Altai tour

«REAL ALTAI»
Conference post-tour BGRS/SB-2024

This tour is specially prepared for travellers who are curious and want to appreciate every moment in their lives. High dynamics of travelling, change of transport and hiking, will help to feel the beauty and uniqueness of Altai nature in the most vivid way, will give you a rest after the intense rhythm of the conference, relieve stress and get a charge of energy and strength for many months. We have never travelled so far in our post-conference tours! You might take the coolest large-scale extravaganza photos in your entire previous life. This tour does not require any special professional training and sports skills, you will need good feeling of health and comfortable shoes to participate in trekking on the program.
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June 2021: participants of the post-conference tour to Altai “Legends of Lake Teletskoye” (ICG SB RAS conference: PlantGen-2021).

Brief description of the tour:
Travelling along one of the most beautiful roads in the world – Chuysky trakt (highway).
Not in vain the magazine “National Geographic” included the Chuyskiy tract in one of the five most beautiful roads of the world. Seminsky and Chike-Tamansky passes, Adyr-Kan (or Kalbak-Tash) petroglyphs, the confluence of the Katun and Chuya rivers, Katun terraces, the monument to the heroic drivers of the Chuisky tract, as well as the first cable-stayed bridge built in 1936 are waiting for us.
The main programme will take place in two amazing places. In the first of them, almost 70 km from the border with Mongolia, we will see the amazing Altai Mars Mountains and a walk along the “alien places”, a panorama of the Northern Chuysky Range and the Geysernoe Lake.
In the centre of the programme – incredibly beautiful mountain pass Katu-Yaryk, Chulyshman river valley and a walk to the spectacular waterfall Kurkure. The impression will be enhanced by a small trekking to one of the “wonders” of Altai – we will ascend to the Stone Mushrooms, where we will get an unforgettable view of the Chulyshman river valley. And in the evening we will enjoy a concert of ethnic throat singing of Altai people.
And the dessert of our journey will be a trip on fast speedboats. We will cross the famous Teletskoye Lake, from south to north, and we will not forget to look at the most famous waterfall of the lake – Korbu.

Five full days, three mountain passes, three types of transport and boats, three waterfalls, three trekking, a professional guide, a friendly company of intellectuals and all this,
surrounded by the real Altai. You will remember this journey for a long time!

Tour start and finish: Novosibirsk, Akademgorodok
Dates: from 11 to 15 August, 5 days / 4 nights
Type of route: combined, bus, special high passability motor transport, walking (three walks about 5-6 km each, one of them uphill), speedboat.
Meals: complex three meals a day, every day
Accommodation:
2 nights – near the village of Aktash in a tourist camping in two and / or three-bed rooms, with sanitary facilities in the rooms.
2 nights – in the Chulyshman river valley in a tourist camping site in three or four-bed rooms, with sanitary facilities on the territory of the camping site.
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TOUR PROGRAMME

1 DAY

At 6:00, early morning departure from Novosibirsk. A long and interesting journey to the Altai Republic (about 764 km) awaits us. After breakfast on the way we will hear about the history of this region, we will learn legends and were, we will remember at last, what is the difference between Altai Krai and Altai Republic, what is famous 300 years old Biysk, what is hidden in Gorno-Altaisk Museum, and why the princess of Ukok plat can be seen only several times a year, and whether it is true that Denisov the man lived here, what people this unique region of our country was and is famous for.
In the meantime, the journey along the Chuysky Tract will continue along the Katun River, which is swift and unlike any other river in the world, and after lunch we will continue through the Chike-Taman mountain Pass, where after the serpentine road we will stop to breathe and take photos at the observation platforms. After the pass we will stop at the panorama of the confluence of the Chuya and Katun rivers and at the petroglyphs of Adyr-Kan (or Kalbak-Tash, depending on our schedule). On the way – a story about very distant past of these places, about Katun terraces, and about heroic drivers and builders of this amazing road.
On arrival in Aktash dinner and accommodation at two tourist campsites (Approximate time of arrival 20:00).
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2 DAY

At 7:40 morning exercise for those who wish.
At 8:00 breakfast.
At 9:00 on our comfortable bus we leave for Mongolia. Today the road is close, about 80 km. On the way we will make two stops to see the panorama of the Northern Chuysky ridge and Geysernoe lake, which with its amazing, and not freezing even in winter, “turquoise eye” looks into the sky.
In the village of Chagan-Uzun we will change to off-road vehicles and “fly into space”. In fact, in order to see Martian red mountains and lunar landscapes, it is not necessary to fly into space, it is enough to come here, where in 70 km from the border with Mongolia we are waiting for terracotta, lilac, orange, red mountains of Altai Mars and whitish mountains of the local Moon. We will both look at the mountains from above and get a certain share of adrenaline from off-road travelling. Here, under Mars-1, we will have lunch and go on the first trekking to Mars-2 along the valley to the “alien places” (trekking total about 4-5 km)..
Closer to the evening return to the base in Aktash, dinner and rest. And don’t forget to charge all phones and camera batteries. We will need them tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.


ICG SB RAS publishes the Almanac “My Siberia” about unique natural objects, amazing animals and plants in the Russian language. The first issue of the Almanac includes an article about this unique location – “Altai Mars” (read the article from page 55 of the file“).

3 DAY

At 7:40 morning exercise for those who wish.
At 8:00 breakfast. Handing in the rooms.
At 9:00 we leave for a new adventure, we go to the valley of the Chulyshman river. Here, in Aktash civilisation, cellular communication, internet, electricity and good roads end. We change our bus for a suitable transport. And the real Altai begins, we go to the places where only hunters and fishermen used to walk quite recently.
After about 100 kilometres of the way, which seemed to be close, but the way along these roads is not close, and here it is, the first reward – the most picturesque pass of the Altai Mountains – Katu-Yaryk mountain pass.

