Фрирайдер спускается по снежному склону в глубоком снегу, Западный Алтай
WEST ALTAI · KAZAKHSTAN

Freeride in the wild Kazakh Altai

Catskiing · Heliskiing · Ski touring

100+ km² of wild West Altai mountains. Our own freeride camp, snowcats, an H125 helicopter and a team of local guides.

How a trip works
2200 m
Base camp · West Altai

Build your own line in deep snow.

One of Kazakhstan's pioneering catskiing operations. In the West Altai since 2014: our own camp in the mountains, snowcats, a helicopter and guides who work these ridges year after year.

The terrain

Not a resort. Real mountains.
100+km²
of riding terrain
18+
riding zones
120+
descent lines
500-1100m
vertical per line
3500+m
vertical per day by snowcat
2
guides per group

Three ways to ride

One camp. Different access to the mountains.
Фрирайдер на огромном снежном склоне, catskiing
Our main product

Catskiing

A snowcat lifts the group to untouched slopes all day. Maximum runs without a heli budget.

  • 3500+ m vertical per day
  • up to 14 riders per snowcat
  • 2 guides per group
Learn more →
Райдеры у вертолёта на снегу, heliskiing
Premium

Heliskiing

The helicopter opens ridges you cannot drive to. Change locations in a day, cover the most terrain.

  • Airbus H125
  • remote zones
  • multiple locations per day
Learn more →
Райдер поднимается на гребень со снаряжением
On request

Ski touring

Earn your turns, for those who want silence and earned lines.

  • no machines
  • matched to the group
Learn more →
East Pole Camp в горах Западного Алтая зимним вечером
Stay where you ride

The camp sits in the mountains

East Pole Camp is located right in the mountains. In the morning you board the snowcat at the lodge porch, and the last run of the day brings you straight back to camp. This is not a hotel in the valley, it is part of the route.

  • Ski-in-ski-out
  • Snowcat departs from the porch
  • Banya and drying room
  • Full board
  • 2200 m above sea level
Rooms
Dining
Lounge
Banya
Drying room
Camp at night

A day at East Pole

From morning in camp to dinner at the shared table

Guests remember more than the lines. The shared table, the banya after a day out and the snowcat waiting at the porch are half the trip.

  1. Morning in camp
    07:00Morning in campLight in the windows, mountains outside.
  2. Breakfast
    07:40BreakfastEveryone at one table, plans for the day.
  3. Boarding the snowcat
    08:30Boarding the snowcatStraight from the lodge porch.
  4. Гид EastPole первым выходит на нетронутый склон
    10:00The guide opens the lineFirst track on the slope is his.
  5. Райдер в глубоком снегу по грудь на склоне Западного Алтая
    11:00Snow to your chestWhat people fly half the world for.
  6. Laughter in the cat
    13:00Laughter in the catThermos, talk, the next lap.
  7. Последний спуск дня на закатном свете
    16:30The last runThe line brings you back to camp.
  8. Drying room and banya
    18:00Drying room and banyaBoots drying, steam, a view of the range.
  9. Dinner
    20:00DinnerOne table, one day, one range.

Why East Pole

Not a ski resort. The wild Altai.
Wild terrain

Not a resort, not a lift network. Over 100 km² of real mountains.

Deep continental snow

The cold West Altai climate keeps the snow dry.

No crowds

No lift lines, no other tracks. The terrain works for your group.

Local knowledge

A team that works these exact mountains rather than flying in for a season.

One camp, three ways to ride

Snowcat, helicopter and ski touring from a single base.

Safety
More on safety →
  • 2 guides per group
  • Daily avalanche assessment
  • Beacon, probe, shovel
  • Mandatory safety briefing
  • First-aid trained guides
  • Local terrain knowledge

The team

The people you will spend a week in the mountains with.
Гиды EastPole у вертолёта на снегу
Evgeny Michel
Founder and senior guide

20+ years of freeride and ski touring in the Altai

Guide
Head chef
Camp manager
Meet the team →

Getting here

Kazakhstan is big. The journey is simpler than it looks.
  1. Almaty
  2. flightdomestic flight
  3. Öskemen
  4. transferwe meet you at the airport
  5. Ridder
  6. 4×4 and snow transportthe last leg runs over snow
  7. East Pole Camp

Your journey to the East Pole

From arrival to the first run on untouched snow
Route · 6 scenes01 / 06
Заснеженная вершина в облаках при подлёте
Scene 01 / 06

Arrival

The gateway to West Altai. We meet you at the airport; from there the route heads deep into the range.

~5 hto camp
1,200 kmfrom Almaty
Live summary · trip draft
Arrival in West Altai
The summary builds as you go. Your guide receives exactly this draft.

Two seasons. One camp.

WINTER · DEC-APR / SUMMER · JUN-SEP
Фрирайдер на огромном снежном склоне в солнечный день
Winter · core
Deep snow

Catskiing, heliskiing and ski touring. Snowcat and heli uplift, small groups, avalanche protocol.

Winter formats →
Сплав по бурной реке в горах летом
Summer
Water and trails

Rafting on Altai rivers and trekking from the same camp.

Summer in Altai →

Budget guidance

So you know the order of magnitude before we talk.
Catskiing
from €200
amount in ₸ to be confirmed
person / day
Private snowcat
€2520
amount in ₸ to be confirmed
day
Accommodation
from 40 000 ₸
€ equivalent to be confirmed
Heliskiing
on request

Prices are indicative. A manager confirms the exact package, dates and availability.

Guest stories

Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, the USA.
Guest review
Guest review
Guest review

This block is waiting for real reviews: photo, name, country.

Frequently asked

Where is the camp?
In the West Altai mountains near Ridder, Eastern Kazakhstan. The base camp sits at 2200 m.
How do I get there?
Fly Almaty to Öskemen, then a transfer to Ridder and 4×4 to camp. We meet you at the airport.
What riding formats are there?
Catskiing, heliskiing and ski touring from one camp.
Can I book on the website?
No. The site collects your request, then a manager confirms dates, programme and price.

Plan your trip

Answer a few questions and an EastPole guide comes back with concrete dates and a programme.

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