Discover the Altai Natural Biosphere Reserve

1 DAY: GORNO-ALTAYSK – LAKE TELETSKOE
Arrival to Gorno-Altaysk.
Meeting at the airport with a guide.
Transfer to the hotel on Lake Teletskoe (village of Artybash), check in.
Lunch at the hotel.
Free time.
Dinner at the hotel.

2 DAY: TELETSKOYE LAKE
Breakfast at the hotel.
Boat trip on Lake Teletskoye. Visit to the village of Bele – the cordon of the Altai Reserve.
The day is dedicated to sailing on a boat on lake Teletskoye. During the tour, we will dock in small bays and admire waterfalls, including the most beautiful waterfall of lake Teletskoye – Korbu waterfall. We will cross the entire water area of the reservoir (80 km), visit the southern tip of lake Teletskoye and dock at the Bele terrace – the warmest place in the Altai. Bele is one of the most beautiful places on lake Teletskoye, part of the Altai nature reserve. There are apple and pear orchards, apricot and almond trees. We will meet local residents who will treat us to a delicious lunch.
Lunch with locals.
Return to Artybash.
Dinner at the hotel.

3 DAY: TELETSKOYE LAKE
Breakfast at the hotel.
Boat excursion to the village of Yailu.
We invite you to visit the reserved area of Gorny Altai, the heart of the Altai State Reserve with orchards, surrounded by the stone shores of Lake Teletskoye. The village of Yailu is located in a place with a very comfortable and favorable climate, which allows local residents to grow fruits and berries, many of which are completely unusual for Siberia. The main attraction of the village is the locals. These are 200 people living on the shores of Lake Teletskoye in complete harmony with nature. Walk along Yailu with a local and try a rural eco-lunch at his manor – homemade cuisine made from local eco-products.
Rural eco-lunch at a local manor.
Return to Artybash.
Excursion to the center of Altai culture, master class “Altai tea ceremony“.
An excursion to the ethnographic center will allow you to immerse yourself in the world of the national culture of the indigenous peoples who have inhabited the taiga in the ancient times. You will get acquainted with the traditions of life of the northern ethnos of Altai, take part in the Altai Tea Ceremony master class, walk along the path of a shaman and listen to wonderful Altai legends performed by the folk storyteller-kaichi. Having visited the traditional dwelling of the Altai people – aile, you will taste national dishes and drinks prepared in a special way.
Dinner at the national home – aile.
Return to the hotel.

4 DAY: TELETSKOYE LAKE
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free time.
Lunch at the hotel.
Tour of the taiga apiary in the mountains, tasting Altai honey and tea.
The glory of bee products, obtained in remote places of the Altai Territory with pristine nature, in recent years differs not only in Russia, but also beyond its borders. Sophisticated gourmets and large European suppliers appreciate the high quality of Altai honey, tourists take with them fragrant barrels of medicinal honey. An excursion to an apiary in Gorny Altai is an interesting story of a beekeeper about the life of bees, acquaintance with the breeding economy of the Karpatka bee breed, as well as tasting unique beekeeping products: honey, honey in combs, propolis, mountainteas.
Return to the hotel.
Dinner at the hotel.

5 DAY: LAKE TELETSKOE – GORNO ALTAYSK – TURQUOISE KATUN
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out.
Transfer to Gorno-Altaysk.
Lunch in a local cafe.
Excursion to the A. Anokhin National Museum.
National Museum named after A.V. Anokhin is the oldest institution in the Altai Republic. The number of exhibits in the main fund is more than 66 thousand items. These are unique collections on paleontology, ethnography, works of fine and decorative applied art, early printed and handwritten books of the 17th–20th centuries, documents, photographs on the history of Gorny Altai in the 19th–20th centuries, samples of flora and fauna, a mineralogical collection. In addition, the mummy of the Altai princess Ukok is kept in a special room of the museum in the sarcophagus.
Transfer to Turquoise Katun (village of Turbaz Katun).
Excursion to Tavdinsky caves on the road.
The Tavdinsky caves are a complex of thirty caves, which are easy enough to get into – for this they have always been attractive for both modern tourists and ancient people. The history of the caves is very rich in events – it served as a temporary refuge for people in different time periods. Archaeological excavations were carried out in the cave, during which scientists found evidence of pottery and fishing activities. Items from the Bronze Age were also found.
Check in the hotel.
Dinner at the hotel.

