Karakol Lakes – Lower Katun

Traveling through Altai, you can find many mountain lakes. After visiting them, you will be charged with energy, which will make you feel stronger and more cheerful. 

Riding on obedient Altai horses, you will walk through the Karakol taiga, enter the zone of alpine meadows and see wonderful panoramas. Enjoy relaxing in tents under a clear starry sky, campfire food and cozy gatherings in a pleasant company of like-minded people.

Location

Manzherok village
from
$935
$965
Discount available
+ tickets to the starting point of the tour
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Duration
7 days
6 nights
Departures
28 Jun - 4 Jul
9 - 15 Aug
16 - 22 Aug
Accommodation
  • Tent
    7 nights
Comfort
  • Basic
Difficulty
Challenging
Does not require specific skills, but one must be in a good physical shape
Group
From 6 to 14 tourists
Minimum age
14 years old
Maximum weight of the tourist
100 kg
Group meet at
Manzherok village
Contact the tour coordinator
Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)
Or text us in messengers

Tour highlights

Refreshing rafting
We will go rafting along the lower part of the Katun River, overcoming the rapids of the II-III class.
Horseback riding
We will cover 113 km on horseback and walk 7 km.
Karakol Lakes
We will see lakes of glacial origin

Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Moving to the Taezhnik tourist complex – Sugoyna tract

    Transfer from the Taezhnik eco-hotel to the Sugoyna tract.

    For those who plan to arrive at Gorno-Altaysk airport, choose flights arriving no later than 11:00 a.m., since it takes 4 hours to get to the parking lot in the Sugoyna tract, taking into account stops.

    Breakfast at the cafe "Taezhnik" for those who arrived at the eco-hotel before 10:30, acquaintance with the guide.

    If the whole group has gathered early, check out along the route to the parking lot in the Sugoyna tract, lunch at a roadside cafe.

    If we are expecting someone from Barnaul, then lunch at the Taezhnik cafe.

    After lunch, departure along the route, transfer to the parking lot in the Sugoyna tract.

    The group travels to the village of Elikmanar in a UAZ minibus/SUV, then transfers to an off-road vehicle and travels the remaining 30 km to the tract on it.

    Accommodation in tents.

    If there are actually available places in the house, you can take them for an additional fee on the spot.

    Bathhouse.

    Safety briefing, horse riding lessons (if you arrive early).

    Getting equipment, a set of products for archimacks.

    Travel time: 4 hours. Length: by car90 km.

    3 more photos
  • Day 2 - Sugoyna tract – Sargat tract
  • Day 3 - Karakol Lakes
  • Day 4 - Muikhtinsky waterfall
  • Day 5 - Excursion to the Karakokshinsky cave
  • Day 6 - Horse crossing to the Sugoyna tract
  • Day 7 - Sugoyna — Elekmonar — alloy
Difficulty
Does not require specific skills, but one must be in a good physical shape
Tour organizer's comments

The route is simple, both people with experience in horse and water hiking and beginners can participate in it

Accommodation

Accommodation
  • Tent
    7 nights
Comfort
  • Basic

Overnight stays in tourist tents throughout the route.

Tent camp 7 nights

Tour conditions

Group
From 6 to 14 tourists
Minimum age
14 years old
Maximum weight of the tourist
100 kg
Duration
7 days 6 nights
Group meets at
Manzherok village

Included in price

  • transportation according to the tour program;
  • three meals a day (full breakfasts and dinners, lunch as a snack);
  • payment for parking lots;
  • sauna according to the tour program;
  • horse rental;
  • payment for instructors and grooms;
  • payment for the work of a water tourism instructor;
  • payment for the organization of rafting;
  • payment of recreational fees;
  • equipment rental
  • the cost of the route includes insurance, insurance coverage – 250,000 rubles (medical expenses), 50,000 rubles (accident). The insurance policy is issued for the group and is with the instructors along the route.

Paid extra

  • air and railway tickets to Barnaul, Gorno-Altaisk, Novosibirsk and back;
  • delivery to the Taezhnik t/c and back from Barnaul and Novosibirsk;
  • tick insurance 400 rubles.;
  • accommodation before and after the tour.

