Kazakhstan’s  high-altitude areas attract mountain-lovers from all over the world because of great variety of trails in  Western, Northern and Central Tien-Shan (3,000 to 7,000 m). The peaks of the Northern Tien-Shan (Zaili Alatau and Kungei Alatau) are not far from Almaty (3,800 to 5,000 m). With around 250 trails and summits, mountaineers are spoilt for choice. The relief demands various types of ascent – rock, rock-ice, and combined ascents. There are several ways jf getting there: by helicopter, jeep, cable car or on foot. Fifty or so peaks in Western Tien-Shan, at altitudes of 3,000 to 4,500 m, are hidden by cliffs.
The Central Tien-Shan is for really expert mountaineers: 200 peaks ranging from 4,500 to 6,000, including the most northerly 7,000ers in the world –Khan-Tengry (7,010 m) and Pobeda (7,439 m).