Mt. Belukha: The Heart of the Altai. Climbing.

Region: Russia, Southern Siberia, Altai, Katunsky Range
Activity: climbing, trekking, optional horse riding and rafting
Trip Category: regular and on demand.
Difficulty: medium to difficult, need of special gear and some climbing skill
Dates: July - mid-September. Fixed departures (from/to Barnaul) (Itinerary Var.1 13 days):

20.06-02.07 ++
30.06-12.07 ++
10.07-22.07 ++
20.07-01.08 ++
04.08-16.08 ++
19.08-31.08 ++
03.09-15.09 ++

03.07-10.07 ++
13.07-20.07 ++
23.07-30.07 ++
07.08-14.08 ++
22.08-29.08 ++
06.09-15.09 ++
and any dates upon demand

Altai - "The Golden Mountains" is the mountain land on the south of Siberia which keeps ecological purity and untouched wild nature so far. The communication with local people, many of whom are followers of exotic doctrines- pagans (Shamanists), followers of Roerikh and Staroveri (Old Believers) - gives an unique social experience. A number of archeological artefacts (from 1,500,000 BCE!), including rock arts (petroglyphs) and Paleolithical sit en our route, makes visit to Altai not only mountaineering adventure but cognitive trip as well!

Trekking to the Kucherlinskoye and Akkem lakes area allows to see all the beauty of the Altai mountains. This unique trip is based on the idea of hiking through mountain taiga to the beautiful Kucherla Lake, then crossing simple pass (for acclimatization!) and placing a base camp (BC) on the Akkem lake in front of amazing Akkem wall. Then, the montaineers make ascent on the highest summit of whole Altai - magnificient Belukha mountain (4506 m). The regular route of 2B UIAA CC starts from Tomsk Camp on the right moraine of Akkem glacier, then via Delone Col leads to Mensu glacier and Berelsky Saddle, then to the summit of Eastern (or Glavnaya- The Main) Belukha. Experienced mountaineers can climb another way - up to 5A-5B UIAA, "Bottle's Throat" or "Diretissima" of Akkem Wall!

After climbing, you can go rafting on Katun river, make interesting excursions to natural phenomenas and archeological sites. You can also make horse riding instead of trekking to/from BC- see Options and Services in Tungur base below!

Itinerary (Variant 1 13 days):

Day 1	Arrival to Barnaul. Meeting in airport or railway station. 12-hrs minibus trip to Tungur village. Overnight in mountain base, tent camping near the bank of Katun river. You can leave extra luggage here. Optional Russian bania (national wet sauna).
Day 2	Hiking up the Kuzuyak Pass (rural road, 1513 m), descent to Akkem gorge. Camp on the bank of Akkenm river on a meadow called "3 Birches Glade").
Day 3	Hiking up the Akkem river to the Akkem Lake base. Camp on the bank of Akkem river.
Day 4	Hiking up the Akkem gorge and Akkem glacier to Tomsk Camp.
Day 5	Ice training on the "Arbuz" ("Watermellon") glacier, if weather permits, climbing up to the Delone pass.
Day 6	Climbing the Delone pass (3400 m, ice/neve slopes 35-45 deg) and descent to Mensu glacier, then climbing the Berelskoye Sedlo (Berelsky Saddle) pass, 3520 m, and proceed to plateau (3800 m). Steep snow, neve and ice. 7-8 hrs.
Day 7	Assault attempt to East (Main) Belukha (4506 m). Return to the camp on Berelskoye Sedlo.
Day 8	Descent to Tomsk Camp then to Akkem BC. Russian bania.
Day 9	Extra day for case of bad weather.
Days 10-11	Trek back to Tungur. Camp accommodation. Russian bania.
Day 12	Return to Barnaul. Hotel accommodation.
Day 13	Transfer to airport. Departure from Barnaul.

