An off-road expedition

to the Altai Mountains, spring

An off road expedition to the Altai mountains


It is real off road expedition to a wonderful spring nature of the Altay Mountains along the Chuya highway to the very border with Mongolia, where unique thermal radon springs are located high in the mountains. It is the favorite season in the Altay for many photographers and devotees of the Altay scenery.

You travel to:

		Challenge yourself in an off-road expedition and taste the spirit of adventure and real expedition!

		See how Rhododendron ledebourii blooms covering mountain slopes with purple blossoms.

		Drive along the entire Chuya highway – one of the world’s most beautiful mountain roads leading from the north to the south. (and the most beautiful Russian road according to the National Geographic).

		Get acquainted with ancient cultures of the Altay, the widely accepted cradle of mankind. See stone sculptures, petroglyphic drawings and scriptures, burial mounds and shamanic sanctuaries.

		Walk in the mountains along the Great Silk Way at the peak of a ridge above the Katun and explore an abandoned Kalgutinsk factory and mine in search of interesting minerals and artifacts.

Brief overview:



	• The organization fee covers: the on route work of a guide-organizer, the transportation on the expedition vehicle, the accommodation in the expedition camp, travel meals, excursions, stay at a tourist base (1 night on the way back) and a Russian steam bath, personal invitation for Russian visa.

	• Time for the expediditions: from the end of April to May

	• The starting and finish point: city of Barnaul, Russia

	• Duration: 11 days

	• Number of participants: 2-8 people

	• Price per person: about 900-1100$ (for more details email us)


	Photography: landscapes: mountains, rivers, lakes, first spring blossoms, historical places of interest; travel-photography: people in expeditionary conditions, events and meetings on the way.

	New knowledge and experience: ancient cultures and history of the Altay (petroglyphs of Kalbak Tash, the Great Silk way, the Chuya highway, stone sculptures and burial mounds), nature studies (lots of flowers), challenging oneself and developing optimism in the expeditionary conditions.

	Activities: photography, acquaintance with the nature of the Altay in spring and walks in the mountains. Here you will find harmony and tranquility and at the same time research passion, evening get-together around the campfire and a true zest of adventure.


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Expedition map. Altai from north to Sourth

An off-road expedition to the Altai Mountains

Siberian Expeditions Team

Abundant blooming of Rhododendron ledebourii starts in early May and lasts for a few days only. And in this very period of time lots of people come to the Altay mountains to fling themselves into a lilac and purple sea of the Altay spring, which is its most characteristic feature. The tops of high mountains are still covered with snow, leaves are shooting forth and first blossoms bloom in the last year’s grass.

We will drive through the entire Altay Mountains, along the Chuya highway to the very foot of the Ukok Plateau. We will go over two high passes, along the Chuya and the Katun making numerous stops to take photos and go on excursions. Our goal is to reach the pass Teplyi Klyuch. There we will rest in warm radon springs.

A separate aim of our journey is exploring abandoned Kaltuginsk factory where earlier moly and tungsten ore was produced.

The spirit and idea of our expedition are based on adventures and excitement. We will have long walks around interesting places, joke and talk, enjoy the purest nature and a special atmosphere of the Altay mountains. It is a perfect recharge after a long and gray winter.

		Ruslan, the leader of the journey

		An organizer and a member of expeditions and journeys since 2003 (from Altay and to Norway and Spain).

		Vladimir, the driver of Russian 4WD van «Kuzya»

		Эксперт по бездорожью. Сам Беар Гриллс доверил ему свою жизнь во время своей поездки по Алтаю.

		Evgeniy, the driver of Russian 4WD van «Filya»

		An experienced traveler in the Altay Mountains.


Why you should take this journey with us:

	You will be taking part not in a tour or a trip, but in a real expedition,with its objectives, uncertainties, research and its unique atmosphere. You will feel like a hero of the childhood books, Indiana Jones — this is the very authentic adventure tourism, which almost no one can offer in Russia.	You will discover a totally new world! Will we not only show you beautiful scenery, but also give an extensive amount on knowledge on history, archeology, ethnography, culture and wildlife. You will see how beautiful our planet is.

