Diving in Altai: horses, rafting and trekking

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A week of active recreation in the Altai Mountains will leave unforgettable emotions from immersion in the life and traditions of the indigenous population and contemplation of mountain lakes, secret caves, snow-capped peaks and alpine meadows.

You will join equestrian tourism, rafting on the river, and in the evenings you will find a hot bathhouse and spiritual gatherings around the campfire.

There are also abbreviated versions of this tour: Immersion in Altai. Horse riding tour and Diving in Altai and Nizhny Katun.

Location

the village of Manzherok

from

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Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)

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Tour highlights

Riding in Altai

We are waiting for exciting horse riding excursions with immersion in the nature of Altai and its ancient history

A surge of adrenaline

We will become conquerors of white water by going rafting on the Katun River

Trekking with fantastic views

Let's go on a car-walking tour to the Karakol lakes

Itinerary

Day 1 - Check-in. Transfer to the Aru-Kem cordon
Arrival at the eco-hotel "Taezhnik".
It is possible independently by private car, by intercity bus, ordered car or with a collective transfer from Gorno-Altaisk airport – up to 12 hours!
Since after all the events in the Taiga, the group will be transferred to the Aru-kem cordon, where the guests will live for the next 5 days.
This fascinating journey with all the planned stops takes at least 7 hours.
So, upon arrival at the eco-hotel Taezhnik, guests will be met by a guide, introduced to the surroundings and held for breakfast in a cafe until 10:30.
If the whole group is assembled, then after completing our preparations, we leave for the Taezhnik-Aru-Kem route and have lunch on the way to a cafe.
If not everyone is present, wait and have lunch at the Taezhnik cafe, then check out along the route.
The transfer to the Aru-Kem cordon takes place along the famous Chuisky highway with stories about its sights.
On the way, stops are planned at the Seminsky pass, at the monument to the Gopher, and a visit to the museum in the village of Kulada.
There are also technical stops (shop, gas station, toilet).
In the evening we arrive at the cordon, where we check in, according to the selected accommodation options.
We have dinner in a cafe, take a bath in the sauna.
An evening of dating and relaxation.
Transport: auto.
Distance: 178 km.

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Day 2 - Horse riding tour: Arukemskaya Cave – Lake Aru-Kem
General rise at 8 a.m. and breakfast at 9:00 in the cafe.
Fees.
Instruction on the safety of equestrian tourism.
Acquaintance with Altai horses and their distribution among tourists.
On this day, the participants will have a simple horse crossing.
The path mostly runs along a dirt road among mixed forests.
Turning off it into a clearing, the travelers will leave their horses for a while so that they can make a small ascent to the cave, which offers a beautiful view of the valley of the Arygem River.
Having descended back to the clearing, tourists are already riding to the clear mountain lake Aru-Kem.
Here, rest awaits the tired, lunch awaits the hungry, and bathing awaits those who wish.
After enjoying a rest by the water, the travelers continue their horseback ride first along the lake and then towards the cordon, which sheltered for a week.
Upon arrival at the parking lot, everyone will have dinner in a cafe, a bath and a master class.
Today it is the national game of "Kamchi" – knocking down wooden blocks with a whip.
Transportation: horses, on foot.
Distance: 15 km, 2 km.

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Day 3 - Horse riding tour to the Kara-Tash pass (Black Stone)
Breakfast in the cafe.
Having mounted the already familiar horses, the group sets off on the road.
Today, tourists will have to overcome a route running along horse trails among coniferous forests, with access to an area located above forest level at an altitude of 2000 m. where the weather may differ significantly from the valley.
Along the way, at the sacred pass, travelers will see tied ribbons on trees.
Here they will learn about this ancient rite and more.
The Kara-Tash pass offers a panorama of the entire Karakol Valley and the nearest two villages are visible from a bird's eye view.
Here, guests of Altai will get acquainted with the traditions of installing Wallpaper, find out what they were put together for, and also participate in the construction of a new one.
And when descending from the pass, the sacred mountain Uch-Enmek is shown.
Taking refuge in the nearest fishing line on the shore of a temporary riverbed, the group prepares tea over a campfire and lunch in the form of a snack.
After resting, tourists go to the parking lot, now they are waiting for a long descent into the valley.
In the evening, tired travelers will have dinner in a cafe, a hot bathhouse and a master class.
This time it's about making traditional Altai sweets from talkan.
Transport: horses.
Distance: 18 km.

