Accommodation during the trip
Languages
Accommodation during the trip
Languages
Experiences you'll have
Belukha is, at 4509 meters, one of Russia's highest peaks. The streams of mighty Katun, Altai's river #1, flow from there. The foot area is abundant in scenic rivers, lakes, and plants. Before climbing the peak, you will go trekking over this amazing place.
We store block tents, climbing gear for a group and some food in various locations along the route to maximize the comfort of your Belukha adventure
The schedule includes a training day for you to learn how to climb snow-and-ice slopes. Also on the second day you can go around the Kuzuyak pass, rafting along the Katun river to the mouth of Akkem. Hiking to the foot of Belukha in the first days will give you an opportunity to see the picturesque Lake Akkem, as well as to get acclimatized for a successful ascent.
Note: the program in the mountains can be changed due to weather conditions. Decision about changing the itinerary is made by guide.
Itinerary
The journey begins in Barnaul, Biysk or Gorno-Altaisk, where you need to travel to by your own. We are ready to help with the purchase of tickets, if necessary, leave a comment in the application.
Further you need to get to Tyungur village, where the route begins. Look for details about the group transfer in Common questions section.
Day 1 Arrival to Tyungur
You will be met and brought to Tyungur, where you will stay at Vysotnik campsite (located at 850 m above sea level) and dine at the local café.
Day 2 Trekking through the Kuzuyak pass or rafting on the Katun river
Today you will have a trekking route through the Kuzuyak pass (1513 m) to the Three Birches meadow (17 km, 5 to 7 hours).
The pass is not particularly difficult, but for better acclimatization we recommend to go around the pass, rafting on the Katun river to the mouth of the Ak-Kem river (extra charge). It helps to reduce the hiking route by about two times and get to the camp without descents and ascents.
The trekking route length — 12-17 km, 2,5-7 hours.
Day 3 Home Akkem
You will go trekking from Three Birches to Home Akkem, located at a height of 1950 m in mountains.
You will walk the path along the river banks and come to a place, where you will see the top of Belukha Mount for the first time. We even call this place as 'panorama'.
In the evening you will reach the campsite, have dinner and rest in tents.
The trekking route length — 25 km, 7-10 hours.
Day 4 Akkem glacier
Today you will start a route through the Akkem glacier with a climb of about 1000 meters. You will also have to cross the shaky bridge over the stream of Akkem at the edge of the lake. The path to the glacier is not very visible: you will have to climb loose rocks and rocky moraine left of the glacier, carefully and slowly. Or you will have to climb the glacier itself. You will also go left of the icefall while climbing the moraine.
You will come to Tomsky Nights (Rus: Томские ночевки) at a height of 3000 m and rest in tents.
The trekking route length — 17 km, 6-8 hours.
Day 5 Glacier training
This day is for glacier training. You will learn how to belay, how to move with crampons on you, and how to work in rope teams. If weather conditions are good, you will acclimatize and make it to under the Delaunay pass at a height of 3400 m.
Day 6 Delaunay pass
Early in the morning you will set off from Tomsk Nights with a full set of mountain climbing gear. You will climb the Delaunay Pass in rope teams. The climbing distance is some 300 meters of snow-and-ice 35- to 45-degree slopes. Your further path on the glacier will be easy. The whole route will take 7-8 hours.
Day 7 Climbing Belukha
Today you will climb the 4506-meter Belukha Mount. From the glacier, you will climb snow-and-ice slopes (up to 45 degrees) and make it to just under the ridge. Then you will climb the rock-and-ice ridge and make it to the gentle pre-top ridge. You will descend following the same route you will have climbed. The whole route will take 7-8 hours.
Day 8 Extra day
This is an extra day reserved just in case of bad weather. If you manage to complete all the routes and actually climb the mountain before this day, then you will have two options: to stay at Home Akkem and make radial hikes to explore the gorges and valleys of Akkem or to come back to the Vysotnik campsite in Tyungur a day earlier and rest here.
Day 9 Descent
You will descend from the base camp to Home Akkem through the Delaunay pass. In the evening you will go to the bathhouse and have dinner.
Days 10-11 Back to Vysotnik
On those days you will trek back to the Vysotnik campsite in Tyungur village. You will spend the night in tents.
The trekking route length — 39 km.
Day 12 Departure
You will have breakfast and go back to Gorno-Altaysk, Biysk, or Barnaul.
Accommodation during the trip
Languages
Accommodation during the trip
On Day 1 and Day 11, you will stay at the Vysotnik campsite, located in the Altai Mountains, close to the highest peak — Mount Belukha on the banks of the Katun river. You will sleep in block tents for three, located on the specially equipped territory of the base. There is a fire pit, a canopy, tables, benches, firewood, as well as WC and wash basins with cold water on-site. The campsite also has a cafe, sauna and a volleyball court.
You may also reserve a more comfortable accommodation at the Vysotnik campsite for an additional fee:
On Day 3 and Day 9 you will stay at Home Akkem, located at a height of 1950 m in the forest area of the Akkem gorge, on the banks of the Akkem river. You will live in the stationary human-height summer tents for 3 or 4 persons. Each tent has two compartments: a store compartment for your clothes, gear, and shoes; and a sleep compartment with a rubber bottom. You have to bring sleeping bags and mats with you. Also you can rent a bed set: a mattress, a blanket, a pillow, and bed linen.
