Big Country Travel: Trips to Russia, Adventure Tours & Vacation Packages

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A fairy tale turned into reality, allowing you to spend time in the fresh, frosty air, plunge into the sensations of childhood admiring the snow-capped mountains and trees.

Staying in warm, cozy rooms, you will make fascinating excursions in a comfortable warm minibus. During the tour you will visit such interesting places as the island of Patmos, surrounded by the bright turquoise waters of Katun against the background of dazzling white snow, Blue lakes, the color of which against the background of crystal white snow will fascinate anyone, as well as other interesting places in the Altai Mountains.

Location

Gorno-Altaysk

Sightseeing tours

from

Early
booking

Contact the tour coordinator

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

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Tour highlights

Swan Lake

We will admire the snow-white flock of swans and the picturesque panorama of the lake from the observation deck

Ski resort

We will visit the GLK "Manzherok", climb the cable car, and if desired, ride buns, skiing or snowboarding

Snow ridges of the Chui tract

We will drive along one of the most beautiful roads in the world in winter attire, make stops at mountain passes and the confluence of rivers

Itinerary

Day 1 - Check-in. Manzherok Resort Tour
Check-in.
Breakfast at the cafe is for those who arrived at Taezhnik before 10:30, for those who arrived later – lunch at 13:00.
Lunch at the restaurant on the territory of the eco-hotel "Taezhnik".
Transfer to the Manzherok resort – visit the modern cable car that leads to Malaya Sinyukha Mountain.
Dinner at the cafe.
Length: by car – 70 km.

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Day 2 - Swan Lake. Excursion to the museum named after Anokhina. Visit to the ethno village
Breakfast.
Today, your path will lead to the neighboring region of Altai Krai, in the foothills region.
Lake Svetloye is a protected natural monument of the Altai Territory.
Every year, in late autumn, a snow–white flock of swans arrives at the lake and stays for the winter on the ice-free lake, hence the second name of the lake - Swan Lake.
A 10 m high observation deck has been built for everyone who wants to watch birds, offering a picturesque panorama of the lake.
You can observe the process of feeding swans from the feeder rafts fixed on the water surface, allowing you to take a closer look at these beautiful birds.
After that we will go to Gorno-Altaysk.
The capital and the only city of the Altai Republic.
Lunch at a cafe.
Excursion to the Anokhin National Museum.
The museum features an exposition of the burial place of Princess Ukok, as well as guests will learn the history of Altai.
At the end of the city tour, we will visit the ethno village, where you will learn about the ethnic traditions of the local population and taste Altai treats.
On this day, an excursion to Tugaya Mountain, which is located in the city, to the Zaisanov gazebo (depending on weather conditions) is possible.
Return to the hotel.
Supper.
Length: by car – 40 km, on foot – 5 km.

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Day 3 - Tour of Chemal – the hot heart of Altai
Breakfast in the Taiga.
Departure for an excursion.
You will have a walking tour to the legendary Blue Lakes – the eyes of Katun, which open to the guests of Altai from the second half of September to the beginning of spring, where we arrange a small picnic.
The lake is located on the left bank of the Katun River, 4 km from the village of Askat.
In winter, the Katun River does not freeze in this place, as the Blue Lakes are localized and fed by springs.
The purest water allows you to examine the bottom of the lakes and the Katun inhabitants.
Lunch in the form of a picnic on the lake shore.
An exciting excursion to the Chemal regional center, known for its unique mild and warm climate, and its surroundings.
Tourists will visit the most interesting sights of the area, such as: Chemalskaya HPP, Dragon's Teeth, Goat trail, Sartakpai Gate, temple on Patmos Island.
Return to the eco-hotel "Taezhnik".
Supper.
Length: by car – 287 km.

