Group size: min. 2 people. No age limit. Children under 12 years must be accompanied by adults.
Maralnik is a mountain rose, or Ledum, or Altai cherry tree, Rhododendron Ledeburii - the plant has many names. It is a symbol of the coming spring. When sakura blossoms in Japan, the slopes of the Altai mountains are covered with lilac carpet of a mountain rhododendron. Fotostops are planned exactly in those places where this miracle of nature is best presented, so that photographers have an excellent opportunity to take unique photographs of blooming mountains. In the autumn the water of the mountain river Katun becomes unusually turquoise in color with golden mountains on the background. Greenish sandstone and clear water without impurities and sediment with mainly spring feed causes this unique phenomenon).
Tour itinerary:
Meeting in Barnaul. Transfer Barnaul - Belokurikha - Solonovka (280 km). Visit to a private goat farm and cheese factory, where more than 20 varieties of cheese are produces from goat and cow's milk, as well as Altaian sweets. If you wish, you can buy cheeses you liked. Transfer Solonovka - Soloneshnoye (65 km). Excursion to the Soloneshensky Local History Museum (entrance ticket), which presents the detailed history of the archaeological site "Denisova Cave", the culture of the Russian (Old Believers) and the Altai peoples. Transfer Soloneshnoye - Iskra (20 km). Accommodation in a tourist complex, near the enclosure for marals. Dinner. Optional: pants' bath taking. Pants' (nonossified antlers of marals) bath is a healing procedure where an aqueous extract from the boiled pants is used (at additional charge from 1200 rub./person).
Breakfast. Transfer Iskra - Denisova Cave (35 km) - the unique archeological site acknowledged worldwide, it is the place where the fossil finger of an ancient human was found. This ancient human (the Denisov man) belongs to a peculiar branch of evolution, different from Neanderthal and modern people. Transfer Denisova cave - Chibit (350 km) through the pass Keleisky (1313 m), Yabogansky (1492 m) along the Bashchelak Ridge through the Ust-Kansk hollow towards the famous Chuysky tract. Further along the Chuysky tract, up the Katun and Chuya rivers to the Kuraiskaya Steppe. The history of the tract stretches back through centuries, when it was a pack road, a branch of the Great Silk Road, a "Chinese path". The Chuysky tract is included in the TOP-10 of the best roads in the world according to National Geographic. On the way we cross one of the biggest passes - Chike-Taman Pass (1460 m), which in Altaian language means ‘Straight foot’. The pass has been known since 10th century. Now it is an abrupt serpentine road with the view point on the top. From 1996 the pass has got a status of the natural monument of the Altai Republic. Accommodation in a tourist complex. Dinner.
Breakfast. Excursion to Kyzyl-Chin, which tourists called Mars (80+80 km). On the way – photostop near North-Chuysky Range. Walking along the Martian mountains and the canyons of the Kyzyl-Chin Stream. The multi-colored clays on the surface create the sensation of another planet. Excursion to Geyser Lake - the unique one, rare in its beauty and cleanness. It does not freeze even in winter. It always looks like an "Earth eye" of an amazing turquoise color. On the mirror of the lake, you can see the streaks of round and oval shape, which are essentially a reflection of the processes occurring at the bottom of the lake, where the "geysers" spring to life, throwing out a mixture of bluish clay and sand. Dinner.
Breakfast. Transfer Chibit - Karakol (170 km). We make a stop at Kalbak-Tash mountain area and see the petroglyphic drawings (about 500 complexes, more than 5 thousands pictures). They had been made during the period from the New Stone Age to Turkic Age. The monument is situated on the right bank of the river Chuya. Visit to the historical and cultural complex Chui-Oozy, possibility to test Altaian traditional cuisine (optional at extra cost - kaan - blood sausage, kurut - cheese, boorsaki). Photostop in the Northern part of geopark "Altai", Chui-Oozy - the confluence of the biggest Altai rivers Chuya and Katun. Visit to the Altai traditional crafts center in Kupchegen: chasing, stone carving, pottery workshop, saddle-making art, embossing on the skin, felting, bone carving, wood carving, making a national costume. Accomodation in "Uch-Enmek" - hotel of Karakolsky nature park. Dinner.
Breakfast. Excursion (20+20 km) to the «Uch-Enmek» Nature Park. This park includes natural, historical, cultural and sacral complexes and objects: barrows, cave paintings, complexes of megaliths. This specially protected natural area occupies 60551 ha. Uch-Enmek Natural Park is located at the heigh of 890 - 2900 m. Visit of the Museum of Altai Culture and Life in Kulada village. The exposition of the museum displays the Altai culture and its cosmogony. Dinner. Cultural programme where you can enjoy unique throat singing and traditional musical instruments.
Breakfast. Transfer Karakol - Biysk (280 km) – the town which was built in 18th century under the decree of Peter I. Now Biysk has the status of Science City and is the main gate to the Altai Mountains. We will take a walking tour with the stops at the historical and cultural monument - Eparch Yard, Museum of the History of the Altai Spiritual Mission (entrance ticket). Founded in 2008, the museum has a collection of over 10,000 exhibits. Among them is Oktoikh, one of the first printed books in Russia. Published in Moscow in 1618, this book is considered to be the oldest exhibit of the museum. Transfer to Barnaul (180 km). Walking tour "Old Barnaul" including visit to Nagorny Park, where you can see a panoramic view of the city, visit to banking and Barnaul old promenade street, visit to the museum and restaurant "Gornaya Apteka". End of the program by 20:00 p.m.
Note:
- The Agency reserves the right to change the schedule with no changes in the volume of service provided. The duration of individual elements of tour program may change on the eve of departure and during the course of the tour. In case of the bad weather and climate conditions and due to circumstances beyond the control of the organizer (road, local administration services, etc.), the elements of the tour program can be excluded, based on the actual situation on the route.
- Attention! In case the tourist is being late or does not appear at a scheduled time and a place for the group gathering, the Agency is not responsible for the full implementation of the schedule and no costs of this tour day are refunded. Attention! When visiting active monasteries and temples, women should avoid wearing trousers and shorts. A headdress is required.
- Recommended clothing: A set of outfits for leisure and travel, a windproof and waterproof jacket, a warm sweater, two pairs of comfortable shoes, lightweight slippers for hotels, sun protection (cream, glasses, headdress), personal hygiene items.
Important information:
Attention! There may be ticks and snakes in those areas where the tour will be carried out. So we strongly recommend to observe safety measures and to ensure anti-tick protection. We recommend you to have tickicide repellents (creams, sprays), however there were no incidents of tourists catch tick-borne encephalitis in the last years in our company.
Accommodation:
|
City |
Hotels |
|
Soloneshensky rajon |
Enclosure for marals "Iskra" (shared facilities on each floor) |
|
Ulagansky rajon |
Tourist complex "Kochevnik" (en suit) |
|
Ongudaisky rajon |
Tourist complex "Uch-Enmek" (shared facilities on each floor) |
- Transport services from Barnaul during the whole tour on a comfortable bus;
- Accommodation in DBL/TRPL room: standard room with private facilities (shower, WC);
- Food - breakfasts and dinners;
- Rental of equipment;
- Excursions according to the programme;
- Insurance;
- Guide.
- Museum entrance tickets (150-350 rub/person);
- Recreation fee (100-150 rub/person);
- Russian sauna (from 500 rub/hour);
- Additional food (lunches);
- Additional excursions (from 500 rub/person);
- Private expenses.