Sacred Altai - 11 Day Highlight Tour
About this tour
A route with a visit to the Ukok Plateau and the largest lakes of the Mongolian Altai - Tolbo Nuur, Achit Nuur, Uureg Nuur and Martian landscapes of Zaan Khada.
The only tourist route that touches such remote corners of the Russian and Mongolian Altai. More than 2000 km., The incredible beauty of the road, sacred places, places of power, healing air and purest springs, as well as a favorable atmosphere will give you complete freedom from all everyday problems. The energy force of Altai on this journey will completely determine your life in the future!
YOU WILL SEE
1. Chuisky tract
2. Seminsky pass
3. Pass Chike-Taman
4. ChuyOozy
5. KalbakTash
6. Kurai steppe
7. Chuya steppe
8. Severo-Chuysky ridge
9. Jumala keys
10. PassTeply Key
11.Mountain massif Tabyn-Bogdo-Ola
12. Ukok plateau
13. Steles of Ukok
14. Bertek tract
15.Lake Gusinnoe
16. Geyser lake
17.the South Altai ridge
18. Pass Kanas
19. Lake Tolbo Nuur
20. Pass Durbet davaa
21. Pass Obotyn davaa
22 lake Achit Nuur
23.The Mongolian town of Ulgiy
24 lake Dund Nuur
25. Lake Uureg Nuur
26. Picturesque cliffs of Zaan Hada
27. The Achitnur Basin is only a small part of what you will see.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Gorno-Altaysk, Russia to Chagan-Uzun, Russia
On the first day of our trip, you will have an exciting excursion along the Chuisky tract. We will pass two picturesque high-mountain passes Seminsky and Chike Taman. We will visit the sacred places of the indigenous population, see rock paintings, and visit observation platforms. We will see the eternally white peaks of the mountains.
Day 2: Chagan-Uzunskoye, Russia to Dzhumaly saint springs, Russia
Off-road part. On this day, the group will have an excursion program along the Chui steppe with a stop at the Tarkhatinsky megalithic complex. There is no road on this section of the route, all traffic on specially prepared equipment is a UAZ loaf. Tarkhatinsky megalithic complex. An archaeological site, the complex was an ancient observatory of the Late Bronze Age - early Iron Age. The design is oriented with high precision to the cardinal points. It consists of stone blocks arranged in a circle with a diameter of 60 m, decorated with rock paintings. Then we will stop at the Soloneshnoye frontier post. Let's make a mark and go to the Jumalinsky Keys. Dzhumalinsky warm spring. This rare type of thermal springs containing radon has the status of a natural monument. The area where the Dzhumalinsky springs are located adjoins the eastern border of the Ukok plateau.
Day 3: Dzhumaly saint springs, Russia to Ukok, Russia
Off-road part. Today we have to overcome the picturesque Teply Klyuch pass. Then we drive towards Lake Gusinnoe, from where a picturesque view of the Tabyn-Bogdo-Ola mountain range opens. “Tabyn-Bogdo-Ola” (Mong. “Kuyten-Uul”) means “Five holy mountains”. Then the group travels to the world famous Ukok plateau - the Pazyryk mound, where the burial place of a noble woman known throughout the world as "Princess Ukok" was found.
Day 4: Ukok, Russia
Off-road part. We leave the plateau. On the way back, we will stop at the rock carvings, the age of which has not yet been determined, and see the so-called Stella Ukok. We will visit the Kalgutinsky mine. Here, in Stalin's times, in inhuman conditions, political prisoners mined heavy metals.
Day 5: Ukok, Russia to Chagan-Uzun, Russia
Off-road part. On this day we leave the sources of Dzhumala to the village of Chagan Uzun. On the way, we will take a photo-break in the Chuya steppe.
Day 6: Chagan-Uzunskoye, Russia to Ulgii, Mongolia
We get up early today. We are moving towards Mongolia. We go through all the formal procedures, draw up questionnaires, and here we are in Mongolia. We will have a bite to eat with Mongolian mantas (buzes) in a roadside cafe, then we leave towards the border town of Ulgiy. Evening departure to the alpine lake Tolbo Nuur. Accommodation in a hotel or yurt camp.
Day 7: Ulgii, Mongolia to Uureg Lake, Mongolia
After breakfast, we replenish food at the local supermarket and move to a picturesque place of the rocky outcrops of Zaan Had. On the way, a stop for a snack at Lake Achit Nuur and photo pauses along the Achitnur Basin. The Achitnur Basin is bounded in the north by the spurs of the Mongun-Taiga massif, in the east by the Kharkhiraa massif, in the west by the spurs of the Mongolian Altai ridge, and in the south by the Ulaan-Lonkh-Uul mountains. Delightful landscapes of the beautiful Mongolia open from the basin. Lake Achit nuur and the surrounding wetlands have been declared a nature reserve and included in the list of wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
Day 8: Uureg Lake, Mongolia to Achit Lake, Mongolia
Departure to the alpine lake Ureg nuur. Ureg nuur is a high-mountainous, slightly saline lake with very clean water. It is located in a small intermontane basin at the foot of the Tsagaan Shuvuut uul ridge. In the valley of the lake, there are well-preserved burial mound complexes, rock paintings from different eras. The valley of the lake is considered one of the main attractions of the Mongolian Altai. On the way, stop at local shepherds to get acquainted with the culture and life of the nomadic people.
Day 9: Achit Lake, Mongolia to Ulgii, Mongolia
Return to Ulgii town on a different road through Hotgor davaa pass. Here, in the vast Mongolian steppes and high mountain passes, you can see the life and life of nomads that have not changed for many centuries. Upon arrival in the city, you can visit the souvenir shops or the city market, where you can buy products made from leather and wool of a yak, camel or any other souvenir products.
Day 10: Ulgii, Mongolia to Chagan-Uzunskoye, Russia
Moving to Russia. Overnight in the village of Chagan Uzun. On the way, stops in picturesque places of the Chui steppe. On this day, the group will have an excursion program in the Kyzyl Chin valley. The Kyzyl-Chin valley strikes with a fantastic landscape. A very powerful weathering crust of red, white, yellow colors is developed in this area.
Day 11: Chagan-Uzunskoye, Russia to Gorno-Altaysk, Russia
Return to Gorno-Altaysk. On the way, we will stop at excursion sites that have not yet been visited (Geyser lake, Shirlak waterfall).
What's included
What to know
The route can be changed at your request. ATTENTION ! Entry to the border zone is carried out strictly by passes - they are issued within 15 days (for citizens of the Russian Federation) and 30 days (for citizens of foreign states). We take care of the registration of passes.
Route & locations
Gorno-Altaysk, Russia to Chagan-Uzun, Russia