AAR1. Treasures of Ancient Mountains

This adventure tour grants a unique opportunity to visit different natural zones - taiga, alpine meadows, steppe and mountain glaciers, surrounded by snow peaks, in one trip. Great chance to make pictures of rare on beauty landscapes, river rapids, unique trees - giants and many other riches of nature of Gorny Altai. Archeological memorials - footprints of ancient Asian cultures supplement your impressions.
During the trip, you not only drive about 1500 km through diverse nature but get acquainted a little with such different kinds of tourist activities as trekking, horseback riding and white water rafting. The tour is completed with an impressive ship voyage along the Teletskoye Lake - one of the world deepest lakes, and with relaxation in a comfortable tourist center on the bank of  the Biya River.

 

Type: Adventure
Tour duration: 18 days
Season: June - September
Recommended Group Size: 8 - 12
Mode of Travel: minibus, 4WD bus, on feet, horseback, raft, small ship

 

Day 1. Arrival in Barnaul. City tour of Barnaul. Bus drive Barnaul - Gorno-Altaisk (290 km). Museum of Local Lore. Drive to the hotel Aya (25 km). Accommodation in the hotel.

 

Day 2. Bus drive along Chuysky Tract (310 km): hotel Aya - Seminsky Pass - Chike-Taman Pass - Bolshoy Ilgumen River (the Ilgumen rapid on the Katun River) - Inya - Chuu-Oosy (petroglyphs) - Bely Bom - Yarbalyck. Overnight in tents on the bank of Chuya River.

Day 3. Continuation of drive (by 4WD bus) along Chuysky Tract (145 km): Yarbalyck - Aktash - Kurai - Kosh-Agach. Set up a base camp in the alpine Chuysky Steppe.

Day 4. Excursion to a shepherd stand (yurts, camels, koumiss). Overnight in tents.

Day 5. Drive by 4WD bus (90 km): Kosh-Agach - Kurai - cordon Pereval through Kuraisky Steppe. Trekking (10 km, elevation 450 m) up to the Alpinism center Aktru. Accommodation in lodges. Banya.

Day 6. Radial excursion (trekking 5 km, elevation 700 m) to the Uchitel Pass (alpine meadows, snows, panorama of Kuraisky Steppe).

Day 7. Radial excursion (trekking 6 km, elevation 800 m) to the Goluboye (Blue) Lake (2850 m) along the Bolshoy Aktru glacier (in case of improper weather - excursion to the Maly Aktru glacier). Banya.

Day 8. Trekking (10 km) down to the cordon Pereval. Drive by 4WD bus (105 km): cordon Pereval - Kurai - Aktash - Krasniye Vorota (Red Gate) - Balyktukel Lake. Set up a base camp. Walks around.

Day 9. Walks around. Fishing for trout.

Day 10. Drive by 4WD bus (100 km): Balyktukel Lake - Ulagan (visit to Museum of Local lore) - Pazyryk (visit to ancient burial places - barrows) - Katu-Yaryk Pass (hiking down 3,5 km) - Chulyshman River Valley - mouth of  Karasu River. Set up a base camp.

Day 11. Drive by 4WD bus (30 km) to the starting point of rafting. Rafting along Chulyshman River (10 km): Katu-Yaryk - Tudansky Rapids. Examination and bypass of (11 km): Tudansky rapids - mouth of Karasu River. Relaxation in the base camp.

Day 12. Radial excursion (trekking 20 km) to the Uchar Waterfall.

Day 13. Radial excursion to (trekking 2 km). Drive  by 4WD bus (30 km): mouth of Karasu River - mouth of Bashkaus River - mouth of Chebdar River. Overnight in tents.

Day 14. Relaxation. Walks around. Drive by 4WD bus (30 km): mouth of Chebdar River - Kyrsai Cape (Southern shore of the Teletskoye Lake). Ship voyage Kyrsai Cape - cordon Chelyush (20 km). Accommodation in a base camp. Banya.

Day 15. Radial excursion (trekking 5 h) through the Altaisky Reserve to Bascon and Chelyush Waterfalls.

Day 16. Ship voyage along Teletskoye Lake (60 km): Chelyush - Korbu (visit to Korbu Waterfall) - Airan Cape - Kamenny (Stony) Bay - Artybash. Accommodation in the tourist center Yurtok. Banya.

Day 17. Relaxation. Walks around. Bus drive (420 km): Artybash - Gorno-Altaisk - Barnaul. Accommodation in hotel.

Day 18. Departure from Barnaul.