Winter weekend in the Altai mountains

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Winter in Altai is a unique time of calm nature, snow—covered taiga, snow-white mountains. Do you want to relax your soul, listen to the crackle of pine firewood in the stove, plunge into the true nature without advertising, crowds of people and gadgets?

Then we invite you to join us in this heartfelt and warm adventure!

The tour is held on any date on an individual request for groups of 5 people or more.

Location

Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Gorno-Altaysk

Horse riding tours

from

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

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Tour highlights

Communication with Altai horses

For horse riding enthusiasts, it is a great opportunity to ride on a smooth field and enjoy the power and endurance of Altai horses

The impressive Kinderlin Cave

We will see the grotto at the very top of the Kinderl's log and will be able to see the snow-capped peaks stretching beyond the horizon

Winter swimming in blue lakes

Those who wish will be able to plunge into the emerald waters and feel the cheerfulness of the spirit, they say that it is in winter that the waters of the lakes have a miraculous power

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival, trial departure on horseback
The meeting in the village of Elekmonar is until 11:00, because the first horse ride is already scheduled at 12:00.
Accommodation in a cozy guest house in the village of Elekmonar.
A trial ride on horseback.
We will go deep into the mountains to the observation deck, which offers a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains, the Barantal plateau, the mouth of the Elekmonar River and the prospect of the winding Katun.
Tea drinking by the campfire.
Photo time. Especially for our guests, we have equipped a photo zone with swings on the background of mountain peaks!
Having saturated ourselves with plenty of sunlight and magical views, we set out on our way back.
In the evening, after a hearty dinner, we go to the village - the national Altai dwelling to get to know each other better and hold the national Altai rite of Someone.
Distance: horses, 20 km / 4-5 hours.

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Day 2 - Kinderlin Cave
We go to the Kinderlin cave, a grotto at the very top of the Kinderl's log.
The path runs through the bridge on the Katun River, which has a local landmark – the Dragon's Teeth, and then, passing the field, we go into the mountains along a forest path.
The closer to the goal, the steeper the climb!
It is difficult to get to the cave on horseback, so leaving the horses we overcome the last 300 meters on foot.
The view of the cave is no less impressive than the overview of the Katuni valley, and climbing to the top of the mountain, where the ancient lighthouse is located (the index of the highest peak in the district), you can see the snow-capped peaks stretching beyond the horizon, the places where in summer we show guests the High-altitude Altai!
At home, you are already waiting for a hot bathhouse, the crackle of firewood in the stove and the instructor's stories about taiga life.
Length: kony – 20 km. Travel time: 5-6 hours.

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Day 3 - Blue lakes of Altai
Wake up at 8 a.m., breakfast and get in the saddle!
It is necessary to arrive at the lakes by the time the sun's rays reach the water surface, it is at this moment that the lakes acquire their unusually fabulous color and appear before us in full glory!
On the shore of one of the lakes, we arrange lunch by the campfire.
Those who wish can plunge into the emerald waters, feel the cheerfulness of the spirit.
Yes, yes, in winter!!! The colder it is outside, the warmer it is to swim!
It is said that it is in winter that the waters of the lakes have miraculous powers!
If the weather is not so favorable, there is an opportunity instead of lakes to go by car to the Beltyr-Tuyuk waterfall, which is located fifty kilometers from the village of Elekmonar.
Along the way, you will have the opportunity to explore the Chechkysh tract, get to the observation deck and the waterfall of the same name.
Further along the route is the Orokto Bridge at the narrowest point of the Katun River, called Teldekpen and petroglyphs – the oldest rock art.
In the evening, after dinner, there is a sauna, which is so necessary after an active day.
Length: kony – 20 km. Travel time: 5-6 hours.

