Altai Peaks, Lakes & Rivers

This 14-days combination of trekking and rafting in the Altai takes you from the arid Kurai steppe to alpine peaks named "Dream, Beauty and Fairytale". Challenging hiking takes you from fields of wildflowers, through forests, and up the unique Maly Ak-Tru Glacier to view Siberian glacier lakes from above. Then, relax your legs and put your upper body to work on the mighty Katun River class 3&4 rapids, Russia's most famous whitewater. Stop for side hikes, waterfalls, petroglyphs, and a Russian sauna.

Highlights:
" Enjoy a long and winding Chuisky highway connecting Russia and Mongolia and beautiful sites of Altai Mountains
" Trek to Blue Lake and Kyzil-Tash summit adjacent along the Ak-Tru glacier
" Overland via picturesque spurs of Northern Chuya Range
" Trek to the locals favorite alpine lakes of Altai - Shavlinskie Lakes
" Panorama of three peaks "The Dream", "The Beauty" and "The Fairytale" reflecting in the mirror of Upper Shavlinskoe Lake
" Raft through the rapids and tubes of Siberia's most famous whitewater.

Day 1 Arrive and meet guides in Barnaul. Drive to Ilgumen River camp site with wooden cabins. Russian sauna. (B,L,D)
Day 2 Transfer to Kyzil Tash village. Trek to Ak-Tru alpine center. Double and triple accommodations in alpine houses. Short excursion to Minor Ak-Tru glacier (1.5 to 2 hours). (B.L.D)
Day 3 Trek along Major Ak-Tru glacier and further to the Blue Lake. For those with more energy, and additional easy trek to Kyzil-Tash Mountain (3 800m). (B,L,D)
Day 4 Overland to to natural boundary leshtykel(Majoy River valley).Stops in vicinity lake Karakol. Set up camp. (B,L,D)
Day 5 Trek to the mouth of Shabaga River -right tributary of Shavla River. Set up camp. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Trek to Lower Shavlinskoe Lake. Set up camp. (B.L.D)
Day 7 Optional trek to Upper Shavlinskoe Lake -breathtaking panorama of three peaks called "The Dream", "The Beauty" and "Fairy Tale" (B.L.D)
Day 8 Trek to mountain pass Lower Shavlinsky. Set up a camp in vicinity of the pass at the height of 3000 meters (B,L,D)
Day 9 Trek to Maashey Lake. Set up a camp. (B,L,D)
Day 10 Trek to a campsite in Majoy River. Russian sauna. (B,L,D)
Day 11 Transfer to camp site in the mouth of Yaloman River (tribute of mighty Katun River) - initial point of our rafting trip. (B,L,D)
Day 12 Rafting from Yaloman mouth into Katun River and further to Sabbath rapid. Set up a camp. (B.L.D)
Day 13 Paddling to the small village of Kuyus. Transfer to comfortable "Tsarskaya Okhota" hotel. Russian sauna and farewell Dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 14 Transfer to airport (B)
Summary:
Days: 14 days/13 days
Type of trip: Multi-sport (Trekking&Rafting)
Group: Maximum 10 people
Difficulty: Moderate to Rigorous
Originates: Barnaul/Novosibirsk
Season: June 15 - August 15
Departure: June 22 - July 2, 2002
June 21 -July 1,2003
Pricing: $2198 per person (Group 5-7)
$1813 per person (Group 8-10)

Altai Golden Ring

Altai Golden Ring shows the endless variety of this rare corner of the world with boundless steppes, rich taiga, and modest wildflowers, Alpine desert and the rush of Siberian Rivers. Starting from the Teletskoe Lake, the pearl of Siberia, trekking through mountain passes and gorges, past stone mushrooms, and down through valleys to Ulagan Plateau. Witness the burial place of Scythian warriors and princesses, and switch gears for a 4-day rafting trip on the Katun River.

Highlights:
" Boat over Teletskoe Lake- the pearl of Altai
" Trek through stunning Chulysman River valley to see stone mushrooms
" See how class 6 river looks like (Chulysman River) but do not try it
" Witness the Pazyryk Burial Mounds in Ulagan Plateau
" Trek to Blue Lake along Ak-Tru glacier and see more of attractions of alpine origin
" Raft through the rapids and tubes of the biggest Siberian whitewater river

Day 1 Meeting in Barnaul airport. Transfer to wooden cabin camp on the bank of the Teletskoe Lake. (B.L.D)
Day 2 Boating to Cape Chelush on a research boat to the Tulabarsky ethnographic center and the Korbu waterfall. Overland to Chulcha River to tent camp site. (B,L,D)
Day 3 Trek with backpacks of 8-10 kgs to Uchar waterfalls. Set up a camp. (B,L,D)
Day 4 Trek to stone mushrooms of Karasu gorge. Overnight in tents. (B,L,D)
Day 5 Overland from Chulcha to the through Katu-Yaryk pass to Ulagan Plateau famous for Pazyryk burial mounds. Stop for fantastic scenery at the Mertvoe Ozero (Dead Lake) and Krasnie Vorota (Red Gates). Accommodation in the alpine camp center Ak-Tru. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Trek to Blue lake along glacier Ak-Tru. Overnight in alpine center. (B,L,D)
Day 7 Transfer to the mouth of the Yaloman River along Chuisky highroad connecting Russia to Mongolia. Tent camp on riverbank. Meeting with your river guides. (B,L,D)
Day 8 Rafting to Kuzur River. Passing llgumen rapid (Class 3+) and Kadrinskaya tube. Tent camp on riverbank. (B,L,D)
Day 9 Rafting along river Katun to the mouth of the river Kayancha. Key attraction of the day -double rapids known as Sabbath. Camp. (B,L,D)
Day 10 Walking excursion to petroglyphs done by ancient man. Rafting to Edigan River. Camp. (B.L.D)
Day 11 Paddling to Elanda - the final site of our rafting tour. Horseback riding in nice surroundings of Elanda. Transfer to "Tsarskaya Okhota" motel for party and sauna. (B,L,D)
Day 12 Departure from Novosibirsk
Summary:
Days: 12 days/11 nights
Origin: Barnaul/Novosibirsk
Type of trip: Multi-sport (Boating, Trekking, Horseback Riding, Rafting)
Group: 5-12 people
Difficulty: Rigorous (Challenging hiking requiring carrying own gear on some days)
Season: June 15 - August 15
Price: $1778 per person (5-7 pax)
$1466 per person (10-12 pax)

To learn more please enquire hobo.partner@t-online.de