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| Day 1. To Lake Teletskoye. |
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After a short tour around Barnaul, we will travel south to the Altay Mountains in our minibus. After Biysk we will see the beginning of the mountains — the high hills, covered with thick taiga forest. After dinner we will be on the shore of Lake Teletskoye, at a recreation center. The remaining time will be spent on acclimatization and rest after the road, we will also get acquainted with each other.
Rally: 435 km (good asphalt), meals at cafes, overnight in a recreation center on the shore of Lake Teletskoye. |
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| Day 2nd. Across Lake Teletskoe to the Chulyshman canyon |
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We will get on a boat and go on a voyage over the entire lake to the very south of it, at the mouth of the river Chulyshman. There will be stunning views around – the steep and high mountains embrace the lake, in fact, we will already be in a giant canyon. Along the way, the boat will make several stops, including at the beautiful waterfall Corbu. By lunch we will arrive to our destination — Cape Kyrsay. There we will meet Yuri, our expeditionary driver, who will be waiting for us. We will pack all the stuff in the car and drive through the canyon to the mouth of the river Chulcha and the tourist center «Stone Mushrooms».
Boat: 80 km, rally: 47 km (dirt road), overnight in a yurt.. |
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| Day 3. Excursion to the stone mushroomsв |
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We need to get to the Stone Mushrooms (Akkurum landmark) not later than 6-7 o’clock in the morning — this is the time you can make decent photos, later the mushrooms will be in the shade until the end of the day. Therefore we will rise early in the morning, take a boat to cross the Chulyshman river and climb the hill to the wooded area. In the afternoon we will get back to the camp. The remaining time can be used as you like it: fishing, walking around the area, swimming or just enjoying the perfect nature of the Altay Mountains.
Walking distance: 3-4 km, campfire-made meals, overnight in the tent camp, Russian steam bath in the evening. |
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| Day 4. To Uchar waterfall and back |
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Today we will have to walk 12 kilometers there and back along not the easiest mountain-taiga path to one of the biggest waterfalls in Russia — Uchar (160 m). One can not hear the voice of the other person next to the waterfall, even if he/she shouts. But there’s nothing to say actually … You will learn that there is a very special atmosphere next to waterfalls, some energy, and understand why they say «the most powerful spirits live near waterfalls». In the evening we will prepare all things for the onward journey through Siberia.
Walking distance: 24 km, campfire-made meals, overnight in a yurt. |
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| Day 5th. The Chulyshman Canyon |
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| We will travel along one of the most beautiful canyons in Russia. Almost 800-meter cliffs with waterfalls will rise above us. We will have to climb the tough road pass Katu-Yaryk (1652 m) to get out of the canyon. For security reasons, it is recommended to be done on foot, which is what we will do. As a reward there will be a great view of the canyon from above. After this pass, the Altay is different … Rally: about 60-65 km (dirt road, ford crossings), on foot (optional): 3,5 km, campfire-made meals, the first night in the tent camp. |
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| Day 6. Altay Scythians, Lake Uzunkol |
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We will spend the first half of the day studying the ancient Pazyryk culture — we will pass through the Valley of the Kings, visit the museum «Pazyryk» in Ulagan. If possible, do visit the Hermitage before the expedition — the best and most fantastic findings from Altay are exhibited there. In the evening we will find ourselves among the snow-capped mountains — in the forest-tundra zone, on the high-mountain lake Uzunkol (1985 m). These waters are rich in trout and peled.
Rally: 51 km (asphalt), meals in cafes, overnight at the recreation center «Uzunkol», steam bath. |
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| Day 7. Contrasting beauty of the Altay. |
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Through the Red Gate gorge we will go down the famous Chuya Highway. We will make a stop at the fantastic Blue spring Lake. An hour later, the forest will disappear as we reach Kuray. The snowy 4000-high mountains of the North-Chuya ridge will rise ahead of us — these are some of the highest mountains of Siberia. An hour later we will find ourselves in a completely different world — in the Chuya steppe at an altitude of approximately 2 km. «The Steppe» — is a very roughly made definition, it is rather a mountainous semi-desert, a Tibet-like location. In the evening there will be a concert of Altay throat singing and a chance to try the national cuisine.
Rally: 132 km (asphalt), walk: 3 km, meals in cafes, overnight in a yurt. |
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Week Two |
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A steppe world of Siberia. A deep submerge into a different reality. |
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| Day 8. Martian-like landscapes |
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In the morning we will take a short walk around the vicinity of our yurt camp – there are mountains of different colors. In the afternoon we will perform a landing on Mars in an unusual Kyzylchin landmark, where the surface of the ground is colored with different types of ancient clay – it is the only such place in Russia. We will set up a camp for overnight on the island of the Chagan Uzun river, so there will be a romantic evening and sleep with the fabulous music of the mountain river.
