The Ulagan Highlands. Altai Horse Riding Tour

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An exciting horseback ride awaits you in the heart of the Ulagan mountains (Kuraisky and Sailyugemsky ranges), to the peaks covered with snow that do not melt, offering panoramic views of the North Chuisky, Kuraisky and Katun ranges.

The splendor of the views along the way is breathtaking and will not leave anyone indifferent! The frequently changing picture of the opening peaks will not allow you to hide photographic equipment in cases often. Here, travelers will find an untapped taiga, a variety of high-altitude meadows, countless amazing lakes and, of course, crystal clear mountain air.

You will encounter very beautiful lakes that cannot be reached by car, but a horse will deliver them without problems.

Location

Altai Republic, Gorno-Altaysk

Horse riding tours

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Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)

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Tour highlights

Altai horses

Together with a faithful and calm horse, we will walk an unusually beautiful mountain route.

Camping romance

We are waiting for the absence of civilization, real tourism, pristine nature and magnificent sunsets.

Mountain lakes and cedar forest

The pleasant aroma of the coniferous forest and the shore of the purest lake will make you relax and feel every moment.

Itinerary

Day 1 - The Taezhnik tourist complex. Transfer to Chibit village
Check-in at the Taezhnik eco-hotel.
For those who have chosen Gorno-Altaysk, the capital of our Republic, as their arrival city, there is a meeting at the airport (group transfer, for an additional fee you can order an individual one, or use taxi services).
Breakfast in the restaurant of the eco-hotel Taezhnik for those who arrive before 10:45.
Attention! All participants must get to the eco-hotel Taezhnik before 12:30 on the day of the start of the tour.
Gathering of the group, including those who arrived after 11:00.
At 13:00 Lunch at the restaurant of the eco-hotel Taezhnik.
If the group has gathered in full force before 11 a.m., departure for the route, lunch at a roadside cafe.
Transfer along the Chuisky tract to the village of Chibit, accommodation on the territory of the Nomad eco-complex in tents, shower on site (for an additional fee, on site, it is possible to stay in cabins without amenities or rooms, if available. The room price starts from 2500 rubles).
Dinner at the cafe t/k Nomad.
Evening bonfire for those who wish.
Day 2 - Altai Mars. Geyser Lake. Ular waterfalls
Breakfast at the cafe t/k Nomad.
Departure for an excursion.
The first object of the visit will be the Geyser Lake.
Then transfer to the village of Chagan-Uzun, where the group will transfer to UAZ trucks and set off to conquer Altai Mars and the Moon, so named by tourists because of the color scheme of the soil and desert landscapes that will forever remain in the memory of travelers.
At the end, transfer to a cafe in the village of Aktash for lunch.
After lunch, transfer to the bridge over the Chuya River, from which the hiking trail to the Bolshoy Ular Waterfall begins.
A 12-kilometer walking trip in both directions takes place on a fairly flat surface, without climbs and difficult sections to overcome.
At the end of the tour, return to the Nomad shopping center.
Supper.
Bathhouse.
Evening gatherings around the campfire.
By car: 150 km. Walking distance: 15 km.

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Day 3 - Nomad Tourist Complex – Altai Erine parking lot – Sorolukel Lake
Breakfast at the cafe of the Nomad tourist complex.
We're closing the campground.
Departure to the Altai-Erine parking lot.
Loading of things and equipment into the UAZ, transfer to the parking lot at the Ulagan pass.
Safety briefing on the equestrian tour, distribution of horses.
Lunch as a snack (sandwiches, tea, vegetables, sweets, canned food).
The journey time is 3-4 hours.
Most of the road passes through Kedrach.
Here, travelers can fully enjoy the unique purity of the mountain air combined with the pleasant aroma of the coniferous forest, which finally banishes thoughts of civilization from their minds.
Through forest clearings and dense thickets of bushes, the trail leads travelers to Lake Beltir and further to the shore of Lake Sorolukel, where they will set up camp and spend the night.
Dinner is prepared by a guide over a campfire.
Overnight in tents on the lake shore.
Field conditions, real tourism, hiking romance and magnificent sunsets.
In good, clear weather, in the morning, it is possible to organize an excursion to the Aktash repeater (for an additional fee), from the observation deck of which there is a view of the entire North Chuisky ridge.
By car: 30 km. Horses: 15 km.

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Day 4 - The diary. Radial exit to the observation point of the Aigulak ridge
Breakfast is prepared by the guide at the campfire.
After breakfast, exit to the route.
Magnificent landscapes open from the top of the mountain: the Kurai steppe, the North Chuisky and South Chuisky ranges.
Having risen to such a height, a person can feel like a bird soaring high above the ground.
From the top there is a panorama of the Chuisky squirrels – the peaks of the North Chuisky and South Chuisky ranges, covered with eternal snow.
In good weather, you can see almost all the highest peaks of these ranges: Aktra, Maashey-bashi, Iiktu, etc., and of course enjoy the view of the largest glaciers in the region.
And when clouds are running in the sky, guests of Altai can touch them with their hand, feel like an inhabitant of other worlds, separated from the ordinary world of people by a veil of secrets.
Lunch as a snack.
Overnight at a tent camp on the shore of Lake Sorolukel.
The dinner is prepared by the guide at the campfire.
Horses: 20 km.