	You will get a unique life experience. No one returns the same person from this expedition: there is a reassessment of values in life; there are interesting and reliable new friends, even the eyes of the travelers become wiser and happier, and more different.	You are not a customer, you are a part of the team. We will explore and change the world together. As a rule, the expedition is just the beginning — we can work together on the received materials or carry out further joint projects.

Reviews and impressions of other expeditions:

Maria	In May I joined the journey to the Altay Mountains organized by the Siberian Expeditions. I enjoyed a well-thought route and the possibility to go off route at the same time if there was such a wish. It is impossible to see all beautiful sights in the Altay in one journey, but we managed to see many of them. I liked it very much that we were told about the Altay history, animals and plants. The journey gave me loads of positive emotions and the wish to return to the Altay.	Anastasiya	In May I joined the journey to the Altay Mountains organized by the Siberian Expeditions. I enjoyed a well-thought route and the possibility to go off route at the same time if there was such a wish. It is impossible to see all beautiful sights in the Altay in one journey, but we managed to see many of them. I liked it very much that we were told about the Altay history, animals and plants. The journey gave me loads of positive emotions and the wish to return to the Altay.

Spring in the Altay Mountains. The turquoise Katun

Day 1. The turquoise Katun

We will start from the Barnaul after lunch and will drive towards the Altay mountains. In the evening we will set camp on the Katun bank in the piney wood. Here we will walk, enjoy the scenery, have rest and get accustomed to the climate.

Rally: about 420 km (smooth road). Breakfast, lunch and dinner served in cafes. Overnight in the house or lodge.

Altay mountains spring, To the Chuya highway

Day 2.
To the Chuya highway

We will drive further south along the Chuya highway. If it is a high season for Rhododendron ledebourii blooming, we will be surrounded by lilac and pink mountain slopes and a pleasant scent of this beautiful plant. We will ascend to Seminskiy pass (1,171 m) and drive further after having a walk in the cedar wood — the next long stop will be at the top of Chiket-Aman pass (1,295 m). After descending from the pass, we will turn from the highway to the Yaloman river where we well set our camp in a nice pine forest.

Rally: about 165 km (smooth road). Breakfast and lunch in cafes, dinner cooked on the campfire. Overnight in the tent camp.

Altai - The walk along the Great Silk Way

Day 3. The walk along the Great Silk Way

We will turn from the Chuya highway into mountains to a little-known shamanic sanctuary with petroglyphs. Then we will drive further in the mountains to the remains of the winding Great Silk Way. As long as the road is passable, we will drive, and then walk. We will be surrounded by first gentle spring colors and breathtaking mountain scenery. Rally: about 44 km (smooth road, then mountain dirt roads).
Walk: about 3 km. Breakfast and dinner cooked on the campfire, snacks for lunch. Overnight in the tent camp on the bank of the Yaloman river.

Day 4. Along the Chuya

We will drive to the confluence point of the two main Altay rivers — grayish-brown Chuya and turquoise Katun. It is the place of overwhelming beauty and atmosphere. The next stop will be at petroglyphs of Kalbak Tash where our guide will tell us in detail about the mindset of ancient people. In few hours four-thousand-high mountains of the North-Chuya ridge will appear on our right – that will mean we’ve reached Kurai steppe. It is a completely different Altay. In a couple of hours we will enter a high-altitude Chuya basin, where we will located in the yurt camp.
Rally: about 170 km (smooth road, then mountain dirt roads, fords). Breakfast and dinner served in cafes. Overnight in the yurt camp.

Day 5. Altay off-road

We will wake up early in the morning. Today we will leave the smooth Chuya highway and set into wild mountains. We will ascend to the altitude more than 2,000 km to warm radon springs. In this season there is almost nobody here — and we will be all alone in the snowy mountain off-road. In order to reach our destination, we will need to use our brains, and also take a turn with a spade. There will be real challenge and adventures which bind the whole team and leave an unforgettable impression. That is what we came here for.
Rally: about 120 km (smooth road, then mountain dirt roads, fords and snowy off-road). Breakfast served in a cafe, dinner cooked in the oven in a house. Overnight at thermal Dzhumalinskiye springs.

