Adventures / Classic Altai

Day 1.

Arrival to Barnaul/Novosibirsk.

Breakfast. Transfer to the Altai republic with the stop to visit the historical museum-reserve of the famous Russian author Vasily Shukshin in Srostki village. One more stop to visit the beautiful mountain lake Aya, where you can swim or boat summertime; or to ski or drive snowmobile wintertime.

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. There is no need to say a lot that the environment of the Altai region is considered to be ideal: mountain fresh air, life-giving springs, curative herbs, growing on the mountain flanks, and the silence disturbed from time to time by birds’ singing and hubbub of rivers and waterfalls.

Dinner and then ride in the surroundings of the hotel.

Day 2.

Breakfast. Visit to the miraculuos church located on the rocky island Patmos of the Katun river. Excursion to the bee-farm – what can be better then altaian honey? You’ll be served with tea, pies and honey there, and can even taste “medovukha” (altaian liqueur) in a siberian-style house; you will see the beehives, and bee-keeper will tell you his tales. You will also be able to buy some honey if it is to your liking. Next coming the introduction of local handicrafts. It is interactive part again, so you will be able to decorate eggs or cooking utensils youself, or simply buy something as a souvenir.

Surprise is expecting for you in the evening – “posidelki” or traditional russian-style party, which includes rites, traditional Russian games, and dances.

Dinner.

Day 3.

Breakfast. Visit to the museum of Altaian culture in Chemal. You will learn the history of Altaian people, meet a real Altaian nomad, look in traditional Altaian dwelling and meet the every day life of local people. Needlewomen, who maintain the mastery of making national handiworks, will demonstrate beautiful carpets-“symrak” with colourful cutout pattern made of wool, warm covers made of goat’s skin, felt goods. You will be able to take home some of these traditional goods as a rare souvenir.

National-style lunch will include Altaian dishes cooked specially for the guests. Altaian cuisine based on meat and milk, so you will be able to taste “kocho”, “archy”, “dalgan” “boursaky” and other traditional food. The main part of the programme is the visit to shaman, who will tell you about local traditions, rites and opportunities. Everybody will get the opportunity to pass through the rite of ablution or inquire about his/her own health.

You will see the bewitched spectacular sight – shaman’s “kamlanie” (shaman’s performance). After the dinner you will hear the traditional Altaian gutter singing – “kai”.

Day 4.

Breakfast. Excursion to the Teletskoe lake, the “blue miracle” and the “younger brother” of the Baikal lake. You will be able to voyage in the lake. Waterfall Korbu. Intimate territories. The wild beauty of the banks. The conglomerations of gigantic lumps of Rocky bay. The place of the symbolic source of “the only daughter” of the Teletskoe lake – the beautiful river Biya. Mysterious and astonishing world of the legends.

Coming back to the hotel “Salute”. Dinner.

Day 5.

Breakfast. Excursion to the Karakolsky ethnic natural park “Uch Enmek”, located in the Karakolsky valley; it is full of mystery and inscrutability, covered with legends and myths. You will see the rock paintings aged of 3-5 thousands of years (7 th century BC); the photos of the paintings are unique souvenir; the grandiose barrows; you will touch by yourself the ancient rocky many-meter stellas which have a strong energetic power.

Day 6.

Early transfer to Tashanta. Passing through the custom control.

Day 7.

Meeting your guide on the Mongolian border.

Day 8.

Transfer to Ulgii.

A day drive to Ulgii town. Stay in Canat’s guesthouse.

Day 9.

Drive to Sagsay.

After breakfast we will drive to the west to visit one more Eaglehunter, who lives 36 km far from Ulgii.

Day 10.

Eaglehunting.

These days we will have a chance to witness eaglehunting, to see majestic eagles and various landscapes. Every evening you can talk with eaglehunter about Kazakh eaglehunting skills and history. In the same time you will feel Kazakh grade hospitalities and nomadic lifestyle.

Day 11.

Moving to the Altai Republic border. Custom house. Transfer to Barnaul and then to Novosibirsk.