The Golden Ring of Altai. The flowering of the maralnik

The group going out on the route is provided with a common first aid kit, which is located at the guide-instructor. However, each participant of an active tour 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).

Be sure to provide us with information about the transport by which you arrive in Novosibirsk / Barnaul / Biysk/ Gorno-Altaysk (flight number, arrival time or train number). Local time is the difference from Moscow time – 4 hours (when it is 12:00 in Moscow, it is 16:00 here).

The meeting of tourists is carried out:

• at the railway station of Novosibirsk from 03:00 to 04:00 local time;
• at the airport of Barnaul from 07:00 to 08:00 am local time;
• at the railway station of Barnaul from 08:30 to 09:00 am local time;
• at the railway station of the city of Biysk approximately from 11:00 to 12:00 local time;
• at the Gorno-Altaysk airport approximately from 13:00 to 14:00 local time.

It is possible to wait at the meeting points and in the office in Biysk on the day of arrival.

At the agreed time, you will be met by our bus at the parking lot near the railway station or airport, depending on the place of your arrival. You will need to find the bus yourself.

We will send the exact details of the meeting, the brand of the bus, the registration number, the driver's phone number by SMS notification to your cell phone number the day before the meeting. This usually happens at 14:00-15:00 local time, sometimes 16:00 local time, for objective reasons (bus breakdown, driver change), a slight delay in the mailing is possible, but an alert is necessarily sent.

Boarding is performed by the bus driver according to the list. Backpacks and overall equipment are loaded either into the trunks or into the cabin, depending on the capacity of the vehicle.

From hotels, somewhere on the road, etc., the driver does not pick up, try to arrive at the meeting place on time.

If your transport (plane, train, bus or car) is late on arrival and there is a threat of being late for the departure of vehicles, be sure to inform the tour operator about the current situation in order to make a decision on coordinating further actions.

The day of arrival is considered the day of the start of the tour.

After gathering the group, you will arrive in Biysk at the transshipment base (office, warehouse). Here you can apply for documents, including insurance, pay for the tour, as well as get acquainted with the guide and get equipment.

If you arrive in Gorno-Altaysk, then your guide will have all the necessary documents, in this case you will not go to Biysk. You will need to pay for the tour in advance, or an instructor guide, all the necessary information will be provided.

Things that are unnecessary on the route can be left in the luggage room. Be sure to sign your bags and packages! Valuables (computers, phones, etc.), documents, tickets and money are not accepted in the luggage room. The company is not responsible for the safety of valuables.

From Biysk, the group travels to the starting point of the active part of the tour, traveling from 4 to 11 hours, depending on the route, with small stops. Please do not delay the group at the stops.

Important information! The distance from Novosibirsk to Biysk is about 350 km. From Barnaul to Biysk — 160 km.

From Biysk, you will have to get to the starting point of the active part of the tour. For example, from Biysk to Chibit — 440 km, to the village of Multa — 510 km, to the village of Artybash — 280 km. It is 100 km from Gorno-Altaisk. closer than from Biysk. 

We recommend calculating the route so that you arrive in Biysk the day before the start of the tour and relax at the hotel. Another option is to choose a night train flight that will tire you less than a daytime one. For example, you can take a train that leaves Novosibirsk in the evening and arrives in Biysk in the morning.

Attention! The tour operator's service begins at the beginning of the active part of the route (Biysk, or Gorno-Altaysk), at the time of meeting with the conductor, and ends at the end of the active part (Biysk, or Gorno-Altaysk).

Since we cannot influence flight delays, the traffic situation and other circumstances beyond our control, sometimes it is not possible to dock all groups on a minute-by-minute basis. We ask you to understand that when meeting or recruiting groups in Biysk, you will need to wait a few hours for other participants.

The temperature range in the mountains is very large: from +35 during the day to 0 at night, frosts are possible in May. In the mountains, the weather is unstable – clear, windless weather can be replaced by precipitation and wind, rain, thunderstorms, sleet, fog, and very strong, stormy winds are possible.

The return trip at the end of the tour is carried out depending on the program of the last day. Approximately in Gorno-Altaisk / Biysk / Barnaul / You will be in Novosibirsk:

• in Gorno-Altaisk, approximately: 18:00-19:00 (local time);
• in Biysk approximately: 20:30-21:30 (local time);
• in Barnaul, approximately: 23:00-00:00 (local time);
• in Novosibirsk, approximately: 03:00-04:00 (local time) the next day.

It is better to take a return ticket from Barnaul on the day following the last day of the tour. If the tour ends on July 10, then you need to take a ticket back on July 11. You can stay overnight in hotels or hostels.

The bus does not deliver to hotels, but follows only the designated route. Gorno-Altaysk Airport – Biysk railway station – Barnaul railway station – Novosibirsk railway station. If you need to go to the hotel, then provide additional taxi costs.

In Barnaul and Novosibirsk, the return transfer is only to the railway station, you will need to get to the airport yourself, for example, by taxi. When planning, please set the travel time from the railway station to the airport.

You need to take a return ticket with a margin of at least 2 hours from the time of arrival. This is especially true for the train departing from Barnaul railway station at 00:30, we usually catch it, but on the road, for various reasons beyond our control, delays are possible. If you do not catch this train or other transport without a time reserve of 2 hours, then the company is not responsible. 

The arrival time is set with a margin, for us the main thing is that you do not miss the plane or train. Please be understanding if you arrive at your destination city a few hours earlier than the designated time.

