Adventures / Sacred Altai

Day 1.

Arrival to Barnaul/Novosibirsk.

Breakfast. Transfer to the resort Belokurikha, which has becoming more and more popular during resent period of time. It is the most famous resort of federal meaning in Western Siberia. The short break here for the lunch at the elegant contemporary restaurant of the hotel “Edem”. Walk in the resort: you will learn the history of the balneal resort, visit the Church of St. Pantelemon the Healer, “Eye spring”, and the live museum Chadyr. Lift to the mountain Tserkovka by funicular, from where you will see the fantastic view, which will help you to restore after the trip.

Lunch and accommodation at the hotel “Salute”. The hotel is built according to the Scandinavian technology of building wooden houses. This technology guarantees ecological cleanness of the house and also put it as a natural part of unique beautiful landscape of the place. The hotel is located in Chemal – Altaian ecological resort, in the pine forest, on the bank of the mountain river Katun.

Finnish sauna. Dinner at the pavilion on the bank of the river.

Day 2.

Breakfast.

Next coming the introduction of local handicrafts. You can try to decorate eggs or cooking utensils, or simply buy something as a souvenir. You will also be able to participate in “posidelki” or traditional russian-style party, which includes rites, traditional Russian games, and dances.

After lunch you will look in traditional Altaian dwelling and meet the every day life of local people, and meet a real Altaian nomad. The main part of the programme is the visit to shaman. You will see the bewitched spectacular sight – shaman’s “kamlanie” (shaman’s performance).

Dinner.

Day 3.

You will go to Ust-Koksa village using the way of ancient nomads. On your way you will visit the Ust-Koksinskaya cave, the unique archaeological sight of the world importance.

There are thicknesses of many meters of cultural sediments, some of which are dated over 300 thousands years back. Here you can trace the evolution of the civilization from the origin to the middle centuries.

Accommodation at a small hotel in Ust-Koksa village.

Dinner.

Day 4.

The next three day you will stay on the territory of the Katunsky reserve, the subject of the UNESCO World Heritage list. After the breakfast you will leave for Maralovodka village. Transfer to the mouth of the river Tikhaya by the hydro-jet boat (4-5 hours). Lunch-picnic in the beautiful place, surrounded by the mountains and majestic view of snow peaks and accompanied by the century-old cedars. Accommodation in the wooden houses. Riding in the surroundings. Banya (Russian-style sauna).

Dinner.

Day 5.

Breakfast. Fascinating riding to the lake Taimenje (4-5 hours). Lunch-picnic. Accommodation in the wooden houses or tents in cordon, located in the Katunsky reserve (all the facilities are outside). Banya (Russian-style sauna).

Dinner. Evening at the fire place under the star-spangled sky, surrounded by the cedar forest.

Day 6.

Breakfast. Row upon the lake. Short hike to the waterfall on the river Soloukha.

Lunch-picnic.

Dinner. Fishing.

Day 7.

Breakfast. Returning to Ust-Koksa. Riding to cordon Tukhaya.

Lunch-picnic.

Transfer to Maralovodka village by the hydro-jet boat. Arrival to Ust-Koksa. Accommodation at the hotel.

Lunch.

Day 8.

Early leaving for Tashanta. Passing through the custom control

Day 9.

To Ulgii.

Meeting your guide on the mongolian border. Drive to the town. After lunch 45km drive northwest to the camping site.

Day 10-11.

Crossing Altai Mountains

We will cross the Altai mountain range. You’ll have a chance to see the spectacular country fom the height of about 32 km. we’ll pitch a camp and enjoy beautiful views. (Tents/BLD)

Ascent of Tsaagan Hairhan Uul (Holy White peak 3668 m high). The habitat of the Snow Leopard, Siberian Ibex as well as the rare Altai Snowcock. Pitch camp. We will stay one more night in the same place and make a day hike along the Bear Valley.

Day 12.

Green Lake.

Going down the beautiful valley. We will reach the Green Lake. Here one can see dramatic landscapes: small lakes and patches of larch forests. This is a remote place with lots of white water springs. (Tents/BLD).

Day 13.

To Hoton Lake.

One-day trek down the dramatic steppe valley along the river that drains from the Altai Tavanbogd massif creating a series of beautiful lakes. We will spend a night near the Hoton Lake. Here we’ll be able to meet some Kazakh herdsmn. The yurts are a bonanza on handicrafts, and they are very friendly and hospitable people.

Fishing rod comes handy here. A fishing license may be purchased in the national park.

Day 14.

Ikh Turgen Uul.

Trek along the Hoton Lake and potentially around the snow capped Ikh Turgen Uul ( 3507 M). camp by the beautiful Fish River near the larch forest. We’ll have a chance to visit Kazakh Eaglehunter’s family. (Tents/BLD).

Day 15.

To Ulgii.

Drive to Ulgii. Visit the local sights. Moving to the Altai Republic border. Custom house. Transfer to Barnaul and then to Novosibirsk.