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Belukha is the heart of Asia. Hiking with pack horses

  • 12 more photos

Belukha is the highest peak in Siberia, consisting of Western (4440m) and Eastern Belukha (4506m) separated by a saddle. Glaciers on its slopes, with a total area of ​​70 sq. km, give rise to the sources of the amazingly beautiful and largest river in the Altai Mountains – the Katun. In 1995 the Belukha Natural Park was created, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

According to one of the legends, Mount Belukha is the future Northern Shambhala. This place is associated with the name of N.K. Roerich and annually attracts hundreds of admirers of the teachings of the great artist, philosopher and scientist. We invite you to make an unforgettable journey to the foot of this majestic peak, which has a special magnetism and enchanting beauty.

€496
€435
Early booking
until 31.03.2024
What’s included in the price? Submit request
Duration
9 Days
8 Nights
Dates
  • group dates
    • 19 Jun – 27 Jun
    • 7 Jul – 15 Jul
    • 16 Jul – 24 Jul
    • 25 Jul – 2 Aug
    • 3 Aug – 11 Aug
    • 12 Aug – 20 Aug
    • 21 Aug – 29 Aug
Complexity
Need a good shape
Accommodation
    Comfort
    Basic
    Group
    Up to 15 people
    Group meet at
    Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Gorno-Altaysk cities
    The most profitable tickets to Russia

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    Main impressions

    Chuysky tract

    We will drive along the famous Chuisky tract among rocky ridges of the Altai Mountains

    Lake Kucherla

    We will visit a beautiful lake with icy blue water among high mountains

    Kara-Turek pass

    Pass pouring type is 1A level of difficulty of trekking, with 3060 m height

    Camping

    We will camp in the most beautiful Altay places

    Route

    • Day 1 — Departure to the village of Ust-Koksa

      Departure to the village of Ust-Koksa.

      Departure from Novosibirsk at 20:00 (local time, MSK + 4) the day before the start of the trip. Place of departure – st. Soviet, 65.

      Departure from Barnaul at 23:50 (local time, MSK + 4) the day before the start of the trip. Place of departure – restaurant and hotel complex "Oblepikha" (Novoaltaysk, Dorozhnaya st., 13).

      Departure from Gorno-Altaisk (airport) at 11:00.

      The road passes along the famous Chuisky tract among the rocky ridges of the Altai Mountains, then along the Kansk steppe to the Uimon valley.

      Arrival to the village of Ust-Koksa. Accommodation in a tent camp.

      Getting equipment. Briefing.

      Dinner. Dating evening.

      Length: 825 km from Novosibirsk / 640 km from Barnaul (Novoaltaysk) / 375 km from Gorno-Altaisk by car; 3 km on foot.
      Meals included: lunch, dinner in a cafe. Food on the road is at your own expense.

    • Day 2 — Rise along the river Kucherla

      Early wake up.

      Departure to the village of Tungur at 08:00.

      Transfer by car to the parking lot "Elan".

      Rise along the river Kucherla. We will visit the rock grotto near the river Kuilyu on the way where you can see more than 100 rock paintings.

      The Kucherla River formed by the confluence of two mountain streams Myushtu-Ayra and Koni-Ayra. It has an amazing milky color of water with a turquoise tint.

      The total length of the river is about 50 km, on its way it cuts through many mountain ranges and moraines, beats in gorges, forming an almost continuous chain of complex rapids.

      Length: 74 km by car, 12 km on foot, accompanied by pack horses.
      Meals included: breakfast in a cafe, lunch and dinner (field kitchen).

      • 3 more photos
    • Day 3 — Lake Kucherla

      There are more than 40 lakes of tectonic, cirque and moraine origin in the Kucherla river valley.

      The largest of them, Kucherlinskoye Lake, is closed in the east and west by mountain ranges rushing into it with stone screes from a height of up to 3000 m, from the south by the narrow valley of Kucherla, and from the north by moraine deposits that create a dam.

      The lake is filled with icy water of a greenish-blue hue.

      Its length is 5220 m, height above sea level is 1790 m, maximum width is 900 m, maximum depth is 55 m.

      Length: 18 km on foot, accompanied by pack horses.
      Meals included: breakfast in a cafe, lunch and dinner (field kitchen).

      • 3 more photos
    • Day 4 — Trekking to the Kara-Turek pass

      Trekking to the Kara-Turek pass.

