Guided tour on the traces of Altai’s mysteries

Day 0 Arrival

We wiil meet you at the airport. After transfer to the hotel, you will have some time for rest.

At 17.00 we will meet in the lobby of the hotel to get acquainted and to discuss our tour.

After that we will take short walk in the city and have dinner together.

Day 1 Secrets of the Altai Princess

Welcome to Altai! Our journey begins with the main mystery of Altai - the legendary mummy of the Ukok Princess. At the National Museum in Gorno-Altaisk, one of the best in Siberia, we will travel through millennia of history and enter a special hall where this unique find rests.

Then, we will get acquainted with the capital of the Republic. We will stroll through cozy streets, find the place where Ulala originated, trace the path from Oirot-Tura to modern Gorno-Altaisk, and uncover its unexpected architectural connection to Egypt.

After lunch, we will head deep into the mountains. We will ascend the Seminsky Pass - the highest point of the Chuisky Tract, where near the summit lies the mysterious Stone Door. What lies beyond this threshold is one of the first mysteries of our journey.
Closer to evening, we will arrive in the Karakol Valley, rightfully considered a sacred place. Our introduction to Altai continues; now we will experience its taste – a traditional national dinner awaits us.

The culmination of the day is a kaichi concert, where you will hear music born without a single instrument, in the magic of throat singing.

Route length: 200 km by car

Day 2 Secrets of Ancient Civilizations

Today we journey into the past of Altai - the cradle of civilizations. The Scythians, Xiongnu, and Turks – they did not leave us castles, cities, or manuscripts. But for some reason, they created kurgans (burial mounds), erected giant stelae, and carved drawings on stones that have survived for hundreds and thousands of years. What messages do they hide?

We will dedicate the first half of the day to the Karakol Valley, nestled at the foot of the three-peaked Mount Uch-Emnek. Here we will see the royal Bashadar Kurgan and try to unravel the mystery of the giant stone semicircle surrounding it.

After the tour, we will continue our journey along the Chuisky Tract, admire the scenery from the Chike-Taman Pass, visit another sacred place - the confluence of the Chuya and Katun rivers, and stop at the Kalbak-Tash sanctuary. This is where mysteries are concentrated! Who and when carved hundreds of drawings on the stones? Are there spaceships, people with tails, mythical monsters, and a star map here? We will learn what scientists say about them and what legends the local people keep.

On the way, we will visit an ethno-village (ethno-ail), where the hostess will introduce us to the customs and way of life of the peoples of the Altai Mountains.

By evening, we will arrive in the village of Chibit, where we will stay for two nights.

Route length: 160 km by car

Day 3 Secrets of the High Mountains

Today we ascend to the very heavens! In powerful off-road vehicles, we will go to an altitude of 3000 meters to the Radio Tower, where a breathtaking panorama of snow-capped ridges will open up. In clear weather, you can see the highest point of Altai – Mount Belukha on the horizon.

Along the way, we will witness amazing changes in nature: you will see how the vegetation changes with altitude, learn about the movement of ancient glaciers, which, like giant bulldozers, reshaped the landscapes. We will discover an abandoned mine and learn what treasures the mountains hold inside.

Next, another miracle awaits us - the small Geyser Lake, where mysterious patterns are born at the bottom. Many believe you can ask questions to the water's surface and look for answers in the intricate pictures drawn by the underground springs.

The culmination of the day will be the powerful Mazhoysky Cascade on the Chuya River, where turbulent waters cut through a narrow canyon, creating over 50 rapids of the highest difficulty category. This spectacle leaves no one indifferent!

By evening, we will return to the cozy guest houses in Chibit.

Route length: 75 km by car

Day 4 Secrets of Modern Nomads

You have already begun to understand how harsh the living conditions in the mountains are. But people here live in amazing harmony with nature. What is their secret? Today we will go to meet modern nomads to find the answer.

Our path lies further along the Chuisky Tract, towards the Mongolian border. Along the way, we will make a landing on Mars - exploring the surreal landscapes of the red hills of Kyzyl-Chin. Then, new discoveries await us: at the Museum of the Telengits of the Chuya Steppe, we will see the mysterious head and hand of an ancient warrior - a find from a distant gorge.

Next stop - the Altai Stonehenge. Giant stones arranged in a circle 60 meters in diameter. An ancient observatory, a sanctuary, or the work of a glacier? Or perhaps a place of power where rituals are still performed?

Upon request (by prior arrangement), a meeting with a shaman is possible on this day. This is a chance to ask a burning question and get advice - the shaman speaks with everyone individually.

We will spend the night in the Kurai Steppe.

Route length: 180 km by car

Day 5 Secrets of the Great Road

Today we begin our return journey. But what a journey it is! The Chuisky Tract is one of the most beautiful roads in the world, a northern branch of the Great Silk Road. This time, the entire day will be dedicated to the Chuisky Tract.

We will stop at iconic places, walk along the remains of the old road, marvel at the dry stone masonry and the scale of work done over 100 years. We will learn why it is believed that a path existed here millennia ago. We will search for traces of ancient crossings over the Katun River and admire the suspension bridge from the 1930s, a progressive creation of engineer Tsaplin. We will stop at the monument to the drivers of the Chuisky Tract, listen to an interesting song about Kolka Snegirev, and find out what the fate of the main character really was.

Expected arrival in Gorno-Altaysk by 18:00, where our journey through Altai's mysteries comes full circle.

Route length: 400 km by car

Day 6 Departure

After breakfast we will transfer you to the airport for your flight home or your next destination.