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Day 4 - Auto tour along the Chui highway
Auto tour S. Elekmonar – Seminsky pass – Chiket-aman pass, confluence of Chuya and Katuni – S. Aktash – S. Kurai – Elekmonar.
The Chui highway is one of the most beautiful roads in the world.
The length of our car tour will be about 700 km., and the height difference is from 300 meters to 2000 meters above sea level.
Two beautiful passes – Seminsky and Chike-Taman, as well as the confluence of the Katun and Chuya rivers, Katun terraces, the Kurai steppe, the North Chui ridge and much more will be on our way.
And the pearl of the tour will be a walk to the lake of Mena – a geyser lake of milky blue color!
Length: by car – about 700 km. Height difference: from 300 to 2000 m above sea level.
21:30 For those who want to leave early, there is a bus to Novosibirsk (not included in the price, on their own).

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Day 5 - Departure
Transfer to Gorno-Altaysk on the first flights.

Difficulty

Involves moderate physical activity

Accommodation

Guest House

4 nights

Comfort

Basic+

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

Festive 29.12 — 02.01 / 04.01 — 08.01 / 08.01 — 12.01 / 22.02 — 26.02 / 06.03 — 10.03	44 000
November: 04.11 — 08.11 / 11.11 — 15.11 January: 15.01 — 19.01 / 22.01 — 26.01 / 29.01 — 02.02 February: 05.02 — 09.02 / 12.02 — 16.02 / 26.02 — 02.03 March: 02.03 — 06.03 / 12.03 — 16.03 / 19.03 — 23.03 / 26.03 — 30.03	41 000

Individual check–in on any date by prior request for a group of 5 people or more.

Please specify the details when booking the tour.

The tour includes accommodation in the Mayak Altai guest house (Elekmonar village).

In the guest house:

5 separate rooms for accommodation;
shower room;
toilet in the house;
a kitchen where you can cook a masterpiece of culinary art for yourself and friends;
a spacious dining room where you can sit down for a meal;
the living room is for relaxing after a meal with the opportunity to view photos together on a large screen;
a huge balcony from where our guests like to watch the impending thunderstorm or the starry sky;
free high-speed Wi-Fi.

Private plot:

a sauna with a separate steam room (brooms are included);
double rustic bathroom;
a shady garden, full of ripe fruits in August;
A contact mini-zoo where geese, ducks, rabbits and chickens live with the younger generation.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 15 tourists

Minimum age

12 years old

Maximum weight of the tourist

100 kg

Duration

5 days 4 nights

Group meets at

Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Gorno-Altaysk

Included in price

transfer from Gorno-Altaisk and back (only on the day of arrival and departure);
transportation service in accordance with the tour program;
sauna according to the tour program;
meals 1-4 days (every day a hot homemade breakfast and a hot homemade dinner. In the afternoon – snack-picnic in nature (on the route) with thermoses);
horse rental;
the work of an instructor - guide (1-3 depending on the number of participants in the group);
recreational fees;
accident insurance / medical insurance;
accommodation in an eco-house in rooms for 2-3 people.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Novosibirsk/Barnaul/Gorno-Altaysk and back;
bus tickets from Novosibirsk/Barnaul to c. Elecmonar and back.
additional services or specified for a fee.

It's important to know

Clothes:

Underwear;
The sweater is warm;
The sweater is lighter;
warm pants for cold weather;
trousers made of thick fabric (camouflage is possible);
wool socks (more than one pair);
cotton socks (several pairs);
insulated, spacious jacket;
gloves;
a headdress.

Shoes:

Warm boots (preferably with a low tread).

It will be useful to:

A pocket or headlamp flashlight;
spare batteries for cameras, flashlights and other equipment;
wet sanitary napkins for camping;
medicines that you personally need;
personal hygiene products.

Attention! Do not take with you and use a rustling and brightly colored clothes!

Clothes should be selected based on the possible air temperature from +5 to -25.

Through Gorno-Altaysk:

Upon arrival in Gorno-Altaysk, call the organizer and within 5 minutes you will be met at the entrance to the airport. The cost of the transfer is included in the price of the tour.
An hour later we arrive at the guest house of the village of Elekmonar, from where our journey will begin.

