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 of 850-1250 m, duration 8-9 hours.

The hike to the Kucherlinsky Lakes continues. 

Do you want to see two lakes of Altai? 

Then we have breakfast, pack our camp and move forward! 

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

On this day, an excellent observation deck awaits us, 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 take a steam bath. 

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 of 1250-1700 m, duration of 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, from another new angle, let's look at the big Kucherlinsky lake and once again see how huge it is. 

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

We leave the beautiful Kucherlinsky lake. 

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

It is not easy to cross into the Akkem 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 bonfire.

The active part of the Altai hike: 14.3 km on foot, elevation difference of 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 a magical view of Belukha. 

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

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

Next, the trail will pass through a rare 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 rejoice 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 Nikolai Roerich rested in these places, painted his paintings and, like you and me, went trekking through the beautiful valleys of the 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 along this valley 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 colors. 

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 inside with three dots). 

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 desirable mountain of these places – the sacred Beluga Whale. 

Many scientists believe that Belukha 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 the Akkem 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 further, take pictures of the glacier and with each step we approach the Beluga Whale. 

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

We will make a short stop here, and then we will go down the valley. 

The active part of the Altai hike: 13.2 km on foot, altitude 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 will be 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, then 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, closed 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.

The lakes are always very loved by tourists! 

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

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 flowers. 

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. 

Sometimes there will 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! 

By mountain transport, we will pass through the Kuzuyak pass (1521 m), and then go down to the village of Tyungur. 

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 make a 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 hike to Altai may be changed.