Tour condition: grade B - a good level of fitness is highly recommended for this journey. On occasion, you will be required to walk for up to eight hours in one day. We will be spending time at altitudes above 3000 meters.
Activity: trekking (5-8 hours a day, from 4 to 12 km)
ITINERARY
Day 1. Arrival in Moscow. Transfer to the hotel. Your first night in Moscow.
Day 2. Check-out from the hotel. We will have time to explore the major highlights of Moscow – the city of great Russian history and culture. We will visit the St. Basil's cathedral, Red Square and the world-renowned Lenin Mausoleum. After this a short bus tour around Moscow is waiting for us. Our tour guide takes you to the “Sparrow Hills” with an observation platform which provides a fantastic panoramic view of Moscow and then through the main streets of Moscow - huge, busy and elegant at the same time. Transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Barnaul.
Day 3. Arrival in Barnaul. By a comfortable coach we travel from the airport to the base camp “Vysotnik”, situated in a picturesque place. There are no highways on most of the territory of the Altai, therefore we have to use ordinary roads through the mountains. The coach trip takes approx. 9hours. On arrival, a Russian banya (sauna) followed by a “welcome” dinner will help you to relax after this long journey.
Day 4. In the morning we start trekking from our base camp (850 m). The path goes through Kucherla, the last populated area on our way to the mountains. Then we will follow a path through the forest where we can see plenty of mushrooms, berries, and various kinds of trees and grasses. Today we explore the Kuzuyak pass (1,513 m). The pass isn't high but the going is quite challenging - this is the first test for our stamina. Camping on the banks of Ak-Kem, a mountain river whose cool waters will help you to relax. (Daily route of approx. 5-6 hours, 600 m altitude change).
Day 5. We continue ascending along the Oroktoi brook to the Tukhman brook (2,000 m). We will observe how the panorama and the vegetation changes from the taiga - deep Siberian forest - to high alpine meadows. Overnight at a picturesque place with a great view of Belukha, the highest mountain in Siberia, and surrounding peaks. (Daily route of approx. of 6-7 hours, 900 m altitude change)
Day 6. This day could be called a walk under the clouds. We will follow a trail until the final moderate descent to our camp site on the shore of lake Kulduairy. We may even catch sight of a hare or a deer along the way. (Daily route of approx. 5-6 hours hiking, altitude change 100 m.)
Day 7. We have a short distance to walk today – just a moderate ascent and we find ourselves at a plateau with a panoramic view of the Katunskii range with its strangely shaped cliffs. After a short but steep descent, we reach our campsite on the banks of the Tekeliu river. In the afternoon we have an optional hike upstream along the river to see the highest waterfall of Altai - the Tekeliu waterfall. (Daily route of approx. 5-6 hours, altitude change 500 m.)
Day 8. We cross the river Tekeliu and start ascending the Sarybel pass (2,300 m). Tekeliu in the Altaic language means "a place where mountain goats live" and we may indeed see some goats here if we are lucky. You will never forget the special moment of discovering the beauty of lake Ak-kem for the first time. Walking across the Ak-kem river, we will cross a shaky bridge, and in a half an hour we'll reach our base camp (2,000 m). There is a canteen, a Russian banya and a traditional Altai building - Ail (a type of wooden yurt) here. This camp offers you breathtaking views over the huge snowy majestic Mount Belukha. (Daily route of approx. 6-7 hours, altitude change 600 m).
Day 9. A day hike to the Ak – Ojouk valley which is famous for its beautiful seven lakes or a day hike to the mysterious ravine Yarlu. The unreal colours of the ravine will remain etched in your memory forever. There is a strong belief that the area around lake Ak-Kem has a powerful energy. Here you may meet very different people - from hermits to people believing in UFOs. There is a stone town here being built by people who have come to this place from all over the world to meditate near the sacred mountain Belukha. Return to the base camp.
Day 10. Today we ascend the Karatiurek pass (3,060 m). There may be some snow on the pass. After a while we’ll start our descent. The temperatue will rise and the vegetation become rich again. Another bewitching ravine appears on the way – the Kucherlinskoe ravine. Camping in a virgin cedar glade (2,000 m). (Daily route of approx. 6-8 hours, altitude change 1,000 m.)
Day 11. We continue descending through the mountain taiga forest. Camping on the shore of one of the most beautiful lakes in Altai – lake Kucherla. (Daily route of approx. 4-6 hours, altitude change 300 m.)
Day 12. Trekking through the Kucherla ravine. Overnight in tents (Daily route of approx. of 5-6 hours, altitude change 300 m.)
Day 13. Gradual descent down the Kucherla river. On our way we’ll make a stop to see an ancient grotto and petroglyphs (prehistoric drawings) on a rock, which are several thousand years old. We cross a seemingly endless field and finally reach our base camp “Vysotnik”. Our last opportunity to experience a Russian banya (sauna) during the tour. Farewell dinner.
Day 14. Travel to Barnaul. On our way, we make a stop to visit a Museum of Local Lore in the city of Gorno-Altaisk. Overnight in a hotel in Barnaul.
Day 15. Early morning transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Moscow. It will still be morning when you arrive in Moscow, because of the time difference. Transfer from the local airport to the international airport for the flight back home.
Major Highlights of this Tour:
- Red Square
- Magnificent Ak-Kem Lake
- Mt Belukha – the highest mountain in Siberia (4,506m) included on the UNESCO World Heritage list
- Trekking in absolutely wild, unpopulated and rarely visited area of Altai mountains
- Russian banya (sauna)
Optional: if you take a flight to the UK in the late evening you can enjoy Moscow for one more day. On your request we can organize for you one of the following activities:
- If you are an art-lover then you will be impressed by the world famous masterpieces displayed in the Tretyakov Gallery and in the Pushkin museum.
- Another option would be a visit to the large and interesting Izmailovo Park presenting traditional wooden houses and churches as well as authentic Russian souvenirs.
- You can also visit the Novodevichy Convent, included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The Convent was used by women of the Tsar’s family and of the aristocracy. Many members of the Tsar’s family and some very famous Russian artists, writers, politicians have been buried in its cemetery. The Convent provides an example of the highest accomplishments of Russian architecture with rich interiors and an important collection of paintings and artefacts.
Some places you visit in this journey are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Please click here to view the UNESCO review page:
go to the top
)
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}