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Fairytale of the Multinsky Lakes
Fairytale of the Multinsky Lakes

Hiking tour in the Altai Mountains

Fairytale of the Multinsky Lakes
Difficulty
Difficulty levels
Easy. Passive relaxation and sightseeing — cruises for example. No physical activities. Good for older people.
Normal. Active tours. You don’t have to be a sportsman, but you need to be strong enough to ride a snowmobile or go hiking in the mountains.
Advanced. Get ready for a challenge — long trekking with a heavy backpack on the shoulders, rafting along mountain rivers.
Hard. Professional training and perfect physical fitness are required. The level involves climbing to the tops of the mountains (above 3000 meters), freeriding and North Pole diving.
Group size
from 5 to 15 person
Duration
11 days

Accommodation during the trip

9 nights
1 night

Languages

EN
guide
We update the dates and tour price.
Leave your email and we’ll notify you when get this info.

Breathe in the scent of mountain herbs as you climb along the river to the turquoise Altai lakes. Feel the refreshing sprays standing under the Kuiguk waterfall. Spend the night under the canopy of mighty relict cedars. Climb the sacred Kolban peak, the steep Kuiguk pass and the unnamed mountain to enjoy the panorama of the entire Katunsky mountain ridge with its hightest peak — Belukha Mount.

Fairytale of the Multinsky Lakes
Difficulty
Difficulty levels
Easy. Passive relaxation and sightseeing — cruises for example. No physical activities. Good for older people.
Normal. Active tours. You don’t have to be a sportsman, but you need to be strong enough to ride a snowmobile or go hiking in the mountains.
Advanced. Get ready for a challenge — long trekking with a heavy backpack on the shoulders, rafting along mountain rivers.
Hard. Professional training and perfect physical fitness are required. The level involves climbing to the tops of the mountains (above 3000 meters), freeriding and North Pole diving.
Group size
from 5 to 15 person
Duration
11 days

Accommodation during the trip

9 nights
1 night

Languages

EN
guide
We update the dates and tour price.
Leave your email and we’ll notify you when get this info.

Experiences you'll have

Trekking to the Multinsky Lakes

Ust-Koksinsky District is the most picturesque region of Altai. Travelling along the Chuysky tract, one of the most beautiful roads in the world, and the vast Uymon Valley, you will reach the Multa river valley. Climb along its banks and go out to the majestic Lower, Middle and Upper Multinsky lakes.

We recommend this trip to those who have previous experience of mountain hikes. Every day you will go from 6 to 24 km on foot, and sleep in tents near lakes and at the top of highland plateaus.

 

For 4 days you will have to carry a backpack with personal belongings. Pack horses are used to transport group equipment and food. All other days you will have radial hiking routes without heavy backpacks.

During this tour you will see the most picturesque corners of Altai:

  • visit the Katunsky Biosphere Reserve, enjoy the aromas of alpine meadows and mountain herbs
  • admire the beauty of the Multinsky lakes, the Akchan, the Kuiguk — each of them has its own unique color shade
  • overcome the Kuiguk pass (2520 m high) to capture panoramas of the Katunsky ridge
  • spend the night surrounded by relict cedars near the beautiful Kuiguk waterfall
  • climb the mountain peak Kolban, which is sacred for the Altaians (3145 m high)
  • visit the ancient village of Upper Uymon, where Nicholas Roerich lived during his Central Asian expedition
  • get acquainted with the life, culture and faith of the Old Believers of the Uymon Valley

Early booking special offer: if you pay in full before March 31, you can book a tour for 2022 with the current price of 330 EURO per person. After this date, the cost of the tour will increase.

Note: The route passes in the border area of the Russian Federation. For foreign citizens, including citizens of the CIS, it is necessary to issue a border pass. You need to submit the documents for it one month before the start of the tour. 

 

Note: for your group of two or more people we can organixe this program on any other dates, contact our manager for details.