Rally: about 20 km (asphalt, dirt road, fords), walk: 6-8 km (along Kyzylchin) campfire-made meals, overnight in a tent camp. |
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| Day 9th. The Chuya steppe: the Museum of Siberian Antiquities |
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We will drive along the Chuya Highway across the entire steppe. There will be a short stop at Mount Zhangys Tobe located beyond the village of Kosh-Agach at the very top of which there is a secret place with Siberian runes left here more than a thousand years ago by the ancient Turks. We will see interesting petroglyphs (rock drawings) here too. Our route will turn to the Buguzun pass — the only highway linking the Altay and Tyva.
Rally: 80-90 km (asphalt and dirt road), walk: 1 km, lunch in a cafe, but dinner will be campfire-made, overnight in a tent camp.
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| Day 10th. Through Buguzun to Hindiktykul |
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We will be travelling in the Republic of Tyva. This is a completely different world, not similar to the neighboring Altay. The people here are not fluent in Russian, often living in yurts, worshipping the spirits of mountains and lighting candles in Buddhist temples. And it is Russia too. We will spend the night on a shore of a wild lake Hindiktykul where the sacred mountain of Tyva — Mongun-Taiga rises high above the water. There is an island on the lake. We will get there by a rubber boat if the weather is fine.
Rally: 55-60 km (off-road and dirt roads), meals will be cooked on a campfire or a gas furnace, overnight in a tent camp. |
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| Day 11th. In Tyva. Russian Tibet. |
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Our trip will go among the colored mountains of Tyva to the south, along the Mogun Buren river valley, where a Tibetan monastery was located in the beginning of the previous century, to the border with Mongolia. Then our route lies along the state border to the east — to the legendary Ubsunur Hollow.
Rally: 131-140 km (off-road and dirt roads), meals will be cooked on a campfire or a gas furnace, overnight in a tent camp. |
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| Day 12th. In Ubsunur Hollow. |
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Through the Kaga Dove Pass we will get into a giant intermountain Ubsunur Hollow– a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the heart of Tyva — the land of sandy deserts, salt lakes and tribal shaman mountains. We will set up a camp for the overnight near the giant Ubsunur lake.
Rally: 210-230 km (good dirt road), meals will be cooked on a campfire or a gas furnace, overnight in a tent camp. |
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| Day 13th. Tore-Khol – the Pearl of the Sands |
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We will find ourselves among the sands at the only freshwater lake in the basin. By mid-August, the water in the lake can warm up to 21⁰C, so it is like a resort for us. We will rest from driving till the end of the day.
Rally: about 170 km (good dirt road, sand roads), meals at cafes, overnight in a yurt camp on the shore of the lake, steam bath. |
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| Day 14. Tsugeer Els — the northern edge of the Gobi Desert |
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This is a day for a small hiketo the sand dunes of Tsugeer Els — they are the most northern part of huge Asian deserts, and, together with the sands spreading further to Mongolia, they are also known as the «Little Gobi». In the evening we will get back to the Tore-Khol and have a rest in yurts. Perhaps there will be a theatrical shamanistic ritual.
Rally: about 30 km (sand roads, off-road), walk: 1-3 km (over the sands), meals at cafes, overnight in a yurt camp on the shore of the lake. |
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Week Three (Stage 2) |
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The Sayan Mountains. A challenge in the country of mountain spirits. |
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| Day 1. Kyzyl city — the center of Asia |
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We will travel to the north in the direction of Kyzyl — the capital of Tyva. On the way, we will stop at the sacred shamanistic mountain Kezhege and at the salt lake Dus-Khol. Later in the afternoon we will take a tour around Kyzyl: the Yenisei embankment, where the famous obelisk «The Center of Asia» is located, the temple of the shamans «Tos Deher», a Buddhist temple Tsechenling and prayer wheel in the main city square Arata. Meeting with participants of the 2nd stage of the expedition and departure of the members of the 1st stage of the expedition.
Rally: about 280 km (dirt roads, good asphalt), meals at cafes, overnight in a city hotel. |
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| Day 2. Along the «Yenisei» highway to Ergaki |
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A farewell morning walk around town (if we suddenly find out that we have missed something day before) and off will we drive further to the north — to the Sayan Mountains, the Ergaki ridge. It is a completely different world — the taiga mountains, where fantastic shapes of rocks and quiet lakes create a unique image of the fairy tales about mountain spirits. After the Tormazak bridge we will stop at the touristic camp, check in at the Ministry of Emergency Situations and prepare to march to the Ergaki. Later we will admire the Sleeping Sayan mountain in the evening light.
