Siberia
Altai in its entirety
The Altai Mountains are one of the most serene and beautiful locations
on Earth. Quiet mountain lakes reflect snowy peaks, while alpine meadows
carpeted with wildflowers cover gently rolling valleys. Glaciers cover
the highest peaks feeding hundreds of mountain streams and rivers cascading
down the peaks in torrents of water. While to the north of the mountains
the flat grassy steppe stretches in Russia, the Altai Mountains shelter
primordial taiga forest. Few other places can compete with the beauty of
the Altai Mountains and the region is a sparsely populated paradise for
photographers, hikers, artists, mountaineers and those who love nature.
The elusive snow leopard and the Altai snowcock also make a home of these
lands.In addition to visiting a unique corner of the world, you will also learn about the ancient culture of the Old-Believers, who are ethnic Russians who split off from the Russian Orthodox Church in 1966 and sought to live a self-sustaining life, in the most remote place they could find.
The spurs of the Katunsky Ridge are one of the most scenic places in Russia. The tour takes us to the west and east parts of the Katunsky ridge. The juxtaposition of the wild grandeur of the mountains with peaceful and picturesque landscapes is dramatic. There are many mountain lakes with turquoise waters on the Katunsky ridge. In July and August, the alpine meadows are in luxuriant bloom. These places are a real Mekka for mountaineers and artists.
The eastern part of the "Golden" Altai, on the border with the Republic of Tuva, is one of the most untouched and interesting nature sites in Siberia. A great part of this area belongs to the Altaisky State Nature Reserve, situated on the shore of the famous Lake Teletskoye and declared as the World Heritage Site. Lake Teletskoye is the jewel of Western Siberia and the Nature Reserve is also famous for its beauty. The pure waters of Lake Teletskoye stretch like a thin, sky-blue ribbon between the mountains.
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| Itinerary | 19 days | |
| Group size | 10-16 pax | |
| Season | August 1& 18 | |
| Price | on request  |
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ADVENTURE
# S802
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HIGHLIGHTS
- ../images/aventures/s802_map.htm" target="_blank">Route plan
- Recommended equipment
In
order to book this voyage, contact
us 
INCLUDED
- City tour of Moscow
- Full board
(half board first & last days) - Rental horses for cargo
- Double accom. in Moscow
- Transfers from (to) airports
- Guide, interpreter and cook
- Transportation
- Museum fees
- All travels within Russia
- Accomod. as per program
- Hotel (1 day)
- Cottages (8 days)
- tents (4 days)
PROGRAM
Day 1
Arrival in Moscow. Bus transfer to downtown. sightseeing tour of Moscow.
Accommodation in Hotel ***. Dinner.
Day 2
Breakfast at the hotel followed by a tour of the capital including
the historic Red Square and the Kremlin and its cathedrals. Lunch at
the restaurant. At 23h00, visitors will fly overnight to Barnaul.
Day 3
Arrive in Barnaul at 06.30 a.m. Bus transfer to the city of Gorno-Altaisk.
Lunch at the restaurant. Visit the Museum of Nature History and Art
Gallery. Start your 500-km bus trip across the Mountain Altai. The
road crosses all the main landscapes of Altai including three panoramic
mountain passes. Accommodation in wooden cabins or in stationary tents
on a camp site in Tyungur.
Day 4
Trek of 18 km (4 hrs) to the Lake Ak-kem (luggage is transported by horses).
We will pass by the scenic Altaian village Kucherla. Then we hike across
mixed forest and big meadow, come over easy mountain pass Kuzuyak (1513
m). A trail descends to the terrace of the mountain river Ak-kem. Overnight
in tents.
Day 5
15 km trek. A trail passes along the Oraktoi creek. This trail is about
2,5 thousand years old (it was used since Skythian epoch). Across the
larch and cedar pine forest the trail leads to the alpine meadows of
the Oraktoi ridge. Sometimes, you can see nephrite stones along the
trail. We will cross a small mountain pass Tomul (2580 m). Overnight
in tents.
Day 6
We continue trekking along the Muinokh ridge to the lake Aktash (15 km).
Overnight in tents at the picturesque small lake.
Day 7
Hike of 26 km (10 hours with stops) to Akkem lake. There are salting
places, and you will have a chance to observe Siberian ibexes. Lunch
en route, near the waterfalls on the river Tekelyu. It is possible
to see Altaian snowcocks or to hear their cries. Ascend the grassy
slope to the Yarlu-Boch pass (2800 above the sea level). It is unforgettable.
Overnight in the tented camp on the picturesque edelweiss meadow located
in 30 minutes of hike from the Akkem lake.
Day 8
We ascend to the hanging Valley of Seven Lakes along the steep path.
Ascending along the path across alpine meadows in luxuriant bloom,
we will discover several lakes of various water color laying on different
levels. Ringing waterfalls make the picture especially impressive.
On the way back, we descend to the bottom of the Akoyuk mountain, where,
very close to the glacier, lays one of the most beautiful lakes of
this valley. Our loupe route will take 10-12 hours.
Day 9
Hike from the lake Akkem (2000 m) across the Kara-Tyurek ("Black
Heart") mountain pass (3060 m, category of difficulty 1a) to the
valley of the river Kucherla. You will see colonies of marmots and mountain
birds. From the mountain pass, we enjoy breathtaking mountain panoramas.
This route is quite strenuous because of essential change of attitudes
and takes about 12 hrs. Overnight in tents on the river Kucherla.
Day 10
We descend along the Kucherla river valley. We view several dozen petrogliphs
dating from I-II millennium B.C. We come back to the tourist camping "Vysotnik".
Lunch there. Leisure evening. Banya (Russian steam bath) can be organized.
Day 11
Bus trip to Lake Teletskoye (12 hrs). On the way, we will make a stop
in the village Verkhny Uimon to visit the ethnographic museum and the
museum of N.K Roerikh, a famous Russian artist, traveler, archaeologist
and writer. Overnight at the tourist cottages (double accommodation).
Day 12
Rest at the Lake Teletskoye. We will take a small ship or a motor boat
across the lake. We will visit the picturesque waterfall. Short hiking
excursions. Lunch at waterfall Korbu, dinner and a lodging for the
night on a camp site "The Taiga Gulf " near Chiri River.
Day 13
Hike along Chiri River up to the top of Tashtu Mount (1706 m, 8 km).
This excursion takes the whole day. Lodging for the night in tent camp.
Days 14
Short ascend at the top of Tashtu Mount (1706 m) and then long descent
(3 hours) to the Altaisky Nature Reserve. After lunch, we plan a walk
to the unique apple orchard, the largest in Siberia. During this walk,
you will have a chance to observe brown bears attracted by apple fruits.
In the evening, we take a small ship from Bele to the Altaisky Nature
Reserve (3 hours). Dinner. Overnight in tents. Sauna.
Day 15
Visiting the natural salt places, 10 km hike there and back. Five persons
will have an opportunity to spend a night near the salt place in a
special hide constructed four meters above ground. This salt place
attracts wild animals, so the observers will have a high chance to
see bear, deer or moose. In the evening, a sauna will be available
for those who do not remain on salt place. Overnight in the wooden
hut and in tents.
Day 16
Reserve day for the case of bad weather.
Day 17
In the morning, early departure to Artybash (35 km on a boat) and than
bus trip to Barnaul (8 hrs). Farewell dinner at the hotel. Overnight
at the hotel (double accommodation).
Day 18
Transfer to the airport of Barnaul and departure to Moscow at 8.30 a.m.
Accomodation in Hotel ***.
Day 19
Breakfast and departure to airport for the flight home.
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