Itinerary (Variant 2 Express 8 days):

Day 1	Arrival to Barnaul. Meeting in airport or railway station. 12-hrs minibus trip to Tungur village. Overnight in mountain base, tent camping near the bank of Katun river. You can leave extra luggage here. Optional Russian bania (national wet sauna).
Day 2	Helicopter flight (20 min, Robinson 66) to Tomsk Camp (3000 m). Ice training on the "Arbuz" ("Watermellon") glacier, if weather permits, climbing up to the Delone pass. 7-8 hrs.
Day 3	Climbing the Delone pass (3400 m, ice/neve slopes 35-45 deg) and descent to Mensu glacier, then climbing the Berelskoye Sedlo (Berelsky Saddle) pass, 3520 m, and proceed to plateau (3800 m). Steep snow, neve and ice. 7-8 hrs.
Day 4	Assault attempt to East (Main) Belukha (4506 m). Return to the camp on Berelskoye Sedlo.
Day 5	Extra day for case of bad weather.
Day 6	Descent to Tomsk Camp. Helicopter flight to Tungur BC. Russian bania. Dinner in a cafe.
Day 7	Return to Barnaul. Hotel accommodation.
Day 8	Transfer to airport. Departure from Barnaul.

Cost (light package): us for an offer.
Included: meeting/seeing off in Barnaul, 1 night hotel accomodation (**DBL) in Barnaul, transportation to the Tungur (start point) and return, all permits and local fees, 3 times a day hot meals in Tungur and in Akkem BC, food for climbing and trekking, Russian bania 2 times (in Tungur and Akkem BC), tent (2-person dual layer tents) accommodation in Tungur, on trekking and Akkem BC, common camping and climbing gear (tents, cooking utensil, gas stoves, gas cartridges, ropes), trekking guide, climbing guide (1 per each 3-4 climbers), rescue rangers team registration.

Cost (full package): us for an offer
Included: meeting/seeing off in Barnaul, 1 night hotel accomodation (**DBL) in Barnaul, transportation to the Tungur (start point) and return, all permits and local fees, 3 times a day hot meals in Tungur and in Akkem BC, food for climbing and trekking, Russian bania 2 times (in Tungur and Akkem BC), tent (2-person dual layer tents) accommodation in Tungur, on trekking and Akkem BC, common camping and climbing gear (tents, cooking utensil, gas stoves, gas cartridges, ropes), trekking guide, climbing guide (1 per each 3-4 climbers), rescue rangers team registration, pack horses and horseman service to carry luggage Tungur-Akkem BC-Tungur, insurance.

Cost (express package): us for an offer
Included: meeting/seeing off in Barnaul, 1 night hotel accomodation (**DBL) in Barnaul, transportation to the Tungur (start point) and return, helicopter flight (Robinson 66) from Tungur base to Tomsk Camp and return); all permits and local fees, 3 times a day hot meals in Tungur , food for climbing, Russian bania 1 time (in Tungur), tent (2-person dual layer tents) accommodation in Tungur, common camping and climbing gear (tents, cooking utensil, gas stoves, gas cartridges, ropes), climbing guide (1 per each 3-4 climbers), insurance.

Not included (all packages): Travel to and from Barnaul, visa fees, alcoholic beverages and other luxuries, personal items.

Options. Visa support. Upgrade stay in Tungur from tent to hut or room. Gear rental.The arrival and departure point can be changed with Novosibirsk, Gorno-Altaisk or Biysk. Additional exursions: Ust-Kan cave with paleolithic sit (600,000 BCE), Pazirik burial mounds (Scythian culture, VII-II c. BCE), Kalbak Tash and Elangash rock arts sites (from Stone Ages to Turkish times). Change of climbing route (via Delone Peak- 4A UIAA, Diretissima (or "Bottle's Throat") of Akkem Wall - 5A-5B UIAA). Other peaks to climb: "The Crown of Altai", Boris, Roerikh Peak, Delone Peak, Belukha West (4440 m), up to 4B UIAA, Mount Yarlu (1B, 3370 m), Mount Bronia ("Armor", 2A, 3291 m). Excursions near Akkem Lake: to the "Valley of 7 lakes", to the sacred Yarlu Valley and Roerikh Shrine. SGL accommodation. Helicopter flights from/to Gorno-Altaisk, Barnaul, Novosibirsk to/from Akkem or Kucherla lakes. Transfer from Tungur base to the start of the trail (to avoid hiking through village, recommended).

Any possible tailor-made trips are available! Just us of fill in the request form!

Services in Tungur base (available separately):

4-hrs rafting on Katun river down to the junction with Ak-Kem ("White Water") river;
meals served in national Altai dwelling- ail. Exclusive offer - cooking of the set of Altai national meals from the ram on demand!
Russian bania;
gear rental;
horse riding trips;
extra horses for carring luggage and/or riding to/from Akken lake;

Mt. Belukha: The Heart of the Altai. 8/13 days.