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Day 4 - Horse riding tour to the valley of mounds and rock paintings
Breakfast at the cafe, after which the group sets off.
The horse crossing of this day is not difficult, it again runs mainly along dirt roads with slight deviations.
But the day is full of cultural monuments.
The first will be the Sooru tract, a large valley with more than 450 archaeological sites.
Among them are the site of ancient people, Scythian mounds, Turkic balbals.
An exciting excursion into the past awaits guests here.
Continuing the way and overcoming a small but steep pass, tourists settle down for a picnic by the river in a clearing.
The next point of the tour will be a visit to the rock paintings, but to see them you will need to climb on foot to the mane of the ridge.
In addition to the rock paintings, tourists will visit the site of ancient rituals of worship of the spirits of Altai and the story about it.
After going down to the horses, we go to the parking lot, where, according to the established tradition, dinner, a master class and a sauna are waiting for travelers.
This time there is a master class in shooting from the Altai bow.
Transportation: horses, on foot.
Distance: 18 km, 1 km.

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Day 5 - Horse riding tour to the Bashadar mounds
Breakfast in the cafe.
The horse-drawn and in places automobile road runs through the territory of the Uch-Enmek Nature Park exactly without ascents and descents, only occasionally crossing streams and rivers by wading or over bridges.
The mounds are located near the village of Boochi, on the left bank of the Karakol River.
The largest of the mounds have a diameter of 40 meters and a height of more than 2 meters.
In this burial system, a 300-meter-long fence lined with slabs has been well preserved.
The buildings of the Pazyryk culture predominate (the Early Iron age of the VI—III centuries BC).
Lunch on the bank of the Karakol River.
Return to the place of accommodation.
Bathhouse.
Supper.
Preparation for departure.
Transport: horses.
Distance: 25 km.

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Day 6 - Transfer to the starting point of the rafting
Early breakfast and departure from the territory of the Aru-Kem cordon before 08:00

Transfer to the starting point of the rafting.

Acquaintance with the rafting instructor S.Cheposh.

Meeting with a rafting guide, getting equipment (wetsuits, splash-proof suits, helmets, vests).

Instruction on the technique of water tourism.

Passage of the Seminsky rapids (2 cat.difficulties), Muninsky (2 cat.difficulties), Manzheroksky (2 cat. difficulties), during the rafting, tourists will visit the Kamyshlinsky waterfall.

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

The rafting will end in front of the eco-hotel "Taezhnik".

Dinner at the Taezhnik cafe.

Bathhouse.

Placement according to the selected category

Transport: auto, raft.

Distance: 175 km, 40 km.

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Day 7 - Trekking to the Karakol lakes, departure
Early rise, departure by minibus to the village of Elikmanar.
We transfer to an all-terrain vehicle (UAZ).
Moving along forest and dirt roads to the Karakol lakes.
Walking to Lake 7 and back.
The Karakol Lakes are a group of 7 lakes of glacial origin located on the western slope of the Iolzh ridge, at the foot of the Bagatash Pass.
The lakes are located at different heights and each lake is unique in its own way, they look especially mystical in foggy weather.
Also, even in the hot summer, you can see snow there.
Lunch in the form of a snack on the shore of one of the lakes.
Return to the car.
Descent to the UAZ.
Transfer to the eco-hotel "Taezhnik".
Dinner at the cafe.
Exit.
Transportation: by car, on foot.
Distance: 200 km, 16 km.

Difficulty

Does not require special skills, but tourists must be physically fit: expeditions, long rafting, etc.

Tour organizer's comments

The equestrian part of the route is easy, does not require special training, and good physical shape is needed to participate in the water part of the route. Suitable for family holidays, children from 10 years old are allowed on the route.

Accommodation

or

Tent, Camp Site

5 nights
Camp Site

1 night

Comfort

Basic

The tour provides accommodation of your choice.

The cost of the tour, depending on the selected accommodation, RUB.:

The type of placement on the Aru cordon is by Whom	Price, person.	Extra charge for a single room
tent	63 000	3 000
wooden house, on-site facilities	70 000	3,000 (a house without a stove)

For all accommodation options on the Aru-Kem cordon, on the territory of the Taezhnik eco-hotel, accommodation in 3-person yurts is assumed, single accommodation only if there is a free yurt.

Tent camp

Accommodation in tents, facilities on site.

