Trekking The Altai - Katunsky Nature Reserve - Demanding Version

Hike into the Katunsky Nature Reserve, one of the most scenic areas in the Altai Mountains of Siberia. Trek to the glacier laden Belukha Mountain (4503m), the highest peak in Siberia, which adjoins the Katunsky Nature Reserve.

The contrasting wild grandeur of the mountains with peaceful and picturesque vistas will ensure your trekking is very memorable.  There are many mountain lakes with turquoise waters around the Katunsky ridge. In July and August, the alpine meadows are in luxuriant bloom. In the reserve you may meet Siberian wapiti (red deer), musk-deer, brown bear, sable, Siberian weasel, squirrel, chipmunk, Siberian ibex. The elusive snow leopard and the Altai snowcock also make a home in these hills. Expert guides from the reserve will lead you.

Getting to the area is not easy, but the rewards are very rich indeed.  The trek takes us to wonderful canyons of the Kucherla river and to Kucherlinskii Lake. The Kucherla is a very attractive river with milky blue water. A circle of snow-capped peaks (3000 meters plus) surrounds Kucherlinskii lake and they are reflected in the quiet water. 

Mountain passes provide extensive panoramas of the Katunsky Ridge and ice-covered Belukha mountain. These places are a real Mecca for mountaineers and artists.

In addition to visiting a unique corner of the world, you will also learn about the ancient culture of the Old-Believers (they are ethnic Russians who split off from the Russian Orthodox Church in 1966 and sought to live a self-sustaining life, in the most remote place they could find). You will also visit the ethnographic museum in the Verhnii Ujmon village and also places connected with the expeditions of N.K. Roerikh, a famous Russian artist, traveller, archaeologist and writer.

Your guide will ensure you experience many new things about life in the wilderness. 

WWF Russia benefits from the major part of the proceeds from this trip, with the balance of the profits going to our other core charities.

Level of Difficulty: Demanding

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Moscow.  Transfer to the domestic terminal and fly out at about 23.00 to Barnaul.

Day 2  Arrive in Barnaul at about 06.30. After breakfast we transfer by bus to Gorno-Altaisk (5 hours).  Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the Museum of Nature and History (1.5 hours).  We now start a 500 km journey over the Altai mountains, travelling first by bus. Overnight in a tented camp. B, L, D.

Day 3  We now travel by car to Tyungur village on the Katun river where the headquarters of Katunsky Nature Reserve is located. The road crosses all the main landscapes of Altai (except highlands) including three panoramic mountain passes which are more than 1000 m above the sea level. During a stop at the visit-center of the Katunsky reserve you will familiarize yourself with the nature of the Katunsky ridge and the rules of conduct in the reserve. Dinner in a restaurant. Overnight in a tented camp. B, L, D.

Day 4 The Trek Begins  Today we take a 18 km hike (4 hours) through mixed forest and across big meadows to the easy mountain pass Kuzuyak (1513m) which is covered by pines and firs. Overnight in a tented camp. B, L, D.

Day 5  We trek for about 30 km today towards Lake Ahtash. The trail passes along the Oraktoi creek.  This trail has been used for over 2500 years (since the Skythian epoch). As we progress to the alpine meadows, views of Akoyuk and Altai peak appear. We will cross the pass at Tomul (2580m) then the trail follows the Muinokh Ridge.  Overnight in a tented camp. B, L, D.

Day 6  Today we will be trekking about 26 km to reach Lake Akkem. We trek westwards and ascend another pass, and here you will probably see ibex as there are salting places nearby. The trail descends to the Tekelyu river (teke = ibex in Altaian) and we stop for our lunch near a scenic waterfall.  After lunch we head up stream and as we progress we will probably hear and maybe see snowcocks.  We cross the river and then climb the grassy slopes to Parlu-Boch pass (2800m).  From the pass we can see the tongue of the Tekelyu glacier below and also 600m high cliff made out of blue clay.  To our left the Dragoon Ridge falls away to Akkem Lake. Overnight in a tented camp. B, L, D.

Day 7 For the next few days we trek in the Akkem Valley from our base camp. Today we ascend to the hanging Valley of Severn Lakes along a steep path, with great views of Bronya (3291m) and the majestic Akoyuk (3670m). We cross alpine meadows in full bloom and arrive at a series of cascading lakes. 10-12 hours of trekking. Overnight in a tented camp. B, L, D.

Day 8 Today we trek for 10 hours along the eastern shore of Lake Akkem. With splendid views of Belukha (4503m) and many other peaks already seen from different angles. Overnight in a tented camp. B, L, D.

Day 9 We hike today to the Lake of Spirits, which has mystic powers according to local people.  The lake is located in a branch of the hanging valley of the Karaoyuk creek and we need half a day for this alone.  Further exploration to Yarla Mountain (3370m) will make a total of 11 hours. Overnight in a tented camp. B, L, D.

Day 10 Climb from AkKem (this section is strenuous) to Kucherlinskii Lake and cross the Kara-Tyurek (black heart) pass. Enjoy blossoming alpine meadows and colonies of marmots, with some mountain birds occasionally flying away from us. 

Kucherlinskii Lake is strikingly beautiful, probably the most splendid in the Altai Mountains. The wildness of its banks is astounding and with a background of larch and cedar forests it is home to Siberian stag, lynx and sable.  Overnight in a tented camp. B, L, D.

Day 11 We take a radial hike to the green and blue lakes that sit along the eastern shore of Kucherlinskii Lake and then alongside Ozerny Creek. We pass several hanging valleys with waterfalls, with high peaks sitting at the ends of the valleys. Overnight in a tented camp. B, L, D.

Day 12  Today we hike to the Kul'dura-Oyuk Valley which flows into Kucherlinskii Lake from the west. From the lake, we ascend the hanging valley through stone fields. Our route finishes at the blue lake laying in the circue under a snow-capped peak (2994m). This excursion takes about 10 hours. Overnight in a tented camp. B, L, D.

Day 13 Hike to the Vysotnik tourist camping. We ascend the moraine pass, from where a farewell view opens out of Kucherlinskii Lake. A trail goes up to high terraces and down to the river, passes over the ridge covered by pure cedar forest and alpine meadows.  Overnight in a tented camp. B, L, D.

Day 14 We pass by the Tegeek waterfall and the mouth of the Tekelyushka river. We will see rocks adorned by many ancient petroglyphs. we arrive at the camp area in Tyungur. Overnight in a tented camp. B, L, D.

Day 15 Bus trip to Barnaul (or transfer to Novosibirsk). Overnight at a hotel. B, L, D.

Day 16 Transfer to Barnaul airport, depart for Moscow. Overnight at a good quality hotel. B.

Day 17 A day of sightseeing in Moscow. Overnight at a good quality hotel. B.

Day 18 Transfer to the International airport terminal for your flight home. B.

Dates: At present this is only available on a private basis                 Email for current price

Price Indication per person of a group of 8 or more people GBP / USD:  GBP1290 / USD2680

There is an internal flight included and these are purchased at the time of booking and the actual cost will depend upon market prices at the time.  Book early for the lowest price.
                                                                                                 

Travel Insurance
Comprehensive personal insurance, including search and rescue is required on this trip. We recommend the BMC policies www.thebmc.co.uk