Mystery of Siberia and Altai Mountains

You will be met and greeted at the Gorno-Altaisk airport. Then have breakfast in a traditional yurt. Visit the National Museum in the capital of the Republic. You’ll learn the history of Altai and see the Ukok Plateau exhibition, then see the most famous mummy of Altai of the Scythian Period. Afterwards check in to “Zoloto Altaya” lodge. Take a steam in the best bathhouses of Altai, bathe in a vat of oregano, eucalyptus and chamomile decoction, dive into the ice font. Enjoy a delicious dinner with ingredients grown chemical-free on site. Spend the night in a cozy manor at the foot of the Seminskiy mountain range near the Belokurikha resort. It is widely known for thermal radon springs and healing mountain air.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast begin the journey into the depths of the Altai Mountains along the Chuyskiy Tract, named one of the 10 most beautiful roads of the world by National Geographic. View two main passes of Altai Mountain – Seminskiy and Chike-Taman and visit one of the most beautiful rapids on the Katun river – Ilgumenskiy. After the lunch visit the confluence of the Katun and Chuya rivers, which is sacred for the Altai people (Chuy-Oozy). Then check in to the Inegin lodge featuring houses with a panoramic view of the Katun river. In the evening walk to the observation deck above the Katun. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning drive along the Chuiskiy Tract to Kosh-Agach, the region of Altai Republic near the border with Mongolia. Visit the most famous petroglyph complex of Altai-Kalbak-Tash, admire the Chuya River, the North-Chuyskiy and South-Chuyskiy Ridges, the Kurayskiy and Chuyskiy Steppes. It will be one of the most intense and interesting transfers, not even a transfer —  a journey in a journey — the most beautiful ridges and steppes, the Chuya River’s rifts, vastness and snowy mountains. Have a lunch and walk in Kyzyl-Chin, which is called Mars by tourists because of the ancient rocks with incredible shades. In the afternoon, check in at the hotel of the Salyugemskiy National Park in Kosh-Agach, have dinner and listen to the story of the Park. Kosh-Agach district is the largest territory in the Republic, the famous Ukok Princess was found here.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After the early breakfast admire the glowing peaks of the South-Chuyskiy and North-Chuyskiy Ridge. Then travel by off road car and walk on the mountains, admire alpine meadows, mongolian landscapes and, if we are lucky, spot the mountain rams – argali.

Sailyugemskiy National Park is a specially protected natural area on the border with Mongolia. The main purpose of the park is the preservation of rare fauna listed in the Red Book such as snow leopard, Altai mountain ram argali and wild cat Manul.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning continue exploring the Chuiskiy tract. As an option climb the observation deck in the Kuraiskiy steppe, from where a wonderful view opens up towards the peaks of the North-Chuyskiy Range. Later visit the Geyser Lake. After lunch drive through the passes along the Chuiskiy tract. In the evening check in to the hotel Tanery in the pine forest. Have dinner near the bonfire on the banks of the Katun river.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, visit the Chemal village. The word Chemal means an anthill. Visit the temple on the Patmos island. View the Hydroelectric Power Plant. Shop for souvenirs, then go to the Valley of Mountain Spirits with a beautiful view of the Katun River. After lunch, travel to the Oroktoyskiy bridge to admire the Teldekpenskiy rapids from the suspension bridge. The rapids are in a long rocky corridor, which is a deep tectonic crack formed in the limestones of Cambrian.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After the early breakfast departure transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Meals: Breakfast