Another option

Wooden houses

A warm house with a stove for 4-5 people in the house, if you want to live together (on request) - in a summer house without a stove (it can be cold in the mountains), amenities (toilet, sauna) on site.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 12 tourists

Minimum age

10 years old

Maximum weight of the tourist

100 kg

Duration

7 days 6 nights

Group meets at

the village of Manzherok

Included in price

group transfer from Gorno-Altaisk and back;
transportation services specified in the program;
3-course complex meals: breakfast and dinner in a cafe, lunch in the form of a snack in the field;
accommodation, according to the selected accommodation option;
horse rental;
rental of necessary equipment;
the work of a guide;
the work of the grooms;
recreational fees, entrance fees;
bathhouse every day;
insurance.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Barnaul, Gorno-Altaisk, Novosibirsk and back;
delivery to Taezhnik airport by the beginning of the tour, and back at the end, except for a group transfer from Gorno-Altaisk airport;
tick insurance 400 rubles.;
meals not specified in the tour program;
accommodation before and after the tour (after the tour, you can stay in the tent for free, booking a room in advance for an additional fee).

It's important to know

a backpack, suitcase or a large travel bag, that is, something in which it is convenient to carry things to the base, special means are issued on the route for transporting things (archimak (saddlebag) and a drive bag);
hiking shoes you need to have boots that can be leather, rubber, or birch, the main thing is that they do not get wet and cover the boot from rubbing against the stirrup strap (putlishche), in extreme cases high boots (berets). But rubber boots are still preferable, because they do not get wet from the outside, and if water gets inside, they are quite easy to dry by the fire, while they do not deform if you follow the small drying rules;
sneakers or trekking boots for radial exits. Avoid new, unworn shoes. If you choose trekking boots, keep in mind that not all of them can really be dried in field conditions, and when drying by the campfire they can deform and become practically unusable;
replacement shoes for camping (slates);
comfortable clothing for horse crossings and radial pedestrian crossings – trousers made of dense soft fabric that do not restrict movement, without rough internal seams, made of light quick-drying material, preferably cotton. A shirt or a long sleeve T-shirt. A windbreaker made of thick material. A suit for hunters or fishermen, or something similar, is suitable, the main thing is that it is comfortable and does not rustle;
a set of clothes for camping and overnight stays – trousers, shirt, shorts, T-shirt, thermal underwear is ideal for overnight stays, it will also help out if the weather deteriorates.
a warm sweater or hoodie (preferably fleece or wool material);
a warm jacket (synthetic or down jacket). Keep in mind the fact that the sintepon is much easier to dry. If someone thinks that warm clothes will not be needed in July, this is not so. The weather in the mountains is extremely unpredictable;
warm hat (fleece or wool);
a cap or panama hat that covers the face and eyes from direct sunlight, or a bandana;
gloves (even plain cotton ones will do);
socks – 2-3 pairs of cotton or linen, 2 pairs of wool;
a splash-proof raincoat or suit that can withstand light rain. On the equestrian route, UGC (Combined Arms Protective Kit) is issued to protect against rain – a long rubber raincoat with a hood;
a bathing suit to enjoy sunbathing or take a dip in a mountain pond;
toilet and hygiene supplies. Including hygienic lipstick and sunscreen with a high protection factor (UF 50). Towels, shampoo, soap are required;
sunglasses that protect your eyes from ultraviolet rays in the mountains;
a small flashlight (a headlamp will be more convenient);
individual medicines, the instructor takes the main first-aid kit with him, but if you have an individual intolerance to any standard drugs or need for specific or strictly prescription medicines – take your own;
a small water flask. You can use a plastic bottle with a capacity of 0.5 liters., but it is very desirable to have a flask that can be attached to a belt or fastened to a saddle with a carabiner, or otherwise secured;
a camera or video camera (optional) with hermetically sealed, and do not forget a spare battery for it, or an external energy storage device, since there will be many types that you want to capture, and there will be nowhere to recharge;
tourist seat (hob);
personal tableware (plate, spoon, mug).
towel (when placed in tents or cabins without amenities).
In addition, you will need quick-drying shoes with laces or Velcro for the day of the rafting.

For the convenience of packaging, it is recommended to have small bags or garbage bags, and for additional splash protection of things and protection from dirt in archimacs, I recommend having dense plastic bags with a volume of 160-180 liters in the amount of 4 pieces. The requirement for a set of personal items. Nothing superfluous or sharp (without appropriate packages, which can damage the hermetic packaging).

The cost of group delivery from Gorno-Altaisk airport to the Taezhnik tourist complex (round trip) As a GIFT when purchasing this tour.

