DAY 1:

Meeting in Barnaul: airport, railway station, hotels of the city (upon confirming). Transfer Barnaul – Belokurikha (240 km). The resort is known for its healing air and radon-containing springs Transfer Belokurikha – Solonovka (40 km) – a village founded by Old-Believers and Russian back-settlers, known as a point of attraction for paragliders and a private cheese factory. Lunch in Kerzhak traditions “Lenten cuisine of the Old-Believers”. Transfer Solonovka – Soloneshnoye (65 km). Excursion to the Soloneshensky Local History Museum, which presents the detailed history of the archaeological site "Denisova Cave", the culture of the Russian (Old-Believers) and the Altai peoples. Transfer Soloneshnoye – Iskra (20 km). Accommodation in the enclosure for wapitis. Dinner.

Altai wapiti (known as a maral) is a shy, cautious, majestic animal from the deer family. Antlers – not ossified horns of wapiti – a complex of substances created by nature itself with a huge bio-stimulating force. One of the most effective methods of antler-therapy are antler baths – this is a wellness procedure with the use of an aqueous extract from boiled wapiti antlers. The use of antler baths, as well as antler products, increases the energy of the body, improves blood flow, promotes tissue regeneration, especially accelerates the restoration of muscle tissue after its damage as a result of physical exertion, and also slows down the anti-ageing process. A positive effect is observed no earlier than after 4-6 baths (at additional charge from – £13.00 per person).

On foot – 3 km, auto – 365 km

 

DAY 2:

Breakfast. Transfer Iskra – Denisova Cave (35 km). Tour to the cave – the unique archeological site acknowledged worldwide, it is the place where the fossil finger of an ancient human was found. This ancient human (the Denisov man) belongs to a peculiar branch of evolution, different from Neanderthal and modern people. Transfer Denisova cave – Chibit (350 km) through the pass Keleisky (1313 m), Yabogansky (1492 m) along the Bashchelak Ridge through the Ust-Kansk hollow towards the famous Chuysky tract. Further along the Chuysky tract, up the Katun and Chuya rivers to the Kurai Steppe. The history of the traсt stretches back through centuries, when it was a pack road, a branch of the Great Silk Road, a "Chinese path". The Chuysky tract is included in the TOP-10 of the best roads in the world according to National Geographic. On the way we cross one of the biggest passes – Chike-Taman Pass (1460 m), which in Altaian language means ‘Flat foot’. The pass has been known since X-th century. Now it is an abrupt serpentine road with the view point on the top. From 1996 the pass has got a status of the natural monument of the Altai Republic. Accommodation in a tourist complex. Dinner.

On foot – 3 km, auto – 385 km

 

DAY 3:

Breakfast. Excursion to Kyzyl-Chin, which tourists call “Mars” (90 km). On the way – photo-stop with the North-Chuysky Range on the background. Walking along the Martian mountains and the canyons of the Kyzyl-Chin Stream. The multi-coloured clays on the surface create the sensation of another planet. Transfer Kyzyl-Chin – Geyser Lake. Excursion to Geyser Lake – the unique one, rare in its beauty and cleanness. It does not freeze even in winter. It always looks like an "Earth eye" of an amazing turquoise colour. On the mirror of the lake, you can see the streaks of round and oval shape, which are essentially a reflection of the processes occurring at the bottom of the lake, where the "geysers" spring to life, throwing out a mixture of bluish clay and sand. Returning to the tourist complex. Dinner.

On foot – 5 km, auto – 180 km

 

DAY 4:

Breakfast. Transfer Chibit – Karakol (170 km). On the way a stop at Kalbak-Tash boundary, where we will see the petroglyphic drawings. About 500 complexes, that count more than 5 thousands pictures. These drawings were made during the period from the New Stone Age to Turkic Age. The monument is situated on the right bank of the river Chuya. Visit to the Chui-Oozy Natural Park, possibility to taste Altaian traditional cuisine (optional at extra charge). Photo-stop in the Northern part of geopark "Altai", Chui-Oozy – the confluence of the biggest Altai rivers Chuya and Katun.  Transfer to the starting point of rafting tour (25 km) – outflow of the Bolshoi Yaloman river. Accommodation in tents, dinner – field kitchen. Preparing boats for rafting. Fitting personal equipment: life vests, wet suits and helmets. Safety orientation and guidance on actions on the water.

On foot – 3 km, auto – 195 km

 

DAY 5:

Breakfast – field kitchen. Rafting down the Katun river, passing the rapid “Ilgumensky” (3-4 category of complexity), "Kadrinskaya Truba" (3-4 cc). Lunch – snacks. Passing the rapid "Shabash" (5-4 cc) with safeguarding. Transfer outflow of Ursula river – Lower Katun (170 km). Overnight in a tourist complex. Dinner.

On foot – 3 km, auto – 170 km

 

DAY 6: 

Breakfast. Transfer Lower Katun – Biysk (130 km). Biysk is the town, which was built in 18th century under the decree of Peter The Great. Now Biysk has the status of Science City and is the main gate to the Altai Mountains. Transfer Biysk – Barnaul (180 km). City tour around Barnaul with the visit to the museum and restaurant "Gornaya Apteka". End of the program at 20:00 p.m.

On foot – 3 km, auto – 310 km