AAR2. Altai Loop

This route passes through all natural zones of Altai (taiga, alpine meadows, steppe, snow peaks and glaciers). Chuysky Tract – the main road of Gorny Altai, go down to the Valley of Chulyshman River and finish an active part of the route with a ship voyage along the sacred Teletskoye Lake.
On route you taste different activities (mountain trekking along glaciers in Severo-Chuysky Range, white water rafting along Chulyshman River, hiking through taiga in Altaisky Reserve) and get acquainted with beautiful nature of Altai and with lifestyle of aborigines.

 

Type: Adventure
Tour duration: 12 days
Months of Operation: June – September
Recommended Group Size: 6 - 12
Mode of Travel: minibus, 4WD bus, on foot, raft, small ship

 

Day 1. Arrival in Barnaul. City tour of Barnaul. Bus ride Barnaul – Gorno-Altaisk (290 km). Museum of Local Lore. Drive to hotel Aya (25 km). Accommodation in the hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 2. Journey by 4WD bus along Chuysky Tract (160 km): hotel Aya – Seminsky Pass – Karakol. Excursion to Uch-Enmek Natural Park to see ancient burial places and petrogliphs. Lunch with traditional Altai cuisine. Traditional Altai music (Komus) and throat singing. Continuation of bus journey (70 km) Karakol - Chike-Taman Pass – Bolshoy Ilgumen River. Overnight in tents. (B, L, D)

Day 3. Continuation of journey by 4WD bus along Chuysky Tract (200 km): Bolshoy Ilgumen River - the Ilgumen rapid on the Katun River - Inya – Chuu-Oosy (petroglyphs) – Bely Bom - Aktash – Kurai – cordon Pereval through Kuraisky Steppe. Trekking (10 km, elevation 450 m) up to the Alpinist center Aktru (2050 m). Accommodation in lodges.  (B, L, D)

Day 4. 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. Overnight in lodges. (B, L, D)

Day 5. Radial excursion (trekking 8 km, elevation 900 m) to the Uchitel’ pass (2850 m). Overnight in lodges. (B, L, D)

Day 6. Trekking (10 km) down to the cordon Pereval. Journey by 4WD bus (155 km): cordon Pereval – Kurai – Aktash – Krasniye Vorota (Red Gate) - Ulagan Pass - Ulagan (visit to Museum of Local lore) – Pazyryk (visit to ancient burial places – barrows) – Kok-Kel’ Lake. Overnight in tents. (B, L, D)

Day 7. Bus journey(60 km)Kok-Kel’ Lake - Katu-Yaryk Pass (hiking down 3,5 km) – Chulyshman River Valley – Tudansky Rapins (examination) – mouth of Karasu River. Set up a base camp. Relaxation. (B, L, D)

Day 8. Rafting along Chulyshman River (11 km): Tudansky rapids - mouth of Karasu River.  Radial excursion to ‘Stone Mushrooms’ (trekking 2 km). Overnight in tents. (B,L,D)

Day 9. Radial excursion (trekking 20 km) to the Uchar Waterfall. Overnight in tents. (B, L, D)

Day 10. Ride by 4WD bus (50 km): mouth of Karasu River – mouth of Bashkaus River – Kyrsai Cape (Southern shore of the Teletskoye Lake). Ship voyage (80 km) Kyrsai – Korbu (visit to Korbu Waterfall) – Airan Cape – Kamenny (Stony) Bay – Artybash. Accommodation in the tourist center Yurtok. Banya. (B, L, D)