Adventures in Altai

Early rise. 

Departure from the territory of the eco-hotel "Taezhnik" at about 07:30 in the morning. 

Breakfast at the cafe on the way. 

Transfer to the village of Artybash along the Teletskoye highway.

A few years ago, the road began to be repaired, and now most of the way is solid new asphalt. 

The road to the lake, on the shore of which the village of Arbytash is located, is picturesque, like most roads in Altai. 

Here you can admire rivers, taiga, mountain ranges, and blooming valleys. 

At the pier in Artybash, the group transfers to a boat that will take tourists to the southern shore of Lake Teletskoye. 

The lake is one of the main attractions of the Altai Mountains, second only to Lake Baikal in size in Russia. 

This is a beautiful reservoir stretching from south to north for 75 km. 

Clouds are reflected in the clear waters of the lake, which almost always rush in the sky over the water surface. 

By the way, a unique phenomenon can be observed above the lake – oncoming clouds floating in opposite directions. 

This happens due to the winds blowing towards each other – verkhovka and nizovka. 

On the way to the south shore, we stop at the Korbu waterfall and have lunch at a cafe.

The twelve-meter waterfall was formed as a result of the natural failure of the Korbu riverbed, originating from the mountain range of the same name. 

Korbu waterfall is not visible from the shore of the lake, but it is not long to walk to it – just a few minutes along the boardwalk and you can already hear the sound of water, almost immediately after that the waterfall itself is visible. 

Opposite it is the deepest part of Lake Teletskoye – 323 m. 

After the tour and lunch, we continue by boat to the southern shore of the lake. 

At Cape Kyrsai, the group will transfer to a bus and go to the campsite, where they will spend two nights. 

Depending on the time of arrival (there may be a storm on the lake, which will delay the group), technical and weather conditions, the group can take an excursion to the Stone Mushrooms on this day. 

Dinner at the cafe of the tourist complex. 

Accommodation in tents on the territory of the tourist complex. 

If there are available cabins, those who wish can book them and pay on the spot (the cost of the house starts from 1800 rubles). 

Bathhouse. 

Campfire gatherings for those who wish.

Car 265 km, boat 75 km.

We have breakfast in the cafe of the tourist complex.

A day of active recreation. 

You will take a walking tour to the largest cascading waterfall in Altai – Chulchinsky (Uchar). 

The length of the path to it is about 10 km., the same amount back. 

For almost the entire route, the trail runs along the edge of a high cliff, at the bottom of which the wayward Chulcha River rushes furiously over the rocks.

The trail is difficult, it requires good physical fitness and sneakers with thick corrugated soles. 

Tourists will have to overcome kurumniki, endless ascents and descents, crossing small rivers on rickety bridges and walk along a rocky ledge above a ravine. 

However, the sight of Uchar is worth all these difficulties! 

A huge mass of water is flying down with speed, crashing against giant rocks. 

The noise is such that you can't hear a person standing next to you, there is water dust around. 

The height of the total fall is more than 160 meters, it is the highest waterfall in Siberia.

Lunch in the field (tea, sandwiches, vegetables, fruits, sweets).

Return to the t/C.

Dinner in a cafe on the territory of the tour complex, accommodation in tents.

Bathhouse. 

Attention! If the Uchar trail is closed due to weather or technical conditions, the tour will be replaced by an excursion to the Kurkure and Maldanash waterfalls.

Walking distance is 19 km.

We have breakfast on the territory of the tourist complex. 

If for some reason the group did not manage to get to the Stone Mushrooms on the day of arrival, then there is a chance to get there after breakfast, provided that there are no objective obstacles to the tour.

The decision remains with the guide. 

After that, we will move to the village of Ulagan, the district center of the Ulagan district of the republic. 

Tourists will have to climb the Katu-Yaryk pass on foot.

This is done based on security considerations. 

The road up is steep and narrow, so even the most experienced driver can overturn the car. 

The height of the pass from the foot to the top is about 800 meters, the length is 3.5 km. 

From the pass, travelers will see a stunning panorama of the Chulyshman Valley. 

Great photos are taken on the observation deck. 

We get in the car and drive to the district center. 

On the way we stop at the famous Pazyryk mounds. 

This is a chain of 5 burial mounds representing the graves of noble nomads and tribal leaders dating back to the 6th-7th centuries BC. 

We have lunch at the cafe with. Ulagan. 

After lunch, the travelers continue along the beautiful Ulagan highway, gradually climbing the Ulagan pass with a height of 2080 meters. 

On the Ulagan highlands, which crosses the Ulagan tract, there are a great many lakes, some of which can be seen without leaving the road. 

Accommodation at the tourist complex in tents, facilities on site. 

If there are available rooms in the tourist complex, you can book them and pay for them yourself on the spot (the room price starts from 2500 rubles).

Preparing for a horse riding trip. 

Bathhouse. 

Dinner at the cafe of the tourist complex.

By car / on foot 180 km.

After breakfast at the Malina tourist complex, we load our belongings and equipment into the UAZ. 

We need to get to the parking lot at the Ulagan pass. 

At the parking lot, we go through a safety briefing on an equestrian tour, get horses, load things, have lunch (sandwiches, tea, vegetables, sweets, canned food) and hit the road.