Itinerary

The journey begins in Novosibirsk, Barnaul or Gorno-Altaysk, where you should get to on your own. We are ready to help with the purchase of tickets, leave a comment in the application, if necessary. 

 

Note: you need to fly to Novosibirsk or Barnaul the day before the start of the program, to Gorno-Altaysk — before 10 am on the first day of the tour (see the details about group transfer to Ust-Koksa village in the "Common question" section).

Day 1 Transfer to Ust-Koksa village

Transfer to Ust-Koksa village is waiting for you today. The road passes along the famous Chuysky tract among the rocky ridges of Altai Mountains, then along the Kansk steppe to the Uymon valley.

 

Upon arrival in the village, you will receive equipment and instructions and meet other participants of the tour. Lunch and dinner will take place in a cafe, and you will spend the night in tents at the campsite. 

 

Stage length: 375 km from Gorno-Altaysk, 640 km from Barnaul, 825 km from Novosibirsk by minibus.

Day 2 Lake Lower Multinskoe

In the morning after breakfast, you will go to the village of Multa-Maralnik to the starting point of the hiking route. You will go up along the Multa river to Lake Lower Multinsky. There are many mushrooms and berries on the way.

 

You will come to the lake located at an altitude of 1710 meters. The lake's mirror-like surface, 2370 meters long and up to 900 meters wide, reflects floating clouds and peaks of nearby mountains in calm weather. There is grayling in the lake, so you can go fishing if you want.

 

You will have a camp kitchen for lunch and dinner and spend the night in tents on the lake's bank. 

 

Stage length: 41 km by car, 13 km on foot with a backpack (personal belongings + a sleeping bag and a mat, weight up to 10 kg).

Day 3 Lake Upper Multinskoe

You will have a radial hike to Lake Upper Multinskoye. It is located at an altitude of 1860 m, in a deep rocky circus near the lower border of the tar glacier. The trail passes through Shumy — an isthmus between the Lower and Middle lakes, formed by huge boulders up to 20 m in diameter. Water breaks through this dam, creating a contrast to the quiet surface of the two lakes. Small waterfalls are visible on the slopes of the Katunsky ridge, and the nearby peaks are covered with caps of ice and snow.

 

In the evening you will return to the camp by the lower lake, have dinner and rest.

 

Stage length: 26 km on foot.

Day 4 Route to the highland plateau

After breakfast, you will go up the Multa River to the Kholodnye Belki (Russian for "Cold whites") plateau (2350 m high). The alpine plateau is unique in that 4 rivers originate from it: the Proezdnaya, the Zaychonok, the Sugash and the Mikhailovka.

 

Returning to the camp, you will have dinner and, if you wish, go to the bathhouse (for an additional fee).

 

Stage length: 20 km on foot.

Day 5 Kuiguk waterfall

You will go to Lake Kuiguk and set up a camp among the majestic cedars, next to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Altai — Kuiguk (25 m high). If desired you can take a walk to the high-mountain lake (2270 m).

 

Stage length: 9 km on foot with a backpack (personal items + sleeping bag and a mat, weight up to 10 kg).

Day 6 Ascent route

Today you will climb the mountain peak 2909 m high. A very steep ascent will end with a magnificent panoramic view of the entire Katunsky ridge, from which Mount Belukha, the highest peak of the Altai Mountains, is also clearly visible in good weather. You can take stunning photos here.

 

Then you will descend back to the camp, have dinner and rest.

 

Stage length: 6 km on foot, with a height difference of 1100 m.

Day 7 Kuiguk pass

On this day you will go from the lake to the Kuiguk pass which is 2520 m high (complexity category 1a). The road passes by a mirror lake, a cascade of small waterfalls and the alpine tundra.

 

Mount Kolban and Lake Akchan with amazing turquoise color of water are clearly visible from the pass. You will have lunch outdoors on the way, and spend the night in tents on a high plateau.

 

Stage length: 18 km on foot with a backpack (personal belongings + food + tent).

