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Golden Ring of Altai

Destination: Altai
Easy - nothing more than normal walking while sight-seeing
Moderately Easy - 1-3 hours of physical activity daily
Moderate - 3-5 hours of physical activity daily
Challenging - 5-7 hours of challenging physical activity daily
Extreme - 7+ hours of challenging/extreme physical activity daily
Difficulty
Basic — most of nights in tents or rooms with shared WC, some nights in comfortable rooms.
Standard — most of nights in comfortable rooms, some nights in tents or rooms with shared WC.
Upgraded — all nights in comfortable rooms.
Comfort
Minimum age of the participant of this trip
8 Days
June - September
Highlights
  • Journey accessible to all
  • Boat excursion on the lake Teletskoye, the biggest one of Gorno-Altai
  • Discover of wonderful panoramas
  • Visit of the highest waterfall of the Altai
  • Trekking to the wonderful glacier Aktru and blue lakes
  • Visit of Geyser lake and stunning Martian landscapes
  • Possiblity to touch the Stone Mushrooms
Tour Overview

This journey of 8 days gives you a unique chance to discover the Altai in its natural magnificence. Including the most famous and characteristic places of the region, our program will lead you into strong and contradictory feelings by passing the river bank of Aktru, frosty and tempestuous, to the ascent of the snowy summits where streams are forming glittering waterfalls.

Meeting the local population with their legends, traditions and customs you will cross the impressive valley of the river Tchulychmane via the legendary road of Chuya, connecting Russia and Mongolia, along which you will observe rupestral engravings and mortuary buildings. The lake Teletskoye will also be a major step of this incredible trip.

The transport envisaged for trip it is a Russian vehicle any ground (GAZ, UAZ, KAMAZ, URAL) equipped for safety transfer.

Tour programme
  • Day 1
    Cross Seminsky and ethnic village Uch-Enmek
    Barnaul — Chuya river
  • Day 2
    Aktru valley
    Chuya River — Alpine Aktru camp
  • Day 3
    Blue lake
    Alpine Aktru camp
  • Day 4
    Picturesque Ulagansky passage
    Aktru — Kudabra river
  • Day 5
    The Сhulyshman River
    Kubadra River — Сhulyshman River
  • Day 6
    Uchar waterfall
    Сhulyshman River
  • Day 7
    Stone mushrooms
    Chulcha River — Lake Teletskoye
  • Day 8
    Lake Teletskoye
    Lake Teletskoye — Barnaul
  • 10:00
    Arrival to Barnaul
    Meeting with the group
  • 11:00
    Transfer to the camping
    Transfer to the village of Barangol where you will set off towards the Chuya River. You will pass by the famous road of Chuya and cross Seminsky and Tchike-Taman, two mountain passes , from where you will enjoy a very nice panorama of the Altai chain.
  • 13:00
    Lunch Not included
    in the cafe en route
  • 15:00
    Continuation of the road
    The next pass on our way is Chike-Taman "Flat sole". The height of the pass is 1460 m, but because of its steepness it seems much higher.
  • 17:30
    Arrival to the camping
    Accommodation on the territory of the ethnic village Uch-Enmek in tents
  • 19:00
    Dinner
    picnic near the fireplace
  • Overnight in the tents
Photo of the day
Route
Barnaul — Chuya river
Note

transfer  (500km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 10:00
    Transfer to the village of Kuray
    As soon as we get reach the village we will ride some kilometers by the off-road.
  • 13:00
    Lunch (picnic)
  • 14:00
    Trekking along the Aktru river
    We’ll walk along the Aktru river to the Alpine camp "Aktru".
  • 16:30
    Accommodation in the tents of the camp
    The Alpine camp "Aktru" is almost located at 3000 meters height, on the top of this River gorge, this place is under snow throughout the year and attracts tourists from all over the world.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight in the tents
Photo of the day
Route
Chuya River — Alpine Aktru camp
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 10:00
    Pedestrian excursion to the Light blue lake
    Beautiful walks are waiting for you today. Following the river Aktru road, you will observe curly rocks before going up to the Big Aktru Glacier and finally discover the Light blue lake (on 2900 m). Despite its turquoise water, the lake is called Blue and its temperature not exceed 2 °C. Will you dare taking a bath?
  • 13:00
    Outdoor lunch
  • 17:00
    Return to the camp, rest
    Possibility to got the Russian banya (not included, to pay on site)
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight in the tents
Photo of the day
Route
Alpine Aktru camp
Note