The horse crossing will take 3-4 hours. 

Most of the road passes through Kedrach. 

Here travelers can fully enjoy the unique purity of the mountain air combined with the pleasant aroma of the coniferous forest, which finally banishes thoughts of civilization from their heads. 

Through forest clearings and dense thickets of bushes, the trail leads travelers to the mountain lake Beltir and further to the shore of Lake Sorolukel, where they will camp and spend the night. 

This is one of the two large lakes in the Aigulak range. 

The beauty of it is that the place lies far from popular tour routes. 

And there are fish here. 

Dinner is prepared by the guide at the campfire, if desired, you can help him. 

We spend the night in tents on the shore of the lake. 

The crackling of firewood in the campfire, the reflections of the sunset, the chirping of birds – that's where the real romance is!

Cars 60 km, horses 15 km.

After breakfast, we go on the route. 

Riding light is more pleasant than riding a loaded horse, and the horses feel better. 

We have to climb to the observation point of the ridge. 

Magnificent landscapes open from the top: the Kurai steppe, the North Chui and South Chui ranges.

The eternal snow and ice of these mountain ranges are dazzling in the sun – a person feels like a bird soaring high above the ground. 

In good weather, you can see almost all the highest peaks of these ranges: Aktra, Maashey-bashi, Iikta, etc., and of course enjoy the view of the largest glaciers in the region. 

And if there are clouds in the sky? Then, having climbed to the top of Kykashtu-Oyk, you can practically touch them with your hand. 

There, under the clouds lies the familiar earth, and above them is another world full of secrets… 

Lunch in the form of a snack. 

Overnight in a tent camp on the shore of Lake Sorolukel.

Dinner is prepared by the guide over a campfire.

Horses are 20 km away.

Before lunch, we go down to the parking lot at the Ulagan pass. 

There we say goodbye to the Altai horses and transfer to an all-terrain “iron horse” to go towards new adventures. 

On the way, we stop at the top of the Ulagan pass and take a last look at the surroundings.

Then, on the descent, we exit at the Red Gate. 

The road in this place is fenced with high reddish rocks. 

This place is both a natural landmark and the work of man. 

The passage in the rocks appeared as a result of blasting during the construction of the road. 

And the red color of the rocks is due to the content of cinnabar. 

Also along the way we will come across many picturesque lakes that are located on both sides of the Ulagan tract. 

In the village of Aktash, we leave for the Chuisky tract, where the group is waiting for lunch in a cafe. 

After lunch, we go down to the place where the rafting starts. 

The auto-crossing ends in the Maly Yaloman tract. 

We are getting acquainted with the water guides. 

Dinner is prepared by the guide over a campfire. 

Bathhouse. 

Attention! The location can be replaced with a similar one for technical reasons.

Horses 15 km, cars 185 km.

After breakfast, we begin to try on the image of water tourists. 

To begin with, we put on equipment and go through safety instructions on water tours, load things and products on rafts and go to conquer the main river of Altai. 

The first serious obstacle on the way is the Ilgumen threshold (IV category of difficulty). 

It is located near the confluence of the B. Ilgumen River into the Katun. 

The length of the threshold is about 300 m, it is here that the Ak Talai Margaan competitions among water athletes are held in August. 

This is followed by the Kadrin pipe threshold (III category of difficulty). 

This is a series of water obstacles for about 10 km.

A "pipe" is called a narrowing riverbed. 

Because of this, the rapid flow is gaining speed and, together with the stones lying on the bottom, forms obstacles – barrels, shafts, rifts. 

It sounds alarming, but don't worry – our water instructors are professional athletes, they will guide you through the most difficult sections! 

This day ends above the threshold of the Sabbath at the General's Meadow. 

Dinner is prepared by the guides over a campfire.

Raft 21 km.

After breakfast, we go on the route. 

On this day, we will have to overcome two steps of the Sabbath threshold (IV category of difficulty) and three steps of the Kayancha threshold (II category of difficulty). 

The threshold of the day, of course, is the Sabbath.

The name is telling. 

It has two stages, with a flow rate between them. 

There are pulsating barrels and reverse shafts, so you will have to show all your skills and, most importantly, listen carefully to the instructor and row! 

The threshold is included in the section of the super marathon, which is held by water athletes. 

The rafting of this day ends at the mouth of the Kayancha River.

Dinner is prepared by the guides over a campfire.

Raft 25 km.

The final day of the rafting and the easiest. 

The main obstacle is the Ayulinsky threshold (II difficulty category). 

There will be an opportunity to relax, swim in Katuni (with the permission of the guide!), and sunbathe in good weather.

After the rafting in the area of the village of Kuyus, tourists transfer to cars and move to the Taezhnik tourist complex, where dinner awaits them. 

A shower is on site, and a sauna can be ordered at the eco-hotel Taezhnik for an additional fee. 

Check-out is for those who travel to Novosibirsk and Barnaul. 

For those departing from Gorno-Altaysk, overnight in tents on the territory of the tourist complex is free of charge, in yurts (if there are actual seats, they are not booked in advance) or in rooms for an additional fee (if available, you need to book in advance).