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Altai Expedition |
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Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Accommodation: hotel in Barnaul, stationary tourist camping "Vysotnik"
in Tyungur village, tented camp during active part of the tour.
Service: full package
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Day 1
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Arrive in Moscow, Transfer to the hotel, Short sightseeing tour
in Moscow.
Dinner at the restaurant. |
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Day 2
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Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit to the Red Square, the Kremlin and 2 museums
(self-paying). Lunch in the city.
Transfer to the Airport, departure to Barnaul
Night in the plane (flight to Barnaul takes 4 hrs). |
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Day 3
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Arrive in Barnaul at 06.30 a.m. (local time). Bus transfer to
the city of
Gorno-Altaisk (since 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.).
Lunch at the restaurant.
Visit the Museum of Nature History and Art Gallery (1,5 hrs).
Start your 500-km bus trip across the Mountain Altai.
Overnight in the tented camp. |
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Day
4
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Continue 500-km trip by car to the Tyungur village on the
Katun' river.
The road crosses all the main landscapes of Altai (except
highlands)
including three panoramic mountain passes which are more than
1000
m above the sea level. We will stop on the way to visit the
Ust'-Kan cave, ethnographic museum in the Mendur-Sokkon village,
and national farm producing kumys (traditional drink made of
horse
milk). Tasting.
Overnight stay in the big stationary tents in the tourist
camping
"Vysotnik" in the Tyungur village.
see photo
(Katun River Bridge)
*In Altaian language, Tyungur means "shaman's tambourine".
This village, founded in 1903, is populated by Russians and
Altaians. |
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Day
5
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Start of the active part of the tour by trek to the Ak-kem
lake (luggage is transported by horses). You will familiarize
yourself with the most scenic areas of the Mountain Altai.
Today, we hike 18 km during about 4 hrs. 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 above the sea level) covered by cedar pines and firs. On
the way, we will see the local medicinal plant Alpic Thistle (Rhaponticum
carthamoides, locally known as "Siberian stag's route"). A trail
descends to the terrace of the mountain river Ak-kem. There is a
chance to see a couple of demoiselle cranes. Overnight in tents.
see photo (Ak-kem River valley)
see photo (Ak-kem River) |
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Day
6
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Today, we have to hike about 30 km to the lake Aktash. 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. From there, a view to the peak Akoyuk and
Altai Crown opens. Our trail passes by whimsical rocks at 2200 m
above the sea level. Sometimes, you can see nephrite stones
along the trail. We will cross a small mountain pass Tomul (2580
m). Then, the trail follows the Muinokh ridge. Overnight in
tents at the picturesque small Ak-Tash lake.
see photo (Aktash Lake) |
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Day
7
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Today we will reach the Akkem lake (the distance covered is 26
km).
We trek westwards and ascend the mountain pass. There are
salting places, and you will have a chance to observe Siberian
ibexes. A trail descends to the Tekelyu river valley ("Teke" in
Altaian means "ibex"). Lunch en route, near the waterfalls on
the river Tekelyu (there are 6 waterfalls in total, and the last
is 60 meters high). After the lunch, we continue to hike to the
upper reaches of the river. It is possible to see Altaian
snowcocks or to hear their cries. We cross the river, ascend the
grassy slope to the Yarlu-Boch pass (2800 above the sea level).
It is unforgettable. You will see as three kilometers aside the
Tekelyu river takes its source from the glacier of the same
name. Just below you, there is a 600-meters cliff composed of
blue clay. To the left, the Dragoon Ridge stretches to the
Ak-Kem lake.
Overnight in the tented camp on the picturesque edelweiss meadow
located in 30 minutes of hike from the Akkem lake.
The trek from the lake Aktash to the edelweiss meadow with
two-hours stop at the waterfalls takes about 10 hours.
see photo (Ak-kem Lake)
see photo (Ak-kem
Lake)
see photo (Tekkelu River waterfalls)
see photo (Ak-kem
Lake) |
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Day
8
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Radial hikes without luggage in the valley of the Akkem lake.
Akkem is one of the most beautiful lakes in Altai. We will have
hiking excursions around to see some wonderful nature objects:
the Valley of Seven Lakes, Akkem glacier, Yarlu valley and the
Lake of Spirits.
We ascend to the hanging Valley of Seven Lakes along the steep
path. To the left, we view the peak Bronya (3291 m) and majestic
Akoyuk peak (3670 m), which seems white because of the powerful
hanging Akoyuk glacier. Akoyuk Mountain closes the Valley of
Seven Lakes from the south. 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.
see photo (Akoyuk Peak) |
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Day
9
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Hike to the Akkem
glacier along the eastern shore of the Akkem lake (1,5 hrs).
