A trip to Altai. Belukha Mountain and Kucherlinsky lakes. Without backpacks

Today, for the first time, we will see Altai horses that will help carry our personal belongings and public products.

We load our backpacks onto the horses, taking with us only the things that will be needed this afternoon, during the fishing trip.

For the next two days we will walk up the valley of the Kucherla River, through beautiful cedar forests.

The trail will gradually gain altitude.

By the end of the first day in the forest, we will stop for the night.

The active part of the Altai hike: 18.5 km on foot, elevation difference 850-1250 m, duration 8-9 hours.

The hike to the Kucherlinsky lakes continues.

Do you want to see the two lakes of Altai?

Then let's have breakfast, pack up our camp and move forward!

Today we will go out to the lower lake Kucherla and see the huge Kucherlinsky lake.

On this day, we will have a great viewing platform, from which you can see almost the entire lake.

In the evening, bathhouse lovers will be able to pamper themselves again.

It's nice that in places so far from civilization, there is an opportunity to steam in the sauna.

We will set up our camp for 2 nights in this place.

The active part of the Altai hike: 18.5 km on foot, elevation difference 1250-1700 m, duration 9-10 hours.

According to the map, two lakes near our camp are called Green and Blue.

Today we will make a trekking trip to these Kucherlinsky lakes to check if the lakes have exactly the same color!

At the same time, let's take a look at the bolshoe Kucherlinsky lake from another new angle and see again how huge it is.

The active part of the Altai hike: 19.5 km on foot, elevation difference 1700-2490 m, duration 8-9 hours.

We are leaving the beautiful Kucherlinsky lake.

Having assembled the camp, we move towards the Kara-Tyurek pass.

It is not easy to cross into the Akkema valley in one day, so today we will walk half the way.

We will reach the beginning of the ascent and in the cedar forest, we will stop for the night.

If we still have the strength to collect firewood, we will definitely have an evening campfire.

The active part of the Altai hike: 14.3 km on foot, elevation difference 1700-2200 m, duration 7-8 hours.

Today is the most difficult day of our hike.

We have to climb the Kara-Tyurek pass and descend into the neighboring valley.

One of the bonuses of the pass is the magical view of Belukha.

It is from this point that the mountain appears in an incredible perspective!

On the way down from the pass, we will walk on large stones, as if on steps.

Next, the trail will pass through a sparse forest, past a weather station.

On this day, we will achieve one of our desired goals – the stunningly beautiful mountain lake Akkem!

We will set up camp on its shore for the next 4 nights.

Bathhouse lovers can enjoy themselves here – there is an opportunity to steam on the Pond.

The active part of the Altai hike: 14.3 km on foot, altitude difference 2200-3060- 2040 m, duration 9-10 hours.

Do you like mysticism, mysteries, signs on stones and places of power?

If so, today is your day!

The famous artist Nicholas Roerich rested in these places, painted his paintings and, like you and me, went trekking through the beautiful valleys of Altai.

The Yarlu River Valley especially fell into his heart, it was here that he felt a huge place of power.

Nowadays, many tourists walk through this valley following in the footsteps of Roerich.

Some people feel the amazing energy of this place, while others just admire the beauty of Yarlu!

And the valley here is really unusual: along the way you will meet not only classic sand and gray rocks, but also an unusual breed of pink and purple flowers.

Add to this pyramids of stones, circles, stone labyrinths…

In short, there is something to see and photograph here!

One of the key locations where we are heading is the Roerich Stone.

This is a huge stone on which the symbol of Roerich is painted – the banner of Peace (a red circle with three dots inside).

The active part of the Altai hike: 8.5 km on foot, altitude difference 2040-2260 m, duration 6-7 hours.

It's time to get closer to the most mysterious and coveted mountain of these places – the sacred Beluga Whale.

Many scientists believe that Beluga is an incredibly powerful emitter of terrestrial energy into space and the most energetically powerful place in Altai.

In addition, it is also just an incredibly beautiful mountain, which we wrap around the Akkemsky glacier with an ice blanket!

Our way to the Akkemsky glacier of Altai will pass by a picturesque location – the wooden chapel of the Archangel Michael.

The old chapel in these places burned down in 2020, but a new one was built here in 2021.

Candles can be placed in the chapel for the climbers who did not return from the mountains.

And the chapel on the background of a Beluga Whale is a stunningly photogenic object that is sure to decorate our photos!

We go on, take pictures of the glacier and with each step we get closer to the Beluga Whale.

The instructor will allow us to approach the glacier at a safe distance.

We'll make a short stop here, and then head down the valley.

The active part of the Altai hike: 13.2 km on foot, elevation difference 2040-2210 m, duration 9-10 hours.

Today, according to the plan, we have a new location – the Lake of Mountain Spirits.

First, we will follow the already familiar path to the chapel of the Archangel Michael.

And then there is a climb up the kurumnik – large stones.

At this point, you will once again thank you for listening to our manager's advice and taking trekking boots with you.

After climbing the kurumnik, we go out into a wide valley.

After passing it, we go out to the Lake of Mountain Spirits.

It is located in a very cozy gorge, enclosed by mountains.

When there is no wind, there is an amazing silence here....

The active part of the Altai hike: 12.7 km on foot, altitude difference 2040-2500 m, duration 7-8 hours.

Lakes are always very much loved by tourists!

Fortunately, there are a lot of attractive reservoirs in Gorny Altai.

After leaving the camp, we will go into the gorge to the right, the path will rise steeply along the stream.

Turning our heads around, we will admire the glaciers, which have become even closer from this place.

Going out into the valley, we will go around all seven lakes, which will delight us with their blue and green colors.

There is a legend that if you make a wish and swim in each of the seven lakes of Altai, then the wish will certainly come true!

The active part of the Altai hike: 12.8 km on foot, altitude difference 2040-2640 m, duration 5-6 hours.

Having assembled the camp, we move light along the Akkem River, along the slope of a ridge overgrown with cedar and larch.

There will sometimes be cliffs on the right and the Akkem mountain River will appear.

Along the way, we will sometimes cross small streams over pebbles.

By the end of the running day, we will arrive at the Three Birches parking lot.

Here we get into the best transport in Altai – GAZ-66.

This car will go everywhere!

We will take a mountain transport through the Kuzuyak pass (1,521 m), and then descend to the village of Tyngur.

The transfer will take about 1.5-2 hours. The active part of the Altai hike: 23 km on foot, altitude difference 2040-990 m, duration 8-9 hours.

Today there will be a transfer in the opposite direction, to the city of Gorno-Altaysk.

On the way, we will stop at the Seminsky pass to buy souvenirs for friends.

Here you can buy knitted socks, mountain teas, a wide variety of jams and, of course, Altai magnets.

The distance is 380 km, 8-10 hours on the way.

20:00-22:00 – arrival in Gorno-Altaysk.

Depending on the weather conditions, the physical condition of the participants and other factors, the route of the Altai hike may be changed.