Clothes should fit snugly to the body, preferably with elastic cuffs on the arms and on the legs of the trousers. It is easier to notice a tick on plain clothes.

Special chemicals, creams, and aerosols should also be used. One of the means of prevention and treatment of tick—borne encephalitis is "Iodantipyrin", a drug that has antiviral, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. This drug is sold in pharmacies.

When a tick is bitten, it is not recommended to try to remove it yourself. It is necessary to contact medical professionals or route instructors who have experience in such situations. Remember that the sooner the tick is removed, the lower the dose of the pathogen it will transmit.

Air and railway tickets are not included in the price of the tour. You can purchase them yourself or contact us for help.

On the first day of the tour (the day of arrival), tourists pay for breakfast and lunch themselves. Stops will be made at roadside cafes along the way.

The tour guide organizes three meals a day. Hot meals are provided for breakfast and dinner, lunch is provided with a lunch package. Food is cooked over a campfire, a gas burner or a primus stove. If you wish, you can help your guide. The tourists wash the dishes (plates, cups, cutlery) themselves.

The following products are purchased on the tour: cereals (rice, buckwheat, hercules), pasta, milk powder, sausage, stew, cheese, dried fruits and nuts, chocolate, condensed milk, coffee, tea, bread, crackers, sweets, cookies, vegetables (potatoes, carrots, cabbage), fruits. The choice of products depends on the type of tour, its complexity and duration.

Special information for vegetarians, vegans and people on a special menu for medical reasons.

If you do not eat meat, fish or milk, they will be put into a common pot before cooking, and you can set aside soup or porridge without them. However, products are purchased based on the needs of the majority of tourists. The list includes meat and fish pates, stewed meat, cheeses, sausages, condensed milk and powdered milk. Vegetable products are also present: cereals, vegetables, nuts, fruits and dried fruits, but their quantity is calculated for each of the tour participants in equal volume.

Important! Unfortunately, we cannot purchase special products and add them to the menu. There are usually no more than 1-2 vegetarians in a group of 10 people, and trying to provide them with vegetarian products means organizing individual meals. This will distract the guide's attention, which he needs for a high-quality tour organization. Therefore, if you adhere to a certain food system for personal beliefs or medical reasons, we recommend that you take your usual nutritious foods with you for a snack and as an addition to a hot meal

The main condition for participation in the tour is the ability to withstand moderate physical activity. The technical skills necessary to pass obstacles are acquired directly on the route.

There are age restrictions for participants in the opposite direction, no more than 70 years old.  Exceptions are possible, but all conditions are negotiated in advance with the manager. When setting restrictions, we are guided not so much by age limits, but by the state of physical health of each individual tourist. Therefore, prior approval is necessary in most cases. Please do not try to mislead us about your physical shape, it is important first of all for you personally. 

There are certain requirements for the weight of the tourist. It is desirable that the weight of the traveler does not exceed 110 kg, but exceptions to the rules are allowed. Be sure to inform us additionally that your weight exceeds the established norm.

Purchasing a tour means that you are ready to become a full participant in it. You have sensibly assessed your physical and psychological health and are confident that you will cope with the passage of the chosen route.

In the presence of chronic diseases of the heart, lungs, musculoskeletal system and nervous system, it is not recommended to go on a tour if there is a high probability of their exacerbation or they can cause difficulties on the route. Be sure to consult with your doctor beforehand and listen to his recommendations! If there are any abnormalities in your health, you must notify your instructor in advance. All your problems will be kept secret.

 The travel by motor transport from the gathering place (Novosibirsk or Barnaul) to Biysk, the tourist group performs in an organized manner, under the guidance of the driver. In Biysk, the tour participants are met by a guide who will accompany the group on the rest of the route. The choice of vehicle (bus, minibus, car) is determined depending on the size of the group. Sometimes it can be a gazelle, a UAZ, or another prepared for the transportation of passengers, but not super-comfortable transport. Some minibuses have folding rows of seats, unfortunately, air conditioning is not provided everywhere.

The departure of transport from the starting point is strictly on schedule. Try to arrive at the departure of the flight without delay. If the delay was due to the fault of the tourist, the cost of independent travel will not be compensated.

The route is set according to the tour program, and deviations from it are not performed at the request of tourists. During the trip, it is undesirable to get up, move around the cabin, litter, conflict with other passengers and distract the driver from driving. You should not get into an argument about the choice of music and videos.

Smoking is allowed only at bus stops. Smoking is prohibited in vehicles. Please do not leave matches, cigarette butts and cigarette packages in the vehicle interior.

Luggage and special equipment are transported together with the group or with the help of additional transport — a truck or a trailer. We are not responsible for things left on the bus or in the car. If your property was damaged or lost during transportation, the issue is resolved with the driver. In case of loss or damage of property during the active part of the tour, contact the guides.

If a participant commits illegal actions during a trip, the driver has the right to drop off the violator at the nearest traffic police post. The cost of travel is not reimbursed, the cost of the tour is not refundable.

Minibuses with a capacity of 6 to 17 seats are used for moving along the route. The minibus is selected for each group, depending on the total number of participants in the tour. Hyundai Starex, SsangYong Istana, Ford Transit, Iveco, etc. mainly operate along the route. Minibuses are not super comfortable, there are folding rows of seats, unfortunately air conditioning is not provided everywhere. Items are transported in a trailer or cabin. On difficult sections with a dirt road, passage to Mars 1 and 2, Chulyshman Valley, Aktru gorge, etc. the move is carried out on domestic cross-country cars UAZ, GAZ, PAZ, ZIL, etc.