Accommodation - "TurSib" Hotel, standard TWIN room in Russian old-stylized timber house, en-suite WC and shower
Full board meal - breakfast, lunch and dinner at the restaurant of "TurSib" (Russian cuisine)
Distance - 120 km, land transportation

Welcome to Altai, sacred land where cheerful and hospitable people live! We meet our dear guests upon the arrival at the airport of Gorno-Altaisk, the capital of the Altai Republic. You will be treated with traditional dishes and drinks according to indigenous customs. Local people in Altaic costumes will perform ritual songs and rites in your honor and ask bless in forthcoming travel from the Spirit-Master of Altai.
Afterwards we will come to TurSib Hotel situated at the bank of the Katun River - the largest river of the Altai Mountains. It is called Kadyn-Suu among the local people that means "Mistress" from the turkic language. The river is revered by locals and it is depicted on the national coat of arms.
You will accommodate at cozy timber cottages in Russian old-style and enjoy tasty Russian dishes based on local eco-products at the restaurant.
After lunch we will go to the most popular resort in the Altai Mountains - Chemal. Here you can see Orthodox Church at rocky Patmos Island and famous Chemalskaya hydroelectric power station.

Accommodation - "TurSib" Hotel, standard TWIN room in Russian old-stylized timber house, en-suite WC and shower
Full board meal - breakfast, lunch and dinner at the restaurant of "TurSib" (Russian cuisine)
Distance - 120 km, land transportation

After breakfast you will get acquainted with proud disposition of the Tsarina of all Altaian rivers - The Katun River. We will enjoy the breathtaking whitewater rafting at the river for 3 hours and overcome several rapids. During the rafting we will visit the Kamyshlinsky Waterfall in pine-tree forest at the river's bank.
After lunch we will go to Sokol Lodge (an awardee of the Russian Events Award-2017 competition). Here you will pass a couple of centuries ago and participate in ancient Russian hunting show with Russian wolfhounds and hunting birds. You will be dressed in costumes of the 18-19th centuries and visit hunting dog's and bird's show. Then you will study hunting horn signals and train in archery. At the end of the show you will enjoy hunting picnic.

Accommodation - "Inegen" Lodge, timber cozy cabin at the bank of the Katun River, en-suite WC and shower
Full board meal - breakfast at the restaurant of "TurSib" (Russian cuisine), lunch at the cafe of Uch-Enmek tourist complex, dinner at the cafe of Inegen Lodge
Distance - 250 kilometers, land transportation (transportation time is 4 hours, but we will have a lot of excursions, so we will arrive to the Inegen Lodge at the evening around 7-8 p.m.)

Today we will cross the whole Altai along the Chuisky Trakt. It is the road that had been connecting dwellers of Southern Siberia and nomads from Central Asia for many centuries. This is the most scenic highway in Russia which ends at the Russian-Mongolian border. Driving along the Chuisky Trakt we will watch the slowly changing of mountain landscapes from the scenic foothills to severe snowcapped peaks crowned by glaciers. We will have a lot of halts for excursions and sightseeings.
First of all we will visit cheese factory Kamlak and find out the secrets of cheese making and taste the famous sorts of cheese.
The only one European bison nursery will provides a real safari for searching these rear animals. European bisons were almost destroyed at the 1920th (there were about 40 animals). The contemporary population of European bisons is several thousands animals, but mostly they dwell at the nurseries or zoos. We will be able to come closer to them and take unique photos.
We will drive to the tops of two mountainous passes - Seminsky (1717 m) and Chike-Taman (1295 m). There is a training center for Olympic skiers at the top of the Seminsky Pass. The Siberian-pine tree forest growth at the top of the pass. Here you can find a stele in honour of the 200-th anniversary of voluntary joining of the Altaians to Russia. Chike-Taman Pass is a breathtaking mountain serpentine cutted in the rocky slope.
Ilgumensky rapid at the Katun River is one of the most awesome place at the riverside. Huge boulders lying on the riverside become hot under the sun rays, and water spins at the countless whirlpools.
You will watch large sandy terraces which had been created by the catastrophic flood at the Ice Age. Bom of the Katun River (huge rocks above the road and river) will make your journey sharp and extreme.
At the confluence of two rivers - the Katun and Chuya Rrivers - which is sacred and spiritual for indigenous people - we will admire scenic nature and ask bless from mountainous spirits. There is Inegen Lodge near to this place of power. We'll accommodate here when we drive down from the windswept pass.

