Walking tour to the Shavlin lakes

Hiking to the Shavlin lakes is suitable for travelers with good physical condition. Gentle sunrises and sunsets, cozy evenings around the campfire and a series of beautiful landscapes are waiting for you. 

The culmination of the tour will be a visit to the Shavlin Lakes, a chain of reservoirs with turquoise water surrounded by mountains. In one of the Shavlin lakes, at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level, three peaks are reflected – a Dream, a Fairy Tale and a Beauty. The names of the mountains reflect the impression they will make on you.

Location

Barnaul, Novosibirsk
from
$479
$430
+ tickets to the starting point of the tour
No need to pay now
Duration
9 Days
8 Nights
Departures
  • Group departures
    • Dates for next season
    • 16 – 24 June, 2025
    • 26 June – 4 July, 2025
    • 6 – 14 July, 2025
    • 16 – 24 July, 2025
or
Accommodation
  • Tent
    8 nights
Comfort
  • Basic
Difficulty
Extreme
Only for experienced and physically fit hikers. Requires specific skills and equipment
Group
Up to 18 people
Minimum age
12 years old
Group meet at
Barnaul, Novosibirsk
Contact the tour coordinator
Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)
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Tour highlights

The beauty of the Shavlin lakes
We will see the Upper and Lower Shavlin lakes and admire the view of the glaciers of the Shavlin horseshoe
Away from the hustle and bustle of the city
Let's go on a real camping trip
Unique natural landscapes
We will enjoy the magnificent nature of the Altai Mountains, as well as witness the confluence of two mountain rivers — Chuya and Katuni

Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Car transfer to the village of Chibit

    The meeting of the tour participants in Novosibirsk, Barnaul and Biysk, after which the formed group will go by minibus to the starting point of the tour, the village of Chibit.

    You will have to travel along the most beautiful mountain road — the Chui tract.

    Its highest point isThe Seminsky pass (its height is 1717 meters).

    We will find ourselves at the pass after a long climb, see stunning landscapes, and then move to the next picturesque point of the Chui tract — the Chike-Taman pass.

    The road in this area is rich in serpentines, steep ascents and descents, and on both sides you can observe the majestic Altai mountains and atmospheric cedar forest. 

    Another wonderful moment of the trip is the observation of the confluence of the Chuya and Katun rivers.

    You will see their fast flow, difficult rapids, and you will also be able to make sure that mountain rivers have a special character — stormy and unpredictable.

    In the evening, you will have a rest at the campsite near the village of Chibit and a dinner cooked over a campfire.

    Overnight in tents, on the banks of the Chuya River.

    By car (from Barnaul): 620 km, 9-10 hours on the road (excluding traffic jams and sanitary stops).

  • Day 2 - C. Chibit – Oroy creek
  • Day 3 - Oroi Creek – Oroi Pass (2040 m) – Yeshtykel plateau – confluence of the Shavla and Shabaga rivers
  • Day 4 - Confluence of the rivers Shavla and Shabaga – Lower Shavlinsky Lake
  • Day 5 - Day trip, radial access to the Upper Shavlinsky lake
  • Day 6 - The day
  • Day 7 - Lower Shavlinskoye Lake – confluence of the Shavla and Shabaga rivers
  • Day 8 - Confluence of the Shavla and Shabaga rivers – Estikel plateau – Oroy creek – Chibit village
  • Day 9 - Chibit village – Gorno-Altaysk – Biysk – Barnaul – Novosibirsk
Difficulty
Only for experienced and physically fit hikers. Requires specific skills and equipment

Accommodation

Accommodation
  • Tent
    8 nights
Comfort
  • Basic

The tour provides accommodation in 2-3-seater modern tourist tents with an awning throughout the route.

Tent camp 8 nights

Throughout the entire route, tourists are accommodated in 2-3-seater modern tourist 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
9 days 8 nights
Group meets at
Barnaul, Novosibirsk

Included in price

  • transport delivery from Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Biysk, Gorno-Altaysk to Chibit village and back;
  • transfer from the village of Chibit to the Oroysky bridge and back, by UAZ car;
  • payment for the bridge over the Chuya, in both directions;
  • 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 and citizens of the Russian Federation over 64 years old is paid additionally);
  • sauna according to the program, on the eighth day;
  • accommodation in tents on the camping site on the first, eighth day;
  • guided tours according to the program;
  • registration of the group in the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Paid extra

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

The 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).
Are plane tickets included in the price of the tour?
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Dates and Prices

  • $430
    16 – 24 Jun, 2025 9 days 8 nights
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    No need to pay now
  • $430
    26 Jun – 4 Jul, 2025 9 days 8 nights
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    No need to pay now
  • $430
    6 – 14 Jul, 2025 9 days 8 nights
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    No need to pay now
  • $430
    16 – 24 Jul, 2025 9 days 8 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • $430
    26 Jul – 3 Aug, 2025 9 days 8 nights
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    No need to pay now