Among the place you’ll visit are Krakol’skie Lakes, Viktoriya Waterfall and Lake of the same name. You’ll see the Lakes from the impressive height of Bagatash pass and breathe in the fresh air scented with cedarwood of Kylay ridge. As this is the light ride – on the soft parts of the road you may trot or even canter.
Please note that the itinerary may be slightly changed due to objectively reasonable cause!
Children under 18 years are allowed only if accompanied by parents.
Children over 18 years do not need parents’ permission.
- - Dates - if group consists of 4 or more riders we can organize the trip for any dates convenient for the riders
- - This ride is suitable for both experience riders and beginners.
- - English speaking guide.
Itinerary:
Day 1
Meeting point – Elekmonar village / Arrival to base camp (auto: 15 km)
So your adventure starts right now! Our off-road jeep we’ll drive you from Elekmonar village deep into taiga to the base camp of Mayak Altaya named “Sortesh” that can be translated from Altai language as “Yellow Stone”. Be prepared for a hard drive as there are no roads in taiga only directions. The road may take 2 hours but trust us: this trip is going to be fascinating! Your guides are already waiting for you at the base camp as well as hot tea made on campfire.
While your luggage is taken out from the car, make a pause: holding a mug with hot tea take some sips, look around you, breathe in fresh mountain air and feast your eyes on beauty around you. Later you’ll get your first camp-life lesson – you’ll learn how to pitch a tent. If you already know how to do it you may render your assistance to others. Your guides will give you instructions about the ride; chose a horse that will match your riding abilities and you’ll make your horseback test-drive riding.
After instructions a sauna will be served then dinner. Be prepared to listen to amusing but instructive stories about camp life in taiga.
Day 2
Distance: from base camp “Sortesh” to a camp near Karakol’skie Lakes (riding time 4-5 hrs (approx. ~ 30 km))
Hope you slept well and gained strength during your first camp night.
Today you’ll have to wake up early as adventures already await you and so many things still need to be settled. So today is your first riding day. After a nourishing breakfast your guides will help you to put your luggage into special waterproof saddle bags that locals call “archimak” and then saddle up the horse that was chosen for you yesterday. We recommend to get acquainted with your horse that will become your good friend for the whole trip. Altai horses are quite demanding: they prefer bread with salt to apples and carrots. And finally when all the preparations are done the guides shout: “Mount up!” and the trip begins.
Today the horses will take you and your luggage to a camp that will be set up in Tura ravine that is not far from Karakol’skie Lakes. The camp will be your home for the next three days.
Day 3
Light (without luggage) horseback riding to Viktoriya Lake
Your first morning in real taiga! So may tourists say that in Altai Mountains they start to see colored dreams!
Today you don’t have to pack your luggage into saddle bags, so you can spend some sweet minutes just observing the nature around you. If you are lucky enough you may even see Altai tiger! This is how the locals call chipmunks. But it’s time to move forward to see Viktoriya Lake! The guides again shout: “Mount up!” that in Russian sounds like: “Po konyam!” This is the signal to move. The path to Viktoriya Lake goes through Altai Taiga to Kylay ridge. Then the horses through alpine meadows of Kylay Mountain will take you down to the lake. There you may see partridges, wild ducks and even dams constructed by beavers. There just on the shore of the lake you’ll have a lunch. After the lunch a walk along the lake to the waterfall is planned so why don't you take this opportunity to rest up and catch your breath before new adventures that lies ahead?
After visiting the waterfall the horses will take you back to taiga camp. The sun in mountains sets down early so even if it not so late you can see the sky covered with billions of stars and even Milky Way can be clearly seen!
Day 4
Light (without luggage) horseback riding Distance: from Tura ravine to Karakol’skie Lakes to Muikhta ravine and then to back to Tura ravine
Another day – another adventure! Today an eventful trip awaits you. After nourishing breakfast you’ll ride towards Karakol’skie Lakes. There you’ll stay to walk to the upper Karakol’skoe Lake. Just imagine – you’ve got a chance to slide from a glacier! The snows do not melt even during summer months! Ask your guides to treat you to unique Altai ice-cream – the ice-cream that may be cooked only in the mountains! If the weather allows you may even swim in one of the bracing glacier lakes.
But back to horses! So many places are to be visited today! You’ll ascend to Bagatash pass. From the pass you may feast your eyes on the beauty of Karakol’skie Lakes from a bird's eye view. And back to camp again. On return those who are ready to try their hand in fast horseback riding may trot or even canter. This evening is going to be the last in wild taiga and it’s better to spend it near the campfire listening to the stories of guides or the other riders or telling your own stories. If the weather allows: there are no clouds in the evening sky and the air is warm you may spend this night sleeping not in the tent but just in your sleeping bag under a cedar! Sounds a bit crazy but it worth it!
Day 5
Distance: from Tura ravine to base camp Sortesh (riding time 3-4 hrs (approx. ~ 20 km))
It is sad but it’s time to come back. So pack your luggage say “thank you” and “good bye” to your taiga camp, saddle up horses and start off to the base camp where a hot sauna will be waiting for you. Have your last camp dinner, say goodbye to horses and guides and enjoy your last night in mountains.
Day 6
Departure
At 7 a.m. our off-road vehicle (jeep or truck) will be waiting for you on the base camp and about 9 a.m. you will be in Elekmonar village. We will take care of your transfer to the airport or bus station.
If only you have free time left we are ready to offer you a day-long auto or horseback riding excursion.
For all additional trips and tours see “Horseback riding trips”.
Do you have questions about this ride itinerary?
Are you ready to book?
Please call or email us for more detailed information.
The trip price includes:
- accommodation on base camp and food;
- transportation to base camp and back;
- -food on route;
- tack and equipment lease;
- groom services;
- guide services;
- horses lease;
- sauna;
- insurance certificate.
We also provide you with the following tack and equipment:
- saddle bags;
- specialized raincoats;
- tents;
- ground mats,
- drybags;
- plates, knives, forks, spoons, kettles and so on.
