General tour to Altai

Day 1 Walk in the botanical garden and a cheese-making master class

After meeting at the airport you will come to the cafe with Russian cuisine for breakfast (extra charge). Then you will move to the Ust-Semavillage, check-in to the ethnic hotel and have lunch. 

After lunch you can have a tour to the botanical garden located in the Kamlak village. There is a unique microclimate here, so you can see almost all kinds of Altai plants there. 

After the walk you will come back to the hotel and rest. In the evening you will take part in a cheese-making master class. You will try different sorts of cheese and have dinner.

Stage length: 80 km by car, 1 km on foot.

Day 2 Che-Chkysh gorge and the waterfall on Katun river

After breakfast you will travel up the Katun river. You will see the narrow, hidden from prying eyes Che-Chkysh gorge. In ancient times, Altai tribes hid here. Surrounded by steep cliffs, a mountain stream flows here and forms a tiny waterfall. Up the trail, at the observation point, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Katun' valley.

On your way to lunch you will drive along Oroktoy bridge located in the narrowest and deepest place of the Katun river.

After lunch in a cafe you will come to Cheposh village – the start point of rafting down the Katun river. You will be instructed and given the necessary equipment. You will pass the Seminsky rapids and make a stop at the picturesque Kamyshlinsky waterfall (12 m). If you don't want to raft, you can come on a water trip to the waterfall on motor floats. In the evening you will return to the hotel and have dinner.

Stage length: 145 km by car, 15 km on rafts, 1 km on foot.

Day 3 Karakol valley and traditional music concert

After breakfast you will pack your things and continue the journey along the Chuysky Tract – one of the most beautiful roads in Russia. The route goes through its highest point, Seminsky pass – 1739 m above sea level.

By lunchtime you will reach the Uch-Enmek ethnic natural park. You will check-in to the tourist complex and taste traditional Altai cuisine during lunch.

Then you will walk along Karakol valley, where you can see ancient mounds and a lot of rock paintings.

In the evening you will return to the tourist complex for the concert of throat singing. You will see how traditional musical instruments play, and can even try to perform some compositions yourself.

Stage length: 170 km by car, 1 km on foot.

Day 4 Kalbak-Tash Hole

After breakfast you will pack your bags and go further to the south of the Altai Mountains. You will make a stop at the picturesque Chike-Taman pass at the altitude of 1295 m. And then at the confluence of the Chuya and Katun rivers.

On the way you will see the famous Katun terraces. Leveled platforms of different widths, standing at different heights above each other, form huge "steps" along the banks of the Katun river.

You will have lunch outdoors and then visit the Kalbak-Tash hole, famous for its ancient rock paintings named Petroglyphs. The oldest of them belong to the 8th millennium B.C. In total, there are more than 5 thousand rock paintings here.

In the evening you will reach the tourist base on the banks of the Chuya river, where you can have dinner and relax.

Stage length: 175 km by car, 1-2 km on foot.

Day 5 The Geyser lake and the "Altai Mars"

After breakfast you will drive along the Chuysky tract toward the Mongolian border. On the way you will make a stop in the Kurai steppe, where you can see snowy peaks of the North-Chuysky mountain range: Aktru-Bash (4075 m) and Karatash (3534 m).

By lunch, you will reach the Kyzyl-Chin river valley, where you will see the colored mountains, which tourists call Altai Mars. The local nature has created unreal landscapes of different shades of red – from bright orange to dark brown. You will have several hours to walk, take pictures and have lunch outdoors.

On the way back to the base you will walk to the famous Geyser lake, which has an amazing bright turquoise color. At the bottom of the lake geysers "draw" bizarre patterns by bluish clay and sand.

In the evening you will return to the tourist base and have dinner.

Stage length: 180 km by car, 7 km on foot.

Day 6 The Katu-Yaryk mountain pass and the Chulyshman river valley

After breakfast you will pack your things and continue the car route. You will drive through "Red Gates" and Ulagan mountain pass, the highest on Altai (2080 m).

Then you will visit the terrain called Pazyryk, where the famous Scythian burial mounds of clan and tribal leaders are located.

After lunch a great view from the Katu-Yaryk pass is waiting for you. You will see the Chulyshman river valley and the waterfall on the opposite side, falling from the height of hundreds of meters. The car with the stuff will go down the mountain serpentine, and you will follow it on foot.

In the evening you will be accommodated at the tourist base on the bank of the river Chulyshman, have dinner and relax at the sauna.

Stage length: 120 km by car, 3,5 km on foot.

Day 7 Kurkure waterfall

After breakfast you will cross the Chulyshman river by boat and then walk to the Kurkure waterfall, more than 30 m high. The hiking to the waterfall crossing the river takes about 3-4 hours.

You will be back at the base in the afternoon, have lunch and rest. Then you can walk around or go fishing on the river (gear is provided). In the evening you will have dinner and relax at the sauna.

Stage length: 6 km on foot.

Day 8 The Stone Mushrooms

Today you will have an early breakfast and drive along the Chulyshman Valley to the mouth of the Karasu River.

From there you will climb up the mountain slope to the Stone Mushrooms – tall boulders of a strange shape. Trekking will not be easy, make sure you have comfortable shoes. But the views are worth it: these amazing natural objects reach a height of 10 meters.

After having lunch outdoors and admiring the picturesque views you will continue your way to the southern shore of the Teletskoye lake to the Kyrsai cape. 

From there you will have a tour along the whole water area of Teletskoye Lake to its northern part. On the way you will make a stop at the picturesque waterfall Korbu 12,5 m high.

When you reach the opposite shore, you land and check-in to the tourist base. It is located in a picturesque secluded place, far from civilization, surrounded by forests and mountains. In the evening you will have dinner and rest.

Stage length: 90 km by car, 5 km by foot, 75 km by boat.

Day 9 National Museum of Altai Republic

After breakfast you will go to Gorno-Altaysk for visiting the National Museum of Altai Republic. It possesses an excellent collection, telling about the Altai nature, history and culture.

One of the main museums' values is the mummy of the Altai Princess, found on the Ukok plateau. Its sarcophagus is open only on certain days according to the Museum's schedule. We hope you are lucky to see it.

After lunch at the cafe, you will be taken to the hotel. Dinner on this day is paid extra.

Stage length: 270 km by car, 5 km by boat.

Day 10 Departure

After breakfast you will be taken to the Gorno-Altaisk airport for your flight.