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Day 4 - Kamyshlinsky waterfall. Tavda caves. Monument to Roerich
Breakfast at the restaurant "Taezhnik".
After breakfast, departure for a guided tour.
Transfer to Barangol village.
Walking tour to Kamyshlinsky waterfall, which even under a thick layer of ice manages to shimmer over the rocks and sparkle in the bright winter sun.
First, guests will have to cross a pedestrian suspension bridge over the frozen Katun River, and then guests of Altai will have a walk along the forest path to the waterfall.
After enjoying the beauties of the winter forest and waterfall, the group returns to the bus.
Lunch at a cafe.
Transfer to the Tavda caves, where the site of ancient people was discovered.
This is an array of a large number of caves (about 30) of karst origin.
Most of them are easily accessible.
The entrances to some of them are even equipped with steps and light is provided there.
You can look into the underground passages without risking your life.
Still, some difficulties will have to be overcome.
For example, walk through a narrow passage 12 m long.
Or climb up the "goat trail".
We visit the eco-trail to the Roerich monument and an observation deck overlooking the Katun River.
Return to the hotel.
Length: by car – 60 km, up to 3 km on foot.
Day 5 - Chuisky tract
Early breakfast at the Taezhnik restaurant.
Departure for an excursion.
The Chuisky Highway tour is the largest federal highway connecting Russia and Mongolia.
This road was known more than a thousand years ago as the Mungalsky tract – trade caravans traveled along it from the East to Russia and back.
Tourists will learn more about the history of the unique tract during the tour.
The group is expected to stop at the famous Seminsky and Chike-Taman mountain passes, stop in the Karakol Valley and walk to the Gopher monument, a panorama overlooking the Katun terraces, as well as at the confluence of the two great Altai rivers Chuya and Katun.
This tour is a great opportunity to get a holistic view of Altai.
Along the way, the group will constantly discover snow-white mountain ranges.
Lunch is provided at a roadside cafe.
Return to the eco-hotel "Taezhnik".
Dinner at the Taezhnik cafe.
Length: by car – 510 km.

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Day 6 - Departure
Breakfast or lunch boxes.
Room release before 11:00.
Transfer to Gorno-Altaysk airport.

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Camp Site

5 nights

Comfort

Midscale

The tour provides accommodation at the Taezhnik tourist complex or similar.

The cost of the tour for 1 person, depending on the accommodation, RUB.:

1-local	2-local	3-local (only for a single application)
112 400	90 600	88 000

The accommodation facility may be replaced for technical reasons by another one with similar characteristics.

The Taezhnik tourist complex is located 2.5 km from the village of Manzherok.

Accommodation in rooms with amenities of the "Standard+" category. The area is 18 sq. m.

Capacity for up to 4 seats: 2 main and 2 additional seats. Children under 4 years old can be accommodated without a separate bed.

Room facilities:
Electronic equipment: TV, mini fridge, hair dryer
Bathroom: bath towels, sink, toilet, water heater, toiletries, shower, slippers.
Beds: double bed or two separate beds.
Furniture: chairs, sofa bed, wardrobe, table, bedside tables.
Other: tea pairs.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 14 tourists

Minimum age

6 years old

Duration

6 days 5 nights

Group meets at

Gorno-Altaysk

Included in price

accommodation in heated rooms (Standard+);
three meals a day from breakfast on the day of the start of the tour to breakfast on the day of departure;
the work of a guide;
transportation by minibus according to the tour program;
entrance fees and recreational fees;
accident insurance and medical insurance;
delivery from GA airport in a group format is provided free of charge, any other type of delivery is at an additional cost, the fare is set by the carrier.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Barnaul, Gorno-Altaysk, Novosibirsk and back;
delivery from any place, or in any other way, except for a group transfer from/to the airport.;
additional services not included in the tour program, including the services of the all-season resort Manzherok, are not included in the tour program.

It's important to know

documents (passport and MHI policy);
underwear (comfortable, preferably cotton) and thermal underwear (warm, multi-layered);
woolen and synthetic WARM socks (several pairs);
warm sweater (woolen, woolen or fleece);
insulated trousers (not restricting movements.), ski trousers are suitable;
insulated jacket or down jacket, you can use a ski jacket (on sintepon, down, etc., not blown. Remember, the temperature can drop to -35 at night and -25 during the day, so the jacket should be warm);
the shoes are warm and loose (not summer mesh sneakers);
hat, scarf and gloves (warm and not draughty, + hood);
clothes for home and sleep. (T-shirts\vests, tights\leggings);
sunglasses and sunscreen (yes, in winter in the Altai Mountains, when the sun is shining, you can get burned);
personal hygiene products;
individual first-aid kit (the guide will have a general first-aid kit, take personal medicines with you if there are indications for taking specific drugs);
video or photo camera (with a case on a sturdy belt and an additional rope).

Dates and Prices

$1,137

2 – 7 Jan, 2026 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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Winter Altai