Hiking tour to the Maashey Valley and Karakabak Lakes

We invite you to hike through the very center of the North Chui ridge, which is one of the largest in Altai. The route runs along the valley of the Maashey River to the Maashey Glacier. The glacier is located near the Maashey-Bash mountain, whose height is 4,177 meters.

Location

Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Biysk, Gorno-Altaysk
from
$472
$421
+ tickets to the starting point of the tour
No need to pay now
Duration
6 Days
5 Nights
Departures
  • Group departures
    • Dates for next season
    • 26 June – 1 July, 2025
    • 16 – 21 July, 2025
    • 5 – 10 August, 2025
or
Accommodation
  • Tent
    5 nights
Comfort
  • Basic
Difficulty
Moderate
Involves moderate physical activity
Group
Up to 18 people
Minimum age
12 years old
Group meet at
Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Biysk, Gorno-Altaysk
Contact the tour coordinator
Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)
Or text us in messengers

Tour highlights

Altai Lakes
We will see the high-altitude lakes of Karakabak and the disappeared lake Maashey
Active travel
Let's go on a real hike in the Altai Mountains, spend the night in tents and cook over a campfire
The beauty of the Altai Mountains
We will see the most diverse, constantly changing landscapes — calm mountain lakes, majestic mountain peaks and glaciers, rivers with many rapids, stormy waterfalls and colorful meadows

Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Car transfer to the village of Chibit

    The meeting of the group depends on the place of arrival.

    After the meeting, the group gets on the bus.

    Today you will have a car trip to the village of Chibit.

    From the city of Biysk, your path will run along the famous Chui highway

    A few hours after a long climb, you will find yourself at the Seminsky pass, the highest point of the Chui tract – 1717 m above sea level (9 km ascent and 11 km descent).

    After the Seminsky pass, the Chike-Taman pass (1,460 m) will leave you with a lot of sensations, although it is lower, but the serpentine descents and ascents are much steeper.

    The cedar forest and the wonderful view of the majestic Altai Mountains opening from the passes will not leave you indifferent.

    After the confluence of Katun and Chuya, the road rushes along the valley of the Chuya River, where you will witness the fury of the rapids of the mountain river.

    Dinner, an evening of acquaintances around the campfire.

    Accommodation on the camping site in the village of Chibit in tents.

    Power is included: dinner.

    By car (from Barnaul): 630 km. On the road for 9-10 hours (excluding traffic jams and sanitary stops).

  • Day 2 - Chibit village – Chuya River – Mazhoy River – mouth of the Karakabak River
  • Day 3 - Radial access to the Maasheisky Lake (disappeared) or to the glacier (according to phys. status of participants)
  • Day 4 - Radial access to the Karakabak lakes
  • Day 5 - the mouth of the Karakabak River – Chuya River – camping in the village of Chibit
  • Day 6 - Chibit village – Gorno-Altaysk – Biysk – Barnaul – Novosibirsk
Difficulty
Involves moderate physical activity

Accommodation

Accommodation
  • Tent
    5 nights
Comfort
  • Basic

On the active part of the route, tourists are accommodated in 2-3-seater modern tents with an awning. On the first and fifth day of the tour, accommodation in tents on the camping site. 

Tent camp 5 nights

Accommodation in 2-3-bed modern tents with an awning. Tents are set up and removed by the participants themselves (unless additional maintenance is agreed). If you do not know how to set up a tent, ask the guide to give instructions.

Tour conditions

Group
up to 18 tourists
Minimum age
12 years old
Duration
6 days 5 nights
Group meets at
Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Biysk, Gorno-Altaysk

Included in price

  • transport delivery for the tour from Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Biysk, Gorno-Altaisk to the village of Chibit and back;
  • guide-instructor services;
  • meals from dinner on the day of arrival to breakfast on the day of departure;
  • group equipment: tents, awning, campfire and kitchen equipment, first aid kit;
  • personal equipment: sleeping bag, sleeping mat (karemat);
  • medical insurance and accident insurance (insurance for foreign citizens, paid additionally);
  • sauna according to the program, on the fifth day of the tour;
  • places for tents throughout the tour;
  • payment for the bridge over the Chuya, in both directions;
  • registration of the group in the Ministry of Emergency Situations;
  • guided tours according to the program.

Paid extra

  • air and railway tickets to Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Biysk, Gorno-Altaysk and back;
  • insurance for foreign citizens (including CIS countries) and citizens of the Russian Federation over 64 years of age;
  • meals at roadside cafes, during the transfer;
  • services offered at the base parking lots and not included in the program, including luggage storage, charging gadgets, etc.;
  • additional baths, on the first day at the campsite and at the confluence of the Maasha and Karakabak;
  • any changes to the program that entail additional costs.

