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Adventure holiday to Altai, Russia (AL19)
12 days/ 11 nights
The word Altai comes from "gold" in Mongolian and it is definitely one of the most precious assets of Siberia. Altai is a beautiful Russian region bordering with Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China. It combines the best of these cultures and is known for its scenic lakes (more than 7000 of them!), virgin forests, graceful snow leopards, snowy mountains and almost untouched nature. Belukha Mountain is Siberia’s highest peak listed as a UNESCO’s World Natural Heritage. Explore it and much more on our exciting Altai adventure!
Pure Altai is a tour for active holiday enthusiats keen on trekking and walking. It is a medium difficulty adventure with accommodation in local tousist bases surrounded by mountains, rivers and lakes.
The Route
Barnaul • Biysk • Chemal and Che-Chkysh• The Karakul Valley• Kalbak - Tash Hole• The Geyser Lake• The Katu-Yaryk Mountain Pass• Chulyshman• Waterfall Kurkure• Barnaul
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DAY 1, BARNAUL TOUR
Arrive in Barnaul and transfer to your hotel. Relax after your flight before meeting your guide at 1 pm to discuss your trip. After lunch (paid locally) embark on the tour of Barnaul, You will visit the Altai State History Museum, with more than 150 thousand exhibits, private Museum of Pharmacy of the Altai Mountains, take a walk in Nagorny park and along the Ob river embankment to enjoy lovely city views.
DAY 2, BIYSK AND MARAL BREEDING COMPLEX
After breakfast travel to the Altai Mountains by a minibus making a stop in Biysk, the old traditional merchant town, founded by Peter the Great. Another stop - the Arzhan-Suu wellspring. The water here is saturated with silver, copper and other minerals. Next stop is the maral breeding complex where you will meet marals and wild horses grazing on meadows, and will learn the process of preparing velvet antlers. In the evening stay in the hotel on the bank of the Katun river and enjoy your dinner. Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 3, CHEMAL AND CHE-CHKYSH
After breakfast explore the Chemal village with its «ails», traditional dwellings. You will immerse into the atmosphere of X-XIII centuries and learn more about the nomads' culture and lifestyle. Later today take a walk along the hanging bridge to thePatmos island where the women's skit of the Barnaul Znamensky monastery is located. By the temple you will see the image of the Blessed Virgin with the baby, cut down in the rock. Later today walk along the bank of the Katun river to Chemal hydroelectric power station. After lunch you will explore the Checkas canyon. Go up to the waterfall to the view point to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Katun river. Drive to the Oroktoiskiy bridge, a picturesque, very narrow and deep place on the river. Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 4, KARAKOL VALLEY
Today after breakfast you will continue exploring the region by travelling along the Chuysk tract and passing through its highest point — the Seminsky mountain pass. Arrive at the UchEnmek ethno-natural park where you will stay at the tourist complex and try the traditional Altai cuisine. In the afternoon walk through the Karakol valley, where you will see the ancient mounds. In the evening participate in the concert of throat singing. You will also be shown how to play the traditional musical instruments, and will be given an opportunity to try it yourself! Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 5, KALBAK-TASH HOLE
Enjoy your breakfast before you go further to the south of the Altai Mountains. Stop at the awe-inspiring Chike-Taman pass at the altitude of 1295 m and later at the confluence of the Chuya and Katun rivers. Your next stop is the Kalbak-Tash Hole famous for its ancient rock paintings named Petroglyphs. The oldest of them dates back to the 8th millennium BC! Today you will stay at the Kochevnik Tourist base. Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 6, THE GEYSER LAKE AND MARS
Your journey continues to the unique Geyser lake of the unique bright turquoise color. Stop over at the Kurai steppe to admire the snowy peaks of the North-Chuysk mounatins. Later today you will see the Altai Mars, the unusually coloured mountains of the Kyzyl-Chin river valley. Have a walk, take pictures and enjoy your lunch outdoors. Overnight at the tourist base. Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 7, KATU-YARYK MOUNTAIN PASS AND CHULYSHMAN RIVER VALLEY
After breakfast continue your adventure through the narrow passages of the Red gates (red-coloured rocks), cross the Ulagan mountain pass, the highest in Altai, and explore the Pazyryk Tumuli (kurgans) with ancient Scythian burial mounds. Enjoy your lunch outdoors before admiring one of the famous Altai landscapes – the view from the Katu-Yaryk pass top over the Chulyshman river valley. You will stay at the Ezen tourist camp tonight. Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 8, WATERFALL KURKURE
Today you will cross the Chulyshman river by boat and hike to the Kurkure waterfall (more than 30 m tall). On return you can opt for another optional trip or spend the afternoon and evening at leasure). Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 9, STONE MUSHROOMS
Start your day driving to the mouth of the Karasu river. Here is where your trekking to the Stone mushrooms will start. Make sure you have your comfortable shoes on! After lunch you will set off to the southern bank of lake Teletskoye. Overnight at the Kyrsay tourist base. Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 10, LAKE TELETSKOYE AND KORBU WATERFALL
Today you will cross the magnificent Lake Teletskoye by boat. Your next stop will be at the Korbu - tall breathtaking waterfalls. You will stay at the Artybash village, locateded in the North of the lake. Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 11, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ALTAI REPUBLIK
After breakfast explore the nature, history and culture of Altai in the National Museum of Altai Republic. One of the main exhibits is the mummy of the Altai Princess, found on the Ukok plateau. In the evening you will arrive back in Barnaul and stay in the hotel. Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch.
DAY 12, DEPARTURE
Enjoy your breakfast before your transfer to the airport. Meal Included: Breakfast.
Please note that we reserve the right to change hotels to similar hotels of the same standard and change the order of excursions.
Pure Altai
The tour is available all year round on enquiry basis.
Please get in touch with our Destination Managers and they will put together a perfect holiday for you.
Included in price:
• Accommodation in hotels and tourist bases (11 nights)
• Full Board (except lunch and dinner on the 1st day and dinner on the 11th day)
• Transfer from/to the Barnaul airport
• All tour transfers by a comfortable minibus
• A guide/interpreter service
• Excursions according to the programme, including Folk throat singing concert
• Boat rental on Lake Teletskoe
• Russian bathhouse (5 times)
• Museum tickets and recreational fees
• All permits and licenses, registration of foreigners, visa support letter
• Russian visa suport
Not Included:
• Flights (please speak with us to get the best prices on flights added to your tour)
• Travel insurance
• Rafting (paid locally)