Hike to the foot of Belukha. Altai

We have breakfast in the village of Kucherla, after which we will be dropped off by a high-speed GAZ-66 car.

We will cover 20 kilometers in 1.5–2 hours, cross the Kuzuyak pass by car and arrive at the tourist parking lot "Three Birches". 

The walking part of the route begins from here: about 20 kilometers along the Akkem River with an altitude of about 500 meters. 

We're going with backpacks. 

The transition is quite laborious, especially in rainy weather, when the trail may be very blurred (you can use rubber boots). 

The walking part will take 5-7 hours. 

We will spend the night in the parking lot after the river clamps. 

We'll set up camp, cook dinner over a campfire and spend the night in tents.

We wake up, have breakfast and slowly assemble an intermediate camp, after which we go hiking to the main campsite near Lake Akkem. 

The length of the route is about 7 km, with an altitude of about 500 meters.

The transition will take 3-5 hours. 

In the afternoon we arrive at the campsite, which is located at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level. 

Unlike the previous parking lot, this is a permanent camp, so you will not need to put it up again. 

The campsite has a large dining room (camping structure), a camp kitchen with gas stoves for cooking food and tea, as well as a hot water bath. 

We are accommodated in four-person tents on boardwalks.

Radial exits and a rest day are planned for every day from 4 to 9. Each route is designed for one day. 

All radial exits are light: the main things remain at the campsite, we take only the most necessary things with us — a thermos, a raincoat, a snack and other small things for the day. 

The order of the routes and the rest day is determined by the guide on the spot, depending on the weather and the condition of the group.

Route 1. Yarlu Valley The radial route to Yarlu Valley is a hike to a unique place, which is considered one of the most mysterious parts of the Katun range. 

Yarlu Valley is famous for its colorful mountains and unusual energy that attracts travelers and pilgrims. 

The beginning of the route passes through a sparsely wooded area, gradually rising along the Yarlu River. 

As you move, you can enjoy views of the multicolored slopes — from turquoise-blue to purple. 

The route is the shortest of the planned ones, it is about 3 km in one direction, the climb is about 200 m. 

The trip to the valley takes 1.5 - 2 hours. 

The radial route to the Yarlu Valley in Altai is trekking to one of the most picturesque and mystical places in the region. 

The valley is known for its colorful mountains — pink, blue, purple — which create an unforgettable landscape. 

The length of the route is about 5-7 km in one direction, and it can be completed in 3-4 hours light. 

There are many legends and myths associated with this place. 

Esotericists and mediums consider the valley a powerful place of power, and the followers of Roerich consider it a holy place.

And for those who are skeptical of such views, Yarlu Valley will impress with its natural beauty and special atmosphere.

Along the way you will meet blooming (June-July) or bright orange (late August- September) alpine meadows, stormy waterfalls and panoramic views of snow-capped peaks. 

On the ascent to the valley, one of the most beautiful views of the Akkema Wall opens. 

As you move deeper into the valley, the glacier of Mount Ak-Oyuk becomes visible.

The lakes in this valley are located at different heights, the uppermost ones are just above 2600 meters, offering excellent views of clean and transparent reservoirs. 

In clear weather, the lakes look especially beautiful due to their clear water and different shades, creating a memorable landscape. 

The one-way crossing is about 5 km, the climb is about 600 m.

Akkemsky Glacier, or Rodzevich Glacier, is located on the northern slope of Mount Belukha and stretches for almost 8 km. 

This huge gray-white mass is surrounded by the Akkema wall, and on the faults you can see layers of ice similar to the annual rings of trees. 

At the end of the glacier there is an ice grotto — arch, under which streams of meltwater break through. 

The glacier offers an impressive view of Mount Belukha and Akkem Lake. 

The glacier was first explored by geographer Vasily Sapozhnikov in 1897 and named after his comrade, although now the name Akkemsky is more often used, according to the river that it feeds. 

The length of the route in one direction is 8 km, the climb is about 200 m.

Kara-Tyurek is a mountain pass that is located on the watershed of rivers such as Akkem and Kucherla. 

The height of the pass is 3060 meters above sea level, it is classified with difficulty category 1A. 

Translated from Altai, "Kara Tyurek" means "Black heart". 

It is so named due to its shape, as well as the abundance of black stones on the approach to the top. 

It offers stunning views of the Akkem River valley, the Katun ridge and, of course, the main natural attraction of the Altai Mountains – Belukha. 

This is the most labor–intensive of the planned radial routes, although its length is not the largest - 6 km in one direction. 

The trail is constantly going uphill, and you have to gain 1000 meters vertically in a day.

The average time of ascent is 3-4 hours, descent is 2-3 hours.

The official name of this lake is Den–Der. 

It is located at an altitude of 2500 meters above sea level at the foot of Mount Kara-Oyuk.

From the top of this mountain, a glacier descends into the lake, forming a stream. 

The water of the stream cascades off the rocks and fills the lake of Mountain Spirits, and then flows out of it. 

The stream flowing from the lake of Mountain Spirits forms several waterfalls, and then spreads over a small flat area, after which it rushes down the kurumnik in a noisy stream and flows into the Akkem River. 

In the middle reaches, the banks of the stream form the beautiful Kara-Oyuk valley with many rare alpine plants. 

The location of the lake looks quite harsh. 

It is surrounded by kurumnik, black rocks, moraines. 

The lake itself is striking in its beauty: the water in it is a deep blue shade, shining with its crystal purity. 

And yet, despite the fact that the lake is high-altitude, the water in it is relatively warm.

According to the program, we have a rest day. 

You can walk around the beautiful Akkema Lake, which offers a breathtaking view of Belukha and the Akkema Wall. 

Such a sight will not leave anyone indifferent!

Descent to Kucherla. 

On the way back, we pass the Akkem trail in one day, which we previously climbed in two days. 

From the parking lot “Three Birches" we take GAZ-66 to the village of Kucherla and return to the guest houses. 

The descent is quite laborious: you have to overcome 23 km and gain 500 m altitude. 

During precipitation, the trail can be very blurred, so you can use rubber boots.

Transfer Kucherla – Gorno-Altaysk. 

We leave Kucherla around 6-8 in the morning, we will be in Gorno-Altaysk about 16 hours, we recommend taking tickets with a minimum time reserve of several hours, since the road is long, there may be delays, there may be traffic jams at the entrance to Gorno-Altaysk due to numerous tourists.