Walking tour to the Shavlin lakes and Srednyaya Katun. Altai

The Shavlin Lakes are one of the most beautiful places in the Altai Mountains and are located in the heart of the North Chui Range. In the Valley of the Lakes, snow-capped peaks rise A Dream, a Beauty, a Fairy Tale, the reflection of which, as if in a mirror, can be seen in the emerald water of the middle lake. On the water part of the route you will get acquainted with the most abundant river, the mistress of the Altai Mountains Katunya. 

Location

Novosibirsk, Barnaul
from
$832
$745
+ tickets to the starting point of the tour
No need to pay now
Duration
13 Days
12 Nights
Departures
  • Group departures
    • Dates for next season
    • 26 June – 8 July, 2025
    • 6 – 18 July, 2025
    • 16 – 28 July, 2025
    • 26 July – 7 August, 2025
or
Accommodation
  • Tent
    12 nights
Comfort
  • Basic
Difficulty
Challenging
Does not require specific skills, but one must be in good health
Group
Up to 18 people
Minimum age
14 years old
Group meet at
Novosibirsk, Barnaul
Contact the tour coordinator
Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)
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Tour highlights

Landscapes of Altai
We will see the Lower and Upper Shavlin lakes
Alloy
We will go through the middle Katun and rapids of varying degrees of difficulty on rafts
Living in nature
Let's take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and recharge
Petroglyphs
Let's study the rock paintings of the Altai Mountains
Confluence of rivers
We will drive along the beautiful Chui highway and see the confluence of large rivers – Chui and Katuni

Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Car transfer to the village of Chibit

    The meeting of the group depends on the place of arrival.

    After the meeting, the group gets on the bus and goes by minibus to the starting point of the tour, the village of Chibit.

    Today 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. On the road for 9-10 hours (excluding traffic jams and sanitary stops).

  • Day 2 - C. Chibit – Oroy creek
  • Day 3 - Oroi Creek – Oroi Pass – 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 Shavlin 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 – the mouth of the Chuya River
  • Day 10 - The mouth of the Chuya River – "Wedding Meadow"
  • Day 11 - Wedding Glade – Petroglyphs parking lot
  • Day 12 - Petroglyphs parking lot – Kuyus village
  • Day 13 - Kuyus village – Gorno-Altaysk – Biysk – Barnaul – Novosibirsk
Difficulty
Does not require specific skills, but one must be in good health
Tour organizer's comments

The main condition for participating in the tour is the ability to withstand moderate physical activity. The technical skills necessary to pass obstacles, organize overnight stays and others are acquired directly on the route. 

Accommodation

Accommodation
  • Tent
    12 nights
Comfort
  • Basic
Tent camp 12 nights

In the active part, tourists are accommodated in 2-3-seater modern tents with an awning. On the 1st, 8th and 12th day of the tour, accommodation in tents on the camping site. Tents are set up and removed by the participants themselves (unless additional maintenance is agreed). If you don't know how to set up a tent, ask the instructor to give you an instruction.

Tour conditions

Group
up to 18 tourists
Minimum age
14 years old
Duration
13 days 12 nights
Group meets at
Novosibirsk, Barnaul

Included in price

  • transport delivery to the tour from Novosibirsk, Barnaul and back, within the route crossings according to the program;
  • 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. On the alloy additionally: raft, carrot (saved the end), general dry runs, a barrel for food;
  • personal equipment: sleeping bag, sleeping mat (karemat). On the alloy additionally: life jacket, helmet, paddle, dry run, neoprene overalls, windproof jacket;
  • 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 and twelfth day of the tour;
  • camping in tents on the first, eighth and twelfth day of the tour;
  • luggage storage (from 2 to 8 days);
  • payment for the bridge over the Chuya, in both directions;
  • registration of the group in the Ministry of Emergency Situations;
  • guided tours according to the program.

Paid extra

  • air and railway tickets to Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Biysk, Gorno-Altaysk and back;
  • insurance for foreign citizens (including CIS countries) and citizens of the Russian Federation over 64 years of age;
  • meals at roadside cafes, during the transfer;
  • additional baths, on the first day at the campsite, on the lakes and on the eleventh day of the tour;
  • 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;
  • neoprene shoes (boots) for rafting; sneakers with woolen, plain, and preferably neoprene socks. We do not issue neoprene shoes;
  • 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 neoprene wetsuit (half-overalls) of 3 mm is issued for the alloy. If you wish, you can take a neoprene jacket with you (not included in the price, we do not rent it). In case of bad weather, you can take a turtleneck, vest, shirt (not restricting movement) under the neoprene. We issue splash-proof jackets on top of the neoprene;
  • 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 plain 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.

Recommendations for filling an individual first aid kit:

A group going on a hiking and boating trip in Altai is provided with a common first aid kit, which is located at the instructor guide. However, each participant of an active tour of 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).
What sights will we see on this tour?
Can children aged 14-16 take part in the tour?
How do I book a tour for a foreign tourist?
How is the meeting of tourists on the first day of the tour carried out?
On what day should I buy a return ticket?
How are meals organized on the route?
How much (on average) does a backpack weigh during a hike?
Is it possible to leave things that are not needed in the campaign at the base in the village of Chibit?
How are the products and group equipment distributed among the participants of the hike?
Are there frequent halts?
How is the accommodation in tents and how many people?
What kind of weather awaits us on tour?
What is the water temperature in Katun?
Will there be mosquitoes, midges, ticks on the route?
Will there be an opportunity to wash during the hike?
Will there be a cellular connection, the ability to charge the camera, phone, etc.?
Who will accompany us on the route?
Are plane tickets included in the price of the tour?
Is it possible to conduct the tour on other dates?
What are the requirements for a tour participant?

Dates and Prices

  • $745
    26 Jun – 8 Jul, 2025 13 days 12 nights
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    No need to pay now
  • $745
    6 – 18 Jul, 2025 13 days 12 nights
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    No need to pay now
  • $745
    16 – 28 Jul, 2025 13 days 12 nights
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    No need to pay now
  • $745
    26 Jul – 7 Aug, 2025 13 days 12 nights
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    No need to pay now
  • $745
    5 – 17 Aug, 2025 13 days 12 nights
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    No need to pay now