Free cancellation up to 72 hours
- English · Russian · Turkish