Hike to the foot of Belukha. Altai

In the morning, we have breakfast at the base and begin our journey to the Three Birches parking lot through the Kuzuyak Pass.

The pass is low — 1,513 m.

We will drive this way on GAZ-66.

Travel time is 2 hours.

From the Three Birches parking lot, we will walk to the Tekelu parking lot, where our intermediate campsite will be located, and the first overnight stay will take place.

The crossing is 15 km along the mountain taiga trail.

Travel time is from 7 to 10 hours.

After breakfast, we will continue to Akkem lake, on the shore of which our main campsite will be located.

The crossing is 7 km along the mountain taiga trail.

From there, we will make radial exits, during which you will visit the most beautiful places of Gorny Altai and the Belukha region.

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 colorful slopes ranging from turquoise blue to purple.

The route is the shortest of the planned ones, it is about 3 km in one direction, climbing 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 with a light load.

There are many legends and myths associated with this place. Esotericists and mediums consider the valley to be 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.

Kara Tyurek is a mountain pass 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 Gorny Altai — 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 ascent time is 3-4 hours, and the descent time is 2-3 hours.

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

On the way up to the valley, one of the most beautiful views of the Akkema Wall opens. As we 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 2,600 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 walk is about 5 km, the climb is about 600 m.

The official name of this lake is Deni-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 out of the Mountain Spirits Lake forms several waterfalls, and then spreads over a small flat area, after which it rushes in a noisy stream down the kurumnik and flows into the Akkem River.

In the middle reaches, the banks of the stream form the beautiful Kara Valley.‑A lake with many rare alpine plants.

The location of the lake looks quite harsh. It is surrounded by kurumnik, black rocks, and moraines. The lake itself impresses with 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 mountainous, the water in it is relatively warm.

According to the program, we have a rest day.

You can take a 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!

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 — an arch, under which streams of meltwater break through.

The glacier offers an impressive view of Mount Belukha and Lake Akkema. The glacier was first explored by geographer Vasily Sapozhnikov in 1897 and named after his friend, although the name Akkemsky is now more commonly used, after the river it feeds.

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

After breakfast, we walk down the familiar path to the Three Birches parking lot.

There, a GAZ-66 will be waiting for us, which will take the group to the base in Kucherla.

In Kucherla, we will have a hot bath and a delicious dinner — an excellent end to the hike.

We have breakfast at the base in Tyungur, pack up and take a transfer back to Gorno-Altaysk.

The journey time to Gorno-Altaysk will be approximately 6-8 hours, with a lunch stop during the transfer.

We return to Gorno-Altaysk around 17:00, we recommend taking train and plane tickets with a few hours in reserve.