Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Moscow. Our English-speaking guide will meet you at the international airport. Transfer to the hotel. Your first night in Moscow. Optional : bus tour “Moscow at night” or pub crawl.

Day 2

Check-out from the hotel. We will have time to explore the major highlights of Moscow : the city of great Russian history and culture. We will visit the Kremlin (former residence of Tsars and Russian Orthodox Patriarchs), St. Basil's cathedral, Red Square and the world-renowned Lenin Mausoleum. After visit to the Kremlin a short bus tour around Moscow is waiting for us. Our tour guide takes you to the “Sparrow Hills” with an observation platform which provides a fantastic panoramic view of Moscow and then through the main streets of Moscow - huge, busy and elegant at the same time. Transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Barnaul.

Day 3

Arrival in Barnaul. From the airport we will travel by bus (4-5 hours) to Lake Teletskoe. On our way to the lake we make a stop to visit the Regional Museum of History in the town of Gorno-Altaisk. Here you will learn about ancient settlements and local flora and fauna. You will also be impressed by the colourful paintings by famous Russian painter and philosopher Nikolai Roerich. Lunch. Arrival at the lake. We will set up camp and receive some information regarding the upcoming tour routes. Dinner. Overnight in tents.

Day 4

A boat trip on Lake Teletskoe to the Korbu waterfall followed by a trip to a valley through whch the river Pyzha flows (50 km). Our route passes through a roadless area which is impassable using a normal minibus. You will have the chance to experience travelling by a special 4-wheel-drive bus and enjoy a magnificent view of the mountain peaks. We will set up camp when we arrive and receive an introduction to horseback riding.

Day 5

We will ride to a valley of the river Evii. You will discover the real Siberian taiga (coniferous forest) with its famous pines, cedars and birch trees and wild chestnuts. You will relax by untamed mountain creeks or on beautiful alpine meadows carpeted with flowers. We may encounter other groups of riders here. We will spend the night in tents in a place called “Blueberry Peasant's House”. There really is a small peasant's cottage here surrounded by wild blueberries. The berries ripen by the end of summer and can be eaten. (Distance covered on horseback 30 km, 4-5 hours)

Day 6

We will ride to a valley of the river Uchal. We will be moving from taiga forest to less heavily vegetated tundra, covered with high grasses. We will camp in the tundra near a small picturesque mountain lake called “Bezmyannoe Lake” (“Unnamed lake”). Overnight in tents. (Distance covered on horseback 20 km, 3-4 hours)

Day 7

We will ride to a valley of the Ui-Karatash river. This will be the the longest ride of our whole journey. As we ride we will see some breathtaking panoramic views: sleepy mountain lakes, violent rivers, alpine meadows and majestic mountain peaks. We will have to dismount and lead the horse by rein to get past the most difficult sections of our route. (Distance covered on horseback 35 km, 5-6 hours)

Day 8

A rest day. After some challenging riding on the previous day it will be nice to have a more relaxing day. We recommend that you hike to the Forelevy Lakes (“Trout Lakes”) at some stage during the day. These lakes are full of trout. You can try your hand at fishing and, if you are lucky, you might be eating trout for dinner. You will never forget the beautiful scenery of the cascade of lakes surrounded by white mountain peaks. The highest lake is the most beautiful but getting there is not easy.

Day 9

A ride to a valley of the Samurlu river. We will ride through a mountain pass where a magnificent view of the Sumultinski ridge will open up in front of us. Later in the day we will find ourselves in a spooky and mysterious charred forest. (Distance covered on horseback. 20 km, 4-5 hours)

Day 10

We continue our journey further through a virgin taiga forest. There are two small lakes here, hidden in the middle of the forest like two beautiful pearls. Our path follows a spur of Altyn ridge, and when we get to the top we will have a magnificent view over the Abakan ridge peaks and valleys of the Bolshoi and the Malye Chili rivers, which flow into Lake Teletskoe. (Distance covered on horseback 15 km, 3-4 hours)

Day 11

The final part of our riding tour. We will ride down to the mouth of the Asparta river. (Distance covered on horseback 30 km, 5-6 hours). Here we will say “good-bye” to our new but already so close and true friends : our horses. We will take a bus back to our camp near Lake Teletskoe. A Russian banya (sauna) is waiting here for those who want to gain an unforgettable traditional Russian experience. In the evening we will gather around an open fire.

Day 12

Return to Barnaul by bus (440 km, 7 hours). Overnight in a hotel.

Day 13

Early morning transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Moscow. It will still be morning when you arrive in Moscow, because of the time difference. Transfer from the local airport to the international airport for your flight back home.