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Day 5 - Return trip to the Altai-Erine parking lot. Ulagan Pass – Krasnye Vorota – Small Yaloman district – eco-hotel Taezhnik
While the guide prepares breakfast on the campfire, the tourists break camp and load their belongings into UAZ trucks.
In the morning, tourists will return on horseback to the parking lot at the Ulagan Pass, where, after saying goodbye to the Altai horses and transferring to an off-road iron horse, the travelers set off on further adventures.
Lunch in the form of a snack in the parking lot.
Along the way, the participants of the route will encounter such tourist sites as the top of the Ulagan Pass, the Red Gate and many lakes that are located on different sides of the Ulagan highway.
In the village of Aktash, the group leaves for the Chuisky tract, where lunch is waiting for the group in a cafe.
After lunch, the group departs to the Taezhnik eco-hotel, where dinner awaits tourists, accommodation in yurts on the territory of the eco-hotel for 2-3 people (single occupancy is not allowed). On-site shower
Horses: 15 km. By car: 400 km.

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Day 6 - Departure
Breakfast at the restaurant of the eco-hotel Taezhnik.
Departure to the airport, group, based on the departure time of the aircraft.
By car: 20 km.

Difficulty

Involves moderate physical activity

Tour organizer's comments

The route is simple, and both people with experience in horseback riding and beginners can participate in it.

Accommodation

Tent

5 nights

Comfort

Basic

The tour includes accommodation in tents.

Tourists are provided with the necessary equipment, including four-layer synthetic sleeping bags.

Tour conditions

Group

up to 15 tourists

Minimum age

10 years old

Maximum weight of the tourist

100 kg

Duration

6 days 5 nights

Group meets at

Altai Republic, Gorno-Altaysk

Included in price

transportation, according to the tour program;
payment for camping sites (payment for a place for tents in equipped camping sites);
horse rental;
payment for instructors and grooms;
payment of recreational fees;
payment of accident insurance and medical insurance;
payment for three meals a day;
equipment rental.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Gorno-Altaysk, Baranul, Novosibirsk;
transfer to the Taezhnik tourist complex and back from any cities except Gorno-Altaysk (airport, on the day of the tour start);
Antiklesh insurance, it can be purchased separately, the cost of insurance is 400 rubles, its validity period is 365 days, it is issued for each tourist separately, and insurance can also be purchased at any insurance agency independently.

It's important to know

1. A backpack, suitcase or 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 (saddlebag) and a dry bag).

2. Hiking shoes you need to have boots that can be leather, rubber, or canvas, the main thing is that they do not get wet and cover the boot from rubbing against the stirrup strap (bootstrap), in extreme cases, high boots (boots). But rubber boots are still preferable, because they do not get wet from the outside, and if water gets inside, they are quite easy to dry by the campfire, while they do not deform if you follow the small drying rules.

3. Running shoes or trekking boots for radial exits. Avoid new, well-worn shoes. If you choose trekking boots, keep in mind that not all of them can really be dried in camping conditions, and when drying by the campfire, they can deform and become practically unusable.

4. Replacement shoes for camping (slates).

5. Comfortable clothing for horse riding and radial pedestrian crossings –trousers made of dense soft fabric that do not restrict movement, without rough internal seams, made of light, quick-drying material, preferably cotton. A shirt or a T-shirt with long sleeves. 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 and overnight stays – 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 hoodie (preferably fleece or wool).

8. A warm jacket (sintepon or down jacket). Keep in mind that sintepon is much easier to dry. If someone thinks that warm clothes will not be needed in July, I assure you that this is not the case. 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 (even simple cotton ones will do).

12. Socks – 2-3 pairs of cotton or linen, 2 pairs of wool

13. A splash-proof raincoat or suit that does not withstand heavy rain. On the equestrian route, UGC (Combined Arms Protective Kit) is provided to protect against rain - a long rubber raincoat with a hood.

14. A bathing suit to enjoy sunbathing or take a dip in a mountain pond.

15. Toilet and hygiene supplies. Including hygienic lipstick and sunscreen with a high protection factor (UF 50). Towels, shampoo, soap are required.

16. Sunglasses that protect your eyes from UV rays in the mountains.

17. Small flashlight (headlamp).

18. Individual medicines, the instructor takes the main first-aid kit with him, but if you have an individual intolerance to any standard drugs or a need for specific or strictly prescription medicines, take your own.

19. 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 strapped to a saddle with a carabiner, or otherwise secured.

20. A camera or video camera (optional) with hermetic packaging. and don't forget a spare battery for it, or an external energy storage device, because there will be a lot of views that you want to capture, but there is nowhere to recharge!.

