Adventures / Mountain Country

Day 1.

Arrival to Barnaul/Novosibirsk.

Breakfast. Transfer to the Altai republic. 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.

Lunch at the hotel restaurant. You will ride to the Askat village you will visit the studious of local artists and sculptors, pottery, as well as Buddhistic Temple, where you will hear the sermon of Lama.

In the evening you will see Russian concert, take part in rites, traditional Russian games, and dances. You can try to learn traditional handicrafts, to decorate eggs or cooking utensils. You will not resist the temptation to buy something as a souvenir.

 Day 2.

Breakfast. Visit to the miraculous 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 can also buy some honey if it is to your liking. Next coming the introduction of local handicrafts. It is again interactive part, so you can try to decorate eggs or cooking utensils, 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.

After the breakfast you will go to the Tungur village by the legendary “Chujsky Trakt” (the main road), or former Silk Way, where thousands years ago caravans from China, India and Persia were going. The parade of landscapes will appear before you: sandy deserts, high-grass steppe, turned into forest-steppe at the crests of mountain range of tundra, then forests and finally glaciers covered with everlasting snow. You will feel there, how far you are from the civilization and how close you are to the cradle – ancient Turkic culture.

Accommodation at the tourist centre Tungur in guest houses.

Lunch. Walk in the surroundings, where summertime you can pick berries, mushrooms and other gifts of nature, which are underfoot. You can also find curative herbs, growing in the forests or on the mountainside. Your guides will tell you about first aid and successful self-help without medicines.

Dinner at the fire place. The real Russian banya (sort of sauna).

Day 4.

Breakfast. Coming up to the sight area, where the view of the highest peak of Siberia, Belukha (4506m, the object from the UNESCO World Heritage list) will take your breath away. The name of the mountain in Russian language came from the dazzling whiteness of its mountainsides. Even at present days, after the mountains was conquered by mountaineers more then once, it is still severe and difficult of access. These places are the area of habitation of such rare species as snow leopard, antelope, cane cat and red wolf. The beauty of this place and the greatness of the peaks sparkled under the sun will leave an ineffaceable impression.

Lunch. Visit to the Siberian deer farm, where you will see the unique work of deerman; and possibly will take famous bath from “panty” (it is made of the liquid from the deer’s horns) This procedure is considered to be the ancient method of rejuvenescence and recovery.

Day 5.

Rafting trip down the Katun river, the main water artery of the Altai republic. Even though you will have the reliable boat, professional guides, contemporary equipment and security, you will still feel yourself a real extreme person. The obstacles are not extremely dangerous, though some rapids will give you pungent feelings and amusement. On your way you will visit the ancient Turkic cemetery.

Lunch. Riding in the pine forest, which will give you the sense of spiritual freedom; and the only way to feel the same you need to go up at the mountain pass of 1800 m above sea level, surrounding by the gorgeous nature of the Altai mountains.

Dinner at the fire place with the herbal tea and mountain cranberries.

Return back to the hotel.

Day 6.

Early departure toward Mongolian border. On your way you will stop to visit the Ujmonskaya valley and the community of Old Believers. There is less number of adherents of old rites and they less gladly let strangers come in nowadays. Being tactful and correct in regards to the community, you will be able to see the everyday life of people there.

Day 7.

To Ulgii.

Meeting your guide on the Mongolian border. Transfer to The Blue Wolf Camp. Visit the local museum of Ulgii town with comprehensive information of flora and fauna of Bayan Ulgii aimag as well as its colorful traditional costumes. Overnight in Kazakh felt gers.

Day 8.

Drive to Altai.

Drive to Chigertei Lake of Altai, which is summer spending place for nomadic Kazakh families. We will meet horserangers and packing horses/camels/. Stay with Kazakh Nomadic family/

Day 9.

Altai Kazakh Nomadic Life.

Visit some Kazakh Nomadic families and feel their grade hospitalities. Meet Kazakh Eaglehunter and see his magnificent bird. See how Kazakh women are making felt and other handicrafts. Stay with family. In the evening small Kazakh concert.

Day 10-11.

Far from civilization.

Next two days we trek by Jolt and Onion Areas, which are full of lush valleys. Walking by open plate remote county, you can feel yourself wildness, where there is no families, no cars and no civilization. Here you’ll be far from all the world’s problems for these few days.

Day 12.

Lake Dayan Nuur.

Start to walk towards Dayan Nuur. On the way you enjoy the remote mountain country with some forest and lakes. The lakes and rivers are full of fish. In the west you will see the mountain called Holagash. There are many bears and elks, by chance you can see them. We will come to Dayan Nuur, one of the crystal clear lakes of Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, the place that is very good for fishing lenok, grayling and other fish. One-night stay near the lake allows us to see ducks, swans, geese, seagulls and other birds.

Day 13.

Drive back to Ulgii.

A day drive to Ulgii town. Stay in Blue Wolf Gercamp.

Day 14.

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