Shymkent to Almaty flights
Almaty lies 606 km (376 mi) east of Shymkent, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 1 h 32 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Shymkent | Almaty | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Kazakhstan | Kazakhstan |
| Population | 1.2 million | 2 million |
| Elevation | 520 m (1,706 ft) | 783 m (2,569 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+5 (Asia/Almaty) | UTC+5 (Asia/Almaty) |
| Nearest large airport | CIT, 12 km out | ALA, 16 km out |
Airports at each end
Leaving Shymkent
Shymkent is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Shymkent International Airport (CIT), 12 km (7 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 9,186 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
Arriving in Almaty
Almaty is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Almaty International Airport (ALA), 16 km (10 mi) from the centre, whose 14,764-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Issyk-Kul International Airport (IKU, 76 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almaty International Airport | ALA | 16 km (10 mi) | 14,764 ft | 2,234 ft |
| Issyk-Kul International Airport | IKU | 76 km (47 mi) | 12,467 ft | 5,425 ft |
Book a flight to Almaty
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Staying in Almaty
Our booking partner lists 1,025+ places to stay in Almaty (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 413 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (200), and 11 are five-star. Across 166 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.4 out of 10. Guests have left 126,844 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Almaty
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Almaty from Shymkent?
606 km (376 mi) in a straight line, east of Shymkent.
How long does it take to get from Shymkent to Almaty by air?
About 1 h 32 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Shymkent and Almaty?
No, both are on Asia/Almaty at the moment.
Which airports are used for Shymkent to Almaty flights?
Typically Shymkent International Airport (CIT) to Almaty International Airport (ALA); Almaty also has IKU.
Where can I stay in Almaty?
Our booking partner lists 1,025+ places to stay in Almaty, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.