Accommodation - Inegen Lodge, timber cozy cabin at the bank of the Katun River, en-suite WC and shower
Full board meal - breakfast at the cafe of Inegen Lodge, lunch - picnic on the bank of the Katun River, dinner at the cafe of Inegen Lodge (Altaic traditional cuisine)
Distance - automobile 40 km, hiking 6 km

After breakfast we will drive to the mouth of the hard-to-reach Argut River. After 2-hour walking along the old rocky path high above the Katun River we'll finally reach the mouth of the Argut River. This river is famous as one of the last habitats of snow leopard in the Altai. It is a great luck to watch the ibex because there are not more then 20 animals in the Altai Mountains. Afterwards we'll enjoy the picnic lunch and fishing on the bank of the Katun River. The evening will be marked by acquaintance with native culture. A special dinner will be served with traditional Altaic meals based on cereals, milk and meat products. You will taste boorsok - fried pieces of dough, khan - blood sausage, kurut - dried and smoked cheese, buur - barbecue from sheep liver and other meals. Afterwards you will enjoy gripping transcendental throat singing of a kaichi, a skillful performer of native epic songs.

Accommodation - "Rasul" Hotel, Siberian pine-tree timber cabin, en-suite WC. Visiting basin, sauna, hammam. Common shower in the separate building
Distance - 250 km, automobile
Full board meal - breakfast at the cafe of Inegen Lodge, lunch at the yourt camping Tydtuyaryk, dinner at the cafe of Kochevnik Lodge

In the morning we will continue our journey along the Chuisky Trakt towards the Mongolian border. We'll immerse into history and mythology of ancient inhabitants of the Altai Mountains while exploring rock drawings of Kalbak-Tash site.
Afterwards we'll explore small mountainous Geizernoye Lake (lit. geyser) in forest. It has unusual patterns on turquoise surface due to air bubbles on its bottom. Then we will arrive to the Kuraiskaya Steppe. This location provides the astounding scenes of Altai. Snow capped Severo-Chuisky mountain ridge, ascending to the 4,000 m (13,000 ft) above the see level, and winding silver band of the Chuya River will evoke your heart.
Afterwards we will explore the Chuiskaya Steppe - the coldest and most arid location in Altai. Its semi-deserts and highlands are more typical for neighboring Mongolia rather than Altai mountain ridges with stretches of coniferous forests and cascading rivers. In the outskirts of the steppe we'll visit the Kyzyl-Chin River valley. Due to its surreal geologic features embracing a various kind of red hues and extremely similar to Mars landscapes, this site is also called Mars. Sculptured by powers of nature millions of years ago these formations originated long before the birth of the Altai Mountains.
Overnight at the Rasul Hotel where we can visit a basin, bath house, sauna and hammam and relax after long trip.

Accommodation - "Rasul" Hotel, Siberian pine-tree timber cabin, en-suite WC. Visiting basin, sauna, hammam. Common shower in the separate building
Distance - 110 km, automobile
Full board meal - breakfast at the cafe of Kochevnik Lodge, packed lunch, dinner at the cafe of Kochevnik Lodge

Today we will visit El-Oiyn Festival which is held once per two years. The most skillful and nimble sportsmen and performers from the whole Altai are gathered here. We will enjoy the contest of kaichi - throat singers, watch national and wedding costume show, braid decorations, show of national dwellings. Sharp arrows will find out who is the best in archery. The strongmen will compete in lifting heavy stones. Athletes will fight in national wrestling kuresh. Also you will see national game kok-booru and enjoy swift horse racing. Overnight at the Rasul Hotel, visiting basin and other facilities for relax and health.

Accommodation - Ezen Lodge, timber cabin, shared wooden toilet and bath-house at the territory
Distance - 100 km, automobile
Full board meal - breakfast at the cafe of Kochevnik Lodge, packed lunch, dinner at the cafe of Ezen Lodge

We will continue to get acquainted with culture of the Altaians during the second day of the festival El-Oiyn. You will visit many competitions and shows.
After lunch we will drive to the Chulyshman River canyon. We will admire the river's valley and gorgeous waterfalls from the top of windswept Katu-Yaryk Pass. We'll descend to the canyon by hiking path and accommodate into the cozy Ezen Lodge. Here you will be served dinner surrounded by majestic views. In the evening you can visit bath house.