It's important to know

Personal equipment you need for the tour
  1. A backpack (up to 40 liters), a suitcase or a large travel bag, that is, something in which it is convenient to carry things to the base, special means are provided on the route for transporting things (an archimak – a saddlebag and a dry bag).
  2. Hiking shoes – preferably boots, can be leather, rubber, kirza, the main thing is that they do not get wet and cover the boot from rubbing against the stirrup strap (strap), or high boots.
  3. Running shoes or trekking boots for radial exits. Avoid new shoes that have not been worn.
  4. Replacement shoes for camping (slates).
  5. Comfortable clothes for horse riding and walking radial crossings:
    • sweatpants made of thick, soft fabric that does not restrict movement, without rough inner seams, made of lightweight, quick-drying material, preferably cotton;
    • long sleeve shirt or T-shirt;
    • windbreaker made of thick material;
    • a suit for hunters or fishermen, or something similar, is suitable, as long as it is comfortable and not rustling.
  6. A set of clothes for camping – trousers, shirt, shorts, T-shirt, thermal underwear is ideal for overnight stays, it will also help out if the weather gets bad.
  7. A warm sweater or sweatshirt (preferably fleece or wool).
  8. A warm jacket (sintepon or down jacket), because the weather in the mountains is extremely unpredictable.
  9. A warm hat (fleece or wool).
  10. A cap or panama hat that covers the face and eyes from direct sunlight, or a bandana.
  11. Gloves (you can use plain cotton ones).
  12. Socks – 2-3 pairs of cotton or linen, 2 pairs of wool.
  13. A bathing suit.
  14. Toiletries and hygiene supplies, including hygienic lipstick and sunscreen with a high protection factor.
  15. Sunglasses that protect your eyes from UV rays in the mountains.
  16. A small flashlight (head mounted).
  17. An individual first-aid kit if you have an individual intolerance to any standard medications or a need for specific or strictly prescription medications. The instructor takes the main first-aid kit with him.
  18. 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.
  19. A camera or video camera (optional) with hermetically sealed packaging, as well as a spare battery for it or an external energy storage device, since there will be a lot of views that you want to capture, but there is nowhere to recharge.
  20. Tourist seat (hoba).
  21. Personal tableware (plate, spoon, mug).
  22. Towel (when placed in tents or cabins without amenities)
  23. 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 archimacks, I recommend having thick plastic bags with a volume of 160-180 liters – 4 pcs.

The requirement for a set of personal items: nothing superfluous or sharp (without appropriate packaging that could damage the packaging).

Important! Riding clothes should be comfortable, not hindering movement, not rustling. Trousers made of thick soft fabric without rough inner seams.

Is insurance included in the price of the tour?
Route features
Training requirements and age of participants
What kind of group equipment is issued?
Is there a participant's weight limit for horseback riding?
Is it possible to arrive in your own car?
Are plane tickets included in the price of the tour?
Meals on the route
Is delivery included in the price of tours?
What discounts and special offers are available for this tour?

Dates and Prices

  • $965
    $935
    -3%
    28 Jun – 4 Jul 7 days 6 nights
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    No need to pay now
  • $965
    9 – 15 Aug 7 days 6 nights
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    No need to pay now
  • $965
    16 – 22 Aug 7 days 6 nights
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    No need to pay now

Reviews Leave a review

  • L
    Larisa
    about provider
    5 Feb, 2026
    It was my first time in Altai, and despite the program changes, I really enjoyed everything. I’ve been traveling with “Big Country” to different regions for several years now, and everything is always very well organized. There were no issues, and if anything did come up, it was resolved quickly. I highly recommend this tour operator.
  • S
    Sergei
    about provider
    26 Sep, 2025
    The hosts are a fantastic team. Everyone is friendly and always willing to help.
  • S
    Sergei
    about provider
    25 Sep, 2025
    Everything was quick and clear. I'm happy with everything!