Uimen is a lake. Horseback riding in the north-west of Altai

Each of us dreams of visiting a place untouched by man or practically untouched at least once in our lives. 

From the middle of the route, wild, "untrodden" places, sapphire lakes, turquoise waterfalls, sky-high passes await you, and Lake Uimen will be the crowning achievement of the journey. 

By the way, it is home to the famous grayling fish, which undoubtedly adds zest to this Altai tour.

Location

S. Elekmonar
from
$1,127
$986
+ tickets to the starting point of the tour
No need to pay now
Duration
15 Days
14 Nights
Departures
  • Group departures
    • Dates for next season
    • 22 June – 6 July, 2025
    • 6 – 20 July, 2025
    • 20 July – 3 August, 2025
    • 3 – 17 August, 2025
or
Accommodation
  • Tent
    13 nights
Comfort
  • Basic
Difficulty
Extreme
Only for experienced and physically fit hikers. Requires specific skills and equipment
Group
Up to 15 people
Minimum age
12 years old
Group meet at
S. Elekmonar
Contact the tour coordinator
Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)
Or text us in messengers

Tour highlights

Living in nature
We will spend the night in tents away from the bustling city
Horseback riding
Let's get acquainted with the Altai horses
The beauty of the Altai Mountains
We will admire the numerous rivers and lakes, spacious meadows and snow-capped peaks

Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Check-in

    Check-in.

    Dear friends, we are glad to meet you at the airport / bus station in Gorno-Altaysk before 10 am.

    Next, the transfer will take you to our "Headquarters", where in a friendly atmosphere you can relax from the road, drink tea and we will tell you about all the subtleties of hiking, give you all the necessary equipment. 

    Those who get there on their own – collect up to 14 hours.

    At lunch – departure to the horse base.

    After a two-hour extreme climb to the horse base on the legendary GAZ-66, we are accommodated in a tent camp. 

    From a hot bath and a delicious camping dinner, we gradually move on to getting acquainted with the national Altai custom "Chey-Chey".

  • Day 2 - Sortesh tract – Kylai
  • Day 3 - Kylai – Karakol lakes – Castles of Mountain spirits – log Muikhta
  • Day 4 - Muikhta – the "living" Kuralbas swamp – the upper reaches of the Loja River
  • Day 5 - Loja River – Balyktus Gorge
  • Day 6 - Balyktus Gorge – Chevosh log
  • Day 7 - Chevosh Log – Lake Uimen
  • Day 8 - The day
  • Day 9 - A day's rest. A walk to the Upper Lakes
  • Day 10 - Lake Uimen – log Chevosh
  • Day 11 - The Chevosh log is the lower course of the river.
  • Day 12 - R. Loja – Ayryk
  • Day 13 - Ayryk Moon Valley – Karakol Lakes – Kylai Cedar Glade
  • Day 14 - Kedrovaya polyana Kylai - Sortesh tract
  • Day 15 - Sortesh tract – village of Elekmonar
Difficulty
Only for experienced and physically fit hikers. Requires specific skills and equipment

Accommodation

Accommodation
  • Tent
    13 nights
Comfort
  • Basic

The tour includes overnight stays in two- and three-person tourist tents.

Tent camp 13 nights

Overnight in tents on the route.

Tour conditions

Group
up to 15 tourists
Minimum age
12 years old
Duration
15 days 14 nights
Group meets at
S. Elekmonar

Included in price

  • transfer from Gorno-Altaysk and back (only on the day of arrival and departure);
  • accommodation at the base camp;
  • transportation services according to the program;
  • meals according to the program;
  • equipment rental;
  • the services of an instructor-guide;
  • horse rental;
  • sauna according to the program;
  • recreational fees;
  • insurance.

Paid extra

  • air and railway tickets to Novosibirsk/Barnaul/Gorno-Altaysk and back;
  • bus tickets from Novosibirsk/Barnaul to c. Elecmonar and back;
  • accommodation before and after the tour.

It's important to know

Personal equipment you need for the tour

Equipment:

  • Sleeping bag (comfort temperature 0 - +5) (issued, but it is recommended to take your own, if possible, because the thing is personal).

Clothes:

  • underwear;
  • The sweater is warm;
  • The sweater is lighter;
  • warm pants for cold weather;
  • trousers made of thick fabric (camouflage is possible);
  • shorts or light trousers;
  • T-shirt / T-shirt (2-3 depending on the length of the route);
  • wool socks (more than one pair);
  • cotton socks (several pairs);
  • insulated, spacious jacket;
  • windbreaker (windbreaker);
  • gloves;
  • headdress;
  • swimsuit.

Shoes:

  • rubber boots (preferably on a smooth sole with a heel);
  • sneakers or sneakers.

It will be useful to:

  • a pocket or headlamp flashlight;
  • a set of threads with needles;
  • spare batteries for cameras, flashlights and other equipment;
  • thick plastic bags for packing things during a hike;
  • a camping knife;
  • wet sanitary napkins for camping;
  • toilet paper;
  • sunburn cream;
  • medicines that you personally need;
  • personal hygiene products (wet wipes are required);
  • specific medicines that may be useful to you.

Try not to take unnecessary things. Before entering the active part of the route, tourists leave their bags, backpacks and suitcases in parking lots in lockable rooms.

What kind of special equipment is issued for the route?
How to get to the gathering place of the group (village of Elekmonar)?
How to get there step by step?
How to protect yourself from a tick bite?
What are the requirements for the preparation of tour participants?
Will there be a mobile connection on the route?
What kind of weather awaits us on the route?
What safety rules should be followed on the route?
How are meals organized on the route?
Are there any restrictions on the participant's weight?
Where can I leave my suitcases and backpacks during the tour?

Dates and Prices

  • from
    $986
    22 Jun – 6 Jul, 2025 15 days 14 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • from
    $986
    6 – 20 Jul, 2025 15 days 14 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • from
    $986
    20 Jul – 3 Aug, 2025 15 days 14 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • from
    $986
    3 – 17 Aug, 2025 15 days 14 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • from
    $986
    17 – 31 Aug, 2025 15 days 14 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now

Reviews

    D
    Diane
    8 Jul, 2021
    about tour
    I really liked the hike-it met almost all expectations , it's a pity that the weather let me down a little, but despite this it was cool
    8 Jul, 2021
    D
    Diane
    8 Jul, 2021
    about provider
    the organization was good--I didn't really like the fact that the instructors didn't talk enough about places and sights--I would like them to be more talkative
    8 Jul, 2021
    OK
    Oksana Khlebnikova
    27 Sep, 2019
    about provider
    It still does not fit in my head that this amazing journey really happened. That there were horse crossings under the sun and rain, there were dinners cooked together, there were songs without a guitar, but by the campfire and soulful... Now, upon arrival in Moscow, all this seems either a dream or a fairy tale. But it really was! And for this I would like to say a huge thank you to Olga and her team. Without you guys, I would never have discovered the self-willed and majestic Altai, would not have received these indescribable emotions, would not have fallen in love with equestrian tourism. Now it seems to be forever. My friend and I hadn't left Elekmonar yet when we started planning our inevitable return next summer. Be sure to come! Horses are very calm and hardy. The instructors are professional, reliable, very sociable and funny. Olga is an incredibly energetic enthusiast of her business. The routes are thoughtful and beautiful. Wait for us in 2020! ♥
    27 Sep, 2019