7 h trekking  (16km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Transfer to the Ulagansky passage
    You will take the road of Chuya. Passing the village Aktash it turns left and goes across the Red Doors and alpine meadows towards the Dead Lakes.
  • 13:00
    Lunch on the way
  • 15:00
    Stop for the overnight, arrangement in the camp
    This place is very similar to the Alpine Switzerland. There are lakes and Alpine meadows that really that boggle your imagination.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight in the tents
Photo of the day
Route
Aktru — Kudabra river
Note

transfer  (110km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 10:00
    Departure to the Сhulyshman River
    This day will be devoted to an impressive trip towards the Chulyshman River valley. You will observe the continental sacred shelf sheltering the Scythian tumulus of Pazyryk that indicate the graves of nomadic noblemen dating back to the VI-VII centuries.
  • 13:00
    Lunch on the way
  • 15:00
    Trekking to the tent camp
    Today you’ll pass on foot the Katu-Yaryk passage.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight in the tents
Photo of the day
Route
Kubadra River — Сhulyshman River
Note

trekking  (3km)

transfer  (120km)

  • 08:00
    Breakfast
  • 09:00
    Pedestrian excursion to Uchar waterfall
    Excursion to the Uchar waterfall 160 meters high, the highest cascade of the Altai Krai. The roar of the water can be heard long before getting to the waterfall and near the cascade, it becomes so loud that anyone screaming can be heard.
  • 13:00
    Lunch (picnic)
  • 18:00
    Return to the camp, rest
    Possibility to get the Russian banya (not included, to pay on site)
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight in the tents
Photo of the day
Route
Сhulyshman River
Note

9 h trekking  (22km)

  • 08:00
    Breakfast
  • 09:00
    Crossing over the Chulyshman River
  • 10:00
    Discovery of the Stone mushrooms
    Visit the Stone mushrooms, rock-formations created by erosion, wind and rain throughout the last millenniums.
  • 14:00
    Outdoor lunch
  • 16:00
    Transfer to the Lake Teletskoye
    Accommodation in tents. Possibility to get the Russian banya (not included, to pay on site).
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight in the tents
Photo of the day
Route
Chulcha River — Lake Teletskoye
Note

transfer  (40km)

  • 08:00
    Breakfast
  • 09:00
    Boat trip on the lake Teletskoye
    Today a boat trip is planned on the lake Teletskoye, one of the Gorno-Altai mysteries is called "Golden Lake" by the natives. The biggest lake of Gorno-Altai and one of 25 the deepest lakes of the world it will be an essential step in your journey.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
  • 14:00
    Transfer to the Barangol village
    Way back towards the village of Artybash where you sill take the bus to Barangol
  • 17:00
    Russian banya
  • 19:00
    Farewell dinner
  • 22:00
    Return to Barnaul
    Arrival to Barnaul at 2 am approximate. End of the programme
Photo of the day
Route
Lake Teletskoye — Barnaul
Note

transfer  (490km)

Detailed description
New departures available soon
Price includes
  • Russian-speaking guide services
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • Transport as per itinerary
  • Meals
  • Medical insurance
  • Reserves and national parks entrance permissions
  • Tent rental
  • Transfer from airport / railway station on first day
  • Transfer to airport / railway station on last day
  • Banya
  • Boat trip
  • Letter of invitation
Price does not include
  • English-speaking guide
  • Personal expenses and tips
  • Visa fees and travel insurance
For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
Note

The departure is guaranteed for the group from 6 person. It's possible to be accommodated in the wooden house (2-6 persons in the room) with a supplement - 16 500 roubles.

Reviews
3.67
3.67
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
3.00
Quality of accommodation
3.00
Quality of transport / transfers
3.00
Quality of meals
4.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
4.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
PRONCHANA
From 19 July 2019 to 26 July 2019
Destination: Altai
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
the arrangement for the trip was well organized and reliable.
4.33
4.33
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
3.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
4.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Lingyun
From 28 April 2019 to 4 June 2019
Destination: Altai
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
We had a wonderful time trekking through the Altai mountains and definitely rank it among one of our best travel experiences. While we knew we'd be sleeping in tents, we didn't realise how "wild" our experience would be - i.e. drinking water from streams, washing your hands with snow and very few showers. Although this was a surprise, it was actually a lot of fun to see how much we could adapt
  Read more
4.00
4.00
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
3.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
2.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Hanoch
From 28 April 2019 to 5 May 2019
Destination: Altai
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
The best tour that i had in my all life. Ones in a life time. We took a transletor but she was'nt good enough.
4.33
4.33
Total score
4.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
4.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Alessandra
From 8 August 2018 to 15 August 2018
Destination: Altai
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
I had one of my best holiday experience!
4.50
4.50
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
4.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Damien
From 16 August 2017 to 23 August 2017
Destination: Altai
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
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