It's important to know

Personal equipment you need for the tour
  • backpack with wide straps, 80-100 liters;
  • trekking poles;
  • reliable waterproof liner, plastic bags (waterproof bag to protect especially valuable personal items – money, documents, camera, etc.) from the water;
  • hiking shoes for hiking, sneakers or trekking boots with ankle fixation are best suited. Avoid new shoes that are not worn out.
  • replacement shoes for camping (sneakers, slates);
  • comfortable clothing for walking radial crossings – sweatpants that do not restrict movement, made of lightweight quick-drying material, a shirt or a long-sleeve T-shirt;
  • a set of clothes for moving in the car and relaxing in the camp – trousers, shirt, shorts, T-shirt;
  • thermal underwear. Either tights, warm tights with a vest or turtleneck (for sleeping);
  • a warm sweater;
  • warm jacket (synthetic or down jacket);
  • warm hat (fleece or wool);
  • a cap or a panama hat;
  • gloves (even simple cotton ones will do);
  • socks – 2-3 pairs of cotton or linen, 1 pair of wool;
  • a waterproof raincoat or suit that can withstand heavy rain is a must! The raincoat should be durable, not made of thin polyethylene;
  • bathing suit;
  • toilet and hygiene supplies. Including hygienic lipstick and sunscreen with a high protection factor;
  • sunglasses that protect your eyes from ultraviolet rays in the mountains;
  • small flashlight (headlamp);
  • individual medicines;
  • a small water flask. You can use a plastic bottle with a capacity of 0.5 liters;
  • a camera or video camera (optional) with hermetically sealed;
  • tourist seat (hob);
  • trekking poles;
  • personal tableware (bowl, mug, spoon);
  • we give out sleeping bags, but it is better to have your own (comfort -5;0), since the sleeping bag is an object of individual use.

It is mandatory to have a passport (birth certificate), a medical insurance policy and money for souvenirs, additional baths, etc.

Recommendations for filling an individual first aid kit:

A group going on a hiking trip in Altai is provided with a common first aid kit, which is located at the guide-instructor. However, each participant of an active tour in the Altai Mountains must also have a personal first-aid kit, which must contain a supply of individual medicines (which you regularly take), as well as the following medicines:

  • patch for scratches, cuts and calluses (bactericidal (with "green") 6x10 cm is recommended, as it holds well on the skin and can be cut into pieces of different widths);
  • roll Band-aid (1 pc.);
  • a medium-sized bandage (1 pc.);
  • analgesic (in tablets) (1 pack);
  • aspirin (1 pack);
  • citramon (1 pack);
  • nasal congestion relief drops (1 pc.);
  • eye drops (Albucide) (1 pc.);
  • remedy for cold symptoms (for example, Coldrex, etc.) (2-3 packs);
  • antiseptic ointment or cream (for example, Levomekol, Baneocin, etc.) (1 pc.);
  • sunburn remedy (for example, Lifeguard, Boro-plus, Panthenol, etc.) (1 pc.);
  • elastic bandage (1 pc.);
  • remedy for sore throat (1-2 packs);
  • fast-acting remedies for indigestion (for example, Loperamide, Imodium, etc.) (1-2 packs);
  • enzyme preparation (for example, Mezim, etc.) (1-2 packs);
  • an antihistamine drug that does not cause drowsiness (for example, Kestin, Claritin, Zirtek, etc.) (1 pack);
  • multivitamins (optional).
Can children aged 12-16 take part in the tour?
What kind of transport will the transfer be organized on, how long will we be on the road?
How many people will be in the group, age, more boys or girls?
How much (on average) does a backpack weigh during a hike?
How are meals organized on the route?
How are the products and group equipment distributed among the participants of the hike?
Are there frequent halts?
How is the meeting of tourists on the first day of the tour carried out?
On what day should I buy a return ticket?
Are plane tickets included in the tour price?
Will there be mosquitoes, midges, ticks on the route?
How is the accommodation in tents and how many people?
Is it possible to conduct the tour on other dates?
What kind of weather awaits us on tour?
What are the requirements for a tour participant?

Dates and Prices

  • $421
    26 Jun – 1 Jul, 2025 6 days 5 nights
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    No need to pay now
  • $421
    16 – 21 Jul, 2025 6 days 5 nights
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    No need to pay now
  • $421
    5 – 10 Aug, 2025 6 days 5 nights
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    No need to pay now