In the wild Altai, thermal Dzumalinskie springs

Days 6. At thermal healing springs

We will have rest, enjoy the scenery, bath in thermal springs, and go on excursion to the abandoned Kalgutinsk factory.
Rally: 0 km. We will cook and spend night in houses at Dzhumalinskiye springs.

Altai,Climbing to 3055, view of the Belukha

Days 7. Climbing to 3055, view of the Belukha

Today, we go up to the mountain, altitude 3055 meters. From the top of the mountain can be seen Belukha (4506 m, the highest mountain in Siberia) and the Ukok Plateau (Unesco). You can bring the flag of your country, to make the legendary photo that will show your grandchildren!
Rally: 0 km. Walk about 7 km. We will cook and spend night in houses at Dzhumalinskiye springs.

An off-road expedition to Altai wron North to South

Day 8. Exploring the Kalgutinsk mine

We will go on excursion to the abandoned mine in the near gorge, at the altitude of almost 3,000 m. As long as snow allows, we will drive. Then we will walk. Last year our team began the research of this interesting place.
Rally: 5 km. Walk about 4 km through rough terrain. We will cook and spend night in houses at Dzhumalinskiye springs.

Day 9. To the Chuya highway

Back to the civilization. Through off-road and Chuya steppe we will drive to the Chuya highway and to «Kochevnick» tourist base on a bank of the Chuya.
Rally: 203 km (snowy off-road, mountain dirt roads, smooth road). Breakfast cooked in the house at Dzhumalinskiye springs, dinner served in a cafe. Night spent in houses at «Kochevnick» tourist base.

Days 10 and 11. Driving home

We will return home across already familiar Seminskiy and Chiket-Aman passes. Overnight at the turquoise Katun. Nice get-together around the fire, touching farewells, new friends and many-many great memories and impressions in the backpack.
Rally for 2 days: 795 km (smooth road). Breakfasts, lunches and dinners in cafes. Night spent in houses at «Kamlak» tourist base.

Depending on weather and road situation and other unforeseen circumstances, the organizers reserve the right to change the expedition schedule (somewhere go faster, and somewhere make a delay) if that is required from the safety point of view or in order to provide the most interesting and exciting journey.

P.S. You can order an individual expedition to the Siberian taiga, with regards to your personal itinerary. Write to us about it, we are pleased to create for you an unforgettable journey!

Organization information:

• Time for the expediditions: from the end of April to May
• The starting and finish point: city of Barnaul, Russia
• Duration: 11 days
• Number of participants: 2-8 people
• Price per person: about 900-1100$ (for more details email us)

Expedition vehicles:

An upgraded off-road Russian 4WD vans nicknamed Kuzya and van nicknamed Filya have high off-road capabilities, fitted with an inverter to recharge camera and video equipment.

Journey partners:

For mass media: For mass media: if you want to publish a well-written story and beautiful pictures about the journey, just contact us.

The organization fee includes:

• the work of the managers and guides,
• the transportation on the expedition vehicle,
• all accomodations (houses, lodges, yurt camp, tent camp),
• all excursions: petroglyphs of Kalbak Tash, Blue Spring Lake, exploring the Kalgutinsk mine, climbing to 3055
• meals: 2-3 meals/day (cafe, picnic lunch, travel meals)
• Russian sauna in yurt camp and at «Kochevnick» tourist base,
• personal invitation for Russian visa.

The organization fee does not include:

• Flight (rail transportation)

Wishes to participants

Hiking experience is desirable, but not obligatory. Expedition conditions imply that personal comfort will be somewhat neglected, and one must understand it. Expedition character of our journey implies that the happening events may be somewhat unpredictable, one must agree to it.

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I want to go to the Altay mountains this spring!

What should I do next?

Apply for participation

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Rodion, Expedition Leader & Travel Consultant

— or just call or text me at any time!

skype: rodionzhitin, WhatsApp: +79137688731

or ask me questions in my Facebook

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