From the height of 900 metres you will see a magical secluded land of waterfalls and rocks – the valley of the Chulyshman River. Stunning views from the pass are breathtaking, and you will remember the descent from the pass (on foot or by car) 3.5 km down the mountain serpentine for a long time. To the right and left goes a narrow valley of a full-flowing river framed by high rocks. And right in front of you, on the other side of the gorge, a beautiful waterfall rushes into the valley from almost a kilometre high precipice.
After lunch at the camping site right below the pass, time to stretch your legs – cross the river and trekking to the Kurkure waterfall (total about 6 km.) on a flat path along the valley framed by rocks), we will explore the valley on the right side of the pass, if you look from above. Then we return to the foot of Katu-Yaryk pass and on our transport we leave to the left part of the valley (about 35 km more), approximately in its middle, directly to the foot of Stone Mushrooms.
Dinner and accommodation in tourist camping, in wooden huts or ailas, facilities on the territory of the base. Remember about the absence of civilisation? Electricity at the camping site from the generator and only for a couple of hours. Here our phones are needed only as photo and video cameras. And the silence is broken only by the noise of the river Chulyshman, which carries its waters through the whole valley to the south of Lake Teletskoye. It is the best place to meditate and free your head from the city fuss. And the Altai bathhouse will help you in this )).

4 DAY

At 8:30 morning exercise with a view of the mountains on the bank of the river, for those who wish.
9:00 breakfast.
Today we’re not going anywhere. A day of enjoying the atmosphere of the valley.
Still, we will need some strength. In the morning, a short walk across the river by boat to the other bank and we will go to one of the Altai “wonders of the world”, our third trekking to the Stone Mushrooms. In the gorge of the Kara-Su valley there are several dozens of 5-7 metre “giants with huge hats” created by nature (massive stone blocks – “caps” of these “mushrooms” rest on “legs” made of clay, sand and small rubble without any cement). Wind, water and years have created this mysterious miracle with tonnes of stone and you can witness it.
Today we will be going uphill, so everyone will need to assess their own abilities. The trail is not difficult and there are three variants “steep” for advanced athletes, “medium” for those in good shape and for “dummies”. Climbing takes about an hour, and from the top there will be waiting for us huge stone stupas frozen in the form of mushrooms, and a unique amazing view of the Chulyshman river valley.
After returning to the base we will have lunch and rest. And closer to the evening the cultural part of our tour – time to hear unhurried stories of Altai people and dream under live throat singing.
Dinner and real Siberian Altai bath. Rest, contemplation of close and very bright stars, just in August it is the time of starfalls, and you can make your cherished wishes.

 

5 DAY

At 7:30 morning exercise with a view of the mountains on the river bank, for those who wish.
At 8:00 breakfast and room check-in.
At 9:00 we go to the end of the valley (about 37 km.), to meet the pearl of the Altai Mountains – Lake Teletskoye and travel by speedboat on its water surface. You will enjoy the views of small waterfalls and rivulets flowing into the lake, views of rocks and the beauty of the coastal reserve. We will stop and walk to the Korbu waterfall, and those who wish can buy souvenirs to remember this journey. We will cross the whole lake from south to north and on arrival to the village Artybash, lunch and our comfortable bus are waiting for us. And by the way, here civilisation will start again, telephones will certainly make themselves known.
Return on a beautiful forest road from Artybash from the shore of the Teletskoye Lake to Novosibirsk (about 590 km). On the way we will stop to buy real Altai honey and for dinner. Arrival in Akademgorod late in the evening, closer to midnight.
Minor changes in the programme are possible (depending on weather conditions, by agreement with the customer of the group).


June 2021: participants of the post-conference tour to Altai “Legends of Lake Teletskoye” (ICG SB RAS conference: PlantGen-2021).

The tour price includes:

  • Accommodation in tourist camping in 2, 3 or 4 local rooms (or houses) in Aktash village with conveniences in the room, in the valley of the Chulyshman river in wooden houses\auls with conveniences on the territory.
  • 3 meals a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner) on all days.
  • All transfers according to the tour programme.
  • Accompanied by a professional guide.
  • Trekking to Kurkure waterfall, river crossing.
  • Trekking to Stone Mushrooms, river crossing.
  • Trekking-walk to Altai Mars.
  • Excursion “Altai Mars 1, Mars-2, Moon”.
  • Excursion on boats on the Teletskoye lake with a visit to the Korbu waterfall.
  • Concert of throat singing.
  • Visit to the place with petroglyphs.
  • Visiting the Geyser Lake.
  • Visit to the Chike-Taman mountain pass, panorama of the confluence of the Chuya and Katun rivers, Katu-Yaryk mountain pass.
  • Medical insurance, including accident insurance.
  • Bathhouse on the 3rd and 4th days of the tour.

The cost of the tour does not include:
personal expenses, Altai souvenirs…

Tour Cost:
Depends on the number of applications submitted for participation in the tour:
74 500 RUB. (if the group is more than 31 people).
78 800 RUB. (if the group size is from 24 to 30 people).

For foreign citizens who do not speak Russian:
84 000 RUB. (includes the services of an English interpreter)

If you are interested in the tour and wish to take part in it, please fill in the tour application form and send it to Belkova Oksana’s e-mail – belkova_ov@inbox.ru (+ copy to the organizing committee bgrs2024@bionet.nsc.ru)

Best regards,
long-time organiser of the tour – Odyssey Travel Agency Ltd.