Essential Altai
About this tour
Short trip to Altai with excursions to general must see places and nomadic life style experiences.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Gorno-Altaysk, Russia to Solnechnaya Dolina, 51.290600, 86.051718 ; 15 км за Чемалом, Russia
Upon your arrival we will pick you up at the airport of Gorno-Altaysk or Barnaul. Excursion to the National Museum of the Altai Republic. The most famous archealogical artifact is the mummy of Siberian Ice Maiden or Princess of Ukok. It was discovered at the Ukok Plateau in ice burial mound near the border of Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan. Transfer to the hotel. Check-up at 4* hotel on the bank of the Katun River, Lunch and short rest. Afternoon activities – walking tour to Chemal village. We will visit the orthodox church of the St. John the Evangelist and then have a walking route along the Katun River’s bank towards the Chemalskaya power station. Late in the evening we will hike to Che-Chkysh Gorge to enjoy sundown over the Katun River’s valley. Accommodation – Klever resort hotel 4* or similar. Distance – By bus ~ Barnaul 350 km, Gorno Altaysk ~ 100 km, walking ~ 4 km.
Day 2: Solnechnaya Dolina, 51.290600, 86.051718 ; 15 км за Чемалом, Russia to Chemal, Russia
After breakfast we will have an active morning, rafting down the Katun River for around 30 km. Katun is a rapid river crossing all of Altai. On a way visiting Kamyshlinsky waterfall. After a lunch an excursion to deer breeding farm. Altai is famous for maral deer breeding. Young deer horns are very curious and contain plenty of vital substances. Local people have eaten them for ages. We will visit a maral breeding farm and have a horseback riding excursion there. Usually marals are kept in large parks that is why we should ride horses to watch them. Accommodation – Klever resort hotel 4* or similar. Distance – By bus ~ 80 km, rafting ~ 30 km, walking ~ 5 km.
Day 3: Solnechnaya Dolina, 51.290600, 86.051718 ; 15 км за Чемалом, Russia to Aktash, Altai Republic, Russia
Today we will have long car transportation along the most beautiful mountainous highway in Russia. Chuisky Trakt is an ancient road and first was mentioned in ancient Chinese chronicles. In the middle ages it was the northern part of the Silk Road. Later it was used by Russian Merchandisers like a trade path to Mongolia. Today Chuisky Trakt is one of essential highlights in Altai and travelling along it allows to see many natural and historical sites. We will see Seminsky Pass and Siberian pine tree taiga, rocky serpentine of Chike-Taman Pass, awesome Ilgumensky Rapid on the Katun River, famous boms of Chuisky Trakt (bom is a local name to rocky and steep banks of the river near the highway), rock drawings of Kalbak-Tash sanctuary, waterfalls near Chibit village and Geizernoye Lake. Overnight at Aktash village in the hotel. Accommodation – hotel Rasul 3* or similar. Distance – By bus ~ 330 km, walking ~ 7 km.
Day 4: Aktash, Altai Republic, Russia to Uch Enmek, Russia
Today we wake up early in the morning. We are going to enjoy the sunrise and watch snowcapped peaks of the North-Chuisky Ridge in various shades of pink and golden colors. We should hike about 1 hour to reach observation viewpoint on the top of a hill. This is worth it to see the North-Chuisky Ridge. After sunrise we will have a breakfast and return travel along the Chuisky Trakt to Uch-Enmek natural and ethnographic Park. It is situated on Karakol Valley, the most sacred place in Altai. Local people consider the Karakol Valley as a place of power and perform shamanistic rituals there. We will meet with local people, one of them will show us sanctuaries. Afterwards we will experience traditional nomadic meal from sheep meat, milk products and cereals. Finally Altai speciallity, the throat singing, a special cultural tradition of nomads of Northern Asia. It was included into UNESCO World Heritage list. Accommodation – Hotel near Buryuzovaya Katun or similar. Basic wooden house, double occupancy, wooden toilet and bath outside of house. Distance – By bus ~ 330 km, walking ~ 9 km.
Day 5: Uch Enmek, Russia to Gorno-Altaysk, Russia
Early morning transfer to Gorno Altaysk or Barnaul BAX airport for departure flight back home.
What's included
Total price includes: • accommodation ½ DBL according to the program; • full board meals as mentioned; • all transport and transfers; • local English speaking guide; • excursions, activities and entrance fees; • one bottle of water per person a day; • 1 hour of horseback riding; • 1 time rafting on a river Katun; • 24 hour help service by phone; • Russian visa support documents.
Total price does not include: • Flights; • Russian visa fee; • Personal expenses; • Travel insurance. • Transport from Barnaul airport to Gorno-Altaysk airport and back in case arrival in Barnaul.
What to know
Short 5 day tour to the main sights of Altai.
Route & locations
Gorno-Altaysk, Russia to Solnechnaya Dolina, 51.290600, 86.051718 ; 15 км за Чемалом, Russia