21. Tourist seat (hoba).

22. Personal tableware (plate, spoon, mug)

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 dense plastic bags with a volume of 160-180 liters in the amount of 4 pieces.

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

In hiking conditions (horseback riding, hiking and water tours), meals are served three times a day, food is prepared by an instructor on a campfire or a gas burner, tourists take part in cooking at will. Breakfast and dinner are hot meals, lunch can be either hot or provided as a dry ration. Tourists need to have their own personal dishes. Unless otherwise specified in the special conditions of tourist service on the route, meals are arranged according to the route description.

On all long-term active (equestrian, hiking, and water) routes, lunch is served as a snack in the field!

Approximate assortment of products: cereals (buckwheat, rice, oatmeal, etc.), pasta, powdered milk, stew, sausage, cheese, nuts, dried fruits, chocolate, condensed milk, tea, coffee, breadcrumbs, bread, biscuits, sweets, vegetables (potatoes, carrots, cabbage, etc.), fruits (the set of products depends on the type of tour, the category of difficulty and the duration of the tour). Along the way, it is possible to supplement the diet with fresh fish, berries (depending on the season and area – raspberries, currants, blueberries, dog rose, shiksha), wild onions. Before eating the berries, ask the guide's permission, so as not to eat anything inappropriate. Please note: alcoholic beverages, beer and snacks are not included in the menu.

Cooking water is taken from streams, rivers, and lakes.

If you have a special diet, or you do not consume any products from the specified list, please let us know when booking the tour. It is advisable to provide a complete list of what you do not eat. If you have strict restrictions, then tell us exactly what you are eating.

It is also necessary to duplicate the nutrition information to the guide!

Sample menu for the active route (general).

breakfast

Pasta with stew, Buckwheat, Spaghetti with meat, coffee, cheese, butter, bread, mayonnaise, tea, coffee, sugar, condensed milk, gingerbread.

lunch
Dry ration (bread, oatmeal biscuits, processed cheese, sausage, pate, chocolate) Salad.

dinner
Borscht, bean soup, Hodgepodge, Fish soup, Salad.

List of products for the route:

Cereals:

Buckwheat; Rice (porridge); Rice (soup); Peas (Soup); Cobweb (soup); Millet (soup); Sugar; Cones; Spaghetti; Cereal.

Canned food:

Green peas; Canned champignons; Olives; Canned pineapples; Corn; Beans; Pate; Sprats; Pink salmon; Canned fish: saury; Condensed milk; Concentrated milk; Stew; Squash caviar; Pickled cucumbers; Hams.

Vegetables, fruits:

Potatoes; Cucumbers; Tomatoes; Zucchini; Cabbage; Bell pepper; Lemon; Garlic; Onion; Watermelon; Carrots, dry fruit mixes.

Drinks:

Tea bags; Loose tea; Coffee; Dried fruits (compote); Cocoa; Jelly.

Confectionery products:

Cracker; Gingerbread; Sweet biscuits; Halva; Marmalade; Kazinaki; Jam; Sweets: lollipops; Chocolate; Chocolate paste; Bagels; Drying.

Cheese:

Processed cheese; Smoked cheese; Hard cheese.

Seasonings:

Sunflower oil; Dried herbs; Salt; Bay leaf; Universal seasoning; Black pepper; Mayonnaise; Ketchup; Red pepper.

Sausage products:

Boiled sausage; Smoked sausage; Smoked sausage.

Dried fruits:

Raisins; Dried apricots; A mixture of dried fruits.

Bakery products:

Black bread; White bread; Crackers (tortillas).

Detergents:

Detergents; Sponges.

Dates and Prices

$702

17 – 22 Jun 6 days 5 nights

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$702

24 – 29 Jun 6 days 5 nights

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$702

1 – 6 Jul 6 days 5 nights

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$702

8 – 13 Jul 6 days 5 nights

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$702

15 – 20 Jul 6 days 5 nights

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$702

22 – 27 Jul 6 days 5 nights

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$702

29 Jul – 3 Aug 6 days 5 nights

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$702

5 – 10 Aug 6 days 5 nights

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$702

12 – 17 Aug 6 days 5 nights

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$702

19 – 24 Aug 6 days 5 nights

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$702

26 – 31 Aug 6 days 5 nights

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Reviews

Y
Yulia

about provider

12 May, 2025

Everything was top-notch! Thank you! We'll definitely recommend it to all our friends and family!
D
Dmitry

about provider

6 May, 2025

The start of the trip was slightly marred by a last-minute change to the tour itinerary, literally the day before departure. It wasn’t a major issue, especially since this was our first visit to Altai. Still, I would have preferred to receive exactly what was outlined in the original agreement.

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V
Vyacheslav

about provider

28 Apr, 2025

I had contact with only a few people during the organization process: the Big Country guides and the managers. I have no complaints about the local guides — they were young, cheerful, and did a fantastic job. However, on the part of Big Country, there were significant delays in responding to questions (sometimes 1–2 days). Fortunately, this didn’t have a major impact on the trip itself, but next time it could become an issue... please work on improving your response time.

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