Via Barnaul (option 1 – no transfers):

By air or railway transport you get to Barnaul.
From the airport – by minibus to the bus station. The railway station is located on the same square as the bus station.
Purchase a ticket for the Barnaul – Chemal bus / minibus.
You drive ~ 4.5 hours and find yourself in the village of Maima, which borders the city of Gorno-Altaisk.
Call the organizer and tell them the name of the locality you are passing through.
After driving for another 1-1.5 hours, inform the driver that you need to get off AT THE FIRST STOP OF THE VILLAGE OF ELEKMONAR.
Get off the bus and call the organizer. You will be met within 5 minutes.

Through Barnaul (option 2 is a road with transfers, but buses run more often):

By air or railway transport you get to Barnaul.
From the airport – by minibus to the bus station. The railway station is located on the same square as the bus station.
Purchase a bus / minibus ticket Barnaul – Gorno-Altaysk (~ 650 rubles).
At the train station Gorno-Altaisk buy a ticket for a regular bus / take a taxi / take a minibus to the village of Chemal (~ 350 rubles).
As soon as you leave the bus station, call the organizer.
Call the organizer and tell them the name of the locality you are passing through.
An hour later, inform the driver that you need to get off AT THE FIRST STOP OF THE VILLAGE OF ELEKMONAR.
Get off the bus and call the organizer. You will be met within 5 minutes.

Via Novosibirsk (option 1 – no transfers).

By air or railway transport you get to Novosibirsk.
From the airport / railway station – by minibus to the bus station.
Purchase a ticket for the Novosibirsk – Chemal bus.
You drive ~ 6 hours and find yourself in the village of Maima, which borders the city of Gorno-Altaisk.
Call the organizer and tell them the name of the locality you are passing through.
After driving for another 1-1.5 hours, inform the driver that you need to get off AT THE FIRST STOP OF THE VILLAGE OF ELEKMONAR.
Get off the bus and call the organizer. You will be met within 5 minutes.

Through Novosibirsk (option 2 is a road with transfers, but buses run more often):

By air or railway transport you get to Barnaul.
From the airport / railway station – by minibus to the bus station.
Buy a bus ticket Novosibirsk – Gorno-Altaysk (~ 900 rubles).
At the train station Gorno-Altaisk buy a ticket for a regular bus / take a taxi / take a minibus to the village of Chemal (~ 350 rubles).
As soon as you leave the bus station, call the organizer.
Call the organizer and tell them the name of the locality you are passing through.
An hour later, you inform the driver that you need to get off AT THE FIRST STOP OF THE VILLAGE OF ELEKMONAR.
Get off the bus and call the organizer. You will be met within 5 minutes.

OR:

Buy a bus ticket Novosibirsk – Biysk (~ 650 rubles).
At the railway station Biysk buy a ticket for a regular bus / take a taxi / take a minibus to the village of Chemal (~ 400 rubles).
You drive ~ 3 hours and find yourself in the village of Maima, which borders the city of Gorno-Altaisk.
Call the organizer and tell them the name of the locality you are passing through.
After driving for another 1-1.5 hours, inform the driver that you need to get off AT THE FIRST STOP OF THE VILLAGE OF ELEKMONAR.
Get off the bus and call the organizer. You will be met within 5 minutes.

OR:

Buy a ticket for the Novosibirsk – Biysk bus (~ 650 rubles.), travel ~ 5 hours.
At the railway station Buy a bus ticket / take a taxi / take a minibus to Gorno-Altaysk (~ 400 rubles).
At the train station Gorno-Altaisk buy a ticket for a regular bus / take a taxi / take a minibus to the village of Chemal (~ 350 rubles).
As soon as you leave the bus station, call the organizer.
Call the organizer and tell them the name of the locality you are passing through.
An hour later, inform the driver that you need to get off AT THE FIRST STOP OF THE VILLAGE OF ELEKMONAR.
Get off the bus and call the organizer. You will be met within 5 minutes.

During the route, you need to listen, and at some points unquestioningly follow the recommendations of the instructor / groom, because your safety depends on it, and in particular:

Warn the instructor/groom about your absence from the parking lot (if you are going to go for a walk, take pictures, etc.) - for what time, where, in which direction are you going;
be sure to follow the instructions of the instructor / groom during the horse crossing;
do not be offended / angry at the instructor / groom when he gives objective recommendations;
The groom/instructor is your friend and assistant, take care of him.

