Day 1

Arrive in Barnaul. A representative of LenAlpTours will meet you at the airport. Travel by bus to reach the basecamp Vysotnik which is situated on the shore of the Katun river near the village of Tiungur. A Russian sauna and a welcome dinner will help you to relax.

Note: The Vysotnik tourist camp is owned by LenAlpTours. It includes wooden buildings in Russian style - 2-storey hostel, canteen and sauna. There is also a sports ground and small touringequipment rental centre. Clothes and items not needed for the trek can be left at the check room. All meals are served at a set time; the organisation is very similar to a youth summer camp.

Day 2

Rest in the basecamp.

Day 3

Today we'll start with rafting down the Katun river from our basecamp to the mouth of the Ak-kem river. While rafting we'll see wonderful panoramas of the Katunski & Terektinski mountain ranges. Rafting isn't technically difficult but it has plenty of exciting experiences. After that we start trekking along the Ak-kem river and make camp in a meadow on the shore of the Ak-kem river.

Day 4

Today we'll walk along the Ak-kem river. The mountain path is hidden in the forest. "Ak-kem" from altayan language means "white water". This day can seem the longest: part of the path crosses tallus which slopes to the river. We have to progressmore slowly on this part of the way. From camp we have a superb view of the Tekeliu waterfall.

Day 5

The walk is shorter today. We will be able to see how the natural landscape changes from taiga - deep Siberian forest to wooded tundra. Today we'll reach our second base camp (2000m) where we will stay for a couple of days. There is a canteen, sauna and a traditional Altai building - ail (a wooden yurt).

Every day at this camp will begin with the impressive sight of Mt. Belukha (4506m.) - the highest mountain in Siberia. This is a huge snowy mountain massif. The scenery is hypnotic and it's almost impossible to tear oneself away from it.

Day 6

This morning there is time to relax. We will have an easy daywalk to the Yarlu valley. It looks very unusual because of its brightly coloured slopes. We'll also make a stop at a meadow of edelweisses -they scent the air with the wonderful smell of honey. Return to base camp at the Ak-kem lake by dinner. Preparation of the equipment for the morning start for Belukha climb.

Day 7

Trek to "Tomskie Nochevki" (3000m.). The path again crosses tallus fields and leads to the plateau of the Ak-kem glacier. After a 50 m bergshrund we are at Tomskie Nochevki. There is a hut situated on the moraine.

Day 8

Delone pass (3400m) - Berelsky saddle (3520m.) - TKT overnight (4115m)

Roped up we climb up the closed glacier, then we are near the Delone pass. It mostly stays covered with ice and snow throughout the year. The slope is about 60° steep. Using 6 fixed ropes we go to the top of the pass and then descend to the Mestiyski glacier. Climb up the Berelsky saddle which takes us about 4 hours. Overnight at TKT site in tents fixed on the glacier.

Day 9

Summit attempt - Belukha East (4506m) Using fixed ropes we climb up the Belukhinski pass. After doing the last 350m along the ridge we are at the summit. The way back is the same with fixed ropes.

Day 10

Backup days in case of bad weather.

Day 11

Descend to "Tomskie nochevki" is the same way of ascent. Rope parties of 2-3 pax. Descend the Delone pass using fixed ropes.

Day 12

Tomskie nochevki - Ak-kem lake. Sauna.

Day 13

Today we leave our base camp 2 and start the second part of our trekking. We will have to work by climbing up the Karatiurek pass (3060m). The descent from the pass is steep and again across tallus. After crossing the pass we are in the Kucherla valley which looks so wide after the narrow Ak-kem valley. Descending along the Tekeliushka river we have superb views of small canyons. Camp at the mouth of the Tekeliushka river.

Day 14

We continue to descend along the banks of the Kucherla river. Our camp is situated near a unique monument to the past: rocks with petroglyphs (ancient rovk paintings). We'll see the altar stones where sacrifices to the shamaan gods were made.

Day 15

This day we return to our base camp Vysotnik, from where we started our trekking. We have the opportunity to soak ourselves in the sauna, to unpack our luggage and to get aquainted with civilisation again.

Day 16

Travel by bus from the base camp to the city of Barnaul. Overnight at a hotel. The next day transfer to the airport and flight to Moscow.

MEALS

LenAlpTours provides all participants with 3 meals a day on days 1-16. In the base camp Vysotnik and at Ak-kem lake - meals in the canteen. During the trek meals are prepared by the guide or cook.

ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT

Foam sleeping mat, 3 seasons sleeping bag, 3 seasons jacket, down jacket, hat (warm and light ), good lightweight boots, waterproofs (clothing and boots), backpack.

For the ascent: plastic climbing boots, harness, crampons, ice-axe, jammer, 2 ice-screws per pax, 5 carabiners per pax.

PRICE PER PAX

Group 4-6 pax $750
Group 7-9 pax $700
Group 10 and more $680

THE PRICE INCLUDES:

-Accommodation at Vysotnik BC and BC II at Ak-Kem lake, sauna
-Full board during Altai trip
-English-speaking guide
-Bus transfer Barnaul-Tiungur-Barnaul (with picnics on the way)
-Overnight at the hotel in Barnaul.

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY AIRFARES

OR
- Horses for the transportation of personal luggage or riding (USD 20 per horse per day)
- Horses for group luggage transportation (2-3 for a group)