Freeride journey through the little-known Chinese Altay in the Xinjiang region, where winter lasts for half the year.!
Did you know that the first skis were made around 10,000 years ago? They were crafted from wood bent with steam, featured permanently attached horsehair skins, and used leather bindings that allowed movement much like modern ski touring gear. These original skis were invented right here in the Chinese Altay, widely regarded as the birthplace of skiing, and local craftsmen still make them today.
The Chinese Altay is higher than its Kazakh counterpart, offering skiing up to 3,000 meters above sea level. The local ski resorts feature modern infrastructure with gondolas and chairlifts, yet these state-of-the-art facilities are surrounded by authentic traditional villages and truly wild mountain landscapes.
Add to that a winter season lasting around 180 days, genuinely dry and light continental powder snow, and the possibility of mixing things up with snowcat and snowmobile-accessed riding. All of this takes place in a region still largely undiscovered by the Western world, home to the culturally rich Kazakh and Tuvan peoples.
Get ready for a powder trip to the birthplace of skiing!
2 resorts
Chinese Altay up to 3,000 m a.s.l.
Snowcat (optional)
Cultural gem
Price Includes:
- 10 nights accommodation
- Full board: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 6 days of freeride skiing with a local guide
- Support of a Polish team leader
- Permit for staying and operating in a border area
- All local road transfers
- Standard travel insurance including medical expenses, accident coverage, and personal liability. Additional insurance covering off-piste skiing is required. Many of our clients already have year-round high-altitude policies. If you don’t have one, we can provide coverage for the trip at a cost of 390 PLN.
Price Does Not Include:
- Flights
- Ski passes
- Ski or snowboard equipment – you need to bring your own
- Avalanche safety equipment (beacon, probe, shovel) and airbag backpack – available for rent from us (reservation required)
- Extreme sports insurance, including off-piste skiing
- Tips
ACCOMMODATION AND TRANSPORTATION
- the main international flight is to Urumqi, followed by a domestic flight to Fuyun Koktokay Airport
- we will stay in hotels, guesthouses, and camps to experience different atmospheres
- we will travel around the Altay region by van with a driver
- For more information, check the TRIP PROGRAM tab
OFF PISTE – Terrain Details:
- The Chinese Altay is higher than the mountains we know from the Kazakh side
- We will primarily visit two major resorts: Koktokay and Hemu / Ji Kepulin, with lifts reaching 2,700–3,000 m a.s.l., mostly gondola-type and very modern, creating a strong contrast with the surrounding landscape 😉
- Both resorts offer access to vast and varied off-piste terrain, featuring both alpine and forest skiing
- We will also visit a third location with no lifts, where snowmobiles and snowcats are available
Difficulty Level: 6/10
- This trip is suitable for riders with several years of experience (minimum 2 seasons off-piste), who are comfortable skiing in variable snow conditions in off-piste terrain in the Alps, Szczyrk, or on the descent from Kopa Kondracka.
Trip Profile
- This trip is focused on lift-accessed freeride and, optionally, snowmobiles or snowcats, but if you have the option, bring touring-compatible gear to expand your possibilities. We will aim to enrich the descents with short ascents.
SAFETY
- During our stay in the mountains we will be guided by a licensed local mountain guide
- The trip will be overseen by a Polish team leader
- Participants should have completed an avalanche safety course and possess practical knowledge of avalanche ABC equipment and emergency procedures
- Avalanche ABC equipment and airbag backpacks are mandatory – available for rent from us (reservation required)
- INSURANCE:
- The trip price includes basic travel insurance. Additional coverage for off-piste skiing is required. This can be purchased from us for 390 PLN per person. We do not include this in the base price as many of our clients have their own year-round high-altitude policies.
- There is also an option to purchase Trip Cancellation Insurance, which provides a refund in case you are unable to join us due to illness or other unforeseen events.
VISA
- Not required.
HOW TO JOIN THE TRIP
- Fill out the reservation form
- We will contact you to sign the contract
- Pay a 30% deposit
- We’ll complete the group, handle the formalities, flights, details, etc.
- Pay the remaining amount 30 days before departure
CANCELLATION POLICY
- If you cancel up to 60 days before departure, you can transfer your deposit to any other trip – we will issue a voucher valid for 2 years.
- We recommend additional insurance in case of illness or an unforeseen event preventing you from traveling. You will then receive a full refund for the trip. Ask us about Trip Cancellation Insurance.
- We reserve the right to change the program due to circumstances beyond our control, such as insufficient participants, snow or weather conditions, or political situations. In case we need to cancel the trip (even for reasons beyond our control), we will promptly refund all payments made.
Day 1 (February 16)
Departure from Poland. To reach Fuyun Koktokay, we will need at least two layovers.
Day 2
Arrival in Koktokay and transfer to a hotel near the resort. Meeting with the guide and snow conditions briefing.
Days 3-4
Freeride in Koktokay resort. Full days of skiing.
Day 5
Transfer to the Altay town area, where we spend two days exploring the backcountry with the option of using snowmobiles and/or a snowcat.
Days 6-7
Exploration of Uzirik Snow Park. One of the most interesting freeride projects in China, featuring terrain with 1,000–1,500 m vertical drops.
Day 8
A cultural Altay day and transfer to Hemu, an authentic village located in the heart of the mountains. We will ride off-piste in another resort and also see how traditional ski touring skis, known for thousands of years and covered with horsehair, are still made.
Days 9-10
Freeride sessions in alpine terrain accessed from the lifts in Hemu / Ji Kepulin resort. This is currently one of the most exciting freeride areas in China, still largely unknown in Europe. The skiing community often compares the terrain and snow quality to the Rocky Mountains.
Day 11
Transfer to Altay airport and flight back home.
Day 12