An'ilu – horse riding tour to the high-altitude lakes of Altai

If you like horseback riding, mountains and natural beauty, then horseback riding to the high-altitude lakes of Altai is for you. 

You will find: Karakol lakes, Ayryk lakes, Ak-Kain lake, Victoria Lake, Veronica Lake, Bayuk lakes, Albagan lakes, Balyktusa lakes, as well as a visit to Muikhtinsky waterfall, a walk to Balyktu waterfall, Karakokshinskaya cave and many, many other beauties.

Other dates on the tour are on request for groups of 4 or more people.

Location

S. Elekmonar
from
$939
$806
+ tickets to the starting point of the tour
No need to pay now
Duration
12 Days
11 Nights
Departures
  • Group departures
    • Dates for next season
    • 9 – 20 June, 2025
    • 23 June – 4 July, 2025
    • 7 – 18 July, 2025
    • 21 July – 1 August, 2025
or
Accommodation
  • Tent
    11 nights
Comfort
  • Basic
Difficulty
Challenging
Does not require specific skills, but one must be in good health
Group
Up to 15 people
Minimum age
12 years old
Group meet at
S. Elekmonar
Contact the tour coordinator
Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)
Or text us in messengers

Tour highlights

Karakol Lakes
Let's admire the magnificent picture of the lakes from a bird's-eye view!
Communication with horses
Let's improve our riding skills and enjoy leisurely horseback riding
Cozy evenings alone with nature
We will spend the night in tents in picturesque places and gather around the campfire
Magnificent landscapes of Altai
We will see snow-capped mountain ranges and alpine meadows
Amazing footage
The tour will be interesting for photographers who have brought a tripod with them – shooting in the evening involves unique shots!

Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Arrival at the beginning of the route. Acquaintance

    Dear friends, we are glad to meet you at the airport / bus station in Gorno-Altaysk before 10 am.

    Next, the transfer will take you to our "Headquarters", where in a friendly atmosphere you can relax from the road, drink tea and we will tell you about all the subtleties of hiking, give you all the necessary equipment. 

    Those who get there on their own – we wait until 14 o'clock, then a two-hour ascent into the mountains off-road to the horse base.

    Upon arrival, there will be a safety briefing, acquaintance around the campfire, a sauna, overnight stay in a tent camp.

    1 more photo
  • Day 2 - Base – Kylai river
  • Day 3 - Kylai river – Bayuk lakes – Uul tract – Moon Valley
  • Day 4 - Moon Valley – river Lodge
  • Day 5 - The Upper Box. Day trip, radial walk
  • Day 6 - Loja River – Balyktu Gorge
  • Day 7 - The Balyktu tract is a parking lot of the lower reaches of the Lozha River
  • Day 8 - Parking of the lower reaches of the Loja River – Ashpagach Lake – Surdinsky lakes – Moon Valley
  • Day 9 - Ayryk – log Muikhta tract
  • Day 10 - Log Muihta – castles of Mountain spirits – Karakol Lakes
  • Day 11 - Karakol Lakes – Sortesh tract
  • Day 12 - Sortes Valley – village of Elekmonar
Difficulty
Does not require specific skills, but one must be in good health

Accommodation

Accommodation
  • Tent
    11 nights
Comfort
  • Basic
Tent camp 11 nights

The tour includes overnight stays in two- and three-person tourist tents.

Tour conditions

Group
up to 15 tourists
Minimum age
12 years old
Duration
12 days 11 nights
Group meets at
S. Elekmonar

Included in price

  • round-trip transfer from Gorno-Altaysk (only on the day of arrival and departure);
  • transportation service in accordance with the tour program;
  • sauna according to the tour program;
  • nutrition;
  • horse rental;
  • the work of an instructor-guide (1-3 depending on the number of participants in the group);
  • recreational fees;
  • equipment rental;
  • accident insurance / medical insurance.

