- Horse riding discovery and rafting experience in the Altai Mountains -
The horses will take you to explore the scenery of Altai in all its diversity. You will pass through forests and valleys, canyons and passes to enjoy the stunning vistas of mountains and lakes beneath you. The short rafting tour along the Katun river in the end of the trip will give you a new experience and make you relax and leave Altai full of energy.
Tour type: multi-adventure – horse riding (no vehicle support!), rafting
Duration: 10 days / 9 nights
Length: 50 km rafting, 100 km horse riding, 820 km auto
Group size: max 12 persons
Special requirements: none; own outfit
Recommendations: vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis for those traveling in June
Day 1
Early morning arrival in Barnaul from Moscow by a night flight, meeting by the local guide. Breakfast in a cafй and a start of the long journey by mini-van to the starting point of our horse riding itinerary – towards the Altai taiga forests and mountain peaks (6 hrs). Stop on the way to buy a snack of your choice for lunch.
Arrival at the Biika River, setting up a tent camp on the river bank. Those wishing can venture dipping into the river’s cool waters. Dinner cooked in camping conditions, evening of acquaintances around the campfire. Overnight in tents.
Day distance auto: 410 km, 6 hrs
Day 2
Meeting your horse, safety briefing. Packing and loading the luggage bags (archemaks) on the horses. An easy riding trip to get to know your horse. Leave the birch wood and head for the Tyasch-Mesch (Young Cedar) Fold – towards the mountains and real cedar forest. Help the groom with taking care of your horse and setting a tent camp.
Day distance horse riding: 12 km, 4 hrs
Breakfast, lunch as a snack, dinner cooked over campfire (BLD). Overnight in tents.
Day 3
Enjoy an unhurried ride along the ridge of the Kuminsky mountain range with an excellent view of the Iolgo ridge and snow-capped Sarlyk (“Wild Yak”) peak. Go down the hill to the Kush (“Bird”) river and up again to its mouth. After lunch we follow the trail to the Shaman Valley, a beautiful place worshipped by shamans who used to held rites in honour of Altai spirits and meditations there. Setting a tent camp in the Alpine meadows of the Kyzylgak valley, at the foothill of the Taman-Azhu pass.
Day distance horse riding: 15 km, 6 hrs. BLD. Overnight in tents
Day 4
Ride on a rocky trail to the Taman-Azhu pass (“Rough Road”) and stop at the obo site where stones are put together in pyramids for the Spirit of the Pass. Breath-taking mountains are just in front of us. Go down on the other side of the pass in the canyon Kara-Irbak, past the first mountain lake on our way. We reach the source of the Chemal river. Further we will encounter the Toguskol valley with its warm picturesque lakes where you can bathe. Set up a camp next to the Toguskol river.
Day distance horse riding: 20 km, 6 hrs. BLD. Overnight in tents
Day 5
Continue the ride at a height of 2000m. Under our feet the Malaya Sumulta river is gurgling through the canyon, while we are following the trail passing by 2 small but lovely mountain lakes and the Dead Canyon. We reach the fairy-like Manas Lake surrounded by the rocks where edelweiss blossom. Its water is warm, so one can swim. Continue to the Alpine meadows of Aksas and discover on the way The Watch Towers of the lake made of impressive stones. Stop for overnight at a gorgeous place – at the foothill of the snow-covered Bare Mountains, above the ridges covered by dense forest.
Day distance horse riding: 25 km, 5hrs. BLD. Overnight in tents
Day 6
The last day of our trip – a longest ride through an amazing landscape. In front of us, in the midst of bare rocks, lies a vast Alpine meadow Ales stretching for 7 km. We head straight across the meadow to the Kuzhoy Fold (where we stop for lunch) and further along the fields and shores of the Katun River towards the main camp.
Dinner, Russian banya and farewell campfire. Overnight in tents.
Day distance horse riding: 40 km, 7hrs.
Day 7
Safety briefing, outfitting for rafting. Introduction to raft management and team work on the water (6 km of calm water), further relaxing rafting down Katun river through rapids Biika, Elandinsky, Chemal Pipe. After lunch visit to the Patmos Island.
BLD. Overnight in tents on Katun river shore
Day 8
Breakfast. A more intense rafting day - get through the rapids Iradash, Seminsky, Munskoy. Lunch as a snack and visit to the Kamyshlinsky waterfall. Return to the main camp, Russian banya. Dinner and farewell over camp fire. Overnight
Day 9
Breakfast. Depart for Barnaul (410 km, 6 hrs) with a stop on the way to buy a snack of your choice. Arrive in the city, check-in at the hotel and overnight
Day 10
Breakfast, transfer to the airport and morning departure by flight to Moscow