Day 8 Mount Kolban

Today you will climb Mount Kolban (3022 m high). Altai people consider it sacred and attribute many interesting and romantic legends to it. A magnificent panoramic view opens up from the top.

 

Stage length: 21 km on foot.

Day 9 Return to Ust-Koksa village

You will walk down the river to the village of Multa, from where you will return to Ust-Koksa. For the night you will stay in tents at the campsite.

 

Stage length: 16 km on foot with a backpack (personal belongings + tent), 41 km by car.

Day 10 Excursion to the village of Verkhniy Uymon

After breakfast, you will have free time. You can go horseback riding in the surroundings or book a two-hour rafting tour (extra charge).

 

After lunch, you will go on an excursion to Verkhniy (Russian for "Upper") Uymon village, which is considered to be one of the oldest villages in the Ust-Koksinsky region. It was founded by Old Believers about 300 years ago. You will visit the Nicholas Roerich's Museum and the Museum of Old Believers.

 

After the excursion, at 5 pm you will have a night transfer to Novosibirsk and Barnaul. For tourists flying home from Gorno-Altaysk airport, the transfer from Ust-Koksa will take place at 10 pm (to the hotel in Mayma).

 

Stage length: 375 km to Gorno-Altaysk, 640 km to Novoaltaisk/Barnaul, 825 km to Novosibirsk by bus.

Day 11 Departure

Approximate time of arrival to Maima is at 4 am, in Barnaul — at 7 am, in Novosibirsk — at 10 am.

Fairytale of the Multinsky Lakes
Difficulty
Difficulty levels
Easy. Passive relaxation and sightseeing — cruises for example. No physical activities. Good for older people.
Normal. Active tours. You don’t have to be a sportsman, but you need to be strong enough to ride a snowmobile or go hiking in the mountains.
Advanced. Get ready for a challenge — long trekking with a heavy backpack on the shoulders, rafting along mountain rivers.
Hard. Professional training and perfect physical fitness are required. The level involves climbing to the tops of the mountains (above 3000 meters), freeriding and North Pole diving.
Group size
from 5 to 15 person
Duration
11 days

Accommodation during the trip

9 nights
1 night

Languages

EN
guide
We update the dates and tour price.
Leave your email and we’ll notify you when get this info.

Accommodation during the trip

During the tour you will spend nights in double and triple tents. Rental of group tourist equipment is included in the tour price.

 

On the first and ninth days of the tour you will spend the night in tents on the territory of the Altair tourist complex. It is located in one of the most beautiful places of Altai, in a clearing between two mountain ranges, at the confluence of the Katun and Koksa rivers. On the territory of the complex there is a bathhouse and shower room (for an additional fee). If desired, you can choose accommodation in a twin/triple rooms in the hotel in the complex (extra charge).

 

From the second to the fifth days you will camp on the banks of Lake Lower Multinskoy. At the base there is an opportunity to charge phones and visit a bathhouse (extra charge). On other days, you will stop with tents in "wild" places without amenities  — on the banks of Lake Kuiguk and on a highland plateau. The final night of the tour will take place on the bus during the night transfer to Barnaul and Novosibirsk.

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Common questions

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Who will be my guide +

You will be accompanied by experienced guides throughout the program.

Meals +

Meals on the way from Novosibirsk, Barnaul or Gorno-Altaysk to the beginning of the active part of the route and back are not included in the price.

 

Upon arrival in the village of Ust-Koksa, you will have three meals a day in a summer cafe. On the route, meals are prepared by the guide: breakfast and dinner — field cuisine, lunch — packed meal. In the field, food is cooked on a fire, a stove or a gas burner. Meals are light in weight and enhanced in calories. Tourists take part in collecting firewood and, if desired, help in cooking.

 

The menu includes canned meat, fish, green peas, corn, beans, butter, cereals, pasta, cheese, sausage, bacon, vegetables, fruits, dry cream, raisins, dried apricots, nuts, chocolate, tea, coffee, cocoa, condensed milk, sweets, cookies, bread, crackers, biscuits. During the hikes, there is an opportunity to fish (you need to bring fishing equipment with you), pick mushrooms and berries.
 
