Tour condition: grade B+ - a good level of fitness is highly recommended for this journey. On occasion, you will be required to ride for up to eight hours in one day. We will be spending time at altitudes above 3000 meters.
Activity: horseback riding (5-8 hours a day)
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 tourist centre “Vysotnik” (850m), 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. 8 or 9 hours. On our way, we make a stop to visit an interesting Museum of Local Lore in the city of Gorno-Altaisk. Also we will have a lunch in a café. 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 after breakfast we will meet a horsemen and our horses. After a short introduction we will start our acclimatization 2 days riding to Baida mountain (2070m). We will be ascending through beautiful cedar forest and can see how the panorama changes from taiga - deep Siberian forest to high alpine meadows. As we ride we will enjoy some breathtaking panoramic views: sleepy mountain lakes, violent rivers, alpine meadows and majestic mountain peaks. On the way you can swim in one of the lakes. Camping on the bank of a mountain river in the forest. (Daily route of approx. 5 hours, 1220 m altitude change).
Day 5. Today we are descending back to our camp. A part of our trail goes along the mountain river Katun which will amaze you with its magnificent beauty and wild power. Also we will see the ancient “Baba-Stones” (2000 b.c.) presenting authentic carvings of the ancient people. These stones are believed to be the remnants of an ancient civilization inhabited this area in prehistoric times. In the evening return to our tour base. Russian sauna (optional). (Daily route of approx. 8 hours, 1220 m altitude change).
Day 6. In the morning we start our riding trip to the main destination of the trip – Belukha Mountain, the highest mountain in Siberia. The path goes through 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 (1513 m). The pass isn't high but the riding is quite challenging - this is the first test of our stamina. Camping on the banks of Ak-kem, a mountain river whose cool waters will help you to relax. (Daily route of approx. 4-5 hours, 600 m altitude change).
Day 7. We continue ascending along some forest brooks and rivers (up to 2000 m). Here we will be able to observe the amazing change of the landscape from the taiga - deep Siberian forest - to high alpine meadows. Overnight at a picturesque place with a great view of Belukha and surrounding peaks. (Daily route of approx. of 5-6 hours, 900 m altitude change)
Day 8. 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 a lake shore. We may even catch sight of a hare or a deer along the way. A moderate ascent and we find ourselves at a plateau with a panoramic view of the Katunskii mountain range with its strangely shaped cliffs. After a short but steep descent, we reach our campsite on the banks of a 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. 8 hours, altitude change 500 m).
Day 9. We cross the Tekeliu river and start ascending another mountain pass (2200 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 river with the same name Ak-kem, we will cross a shaky bridge, and in a half an hour we'll reach our second base camp (2000 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 10. A day walk to the mysterious ravine Yarlu. The unreal colours of the ravine will remain etched in your memory forever. We will go to the valley, which is famous for its seven lakes all of different hues. 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. (Daily route of approx. 5-7 hours, altitude change 400 m).
Day 11. Today we ascend the Karatiurek pass (3060 m). There may be some snow on the pass. After a while we’ll start our descent. The descent from the pass is steep and goes on talus. From here we can see the magical green-blue Kucherla Lake. The temperature will rise and the vegetation become rich again. Another bewitching ravine appears on the way – the Kucherlinskoe ravine. Camping in a virgin cedar glade (2200 m). (Daily route of approx. 5-6 hours, altitude change 900 m).
Day 12. Gradual descent down the Izekeriu river and 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 tourist base “Vysotnik”. Our last opportunity to experience a Russian banya (sauna) during the tour. Farewell dinner. (Daily route of approx. 7-8 hours, altitude change 1000 m).
Day 13. Travel to Barnaul. Overnight in a hotel in Barnaul.
Day 14. 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 lake Ak-Kem
- Mt Belukha – the highest mountain in Siberia (4,506m) included on the UNESCO World Heritage list
- horse riding 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. At your request we can organise 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 in Moscow would be a visit to the large and interesting Izmailovo Park, where you will find traditional wooden houses and churches as well as authentic Russian souvenirs;
- You can also visit the Novodevichy Convent, which is included on the UNESCO 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:
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