      Camp on the upper border of the forest.

      Length: on foot, accompanied by packhorses - 7 km.
      Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner - field kitchen.

      Length: 7 km on foot, accompanied by pack horses.
      Meals included: breakfast in a cafe, lunch and dinner (field kitchen).

      • 2 more photos
    • Day 5 — Climbing the Kara-Turek pass

      Climbing the Kara-Turek pass (difficulty category 1A, 3060 m, the nature of the obstacles is scree), from which a magnificent panoramic view of Mount Belukha and the endless peaks of the Katunsky ridge opens. Good photo and video opportunities.

      Overnight at the base camp on lake Ak-Kem (height above sea level approx. 2010 m).

      Length: 10 km on foot, accompanied by pack horses.
      Meals included: breakfast in a cafe, lunch and dinner (field kitchen).

      • 5 more photos
    • Day 6 — The Ak-kemsky glacier and lake of mountain spirits

      Radial hiking to the Ak-kemsky glacier and lake of mountain spirits.

      Chapel visiting.

      The trail goes along Lake Ak-kem through several picturesque suspension bridges. 

      Lunch at the Ak-kem glacier.

      Excellent opportunity for photo and video shooting.

      On the way you can climb to the Lake of Mountain Spirits (at the request and well-being of the group).

      Length: 20 + 5 km on foot.
      Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner (field kitchen).

      • 2 more photos
    • Day 7 — The gorge of the Ak-Oyuk river and the valley of seven lakes

      Radial hiking to to the gorge of the Ak-Oyuk river and the valley of seven lakes.

      There are beautiful lakes in the upper reaches of the Ak-Oyuk River each of which has its own unique shade: turquoise, green, milky blue and blue-black.

      We will go down to the base camp after the tour.

      Lunch.

      An excursion to the Yarlu Gorge (optional), where a whole city is built of stones.

      Length: 8 + 6 km on foot.
      Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner (field kitchen).

      • 4 more photos
    • Day 8 — Descent along the Ak-Kem river

      "Ak-Kem" translated from Turkic like "White Water". The water in the river has a milky white hue.

      The river starts from the Ak-Kemsky glacier and carries in its waters small pieces of stone lime from the slopes of Belukha.

      Length: 16 km on foot.
      Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner (field kitchen).

      • 4 more photos
    • Day 9 — Descent to Ust-Koksa

      Trek to the place "Three Birches".

      Descent  to Tungur by GAZ-66.

      Transfer from Tungur to Ust-Koksa.

      Arrival at the tourist complex. Put up tents.

      Farewell evening.

      Length: 8 km on foot, 84 km by car.
      Meals included: breakfast and lunch (field kitchen). Dinner in a cafe.

      • 4 more photos
    • Day 10 — Leaving

      Returning equipment. Free time.

      Lunch.

      An excursion to the village of Verkhny Uimon, one of the oldest villages in the Ust-Koksinsky district.

      The village was founded by the Old Believers about 300 years ago.

      There are two museums in the village: Local Lore Museum. N.K. Roerich and the Museum of the Old Believers.

      Departure to Gorno-Altaisk at 15:00.

      Arrival in Gorno-Altaisk at 21:00. Hotel accommodation (on your own).

      Transfer to the airport on your own.

      Departure to Novosibirsk / Barnaul (Novoaltaysk) (local time, difference with Moscow + 4 hours) at 17:00.

      Meals on the way at your own expense.

      Arrival in Barnaul (Novoaltaisk) at 07:00 the next day and in Novosibirsk at 10:00.

      Length: 8 km on foot, 375 km to Gorno-Altaisk / 640 km to Barnaul / 825 km to Novosibirsk by car.
      Meals included: breakfast and lunch in a cafe. Dinner on the way at your own expense.

      • 3 more photos

    Accommodation

    Comfort
    Basic

    Overnight stays in 2-3 local tourist tents throughout the route.

    You can live in a separate tent alone with no extra charge (in this case, you will have to carry the tent on your own when there are no horses).

    Important to know

    • Personal equipment you need for the tour
    • Transfer to the starting point of the route
    • What are the requirements for the preparation and age of the participants?
    • Will there be an opportunity to wash in the bathhouse on the route?
    • Do I need to issue a special pass as a foreign citizen?
    • How are meals organized on the route?
    • How is the safety on the route organized?
    • Is insurance included in the tour price?
    • How to protect yourself from a tick bite?
    • What are the features of the tour?
    • Are plane tickets included in the tour price?
    • Are there any discounts?