If you have food allergies or you are vegetarian, please inform the manager when booking your tour. We will take into account your wishes when drawing up the menu.

How to get to Ust-Koksa +

A paid transfer will be organized for you from the city of arrival. The time is local, the difference with Moscow is +4 hours.

 

Transfer from Novosibirsk to Ust-Koksa and back:

  • the day before the start of the program — at 8 pm from Sovetskaya st., 65
  • day 10 — departure from Ust-Koksa at 5 pm, approximate arrival in Novosibirsk - at 10 am the next day. 

 

Transfer from Barnaul to Ust-Koksa and back:

  • the day before the start of the program — at 11:50 pm from the hotel and restaurant complex "Oblepikha" (Novoaltaisk, Dorozhnaya street, 13).
  • day 10 — departure from Ust-Koksa at 5 pm, approximate arrival in Barnaul — at 7 am the next day.

 
Transfer from Gorno-Altaysk to Ust-Koksa and back to the village of Maima:

  • day 1 — departure from Gorno-Altaysk airport at 10 am
  • day 10 — departure from Ust-Koksa at 5 pm or 9 pm, approximate arrival to the village of Maima (to the hotel "Lyubimy") — at 11 pm or 3 am the next day.

 
Please, note that the return transfer is not carried out to Gorno-Altaysk itself, but to the village of Maima, located on the Chuisky tract, as close as possible to the airport of Gorno-Altaysk. We recommend booking one of the hotels in the village: "Lyubimy", "Tikhiy dvorik" or "Energetik".

 

If you want to significantly reduce the time on the road or are not ready for a rather difficult road trip across Gorny Altai, we advise you to get from Gorno-Altaysk to Ust-Koksa and back by plane. You need to book the tickets on your own on the airline's website (cost — from about 40 EURO per person for a round-trip ticket, flight duration — 1 hour). At the Ust-Koksy airport you will be met and taken to the "Altair" tourist base.

Can I take part +

The route is trekking along mountain trails, which does not require the use of special skills, but excellent physical fitness and endurance are required to complete it.
 
For two days (days 2 and 5) you will carry a backpack with personal belongings, a sleeping bag and a sleeping mat (weighing up to 10 kg). A backpack can be transported for an additional cost. Group equipment (tents, campfire equipment, food, awning) is carried by pack horses.
 
On day 7, during the climb to Mount Kolban, each tourist, in addition to personal belongings, has to carry food (about 1 kg) and tents (tent is disassembled into components and the load is evenly divided between the participants). All things that are not needed for the next 2 days can be left at the base camp on Lake Kuiguk. The use of horses on this section of the route is not possible. 

 

On day 9, you carry your personal belongings in your backpacks + a sleeping bag and a mat (total weight up to 10 kg) and a tent (tent is disassembled into components and the load is evenly divided between the participants). Group equipment (campfire equipment, food, awning) is carried by the guides. 

 

On other days you will light radial walks, the length of day routes will be from 6 to 24 km. While staying on the lakes, you do not have to go out on any of the hiking trails, but just walk around the camp or arrange a day of rest if you want.

Can children take part +

Children from 10 years old can participate in the tour, but only accompanied by adults. From 16 years old you can travel independently.

Insurance +

The tour price includes medical insurance (in the amount of 450,000 rubles on the active part of the route and 150,000 rubles on the inactive part of the route) and accident insurance (in the amount of 30,000 rubles) for tourists under 65 years old. An age coefficient applies to insurance for older tourists.
 
In Altai, there is a high probability of getting a bite of an encephalitis tick. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you get insurance against tick-borne encephalitis. It costs 5 EURO per person.
 
Please send us your full name, passport details and phone number. It is important to do this in advance, because insurance is activated only 5 days after registration. Payment is made in cash to the guides upon arrival in Altai.
 
