from €1920 / 6 days
exclusive of flights
Cheaper than Canada. Snow beats the Alps.
Reliable deep pow, early Dec to mid March.
Luxury lodge. Direct access to snowcats.
Exquisite dishes from acclaimed chef.
Crème de la crème snow.
Fun 20-35° slopes. Sparse larch trees.
Fast snowcats. Warm oversized cabins.
Impeccable safety record over 7 years.
Wildly different from usual ski holidays.
Treat yourself to a sick week of deep, feathery pow in the woods of Kazakhstan’s West Altai mountains, based at a top-notch timber lodge, complete with a spa and an upscale restaurant on the premises.
This is a lifetime off-piste adventure to share with friends, shredding together through pristine pine glades well away from noisy ski resorts.
Remaining under the radar, Ridder, Kazakhstan offer pure unspoilt backcountry experience devoid of lifts and crowds. You are likely to spend the entire day without seeing any other groups, let alone crossing their tracks.
It is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by freeriders, ‘on par with British Columbia’, as our guests put it.
Forget about rappeling into steep couloirs hunting for the last stretches of unscratched hardpack or teetering along icy ridges with ski crampons on. Skiing in Ridder is laid back and playful! The slopes are fun 20-35º steep while small terrain features deliver ski revelations on a daily basis!
You get to ski 5-8 runs first tracks, 300-800m vertical each, with a total vertical drop of 3,500-4,000m per day. Seasoned powder hounds can go for skidoo-assisted skiing frenzy, skiing up to incredible 7,000m vertical, still at a fraction of a heli cost.
After a full day riding our signature cold-smoke powder, unwind in style at a newly built 4-star lodge. Expect cozy wooden interiors, hand-crafted furniture, and walk-in showers to recharge you for another day of adventure. On-site, you’ll find an upscale restaurant serving both Kazakh and European dishes prepared by an acclaimed chef, along with killer buffet breakfasts to fuel your mornings. For extra relaxation, indulge in the spa with saunas and massages, or kick back at the bar with a great selection of local and international beers, wines, and spirits.
Cat Skiing in Kazakhstan’s Hinterlands: What’s the Draw?
RIDDER’S EXQUISITE FEATHERY POWDER simply does not exist in Europe. Ridder’s cold and arid continental climate, coupled with moisture-laden air masses from the Siberian plains, results in dumps of snow with exceptionally low water content. This translates to incredibly light and non-sticky snow — a pure delight for exhilirating powder turns!
DIRECT ACCESS TO SNOWCATS: there is no driving involved like at many cat skiing spots in Canada. A warm snowcat will be waiting for you just a few steps from your lodge.
OUR MODERN PISTENBULLY SNOWCATS BOAST CUSTOM-BUILT OVERSIZED CABINS with heating, cushioned seats, and panoramic windows—perfect for soaking in the snow-laden winter forest on the way up. Pre-groomed trails guarantee smooth, fast ascents.
WORLD-CLASS TREE-SKIING. While European alpine forests (and Georgian for that matter) tend to be rather dense, the slopes in Ridder are dotted with sparse conifers, free of undergrowth, creating the perfect playground for fast, fun tree skiing. No down days here – we ski powder no matter the weather!
THREE DIFFERENT MOUNTAIN RANGES. Our cat skiing operations span across three distinct ranges, offering a variety of slopes to suit any group and any weather.
LONG SEASON, guaranteed. As powder becomes harder to find in the Alps, Ridder maintains its status as one of the snowiest destinations on the continent. Powder skiing here is reliable from early December until mid March.
Cat skiing in Kazakhstan for private groups: 2025-26 prices
Looking for the ultimate powder adventure with just your crew? Book a private snowcat for any dates that suit you and treat yourself with 6 days of powder skiing in untouched wilderness. This is your chance to have the whole cat to yourselves — no strangers, just deep snow, good times, and loads of stoke.
Private Group Prices (per person):
5 skiers: €2780
6 skiers: €2360
7 skiers: €2180
8 skiers: €1920
Want more vertical and don’t mind a bit of adventure on the way up? Ask us about skidoo-assisted skiing — a reasonably priced option for small and strong groups eager to squeeze in every turn.
If you’re up for a mix of free touring and cat skiing, you can add more ski-touring days around Ridder or explore other mountains in Kazakhstan. Or swap some cat skiing days for touring to trim the cost without skimping on fun.
Coming solo?
Trust us — you won’t stay solo for long! Our 6-day cat skiing scheduled trips run Saturday to Sunday. That means departing Europe on Friday and includes all travel days.
Register your interest for any of these dates:
2025 SEASON
18-26 January
1-9 & 15-23 February
8-16 March
2025/2026 SEASON
6-14 December 2025 – reliable snow!
10-18 & 17-25 January
7-15 & 14-22 February
7-15 March 2026
Our trips need a minimum of 6 guests to run. Don’t worry — no deposit is required until the trip is confirmed.