    Belukha is the heart of Asia. Hiking with pack horses

    Duration
    9 Days
    8 Nights
    Group
    Up to people
    Complexity
    Need a good shape
    Group meet at
    Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Gorno-Altaysk cities

    Included in price

    • 3 meals a day (except meals while on the road);
    • service according to the program;
    • services of guides;
    • tourist equipment: tents, sleeping bags, mats, backpacks, campfire equipment, awning, first aid kit;
    • medical insurance and accident insurance on the active part of the route: MS – 450000, SNS – 50000;
    • medical insurance and accident insurance on the inactive part of the route: MC – 150,000, SNS – 50,000;
    • transfer Ust-Koksa – Tungur – Ust-Koksa, transportation Tungur – Elan (2nd day), Triberyoza – Tungur (9th day);
    • horses for transporting food and public equipment (2,3,4,5 days of the route);
    • excursion to the village of Upper Uimon (10 day);
    • entrance tickets to the museums of the Old Believers and the Roerich family;
    • recreational fees;
    • accommodation in a mountain camping near Ak-Kemsky lake (5,6,7 days of the route) with a wardroom, tents, gas equipment and a toilet;
    • accommodation in tents on the territory of the Altair tourist complex (1,9 days);
    • storage of personal belongings in the village Ust-Koksa for the duration of the active part of the route.

    Paid extra

    • plane and train tickets to Novosibirsk / Barnaul / Gorno-Altaisk and back;
    • food on the road;
    • transport delivery to Ust-Koksa:
    1. Novosibirsk – Ust-Koksa – Novosibirsk – RUB 7,000;
    2. Barnaul (Novoaltaisk) – Ust-Koksa – Barnaul (Novoaltaisk) – RUB 6,600;
    3. Gorno-Altaisk – Ust-Koksa – Gorno-Altaisk – RUB 5,000;
    • transport delivery prices for children under 14:
    1. Gorno-Altaisk – Ust-Koksa – Gorno-Altaisk – RUB 4,200;
    2. Barnaul (Novoaltaisk) – Ust-Koksa – Barnaul (Novoaltaisk) – RUB 5,800;
    3. Novosibirsk – Ust-Koksa – Novosibirsk – RUB 6,000;
    • flight from Gorno-Altaisk to Ust-Koksa and back (the fastest way to get to Ust-Koksa, tickets are purchased independently);
    • bath:
    • Kucherlinskoye Lake (3rd day) – from RUB 2,000 per hour;
    • lake Ak-Kem (5th, 6th, 7th days) – from RUB 1,500 per hour;
    • eco tourist complex "Altair" (1st, 9th days) – RUB 1,000 per hour;
    • shower at "Altair" – RUB 300;
    • laundry at "Altair" – RUB 300.
    €496
    €435
    Early booking
    until 31.03.2024
    What’s included in the price? Submit request
    Duration
    9 Days
    8 Nights
    Dates
    • group dates
      • 19 Jun – 27 Jun
      • 7 Jul – 15 Jul
      • 16 Jul – 24 Jul
      • 25 Jul – 2 Aug
      • 3 Aug – 11 Aug
      • 12 Aug – 20 Aug
      • 21 Aug – 29 Aug
    Complexity
    Need a good shape
    Accommodation
      Comfort
      Basic
      Group
      Up to 15 people
      Group meet at
      Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Gorno-Altaysk cities
      The most profitable tickets to Russia

      Search for tickets of all airlines on Big Country Travel together with Aviasales!

      Search Airplane
      Together with Aviasales
      Aviasales logo
      €496
      €435
      Early booking
      until 31.03.2024
      What’s included in the price? Submit request
      Duration
      9 Days
      8 Nights
      Dates
      • group dates
        • 19 Jun – 27 Jun
        • 7 Jul – 15 Jul
        • 16 Jul – 24 Jul
        • 25 Jul – 2 Aug
        • 3 Aug – 11 Aug
        • 12 Aug – 20 Aug
        • 21 Aug – 29 Aug

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      €496
      €435
      Early booking
      until 31.03.2024
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