Paid extra

  • air and railway tickets to Novosibirsk/Barnaul/Gorno-Altaysk and back;
  • bus tickets from Novosibirsk/Barnaul to c. Elecmonar and back;
  • accommodation at the base before the start of the tour and after its end (accommodation in rooms for 2-3 people. Facilities for 5 rooms: shower, toilet, dining room, recreation room. It is necessary to check the availability of seats).

It's important to know

Personal equipment you need for the tour

Clothes:

  • underwear;
  • The sweater is warm;
  • The sweater is lighter;
  • warm pants for cold weather;
  • trousers made of thick fabric (camouflage is possible);
  • shorts or light trousers;
  • T-shirt / T-shirt (2-3 depending on the length of the route);
  • wool socks (more than one pair);
  • cotton socks (several pairs);
  • insulated, spacious jacket;
  • windbreaker (windbreaker);
  • gloves;
  • headdress;
  • swimsuit.

Shoes:

  • rubber boots (preferably on a smooth sole with a heel);
  • sneakers or sneakers.

It will be useful to:

  • a pocket or headlamp flashlight;
  • a set of threads with needles;
  • spare batteries for cameras, flashlights and other equipment;
  • thick plastic bags for packing things during a hike;
  • a camping knife;
  • wet sanitary napkins for camping;
  • toilet paper;
  • sunburn cream;
  • medicines that you personally need;
  • personal hygiene products (wet wipes are required);
  • specific medicines that may be useful to you.

Try not to take unnecessary things. Before entering the active part of the route, tourists leave their bags, backpacks and suitcases in parking lots in lockable rooms.

Important! A backpack of more than 5 liters will prevent the rider from sitting comfortably in the saddle, based on safety regulations.

What kind of special equipment is issued for the route?
How to get to the gathering place of the group (village of Elekmonar)?
How to get there step by step?
How to protect yourself from a tick bite?
What are the requirements for the preparation of tour participants?
Will there be a mobile connection on the route?
What kind of weather awaits us on the route?
What safety rules should be followed on the route?
How are meals organized on the route?
Are there any restrictions on the participant's weight?
Where can I leave my suitcases and backpacks during the tour?

Dates and Prices

  • $806
    9 – 20 Jun, 2025 12 days 11 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • $806
    23 Jun – 4 Jul, 2025 12 days 11 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • $806
    7 – 18 Jul, 2025 12 days 11 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • $806
    21 Jul – 1 Aug, 2025 12 days 11 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • $806
    4 – 15 Aug, 2025 12 days 11 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now

Reviews

    D
    Diane
    8 Jul, 2021
    about provider
    the organization was good--I didn't really like the fact that the instructors didn't talk enough about places and sights--I would like them to be more talkative
    8 Jul, 2021
    OK
    Oksana Khlebnikova
    27 Sep, 2019
    about provider
    It still does not fit in my head that this amazing journey really happened. That there were horse crossings under the sun and rain, there were dinners cooked together, there were songs without a guitar, but by the campfire and soulful... Now, upon arrival in Moscow, all this seems either a dream or a fairy tale. But it really was! And for this I would like to say a huge thank you to Olga and her team. Without you guys, I would never have discovered the self-willed and majestic Altai, would not have received these indescribable emotions, would not have fallen in love with equestrian tourism. Now it seems to be forever. My friend and I hadn't left Elekmonar yet when we started planning our inevitable return next summer. Be sure to come! Horses are very calm and hardy. The instructors are professional, reliable, very sociable and funny. Olga is an incredibly energetic enthusiast of her business. The routes are thoughtful and beautiful. Wait for us in 2020! ♥
    27 Sep, 2019
    SB
    Sergey Bakhtin
    9 Sep, 2019
    about provider
    Altaaaaay, Altai, Altai!!!! Wonderful land!!!! Like in the song that Tamir sang to us! Wonderful! Amazing! Amazing! Divine! Emotions are overwhelming! The fourth day at home, and I still live in Altai! Olga! Thank you for giving me Altai!
    9 Sep, 2019