The Darashkol lake is hard to reach, it is a beautiful and wild part of the Altai Mountains, practically unknown to travellers. Even native people regard these snow peaks from aside. Taking part in this backpacking tour you will trek by animal trails, climb rocky passes, swim in transparent rivers and lakes and go up to the amazingly scenic lake Darashkol.
Day 1
Arrive in Barnaul. Meeting at the airport with a sign «Vysotnik / LenAlpTours». Travel by bus to reach the base camp «Vysotnik» (850 m), which is situated in a picturesque place on the shore of the Katun river near the village of Tiungur. 750 km, 12-13 hours. A “welcome” dinner. Accommodation in Vysotnik.
Accommodation: in 2-storied wooden cottage, in rooms housing 2-4 people each, WC on the floor. Wooden communal toilets and sauna are in a separate nearby building. There are also a café, a sports ground, a parking and a small hiking/climbing equipment rental center. Clothes and items not required for the trek can be left at the check room till return from the trekking tour.
Day 2
Today we start our trek from the base camp “Vysotnik” passing through Kucherla, last populated area on the way to the mountains – the stow Elan – the meadow Izekeryu in the valley of the Kucherla river (1300 m). Accommodation is in trekking tents on the field. On the way we make a stop to look at the ancient petroglyphs on a rock. Food is cooked on the open fire.
24 km, 5 hours.
Day 3
Izekeryu – the valley of the Kucherla river – the Kucherla Lake (1786 m) – Upper the Kucherla River. Our direction is up in a gorge in a close Siberian taiga. Accommodation is on the bank of the river.
21 km, 7 h.
Day 4
The Kucherla River – shallow of river Kucherla - lake Darashkol (2200 m). A trail along the Kucherla Lake is entire obstruction and slashing. You may need a rope to cross the shallow. Far off you may see the upper waterfalls of river Ioldo-Airi. An overnight stop is nearby the lake in woodless zone on the 8 shape cape. Food is cooked on gas.
11 km, 6-8 h.
Day 5
The rest day at Darashkol. The way up goes along the Nemitskii stream towards cognominal glacier. You can eye Western Belukha, its passes and glaciers as well as the Kapchalskii pass and glacier at an unusual angle.
Day 6
The Darashkol Lake – the Western Ioldo-Airi pass (1 Adifficulty level, 2840 m) – the Ioldo pass (2850 m). The way up is of two types – screes and glacier. A magnificent view on Belukha massif and the whole Katunskii ridge is opened from the pass. Further we go down by traverse to the Ioldo pass and to the beginning of the Kuragan River. Food is cooked on gas. 10 km, 6-7 h.
Day 7
Way down from the pass to the Ioldo valley – the Arukol Lake. The whole day we are going down along one of the Kuragan streams in a urstromtal valley to the Arukol lake. An overnight is on a surrounded by taiga meadow with wooden benches and table.
10 km, 6-7 hours.
Day 8
The Arukol Lake – kordon Kazinikha. We are passing by awesome floods: tiny graded lakes of different colors with stony banks with snow peaks on the background. Then we pass a shallow of the Kuragan River named Bachanikha. An overnight is on the kordon near by the place “Camp Kolobok” with a shed.
8 km, 6 hours.
Day 9
Kordon Kazinikha – the Osinovka River valley – the Alla-Askir River. The rest of the way we are walking in the valley of Lower Kuragan passing its tributaries. The trail to Osinovka goes through the burnt forest, crosses the river by a bridge, and continues to go through the burnt forest and comb rock, leaving Lower Kuragan far away below. The way down from the branch to the river lies within high grass. Finally we are at the night stop – the bank of the Alla-Askir River. 10 km, 6-7 hours.
Day 10
A.-Askir-stream Kirgis (1285 m) – the Gromotukha River. The trail to Kirgis lies in comb rocks with long ascents. Behind the stream a good trail begins. It goes nearby snowy mount Ermak (3132 m) which is on the right bank of the Lower Kuragan River, wild valley of the Ermoshka Stream, a part of Kuragan valley with the width of 10 m, and crossing Gromotukha by a log.
20 km, 7-8 h.
Day 11
Gromotukha-The Katun River – the b. c. “Vysotnik”. A tractor laid road is the final part of the trip. It goes in a hilly area with underbrush of strawberry. Nearby there are mowing of inhabitants of Katanda village. At the camp – dinner, overnight in the cottage.
18 km, 6-7 hours.
Day 12
After breakfast, we will say good-bye to the hospitable staff of Vysotnik and leave by bus for the city of Barnaul (750 km, 12-13 hours). Stops on the way for lunch (at your own expense) and to buy souvenirs. Arrive in the center of Barnaul by the evening. Check-in at the hotel (double-basis). Dinner in the city on your own.
Day 13
Check-out of the hotel and transfer to the airport (without a guide) for your morning flight
The Tour Operator reserves the right to introduce changes in the itinerary due to weather conditions or other factors out o Tour Operator's control
