Comfortable sightseeing tour

Day 1 Botanical garden and a cheese-making master class

After meeting at the airport of Gorno-Altaisk, you will be transferred to the botanical garden. More than 2000 species of plants from different natural and climatic zones of Altai, as well as other regions of Russia and the world grow on its territory. On the way, you will have breakfast in a cafe (extra charge). 

Then you will be taken to Ust-Sema village, where you will check in at the tourist base. After a short rest, you will go to the cafe for lunch. Then a cheese-making master class awaits you: you can choose fillings and create your own recipe. Dinner will take place in the cafe.  

Stage length: 90 km by bus, 1 km on foot.

Day 2 Che-Chkysh gorge and the waterfall on Katun river

After breakfast, you will travel up the Katun River. You will see the narrow, hidden from prying eyes Che-Chkysh gorge. In ancient times, Altai tribes hid here. Surrounded by cliffs, a mountain stream flows here and forms a tiny waterfall. Up the trail, at the observation point, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Katun Valley.

After lunch in a cafe, you will come to Cheposh village. Here you will start rafting down the Katun River. You will be instructed and given the necessary equipment. You will pass the Seminsky rapids and make a stop at the picturesque Kamyshlinsky waterfall (12 m).

In the evening you will return to the base and have dinner.

Stage length: 145 km by bus, 15 km on rafts, 1 km on foot.

Day 3 Chuysky Tract and Karakol Valley

After breakfast, you will continue the journey along the Chuysky Tract, one of the most beautiful roads in Russia. 

There are many famous natural and historical sights along the Chuisky Tract. On the way, you will overcome its highest point, the Seminsky Pass (1717 m), and admire the panorama of the Altai Mountains. Then you will reach the Uch-Enmek Natural Park and have lunch in a national cuisine cafe.

Then you will have a tour of the Karakol River valley. It is one of the largest historical sites in the region, where traces of many Altai cultures have been preserved. There are groups of ancient burial mounds and a large number of rock paintings in the valley.

You will continue to travel along the Chuisky Tract and overcome the Chike-Taman pass (1295 m). You will also visit the Kalbak-Tash Complex, where more than 3000 rock paintings named petroglyphs are preserved. The oldest of them belongs to the 8th millennium B.C

Stage length: 345 km by bus, 1 km on foot.

Day 4 Geyser Lake and Altai Mars

After breakfast, you will drive along the Chuysky tract toward the Mongolian border. On the way you will make a stop in the Kurai steppe, where you can see snowy peaks of the North-Chuysky mountain range: Aktru-Bash (4075 m) and Karatash (3534 m).

Then you will reach the Kyzyl-Chin River valley, called Altai Mars. Due to the high mercury content, the surrounding mountains are colored in various shades of red: from bright orange to dark brown. A picnic lunch will be organized on the route.

On the way back you will walk to the famous Geyser Lake. It has an amazing bright turquoise color and does not freeze in winter. At the bottom of the lake, geysers draw bizarre patterns with bluish clay and sand, forming visible circles.

In the evening you will return to the tourist base and have dinner.

Stage length: 180 km by car, 4 km on foot.

Day 5 The Chulyshman Valley

In the morning, you will have breakfast and then move to the Chulyshman River past a picturesque place called Red Gates. The road here passes between reddish-colored rocks and lakes of the Ulagan plateau.

You will visit Pazyryk Kurgans, an ancient burials of noble nomads and tribal leaders dating back to 7-6 centuries BC. Then the road will run through the Katu-Yaryk mountain pass, which you will climb on foot. From there you will have an excellent view of the Chulyshman Valley and a waterfall falling from 100 meters height. The Chulyshman Valley is listed as a World Natural Heritage Site.

A picnic lunch will be held in nature. Then you will be accommodated at the tourist base in the Chulyshman Valley. In the evening you will have dinner and a folklore program: a throat singing concert with playing traditional musical instruments.

Stage length: 120 km by car, 3,5 km on foot.

Day 6 Uchar waterfall or rest day

Today after an early breakfast, you have an opportunity to make a long trekking to Uchar waterfall (11-13 hours). 

The waterfall is located on the Chulcha River. It is the largest cascade waterfall on Altai, height of 160 meters. On the way, you will overcome several fords. The total length of the route is 16 km in both directions. A picnic lunch will be organized near the waterfall. 

Then you will return to the base, have dinner, and go to the sauna.

In case you do not want to trek, you can stay at the base and just relax. There is also an opportunity to join motorized rafting along the Chulyshman River (extra charge). 

Stage length: 16 km on foot.

Day 7 The Stone Mushrooms and Teletskoye Lake

After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to the Karasu River valley, from where you will go on a radial trek to Kamennye Griby (Rus. for Stone Mushrooms). This is another natural wonder of Altai: high limestone pillars of bizarre shapes, resembling giant mushrooms. Please note that you will need comfortable trekking shoes for this walk.

You will have an outdoor lunch and then move to the southern part of Teletskoye Lake to Kyrsay Cape. Here you will get on a boat and go along the whole water area of the lake to its northern part. On the way, you will see the southern and northern shores of Teletskoye Lake and its most beautiful waterfalls.

Teletskoye Lake is among the 20 deepest lakes in the world. Its length is 78 km and its average depth is 175 m. During the trip, you will visit the Korbu waterfall 12 meters high. It was formed as a result of a failure of the Korbu riverbed, originating from the mountain range.

In the evening you will be accommodated at the tourist base on the lake shore and have a rest. Dinner will take place in a cafe.

Stage length: 90 km by bus, 80 km by boat, 6 km on foot.

Day 8 Yailiu Nature Reserve

After breakfast in the cafe at the base, you will visit the Yailiu Nature Reserve.

Yailiu is one of the warmest places in Siberia. The unique relief and proximity of Teletskoye Lake created here a soft humid microclimate, therefore giant plants grow in this part of the lake. The excursion will be conducted for you by a reserve expert. You will also visit the extensive orchards.

Lunch and dinner will be held in a cafe at the tourist base.

Stage length: 10 km by boat, 2 km on foot.

Day 9 Altai Republic National Museum

In the morning after breakfast, you will have a water transfer to Artybash village. From there you will be driven to Gorno-Altaisk, where you will visit the national museum of the Altai Republic.

There you will be told about the ancient and modern history of Altai, its inhabitants, their language, and religion. You will also see expositions devoted to nature, ethnography, and the fine arts of Altai. The guide will give you a tour, and tell you about the mysterious Ukok princess and the Altai legends associated with her.

Lunch will be held in a Gorno-Altaisk cafe. Then a transfer to the tourist complex in Manzherok village will be organized. There you can have a rest before tomorrow's flight home. Dinner in a cafe is paid additionally.

Stage length: 190 km by bus, 5 km by boat.

Day 10 Departure

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Gorno-Altaisk airport for your return flight.