Tour condition: grade for rafting B, for horse riding B
Activity: rafting, horse riding
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 “Dichiny”, situated in a picturesque site on the shores of the Koksa river. There are no highways on most of the territory of the Altai, therefore we have to use ordinary roads through the mountains. During the coach trip, which takes approx. 9 hours, our guide will tell you about the history and culture of the region as well as about the schedule of your journey. On arrival, a Russian banya (sauna) followed by a “welcome” dinner will help you to relax after this long journey.
Day 4. We start rafting down the Koksa river. The speed of the current is not fast and we can enjoy the spectacular scenery of the mountains around us. Camping at a site where we can enjoy fishing. (Daily route of approx. 20-25 km).
Day 5. While rafting further, we pass the village of Tyuguryuk. The current is faster here. In about two hours we come to the Gromotukhinsky rapids (grade 2). Arrival at the base camp in Ust-Koksa, a regional centre near Mount Belukha. Russian banya (sauna). Overnight in wooden houses.
Day 6. In Ust-Koksa the Koksa river flows into the Katun river. The Katun river continues into the Uymonskaya valley, where it forks into numerous streams, creating a complicated water labyrinth with total width of 1 km. We will camp in the surroundings of Multa village. We will make an excursion to Verhbii Uimon, one of the oldest villages in this area, being about 300 years old. There are two museums here, a Museum of Local Lore and a Museum of Old Believers, where you will learn about the traditional way of life of the Altaic people and their beliefs. In the Museum of Local Lore, you will also see exhibits of the expedition of Nikolai Roerich, a world-renowned Russian philosopher and scientist. On his way to Tibet he stopped in Altai and stayed there for a while because he was struck by the natural beauty and the mystical tranquility of the Altai mountains. (Daily route of approx. 4-5 hours).
Day 7. We will continue rafting from Multa village to Tiungur village. The current is quite fast here and there are some rapids with lengths from 50 to 300 meters. We will pass by the old village of Katandra. Archaeological digs were conducted near this village and ancient ruins were discovered. There is also a brook with healing water in this area. Upon arrival in Tiungur we will enjoy a restful Russian banya (sauna). Dinner and overnight in the base camp “Vysotnik”.
Day 8. Our horseback riding starts from the base camp “Vysotnik” (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 the 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 9. We continue horseback riding 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. 6-7 hours, 900 m altitude change)
Day 10. This day could be called a walk under the clouds. You will have a panoramic view of the Katunskii range with its strangely shaped cliffs. We may even catch sight of a hare or a deer along the way. After a short but steep descent, we reach our campsite on the banks of the Tekeliu river (1,800 m). 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. 3-4 hours, altitude change 500 m.)
Day 11. 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 12. 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 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
- 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:
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