In case of a tick bite, you will get immunoglobulin in any medical center in the country, which will reduce the risk of illness.
 

What to bring with me +
  • passport
  • down jacket or warm jacket
  • waterproof clothing (raincoat, jacket, trousers)
  • trekking boots
  • boots (preferably made of polyurethane foam)
  • trekking poles (it is possible to rent them at the tourist complex before the start of the route)
  • sneakers and flip-flops (light slippers)
  • carimat seat
  • warm tracksuit and a warm hat
  • cotton gloves
  • T-shirts 2-3 pcs
  • shorts
  • woolen socks 2 pairs
  • thin socks 3-4 pairs
  • sun cap
  • sunglasses and cream
  • swimsuit / swimming trunks
  • headlamp and spare batteries
  • jackknife
  • matches
  • charger (power bank), if needed (not everywhere along the route there is a possibility of charging the phone)
  • personal set of dishes
  • personal hygiene items
  • medicines: corn plasters, bandages, elastic bandages, iodine, pain relievers, for colds

 

A backpack, sleeping bag and travel mat will be provided on site.
 

What transport is used on the route +

Depending on the size of the group, the car transfer to Ust-Koksa and back will be carried out on:

  • KIA Grangbird or Higer buses (for large groups)
  • minibuses Ford Transit or Mercedes Sprinter (for small groups) 

 

Note: from Novosibirsk to the Seminsky pass, the road runs along a good federal highway, and then from the pass to Ust-Koksa (211 km) — along a very broken gravel road with large holes. The road has not been repaired for many years, so a car transfer turns out to be quite difficult and tiring. The road also passes through 4 mountain passes, during the ascent to which the drivers of minibuses are forced to turn off the air conditioners to reduce the load on the engine in order to ensure a safe passage through the pass. Please, consider these factors, when planning your trip.

Mobile communication on the route +

In the village of Ust-Koksa there is a good signal from mobile operators MTS, Beeline and Megafon. The base has free Wi-Fi. While staying on Lake Lower Multinsky from 2nd to 5th day of the tour, in the mornings and evenings, a Beeline signal appears from time to time. During the daytime radial routes, as well as during the overnight stay at the Kuiguk Waterfall, there will be no mobile signal.
 
The camp on Lake Akchan (days 7-8) has mobile Internet and signal from the Beeline operator.

Booking

Fairytale of the Multinsky Lakes

Difficulty
Difficulty levels
Easy. Passive relaxation and sightseeing — cruises for example. No physical activities. Good for older people.
Normal. Active tours. You don’t have to be a sportsman, but you need to be strong enough to ride a snowmobile or go hiking in the mountains.
Advanced. Get ready for a challenge — long trekking with a heavy backpack on the shoulders, rafting along mountain rivers.
Hard. Professional training and perfect physical fitness are required. The level involves climbing to the tops of the mountains (above 3000 meters), freeriding and North Pole diving.
Group size
from 5 to 15 person
Duration
11 days

Accommodation during the trip

9 nights
1 night

Languages

EN
guide
330 EUR
What's included in the price:
  • accommodation in tents on the territory of "Altair" tourist complex (days 1 and 9)

  • three meals a day (except meals on the road)

  • guides' services

  • rental of group and individual tourist equipment (tents, sleeping bags, rugs, backpacks, campfire equipment, awning, first aid kit)

  • medical insurance and accident insurance (for tourists under 65)

  • pass to the reserve (3 days), recreational fees

  • excursion to the village of Verkhniy Uimon (10 days)

  • entrance tickets to museums

  • transfer from Ust-Koksa village to Multa-Maralnik village and back

  • horse rental for transporting food and group equipment (days 2 and 5)

Extra charge:
  • airfare to Novosibirsk, Barnaul or Gorno-Altaisk (starting at 150 EURO for a round-trip ticket), air tickets from Gorno-Altaysk to Ust-Koksa and back (starting at 40 EURO for a round-trip ticket)

  • transfer to Ust-Koksa from Gorno-Altaysk/Barnaul/Novosibirsk and back (+55/75/75 EURO per person)

  • meals on the road

  • visit to the bathhouse on Lake Lower Multinskoye (+12 EURO per hour); in "Altair" tourist complex: the bathhousebath (+20 EURO per hour), the shower room (+2 EURO per person)

  • additional excursions (horseback riding, rafting, etc.)