You may also book a more comfortable accommodation at the Home Akkem for an additional fee:
En route and during climbing Belukha, you will sleep in triple block tents.
Common questions
You will be accompanied by a professional mountaineering guide. Each of your locations is clearly determined; going from one to another takes 5 to 7 hours. The guide has additional options to pick from depending on how many other groups are climbing the mountain, on the condition of snow, on the weather as well as on how physically fit is the group. If weather is bad, you will spend your time in a tent.
The cost of the program includes three meals a day (1 day — dinner, 12 day — breakfast). At the campsites you will eat in the cafe and dining room. During the trekking routes and climbing you will be provided with food, and you will prepare your own meals on a fire or gas burner, based on the recommended guide menu for each day.
To take part in this tour, you must be physically fit, have some climbing and mountain hike experience. This is a 3A route. Maximum altitude variation may amount to 1000 meters in a single day. Participants carry personal belongings and some products, group climbing equipment and most of the products are already in the camp sites.
If one of the tour participants hikes too slowly (like only half as fast as the others), the guide may leave them at Home Akkem. It is also possible to make radial hikes, either with a guide or by joining another trekking group. You don't have to pay extra for your accommodation and meals at Home Akkem during this time.
Also children aged 16 years old or older can join their parents in this adventure.
You can get to the base "Vysotnik" (village Tyungur) on your own or use the services of a group transfer (paid additionally). Those who wish to get a gradual acclimatization, as well as to have excursions not included in the program, can come to the base in advance. Ask the manager for details.
Transfer to the base "Vysotnik" on the first day of the program:
Return transfer from the base "Vysotnik" on the final day of the program will be carried out in the morning, starting at 6 am. Estimated time of arrival:
You will be provided with:
The tour fee includes a 400 000 rouble health insurance and a 100 000 rouble AD&D insurance.
In case an insured event occurs en route, the administration of the Vysotnik campsite will help the injured person make it to a healthcare institution and will also contact the insurance company and the health center as well as get receipts from private individuals to have provided healthcare. However, it is crucial to know that in an insured event, all issues in relation thereto are the injured person's and the insurance company's concern. The injured person pays all the expenses and collects receipts, papers, etc. to get back the sums so spent after the insurance company processes the papers. So, bring some money with you just in case.
As the route is within five kilometers from the state border, all tourists must have a border pass. Our company will obtain it for you from the border office. Russia's citizens have to submit their complete personal data at least 25 days prior to the tour (45 days if you are a foreigner). Also make sure your passport (or equivalent) will stay safe and preserved en route: take a waterproof bag, packet, or page protector with you.
It is highly recommended that you vaccinate against ticks.
You can perceive and sense all of the seasons in just two days. It can snow or hail here in July. Belukha is snow-covered round the year. If it rains in the valley, then it snows on Belukha. The ascent route contains a lot of snow-and-ice slopes up to 45 degrees. Please, select your clothing carefully.
Booking
Accommodation during the trip
Languages
accommodation at the Vysotnik campsite, Home Akkem, and in tents en route
three meals a day (from the Day 1 dinner to the Day 12 breakfast)
guide's services for climbing on days 4-9 (1 guide for 3-4 people) and trekking on day 2-3, 10-11
rental of common and personal climbing gear (except boots for climbing)
medical and accident insurance
all necessary permits
visiting a bathhouse at Home Akkem on Day 9 and at Vysotnik on Day 11
transfers from Barnaul, Biysk, or Gorno-Altaysk to Tyngur and back (+6600 rubles per person)
rental of a horse to transport your cargo (50 kg max. per horse, +1500 rubles a day)
rafting from Vysotnik to the mouth of the Akkem River, 18 km, 2 hours (+12 000 rubles for ten persons)
extra bathhouse visits at Vysotnik campsite (+2200 rubles pp up tp 5 people, +2700 rubles pp up to 10 people) and at Home Akkem (+4000 rubles pp up to 10 people)
meals on the way
optional comfortable accommodation at Vysotnik campsite and Home Akkem (starting at 400 rubles pp for a night, look for details in Accommodation section)
border pass and migration registration for non-Russian citizents (+1000 rubles pp)
accommodation at the Vysotnik campsite, Home Akkem, and in tents en route
three meals a day (from the Day 1 dinner to the Day 12 breakfast)
guide's services for climbing on days 4-9 (1 guide for 3-4 people) and trekking on day 2-3, 10-11
rental of common and personal climbing gear (except boots for climbing)
medical and accident insurance
all necessary permits
visiting a bathhouse at Home Akkem on Day 9 and at Vysotnik on Day 11
transfers from Barnaul, Biysk, or Gorno-Altaysk to Tyngur and back (+6600 rubles per person)
rental of a horse to transport your cargo (50 kg max. per horse, +1500 rubles a day)
rafting from Vysotnik to the mouth of the Akkem River, 18 km, 2 hours (+12 000 rubles for ten persons)
extra bathhouse visits at Vysotnik campsite (+2200 rubles pp up tp 5 people, +2700 rubles pp up to 10 people) and at Home Akkem (+4000 rubles pp up to 10 people)
meals on the way
optional comfortable accommodation at Vysotnik campsite and Home Akkem (starting at 400 rubles pp for a night, look for details in Accommodation section)
border pass and migration registration for non-Russian citizents (+1000 rubles pp)
Heart of Altai