Jessika Ziegler2024-08-20It was a great trip. In German we would say: "It was a well-rounded affair". Thanks Andrew
Luna Ziegler2024-08-12We went with Andrew on a hikking trip in the Fan mountains in Tadschikistan. The scenery and the whole trip was amazing. Andrew was such a perfect guide, he spoiled us every day with amazing food, wonderful camping spots and it was so amazing that you can feel that not only the people who booked the trip were enjoying it also himself. he is living this adventure live at its fullest. we can only recommend you to go on an adventure with him!! thanks a lot for that time we will never forget
Alex Antsiferov2024-05-21Andrey is a fantastic guide! He has a knack for discovering real, authentic places. Some of the coolest adventures in my life have been in his company. He himself is tough as nails and never seems to get tired, but he always plans trips within others' abilities and never takes unnecessary risks. Also, Andrey takes great photos — I totally depend on him for my supply of desktop wallpapers!
Alexey Gaponov2024-03-22I've joined Andrey on skiing trips to Mamay valley (Lake Baikal), Ridder (Kazachstan) and Svaneti (Georgia), and would love to do so again! His trips are always thoroughly thought through, well organized and include many interesting ideas beyond skiing. For skiing/skitouring itself: Andrey is a great back-country guide, paying extreme attention to mountain safety, group's mood and abilities, and manages to find areas of untouched snow even in spaghetti-ridden spots (this might involve some uphill walking at times). Add to this his desire to interconnect people from different cultures (even in the current deglobalized times) and a skill to solve clients' problems quickly (like organizing a replacement skitouring set of the right size in the middle of the woods), and you get a reliably great ski trip as a result.
Paul Kutarski2024-02-25Excellent and truly memorable trip to Kyrgyzstan. Well organised and interesting itinerary both on and off the snow. Lots of great powder descents. The standard of accommodation and food significantly exceeded my expectations. I would not hesitate to go with Andrey again and, indeed, hope to do so next season.
Linda Chew2024-02-24Kyrgyzstan January 2024 The trip was incredibly well organised by Andrey with pleasant surprises which made it very memorable. The accommodation was excellent, warm and comfortable with great food. The ski guiding suited the abilities of the group and the snow was enjoyable. I would certainly recommend this trip with Andrey.
Eric Kendall2024-02-16Skied in Kyrgyzstan with Andrey. He is excellent - found great lines, and organised brilliantly. Also a great drone pilot! Can't wait for our next trip with him - see you in March, Andrey!
Steve Kentish2024-01-22Andre is excellent, as an organiser of the trip and as a guide. The skiing and weather was excellent in Kyrgyzstan. Safety was a key component, which he was well on top of. He used his local knowledge to find the best angle and orientation of descents. Had a great trip. Hope to return with Primalscrapes again. Note: the skiing is a fair distance from Bishkek, so long bus transfers are required, Andre organised a few excursions to break these up.
Carolyn Brown2023-12-26Andrey is an excellent off-piste guide. He has a reliable team around him and his attention to detail ensures everything runs smoothly on his trips. His help with choosing our holiday outline, booking flights and organising kit hire was first class at every stage.
Francisco Garcia2023-12-21Great experience with Primalscapes in Ridder!
After landing in Almaty, you’ll catch a 1-hour flight to UKK airport, where your guide will meet you. From there, we take a smooth 2-hour private transfer to Ridder. Once at the lodge, we’ll settle in, enjoy a welcome dinner, and go over safety protocols and gear. Rentals, if needed, will be sorted here.
A TYPICAL DAY starts with a hearty buffet breakfast at 8:00, featuring aromatic filter coffee.
Rich buffet breakfast at the lodge is served at 8:00 and includes aromatic filter coffee.
At 9:00, we gather around the snowcat for a safety briefing and transceiver check. The 50-minute snowcat ride is a chance to relax and soak up the snowy landscape.
On the first ski day, we’ll do a hands-on avalanche search & rescue practice session to ensure everyone’s prepared for the unexpected.
You can expect 5-8 runs per day, with verticals ranging from 300-800m each, adding up to 3,500-4,000m total. Getting back to the top of the run usually takes 15-30 minutes depending on whether we change spots. In the middle of the day we share packed lunch on the mountain.
We head back to the lodge around 16:00, with dinner served at 18:30. In the evenings, unwind with a sauna session (optional) or enjoy drinks at the bar.
After a transfer to UKK airport and a short flight to Almaty, you’ll have the option to explore the city before checking into a hotel for your final night.
SKI GEAR FOR KAZAKHSTAN POWDER
To fully enjoy our light, dry powder, we recommend fat skis with 105-120mm underfoot.
A selection of wide planks, as well as splitboards, is available for rent locally at €190 per trip. Avalanche kit rental consisting of transceiver, shovel and probe is €70 per trip.