Rally: 102 km (fine asphalt), meals at cafes, overnight at the campsite. |
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| Day 3. The Ergaki. To the Hanging Stone. |
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We will take our backpacks, walk along the taiga path to the lake Karovoye, and set up our tent camp. Then we will go with light baggage to the Hanging Stone – a 100-ton boulder located on a cliff, the stone seeming to fall into the abyss with a light touch of a finger.
Walking distance: 4.5 km with a backpack and 1.5-2 km with off-backpack (taiga path, wild rocky slope) campfire-made meals, overnight in a tent camp. |
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| Day 4th and 5th. More Ergaki |
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This compact National Park is often called a paradise on Earth. Yes, the weather here is not perfect, rains and fog are a usual thing, but the views are so impressive and so rapidly changing that it can be very difficult to turn the camera off (a full memory card on the second or third day in Ergaki is a very common problem). The paths are also difficult and sometimes even dangerous here (if you go without safety precautions), but it is worth it. Our main goal is the Artists lake and the space-like mountain Parabola.
On foot: 18 km (challenging mountain trails, 1A passes), meals cooked on the gas burner, overnights in tents. |
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| Day 6th. Return from the Ergaki |
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This day we will go back to the touristic camp. There we will take the backpacks off and rest before going on a long journey.
Walking distance: 3-7 km with a backpack, cook over a campfire, and overnight at the campsite, steam bath. |
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| Day 7th. Shushenskoye, Ethnographic Museum |
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We will descend from the mountains. The landscapes around us will become more and more similar to the whole central Russia — we will be in the Minusinsk basin, at an altitude of just 200 m. above sea level. It is a unique place for Siberia: even apricots grow here ripe because of the climatic conditions. There will be a long stop in Shushenskoye — a village of the early 20th century, which has no analogues in Russia. In the evening we will admire the impressive hydro power plant, and just an hour later set up the camp in the steppes of Khakassia, on the Yenisei bank.
Rally: about 220 km (asphalt), meals in cafes, overnight in the tent camp. |
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Week four |
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Khakassia. An upgrade to a new level. |
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| Day 8th. In the great Khakassia |
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There are many good books about Khakassia being written lately, some documentaries began to appear (we recommend to watch and read them before the journey), but a presence in this ancient and truly great land can not be compared to anything. There is something primitive in it, something that connects you with the all humankind and its true needs. We will go through Abakan to Salbyksky mound, and then towards the Sunduki where we are going to set up our camp.
Rally: 300-350 km (asphalt, dirt roads), meals at cafes, campfire-made meals, overnight in the camp. |
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| Day 9th. The Sunduki |
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A research walk over a small mountain ridge Sunduki. Being here without prior information or preparation is mostly a waste of time, so you would better spend some time studying this phenomenon at home — then you’ll have a right and proper meeting with the Sunduki. Later in the afternoon we will drive towards the Efremkino village, on the way turning to the Tuim deep.
Rally: 100-150 km (asphalt and dirt roads), walk: about 5 km (in the Sunduki), cooking over a campfire or on a gas furnace, overnight at the recreation center in Efremkino. |
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| Day 10th. Along the Path of ancestors |
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Last active day of our trip is special: we are going on a ten-kilometer path along the steep banks of the White Iyus. Shaman Trail, Trail of the Ancestors … These are names of this place. As if in a sort of purgatory, we will go through different caves and grottos, down to the water, then climb up to the high cliffs. Past ancient drawings and runic letters in depth of the ages, to the very roots of humanity.
Walking distance: 10 km, we eat at the recreation center in Efremkino, overnight also there, steam bath. |
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| Day 11th. Going home |
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Our more than three weeks of immersion in Siberia will now come to an end. We will go to Krasnoyarsk — the city with almost one million people population on the banks of the Yenisei river. We will see the road home before us and expect a nice, long digestion of information and experience obtained during the trip. We all will be changed, no doubt about it — the Siberia will make us different: wiser, happier and greater, more Siberian …
And thus- more real. |
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Given the unpredictability of the weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances, our schedule may change a bit: perhaps we will have to speed up somewhere, or vice versa — we will be ahead of time. There are also other possible actions according to circumstances. The main thing to remember is that
we are all a team, united by a common purpose. And that means that no Siberia can be too challenging for us. |
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