  • transfer by motor boat to Lake Srednoye and on the way back from Lake Srednoye (+8 EURO per person, optional)

  • transfer to Lake Lower Multinskoye (day 2) of a backpack (+6 EURO) or a tourist with a backpack (+20 EURO)

  • trekking pole rental (+2 EURO per person per day or +20 EURO per person per tour)

In the price:
Included Extra charge
  • accommodation in tents on the territory of "Altair" tourist complex (days 1 and 9)

  • three meals a day (except meals on the road)

  • guides' services

  • rental of group and individual tourist equipment (tents, sleeping bags, rugs, backpacks, campfire equipment, awning, first aid kit)

  • medical insurance and accident insurance (for tourists under 65)

  • pass to the reserve (3 days), recreational fees

  • excursion to the village of Verkhniy Uimon (10 days)

  • entrance tickets to museums

  • transfer from Ust-Koksa village to Multa-Maralnik village and back

  • horse rental for transporting food and group equipment (days 2 and 5)

  • airfare to Novosibirsk, Barnaul or Gorno-Altaisk (starting at 150 EURO for a round-trip ticket), air tickets from Gorno-Altaysk to Ust-Koksa and back (starting at 40 EURO for a round-trip ticket)

  • transfer to Ust-Koksa from Gorno-Altaysk/Barnaul/Novosibirsk and back (+55/75/75 EURO per person)

  • meals on the road

  • visit to the bathhouse on Lake Lower Multinskoye (+12 EURO per hour); in "Altair" tourist complex: the bathhousebath (+20 EURO per hour), the shower room (+2 EURO per person)

  • additional excursions (horseback riding, rafting, etc.)

  • transfer by motor boat to Lake Srednoye and on the way back from Lake Srednoye (+8 EURO per person, optional)

  • transfer to Lake Lower Multinskoye (day 2) of a backpack (+6 EURO) or a tourist with a backpack (+20 EURO)

  • trekking pole rental (+2 EURO per person per day or +20 EURO per person per tour)

Best price
guarantee
Customized
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Discounts for
regular clients
Easy booking
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Testimonials

Karl Breen
Karl Breen 30 Июля 2021

Overall we really enjoyed the trip. Our guide, Alexei was very professional, helpful, interesting and looked out for our needs and welfare all the time. He was really excellent. Alongside him, our chef, Anton, was also super friendly and helpful and the food was excellent. We really felt they looked after us well. Artëm was an intern/guide and was also really friendly and helpful to us, especially to Ksenia as she struggled a bit with the long hikes. He told us many interesting things and it really made our trip one to remember.
 
The difficulty was quite high I think. I enjoyed the challenge but for Ksenia it was very difficult. It is not a problem with the trip but maybe it should be underlined that the trip is quite difficult. It was nice that she was able to skip some hikes and not feel under pressure to complete them. Everyone was very understanding. 
 
One small criticism would be that I would have like to have known about needing to carry our mats and sleeping bags as I would have bought my own that may have been smaller and easier to carry. I think it was mentioned in the trip outline but it made it difficult to cover my bag with a waterproof cover. Again maybe something that could be emphasised to customers. 
 
The sites and places we stayed were very beautiful and I thought the routes were well chosen. The hike up to верхний озеро was an exceptionally long day and maybe it would have been better to just take the boat at the beginning across the lakes as it seemed pointless to walk all that way. 
 
Again, the trip for me was amazing, guides were really exceptional and caring and overall I loved the experience. Thank you so much for all your help organising it and we hope to do something similar again with Russia Discovery, maybe an easier hike next time unless I'm alone. I've attached some photos you can use if you like.