Tour “Altai Express”
Days
6 days
Available from
4 May 2021
From
£576pp
Tour “Altai Express”
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Included
- Hotel Overview
Six days that combine a bright palette of adventures. You will have time to try the taste of Altai and see its colour, immerse yourself in its caves and stories, and most importantly - look into its eyes, shimmering like gems. Touch the beauty!
Don't miss 2 specific times of the year!
May 4 (Festival "Blooming of Maralnik". Maralnik is a mountain rose, or Ledum, or Altaian cherry tree, Rhododendron Ledeburii - this plant has many names. It is a symbol of coming spring. When sakura blossoms in Japan, the slopes of the Altai mountains are covered with lilac carpet of a mountain rhododendron. Photo-stops are planned exactly in those places where this miracle of nature is best presented, so that photographers have an excellent opportunity to take unique shots of blooming mountains).
September 14 (Turquoise Katun: in autumn the water of the mountain river Katun becomes unusually turquoise in colour with golden mountains on background. Greenish sandstone and clear water without impurities and sediment with mainly spring feed causes this unique phenomenon).
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 paragliding 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 Altai 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 – £15 per person).
On foot – 3 km, auto – 365 km
Day 2:
Breakfast. Transfer Iskra – Denisova Cave (35 km). Tour to the cave – the unique archaeological 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 the Altaians language means ‘Flat foot’. The pass has been known since of the Xth 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 clay 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 petroglyph 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. Excursion to “Uch-Enmek” Nature Park in Karakol Valley. This park includes natural, historical, cultural and sacral complexes and objects: barrows, cave paintings, complexes of megaliths. The excursion shows the Altaian culture and its cosmogony. Transfer Karakol – Lower Katun (170 km). Accommodation in a tourist complex. Dinner.
On foot – 3 km, auto – 380 km
Day 5:
Breakfast. Trekking to the rock "The Thumb of the Devil", which got its name thanks to a very peculiar ledge resembling a thumb. After lunch, on request: motor-rafting on Katun (extra charge – from £10 per person) with a visit to the Kamyshlinsky Waterfall, which is formed on the Kamyshla River - the left tributary of the Katun, consists of two cascades 12 m high or rafting along the Lower Katun (extra charge – from £10 per person). Visiting the centre of Altaian handycrafts: exhibition of felt products and tea ceremony a la Altai. Folklore program – unique throat singing and playing national musical instruments. Dinner.
On foot – 3 km, auto – 120 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
Price includes:
- Transport services from Barnaul during the whole tour on a comfortable bus, accommodation in DBL/TRPL room: , food – breakfasts and dinners, insurance, guide.
- All accommodation throughout the trip in twin/double or triple room: standard room with private facilities (shower, WC), in the highlands – rooms with shared facilities on each floor or territory
- Food: breakfasts and dinners
- Excursions according to the program, museum entrance tickets, recreation fee,
- English speaking guide
- Local drivers
- Letter of invitation for 30-day Russian tourist visa
- Satellite phone for emergency calls
Price does not include:
- Lunches
- Insurance
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- Russian sauna (from £7.00 per person); Antler bath (from £15.00 per person); Motor rafting (from £10.00 per person); additional excursions.
Payment:
35% deposit is required to reserve the dates of your trip. Dates get booked up a long way in advance, so to get the ones you need it is recommended to reserve them as early as possible. The balance payment is required 2 months before the start date.
Enclosure for wapitis "Iskra" (shared facilities on each floor) in Soloneshensky region.
Tourist complex "Kochevnik" in Ulagansky region.
GLK "Manzherok", "Pechki-Lavochki", "Solnechnaya" or equivalent in the area of Lower Katun.
Attention!
Separate beds are not guaranteed. Triple accommodation - on request.