You won’t need an airbag here. As skiers track out the slopes, regular snowfalls cover their tracks and the process repeats again and again, destroying any potential snow instabilities. With most skiing below the tree line, the risk of snow instability is minimal, and helmets are far more essential for tree skiing than airbags.
Safety First, Always
With 7 years of operations and impeccable safety record, safety remains our top priority.
We maintain a 1:6 guide-to-client ratio. Our English-speaking guides are local terrain experts, trained in first aid, avalanche forecasting, and mountain rescue.
In case of emergency, our guides are able to handle most injuries on-site using the medical kits they carry. The guides are in constant communication with the snowcat driver and the lodge. They also carry rescue sleds for hauling injured skiers down from the slopes to the snowcat trails. Snowmobiles are also on standby for quick evacuations. The nearest hospital is just a 15-minute drive from the lodge.
On the first day, we’ll cover essential safety protocols and do a hands-on avalanche rescue training. Each morning, we’ll run a transceiver check before heading out. All participants must have a working transceiver, shovel, and probe, and we highly recommend wearing a helmet.
Accommodation
The West Altai Mountains comprise several ranges reaching over 2,000 meters, clustered around the charming mining town of Ridder — Kazakhstan’s answer to Revelstoke, BC!
The accommodation will definitely exceed you expectations! Our newly built 4-star lodge with 30 double/twin rooms is located right next to the mountains and offers DIRECT ACCESS TO SNOWCATS. Expect spacious rooms, cozy wooden interiors, hand-crafted furniture, and walk-in showers to recharge you for another day of adventure. Fast Wi-Fi is available throughout, and there is a drying cabinet for ski boots and clothing. We also have cozy designer cottages perfect for groups of friends or families.
On-site, you’ll enjoy meals at an upscale restaurant serving both Kazakh and European cuisine, crafted by an acclaimed chef who’s a member of the prestigious Disciples d’Escoffier and holds a diploma in Healthy Nutrition from SHA in Spain. Killer buffet breakfasts are included as part of your stay. There’s also a dedicated bar with fantastic selection of local and international beers, wines, and spirits.
After a long day on the mountain, unwind in our spa center for just €30 per visit, complete with a traditional Siberian steam sauna and Middle Eastern hammam. No need to worry about cash — Visa and MasterCard are accepted.
HOW DO I GET TO KAZAKHSTAN FOR CATSKIING
While it’s a bit more of an adventure to reach the West Altai mountains, it’s still easier than getting to Canada or Japan — and the reward is pure wilderness, untracked slopes, and no crowds. We take care of all the logistics from flight recommendations till airport pickups and transfers to your lodge, so you can focus on the skiing!
The nearest airport is Oskemen (UKK) in East Kazakhstan. A short 1hr domestic flight operated by reputable AirAstana airline takes you there from cosmopolitan Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city. Almaty itself is only 30km from the Tien-Shan mountains, and for those interested, it’s a great spot to warm up with a couple of days resort skiing before heading to Ridder.
The best international flights to Almaty are AirAstana’s DIRECT from London or Frankfurt. Air Astana proudly offers metal cutlery in Economy class and carries ski bags free of charge as long as they are your only checked luggage.
Otherwise, Turkish Airlines and low cost Pegasus Airlines fly to Almaty via Istanbul from pretty much anywhere: Geneva, Manchester, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Vienna and Milan, to name a few other airports in Europe, as well as New York, San-Francisco, and Seattle. The timing of all flights is ample for a stress-free connection in Almaty.
Once you arrive in Oskemen, our driver will greet you at the airport and take you on a smooth 2-hour ride to the lodge near Ridder. On the way back, you’ll need an overnight stay in Almaty, but we’ve got that covered too — enjoy an evening exploring this vibrant city before heading home.
Booking terms
Sounds exciting? It truly is! We love the place and would be happy to share it with you. Should you have any questions, please check out our FAQ section below. Alternatively, don’t hesitate to send us your inquiry using the contact form or WhatsApp.
We require financial commitment from the participants in a form of 20% deposit paid via SEPA bank transfer or Paypal/card. The remaining balance is paid in cash or wire transfer upon arrival.
Cancellation policy
We promise a 14-day risk-free booking window: you can cancel at any point within two weeks after you put down the first deposit. This buys you time to sort out vacation and flights, to bring in your friends, etc. and not have to worry about someone else taking your spot on the trip.
In case of cancellation of the trip by the participant due to any other personal circumstances any deposits made are NOT refunded. At our sole discretion we may put them towards your future trips with us.
Start Your Journey
Got a question or ready to plan your adventure? Drop us a line using the form below — we’ll reply within 24 hours!
Prefer email? Reach out at hello@primalscapes.com
We promise no spam — just answers. Your info stays safe with us and won’t be shared.