In the conditions of hiking in mountainous terrain, it is quite easy to control a horse. In a column, horses move one after another independently, this is a familiar thing for them, they know the trails well, and the task of the rider is only:

Keep your distance (not too far and not too close);
make sure not to pass too close to tree trunks and under low branches;
do not constantly eat grass by pulling and lifting the horse's head with a rein;
Don't drive through the bushes;
do not enter dangerous places (climb rocks, steep slopes, deep places of rivers);
don't let them jump off the rocks.

All this is quite easy to do, having even the smallest experience of "riding" and thanks to the instruction at the beginning of the hike and under the strict supervision of our instructors.

Also, I want to note that the horses themselves are smart enough not to do big stupid things. You just need to control sometimes so that the horse goes like everyone else.

The main points that should be performed / not performed (for more information on the briefing):

You don't have to approach the horse from behind – our horses are calm, but they can still get scared and kick.
A horse is a big and powerful animal, make sure that it does not accidentally step on your foot.
Do not let go of the horse when stopping. She must be tied up or asked to hold a friend.
Archimacs are bags that attach to the saddle, they contain your belongings and groceries.Bags (archimacs) should be packed evenly by weight – for balance, so that during the transition one does not outweigh the other. Soft things in bags are placed on the inside – so that it is not hard on the horse's back.
A chembur is a rope designed to tie a horse to a stop and adjust it during the transition.If you understand that you are lagging behind – the horse needs to be adjusted, if it does not work, then you can use a drill – this is normal, the horse will not be hurt.
The distance between the riders is 2-3 m, it is advisable not to lag behind and, accordingly, not to catch up, resting on the horse in front, i.e. keep a distance. This will save both the horse's strength (each creature must adhere to a certain pace and load during physical exertion) and time, especially precious during long transitions.
In the parking lot, the first thing to do is tie the horse, relax all the ties, take off the bags (archimacs), then the saddle and everything else, call the instructor to check everything and confuse the horse. Never let the horse go untangled, otherwise the horse runs home, and the tourist walks the rest of the time himself with his bags.
During the transition, if possible or by feeling, monitor and monitor whether the girths (harnesses that fix the saddle on the horse) have loosened.
Know what your horse's ammunition looks like. Of course, you can't remember everything at once, but at least remember the place where you put the ammunition after you unsaddled it.
When it rains or in the evening when dew falls, the ammunition must be covered with a raincoat. Dry ammunition is the health of the horse.
To know and learn how to properly saddle and unsaddle a horse.
Monitor the condition of the horse – legs (lameness), back (bumps, abrasions). If you see something, tell the instructor.
A horse is the best friend, companion and brother during a hike. It is necessary to establish contact in it so that you trust each other and have mutual understanding, talk to the horse, praise, stroke, etc.

Dates and Prices

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29 Dec, 2024 – 2 Jan, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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4 – 8 Jan, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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8 – 12 Jan, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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15 – 19 Jan, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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22 – 26 Jan, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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29 Jan – 2 Feb, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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5 – 9 Feb, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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12 – 16 Feb, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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22 – 26 Feb, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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26 Feb – 2 Mar, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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2 – 6 Mar, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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6 – 10 Mar, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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12 – 16 Mar, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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19 – 23 Mar, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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26 – 30 Mar, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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Reviews

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

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

Sergey Bakhtin

9 Sep, 2019

about provider

Altaaaaay, Altai, Altai!!!! Wonderful land!!!! Like in the song that Tamir sang to us! Wonderful! Amazing! Amazing! Divine! Emotions are overwhelming! The fourth day at home, and I still live in Altai! Olga! Thank you for giving me Altai!

9 Sep, 2019

Winter weekend in the Altai mountains

Location

Tour highlights

Itinerary

Accommodation

Tour conditions

Included in price

Paid extra

It's important to know

Dates and Prices

Reviews

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