12 days Summer Trekking in Altai to the Darashkol Lake
This trek will take you to an area of the Altai Mountains, practically unknown to tourists. The is rated 1 on the scale of difficulty, but you need a good physical condition. The maximum altitude gain in a single day is 1000 m. Taking part in this sport trekking you will traverse animal trails, ascend rocky passes, swim in transparent rivers and lakes and go up to a beautiful lake Darashkol.
Day 1 – Arrive in Barnaul, the capital of Altai Krai. A representative of «Len Alp Tours» meets you at the airport. Travel by bus to reach the base camp of Len Alp Tours Vysotnik. 750 km, 10 hours. A welcome dinner. Day 2 – Trekking Vysotnik (850 m) – the stow Elan – ancient people’s grotto - the meadow Izekeryu in the valley of the Kucherla river (1300 m). Overnight is in the trekking tents. 5 hours hiking. Day 3 – Trekking the meadow Izekeryu – the valley of the Kucherla river – the Kucherla Lake (1786 m) – upper the Kucherla River. Accommodation is in trekking tents. Food is cooked on the open fire. 7 h hiking. Day 4 - Trekking upper the Kucherla River – Lake Darashkol (2200 m). The overnight is nearby the lake in woodless zone. Food is cooked on gas. 7-8 hours hiking. Day 5 – Rest day at Darashkol. We ascend the Nemitskii stream towards cognominal glacier. We can see Mt. Western Belukha, its passes and glaciers as well as the Kapchalskii mountain pass and glacier. Day 6 – Trekking to the Darashkol Lake – the Western Ioldo-Airi pass (1A difficulty level, 2840 m) – the Ioldo pass (2850 m) - the beginning of the Kuragan River. The way up is of two types –screes and glacier. We will spend the night on a stony ground. Food is cooked on gas. 6-7 hours hiking. Day 7 – Trekking the Ioldo mountain pass–the Ioldo valley–the Arukol Lake. The route is going down along one of the Kuragan streams. 6-7 h hiking. Day 8 – Trekking the Arukol Lake – the Kuragan River named Bachanikha - kordon Kazinikha. We pass by some awesome floods. Banya (Russian Sauna) at the Kazinikha. 8 hours hiking. Day 9 – Trekking Kordon Kazinikha – the Osinovka River valley– the Alla-Askir River. The trail goes through the burnt forest and comb rock. 6-7 hours hiking. Day 10 – Trekking R. Alla-Askir River - stream Kirgis (1285m) – the Gromotukha River. The trail to Kirgis lies in comb rocks with long ascents. Behind the stream a good trail begins. 7-8 hours hiking. Day 11 – Trekking R. Gromotukha -The Katun River – the base camp Vysotnik. A tractor laid road is the final part of the trip. Accommodation at the Vysotnik BC in 2 bedded rooms. Festival dinner. 6-7 h hiking. Day 12 – Travel to the city of Barnaul.
CONDITIONS The trekkers either carry all their personal belongings plus 4-5 kg of communal equipment (tents, cooking pots) and food for 4-5 days or hire horses for the luggage transportation. The weather in mountains changes rather quickly. There may be precipitation there. The day temperature is +10+30, the night 0 +10. The guide is able to change the program because of the weather and the other troubles MEALS The company provides guests with 3 meals a day. In the base camps meals are  in the canteen. On the route  the food is cooked on the open fire by a guide . ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT The company provides the group with mountain tents, cooking pots. You should bring with you for the trekking: trekking boots, rucksack, foam sleeping mat, 3 season sleeping bag
THE PRICE INCLUDES * Accommodation at base camp as in the program * FB (except meals in Barnaul and on the way Barnaul - Tiungur - Barnaul) * sauna at the kordon Kazinikha * English-speaking mountain guides * mountain insurance * border zone permit and registration THE PRICE DOESN’T INCLUDE * Airfare Moscow-Barnaul * transfer by bus Barnaul - Tiungur - Barnaul – EUR 105 p/per * horses for the luggage transportation (EUR 22 p/horse p/day) * rafting along the Katun River to the mouth of Ak-kem River (18 km, 2h) – EUR 125 p/group up to 10 persons * Russian sauna - 1 h - EUR 33 p/group 1-10 per. * individual equipment * alcoholic beverages.