From the glacier, we enjoy the majestic view to Belukha Peak. To
the west from Belukha, we see the peaks Bronya (3291 m), Akoyuk
(3670 m), Roerikh (3492 m), Urusvati, 20th Anniversary of
October (4178 m). The last object of our excursion is the
powerful cascade of glaciers. The whole trip takes about 10 hrs.
see photo (Belukha Mountain)
see photo (Akkem glacier)
see photo (Trek to Belukha Mountain) |
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Day
10
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Hiking
route to the Lake of Spirits, which, according to the local
belief, has some mystic power. We cross the river Akkem and
ascend the old moraine. The lake is located in the branch of the
hanging valley of the Karaoyuk creek. The whole route to the
valley of the Lake of Spirits is quite easy and takes half of a
day. If we further ascend from the lake to the peak of the Yarlu
Mountain (3370 m), it will take about 11 hrs.
see photo (Nature of Altai) |
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Day
11
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Hike
from the Akkem to the Kucherlinskii lake across the Kara-Tyurek
("Black Heart") mountain pass.
In the beginning, the path steeply ascends grassy slope and
crosses larch forest, then luxuriant blossoming alpine meadows
and swampy areas abounding in medicinal Rose-root Stone-Crop (Rodiola
rosea, or "golden root" in Russian). You will see colonies of
marmots and mountain birds. Then the trail goes to the mountain
pass across the stony fields. The altitude of the mountain pass
is 3060 m. From there, we enjoy breathtaking mountain panoramas:
beautiful view to Belukha, which is towering just in front of
us, as well as to the Lake of Spirits, Yarlu valley, Blue
Mountains and Kucherly river valley.
Kucherlinskii lake is really one of the most beautiful in the
Mountain Altai. Its length is 5220 m, maximal width 900 m,
maximal depth 55 m. Wilderness of its banks is astounding. The
lake is located at the attitude of 1790 m. From the west and
east, snow-caps of the 3000-meters peaks of the Katunsky ridge
crown the lake; from south, the lake is closed by the narrow
canyon of the Kucherla river, from the north - by moraine
sediments. Add to this amazing panoramas of the river and its
rapids, several meters long stream waterfalls falling down from
the rocks... Larch and cedar pine forests surrounding the lake
are home to Siberian stag, lynx, and sable.
see photo (View from Kara-Turek Pass) |
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Day
12
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Radial hike without luggage to the Green and Blue lakes along
the eastern bank of the Kucherlinskii lake and then along the
Ozerny creek across the larch forest and several stairs of the
hanging valley with waterfalls. The hanging valley provides nice
views to the slopes of the Kucherlinskii lake valley covered
with slender Altaian spruces and cedar pines. There are good
chances to observe Altaian pikas. Small groves of Bergenia (badan)
look very nice among the stony fields. Green Lake laying at the
altitude of 2400 m is very impressive. If we pass round the
southern bank of the lake and ascend to moraine, the Western and
Tokmak glaciers will appear in front of us. If we cross the
creek by stones and pass the Green Lake round from the north, in
500 m you will see the creek-waterfall. It will lead us to the
Blue Lake with unusual color of water. Trip to these lakes takes
about 11 hrs.
see photo (Kara-Turek Pass on the way to Dukhov (Ghosts) Lake) |
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Day
13
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Hike
to the valley of the creek Kul'dura-Oyuk which flows into the
Kucherlinskii lake from the west. From the lake, we ascend the
hanging valley of the creek along stone fields. Our route
finishes at the blue lake laying in the nice circus under
snow-capped peak (2994 m). This excursion takes the whole day. |
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Days
14-15
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Hike
to the Vysotnik tourist camping. We ascend the moraine pass,
from where a farewell view opens to the valley of the
Kucherlinskii Lake. A trail goes up to high terraces and down to
the river, passes over the ridge covered by pure cedar forest
and alpine meadows. We pass by the Tegeek waterfall and the
mouth of the Tekelyushka river. We will see the rocks adorned by
several dozen of ancient petrogliphs.
see photo (Tyungur Village)
In the afternoon of the Day 14, we come to the camping "Vysotnik"
in Tyungur. Overnight there. |
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Day
16
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Bus
trip to Barnaul (12 hrs). Overnight at the hotel (double
accommodation). |
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Day 17
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Transfer to the
airport, departure to Moscow.
Departure to Moscow. Transfer to the Moscow hotel. Farewell
dinner at the restaurant. |
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Day 18
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Some clients leave
to Sheremetevo airport for home.
Remaining clients for Excursions
in Moscow
See guide for prices
Dinner in Moscow. Self paid. Restaurant - $50, cafe - $10 |
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Day 19
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Moscow excursion - as day before
Dinner in town, self paid. |
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Day 20
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Early breakfast
Airport Sheremetevo transfer.
Departure to UK or Ireland. |
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