Advice from the tour organizers: to buy air tickets to the airport of Gorno-Altaysk (the capital of the Altai Republic) from the arrival time to 12:00 because delivery from the airport to the Taiga takes 25 minutes. Delivery from Barnaul (Altai Territory-neighboring region) to Taiga takes 4-5 hours.

The meeting at the airport of Gorno-Altaysk is carried out according to the arrival time of the aircraft.

We ask you to inform us about the actual delays in the departure time (by message, NOT by phone, to the phone (to be indicated in the voucher) so that we can meet you in a timely manner. We will inform you about which car will meet you with a message either on the evening before arrival or during your flight.

We kindly ask you to TURN on your phones immediately after boarding the plane so that the drivers can contact you and take with them those phones whose numbers are indicated in the application.

A group transfer means that if you and other tourists arrive on flights with a boarding gap of less than 1 hour, those who arrived earlier will wait for the next plane and tourists arriving on it to board.

It is possible to arrange individual delivery from / to the airport to Taiga, if you do not want to go by group transfer for 1,000 rubles. / car (one way) capacity from 1 to 4 people.

Attention! one day before the start of the route, tourists are sent the car number and the phone number of the driver who meets them. Therefore, please specify the correct phone numbers so that it is convenient to contact the driver. For those arriving at the airport of Gorno-Altaisk, the driver's contacts and driver's number are sent immediately before arrival

The rest of the delivery is for an additional fee.

The order of the delivery option is carried out at any time from the moment of booking the tour, but no later than 7 days before its start.

Recommendations for delivery from Novosibirsk.

Delivery from Novosibirsk in both directions is carried out independently on regular buses of the Novosibirsk bus station, or on tourist buses, depending on the selected date of the tour, if tourist buses do not run on the day you need, tickets can be purchased independently on the website https://e-traffic.ru / or on another website that sells tickets, or at the ticket offices of the Novosibirsk bus station.

In order to make it to the beginning of the tour, you need to purchase a ticket for the Novosibirsk - Chemal flight, before stopping at.Manzherok (get out before reaching 2.5 km to the village at the monument to Shishkov, or at the Taiga, which you can ask the driver in advance) with the departure time from the bus station at 22:15 (from the bus station located at the railway station - 22:45), the departure date on the day preceding the start date of the tour. Tickets can be purchased 10 days before departure day. The return trip is carried out by bus from Chemal-Novosibirsk, the departure time from Taezhnik is 22:40 - 23:00, the bus must be stopped at Taezhnik. The arrival time in Novosibirsk is 7:15, when purchasing tickets from Novosibirsk, you need to take this into account. The cost of delivery depends on the cost of flight tickets.

Recommendations for delivery from Barnaul.

Delivery is carried out by private carriers and at the rates of private carriers, payment is made on the spot to the driver (the tour operator only helps with the organization of delivery).

Meeting at Barnaul airport (from 5:50 to 7:50 am), meeting at Barnaul railway station from 8:00 to 9:00 am.

If you arrived in Barnaul in advance or live there, you will coordinate the meeting place with the driver, he will pick you up if he is on his way, if not, he will indicate the meeting place.

The car leaves if the delivery group is assembled in full.

The driver will have your contact phone numbers, along with information about the place and time of the meeting, the driver will contact you.

Cars do NOT go on the route without meeting all tourists, provided that all planes arrive on time (the waiting time can be adjusted by 1 hour).

If the plane is late for 1 hour or more, the formed cars are sent on the flight, your contact details are transferred to the driver of another car and the departure time depends on the set of the car.

We kindly ask you to TURN on your phones immediately after boarding the plane so that the drivers can contact you and take with them those phones whose numbers are indicated in the application.

Departure from the Taezhnik t/c is carried out at 22:30 on the day of the end of the route (optional), or at 10:30 - 11:00 the next day.

The journey time is 3-4 hours. In the absence of cars, departure by regular bus is possible.

The estimated cost is from 2500.00 one way, depending on the class of car (the tour operator does not guarantee a fixed cost).

Dates and Prices

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30 Jul – 5 Aug 7 days 6 nights

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6 – 12 Aug 7 days 6 nights

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13 – 19 Aug 7 days 6 nights

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20 – 26 Aug 7 days 6 nights

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27 Aug – 2 Sep 7 days 6 nights

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3 – 9 Sep 7 days 6 nights

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10 – 16 Sep 7 days 6 nights

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