6 DAY: TURQUOISE KATUN
Breakfast at the hotel.
Bus excursion to the Katun valley to the Oroktoy bridge.
Oroktoy bridge is on the way to the village of the same name from Chemal. He is popular due to the incredible view that opens from him. The Katun bed in this place either narrows or widens: the narrowest point of the river is right here. The famous Teldekpeni rapids are located right under the bridge and next to it. This is a large accumulation of rocky ledges above the surface and in the very course of the river, through which the mighty Katun makes its way. Seeing the swirling, powerful current of the river and the surrounding mountains is an incredibly picturesque sight.
Lunch in a local cafe.
Tour to Chemal with a visit to Patmos island.
Walk to the mouth of the Chemal River and Chemal hydroelectric station.
During the tour, you will visit the current hydroelectric power station on the Chemal river, get acquainted with the history of its construction, and walk along the goat path over the Katun. You will see the panorama of the confluence of the rivers Chemal and Katun (“Sartakpay Gate“), “Rock of lament“, visit the Orthodox chapel on the island of Patmos and the Orthodox Church of John the theologian.
Return to hotel.
Dinner at the hotel.

7 DAY: TURQUOISE KATUN
Breakfast at the hotel.
Excursion to the village of Askat, visit to the village of craftsmen.
The main attraction of the village of Askat is the houses and shops of local residents themselves. There are also numerous small exhibitions, such as “Arrow of Sartakpaya“, “Bai Terek“ and others. The family gallery of the talented Golovan family is also known, in which the artists founded an entire dynasty. You will be surprised at the variety of interesting things and art objects that are located in just a small area. These are instruments of different peoples of the world, objects for rituals and shamanic rituals, traditional canvases with landscapes on felt (Altai exclusive). And also jewelry, painted plates, interior items and other nice little things.
Return to the hotel.
Lunch at the hotel.
Free time.
Dinner at the hotel.

8 DAY: TURQUOISE KATUN
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the village of Altayskoye.
Visit to the Altai Kholmogorye Arboretum.
Spread out in a valley between hills, Kholmogorye arboretum is very popular among fans of ecological tourism. A walk in the sea of deciduous and coniferous greenery, beloved by landscape designers, is the best rest from the hustle and bustle and stress. Alpine slides and flower gardens are pleasing to the eye, plantations of medicinal herbs can impress anyone, especially the townspeople. There are enough benches, gazebos and sheds on the paths, there is a well with spring water. In addition to a pleasant walk, you will find master class on making Altai herbal teas, beer tasting on medicinal herbs.
“Green“ lunch – unusual dishes of Russian cuisine with wild plants and herbs.
Return to hotel.
Dinner at the hotel.

9 DAY: TURQUOISE KATUN – GORNO ALTAYSK
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out.
Transfer to the airport in Gorno-Altaysk.
End of the tour.

The program is preliminary.
The organizers reserve the right to replace the excursion blocks with similar ones, without changing main waypoints.

09 May – 17 May
06 June – 14 June
13 June – 21 June
04 July – 12 July
19 July – 26 July
01 Aug – 09 Aug
15 Aug – 23 Aug
06 Sept – 12 Sept
19 Sept – 27 Sept

Our prices include:

• Twin / double accommodation on Lake Teletskoe in hotel 3* (“GornoeOzero” or similar)
• Twin / double accommodation on Turquoise Katun in hotel 3* (“TourSib” or similar)
• Full board meal
• Transport service and all transfers per program
• Excursion program with entrance tickets and recreational fees when necessary
• Local English, French, German speaking guide or assistant for translation from Russian
• Visa support letter

Supplementary (for prebooking only):

• Single supplement in hotels * Please always consider a single supplement when the number of pax is odd!
• Domestic flights Moscow – Gorno-Altaysk / Gorno-Altaysk – Moscow (economy class)

* If restrictions are imposed on the entrance to museums for a certain number of people, we can serve group requests with the division of groups into smaller ones, with the predominant use of the same transport (or with a different number and capacity of transport), but with a large number of guides.
** Some museums or excursions can be excluded from the program if circumstances beyond the control of the tour operator require it (time constraints due to covid-19 / bans on the operation of facilities). At the same time, as far as possible, we will offer an alternative replacement.