Accommodation - Inegen Lodge, timber cozy cabin at the bank of the Katun River, en-suite WC and shower
Distance - 200 km, automobile
Full board meal - breakfast at the cafe of Ezen Lodge, packed lunch, dinner at the cafe of Inegen Lodge

In the morning we will cross the Chulyshman River by boat and hike to the gorgeous Kurkure waterfall (30-40 meters height). It is not easy to come close to the waterfall due to billions of smallest sprays which make the surrounding stones slipper. But this is the proper place to feel all the power and beauty of the Altai Mountains.
After returning to the Lodge and lunch we will drive back towards the Chuisky Trakt. We will visit famous Pazyryk burial mounds of tribe leaders of Scyphian Age, which had been keeping the precious artefacts for thousands of years. In 1929 and 1940th Russian archaeologist Sergey Rudenko explored them and discovered unique organic stuff such as the oldest Persian carpet, mummy of tribe leader, Chinese wooden carriage and many other. The things had been preserved thanks to ice lenses in the burial mounds. Now they are exhibited in Hermitage Museum.
Afterwards we will drive up to the Ulagansky Pass (2300 m) where the Altaians sacrifice silk ribbons known as kyira (or dyalama) to mountain spirits and deities in order to ask bless and good way. There is a picturesque lake near the top of the pass called Kidelyu (lit. small braid). It reflects peaks of the Aigulaksky Ridge on the surface like in mirror. A lonely larch tree grows on its bank.
After short stopping we will continue our way and pass famous Dead Lakes. It used to consider that the lakes' water was polluted with mercury minerals that had been the reason of total absence of fish in the lakes. But actually it was proved that the lakes' water was clear. Fish just couldn't inhabit the lakes because of rapid Chibitka River that sources in the lakes. Now days many of the lakes have been artificially launched with fish and became a good place for fishing in the mountains.
Near the village of Aktash we will pass through Red Gates - rocky massif on the bank of the Chibitka River composed by red rocks with mercury minerals. The Red Gates used to be an obstacle on the way for vehicles and finally this part of the road was artificially widened. There is a historical inscription on the rocky surface of Red Gates dated back to 1946. It was made by a soldier who had come back home from the World War II.

Accommodation - Russian ethno-village Basargino - luxury apartments at timber cottage in Russian old style, en-suite WC and shower
Distance - 250 km, automobile
Full board meal - breakfast at the cafe of Inegen Lodge, lunch at the cafe of Uch-Enmek Lodge, dinner at the Ethno-village Basargino

In the early morning (5 a.m.) we will participate in sacred rite of feeding the fire, which is considered as one of the most prominent natural element. This rite usually opens all the religious holidays and rituals of the Altai people. We will sacrifice food and drinks to the fire, say benevolence, attract good energies and god's blessing.
After breakfast we will drive back along the Chuisky Trakt. By the way we will visit the village of Yelo, the historical place, where the first El-Oiyn had been held in 1988.
The surroundings of Yelo village had been inhabited thousands of years ago by nomadic tribes. There is a huge complex of ancient burial mounds of Afanasyevo people dated the period between the Stone and Bronze Age (3d millennium BCE). Afanasyevo people came to Altai from Eastern Europe and brought breeding skills of domestic animals.They became the first stockbreeders in Siberia. Also we will explore the largest burial mound of the Pazyryk culture in the outskirts of Talda Village (6-2 centuries BCE).
In the evening we will arrive to the fairy ethno-village of Basargino in the foothills of the Altai. You will accommodate in cozy timber old-stylized Russian houses with author's interior design. You will feel alone with beautiful nature, forget about urban bustle and can relax. Time stops in Basargino and there is no any cellular. You will enjoy wonderful meals of traditional Siberian cuisine from local eco-product made by a chief-cooker.

Accommodation - Russian ethno-village Basargino - luxury apartments at timber cottage in Russian old style, en-suite WC and shower
Full meal board - breakfast, lunch and dinner in ethno-village of Basargino

Today we will relax in the fairy village of Basargino. You will immerse into lifestyle of Siberian peasants and get aquainted with traditional occupations of peasants of Altai. We will visit the mountainous apiary and maral breeding farm. Then we will immerse into Russian culture and participate in folk programs.
You can take various health improving procedures on your own (massage or theraputic bath with maral velvet-antlers products). In the evening you will relax in Russian bath-house.

Our travel full of bright emotions and impressions will end. In the early morning (5 a.m.) we will leave for airport and departure to Moscow. Farewell!