Arrival day. On this day, we welcome our guests, organize transfers to the Belokurikha resort for those who need it. We check into the hotel of your chosen category. There will be time for lunch and relaxation.

After lunch, around 16:00, we head out for our first excursion to the Altai Holmogory. You will be warmly welcomed and informed about their good work — the scientific community of Tomsk has developed unique methods for processing plants. While enjoying heartfelt conversations, we will taste unique delicious and healthy dishes and try local beverages! We will return to the hotel around 20:00.

This day is planned for an introductory tour of the resort, so you can orient yourself more easily; we will show and advise where to walk and what to see. During the tour, you will learn about the origins of the resort, legends about it, and we will talk about the infrastructure (we will suggest the most interesting places for independent exploration). We will show you the sources where you can collect healing water (please bring bottles).

Next, we will head to Mountain Belokurikha—a new resort under construction. We will ascend by serpentine road. Where there once stood a rock in the early 2000s, today is one of the most beautiful passes in the Siberian region. We will overcome 12 serpentine turns and 62 angles. For the convenience and safety of drivers and passengers, there are four “pockets” and three viewing platforms from which you can enjoy views of the serpentine. Next, at the top, we will learn about art objects and the “Andreevskaya Sloboda” museum. Today you will have free time for your wishes — to take a walk or go for treatments.

This day is very eventful! The day is rich and interesting since it begins the acquaintance with Mountain Altai. We will travel approximately 360 km.

We will get to know the winter Kameshlynsky Waterfall. We will cross the bridge to the other side of the Katun, take a walk a bit through the winter forest, and be amazed by the beautiful, albeit frozen, waterfall—through the ice “mirror,” you can see the powerful flow, the noise of water, and the natural beauty that will amaze. Fluffy rabbits jump around the area near the waterfall, and we will definitely feed them.

In the village of Chemal, we will familiarize ourselves with the unique Patmos Island—a temple on the island of the Katun River. We will walk to it over a suspension bridge. After visiting the temple, you can take a walk and admire the Katun River Valley, which partially freezes in winter, showing its turquoise water. We will have lunch at a café along the route, known for its excellent cuisine.

If the weather permits, we will gladly visit the Blue Lakes as a BONUS for you. The access to these lakes is not always available, only on very frosty days. But if we get to this beautiful place, you can also swim in the magical Katun water. These lakes do not freeze, and it is believed that if you plunge into the water, you can gain energy and health.

At Lake Svetloye, near the Belokurikha resort, there is a state natural complex of the “Swan” reserve. It was created to preserve the only wintering swan species—whooper swans—in Altai. Did you know that there are only two reserves in Russia where swans winter? Yes, and we proudly note that one is located with us in Altai, and the second is in the Anadyr district of the Chukotka autonomous area.

The water in the lake is clean and clear, not freezing due to the abundance of springs, hence the name—Svetloye. The water temperature does not drop below +5-6 °C. Every December, a flock of snow-white swans arrives at the swan reserve and stays to winter on the unfrozen lake, hence the second name of the lake—Swan. The first swans appeared in this area in 1967—there were only 15 birds back then, but now there are about 650 swans, and their numbers are increasing each year.

In March, the swans leave for nesting in polar regions, and as soon as the northern lakes are completely covered with ice, they return to the lake already with young offspring. To better observe these birds, platforms have been built, and feeding with special food (sold before entry) is allowed; they should not be fed with just anything… only the correct food.

On this day, after breakfast (at 9:00 AM), we set off on a very interesting journey. We will travel along the Chuysky Trakt, which is among the TOP 10 most beautiful roads in the WORLD. You will be delighted by the changing landscapes: mountains, rivers, passes, taiga, steppes (keep a camera in your hands). The Chuysky Trakt is the ancient path from Siberia to Asia.

According to some historians, the Chuysky Trakt runs along a northern branch of the Great Silk Road. Information about the tract has been traced in Russian sources since the latter half of the 18th century. In modern times, starting from Novosibirsk and ending at the border with Mongolia, it stretches for 968 kilometers. We will travel about 400 km.

In 2014, National Geographic magazine included the Chuysky Trakt in the list of the ten most beautiful highways in the world. We will pass the two mountain passes—Seminsky and Chichem-Taman. We will stop at these beautiful passes, visit local markets and cafes for snacks. The amazing nature will enchant every guest and bring pleasure throughout this journey to the tourist complex. We will observe the confluence of mountain rivers from a viewpoint considered a sacred place for the Altai people. We will reach our comfortable hotel, have dinner, and relax.

This day will be vibrant! Indeed vibrant, as we will travel to the colorful mountains known as Mars. After breakfast, we will set off. Continuing our journey along the amazing Chuysky Trakt, we will be amazed by the squirrels of the Northern Chui Ridge. It is very beautiful! Next, another surprise—the Martian Mountains are a wonderful place for photographers and geology enthusiasts, as well as for those who love beauty. These incredibly beautiful hills seem to be painted by someone in various colors. This unique place is located in the village of Kyzyl-Chin, which translates from Turkic as “red gorge.” Each layer was formed during a specific period. The color of the rock depends on the time it was formed. As scientists say, the red-brown layers were formed more than 300 million years ago, indicating that once there was a warm salty sea in Altai! After glaciation, fresh lakes appeared. Thus, the soil of the valley before the Kyzyl-Chin gorge is clay from an ancient lake. The green tones also belong to this period. The rock consists of clay mixed with sandstone and limestone. Your guide will share interesting facts and legends. You will see all the local attractions along the Chuysky Trakt and take unforgettable photos.

On the way, we will stop at the Geyser Lake—a pulsating lake that is a unique body of water with no analogs in Russia. The water in the lake never freezes throughout the year, but it is not intended for swimming even in summer. There are no pathways to the water, and the bottom is covered with muddy silt and algae. The water temperature in Geyser Lake does not rise above +10 degrees even in the hottest weather. The lake attracts photography lovers, and excellent shots can be taken. While enjoying the view, you can see various patterns (it is said that the lake predicts, if correctly interpreted, what it has drawn).

After breakfast, we will familiarize ourselves with the Red Gates—cliffs that rise to the sky by dozens of meters, and the road seems to slice through them like a narrow ribbon. These mountain gates always attract guests to Altai.

We will take photos and set off back through the passes. To diversify our return journey, we will stop at scenic locations.

We usually arrive in Gorno-Altaysk by 18:00. If you have booked a hotel in the city, we will take you there. If you are extending your stay at the Belokurikha resort, the minibus will continue to the Belokurikha resort after Gorno-Altaysk.