Trekking to the foot of Mt. Belukha - 12 days

Belukha Peak Altai is a land that demonstrates nature's creation in all its majesty. On this trek, participants will hike for 10 days of trekking to the foot of Mount Belukha (maximum elevation is 3060 m). Although participants should be reasonably fit, this trek does not require any special skills. Here you really can touch Wild Altai and feel purity of Nature Index: AL 0101 Country: Russia Region: Altai (Altay) Tour type: mountain trekking Duration: 12 days Period: June - September(incl) Category of difficulty: NO Length of the route: 145 km

Day 1 -  Arrive in Barnaul. A representative will meet you at the airport. Travel by bus to reach base camp Vysotnik (850 m), which is situated in a picturesque place on the bank of the Katun River near the village of Tiungur. 750 km, 12-13 hours. A welcome dinner. Accommodation in tents. Sauna and communal toilets are in a separate nearby building. There is also a café, a sports ground, a parking and a small hiking equipment rental center. Day 2 -  Passing through Kucherla, last populated area on the way to the mountains. We will follow a path through the forest. Today we have to overcome the Kuzuyak pass (1513 m). The pass isn't high but the walking is pretty hard - it is a test of our stamina. We make camp in a nice meadow on the banks of the Oroktoy brook (1100 m). 6-8 hours hiking, 19 km, 600 m altitude change. Day 3 -  Ascending along the Orokto brook to the Tukhman River (2000 m). We can see how the panorama changes from taiga- deep Siberian forest to high alpine meadows. Overnight is at a picturesque place with great panorama of Mt. Belukha - the highest mountain of Siberia - and surrounding peaks. 7-8 hours hiking, 14 km, 900 m altitude change. Day 4 -  The trail we are following has the same height level and leads us to the picturesque Kulduairy Lake (2000 m). We may have a chance to see a Moral (a kind of deer) or a marmot. 7-8 hours, 20 km. Altitude change 100 m. Day 5 -  The distance of our walking is short today: a moderate ascent and then we find ourselves at a plateau with some weirdly shaped rocks and stones. After a short but steep descent we reach our campsite on the banks of the Tekeliu River (1800 m). In the afternoon we have an optional hike upstream along the river to see two waterfalls, 4 km. 3-4 hours hiking, 10 km, altitude change 500 m. Day 6 -  Crossing the Tekeliu River and climbing the Sarybel pass. After long ridge traverse and steep descent we are coming to the Yarlu valley. Then we should cross the Ak-kem River and in a half of an hour we finally reach our permanent high camp (1950 m) where we have dinner and stay for one day. There is a canteen, a sauna and a traditional Altai building - ail. This camp boasts hypnotic views of the huge snowy massif of Mount Belukha. 7-8 hours, 15 km, altitude change 600 m. Day 7 -  An excursion day to the Ak-Ojouk valley, which is famous for its seven lakes all of different hues (5-7 hours hiking, altitude change 400 m), or to the Yarlu valley - the high energy place with «stones town» which was created by people visiting Yarlu for a meditation. Day 8 -  Start the second part of our trekking. We have to work by climbing up the Karatiurek pass (3060 m). The descend from the pass is steep and goes on talus. We camp in the cedar forest. 6-8 hours hiking, 15 km, altitude change 1000 m. Day 9 -  Short ascent on a plateau – and we are descending, through the taiga, to the incomparable the Kucherla Lake (1760 m). There is a lot of fish in Kucherla. The camp is at the shore of the lake. 4-6 hours, 13 km, altitude change 300 m. Day 10-11 -  Gradual descent down the Kucherla River. We make a stop to look at the ancient petroglyphs on a rock. Return to the b. c. Vysotnik. 4-6 hours in each day. 45 km. Day 12 – Travel to the city of Barnaul

ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT We provide 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 CONDITIONS OF THE SUMMER TREKKING IN ALTAI 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 may change the itinerary due to inclement weather and other unforseen circumstances. MEALS We provide the participants with 3 meals a day. At the base camps meals are at a cafe and a canteen. On the trekking the food is cooked on the open fire by a guide. THE PRICE INCLUDES * Accommodation at base camp Vysotnik, in tents Days 1 and 11; at ‘Ak-Kem” base camp in 4 places big tents Days 6 and 7 * FB (except meals in Barnaul and on the way Barnaul - Tiungur - Barnaul) * mountain guides * trekking communal equipment * all permits and the registration * mountain insurance. THE PRICE DOESN’T INCLUDE * Airfare Moscow-Barnaul * transfer by bus Barnaul - Tiungur- Barnaul with English speaking attendant – EUR 105 p/person * 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. * HTL in Barnaul - from EUR 15.