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, 4A UIAA, need of special gear and some climbing skill. 16+, kids 16-18 - with parents only
Dates: July - mid-September. Fixed departures (from/to Barnaul):

18.06-29.06 ++
06.07-17.07 ++
15.07-26.07 ++
24.07-04.08 ++
02.08-13.08 ++
11.08-22.08 ++
20.08-31.08 ++

18.06-25.06 ++
06.07-13.07 ++
15.07-22.07 ++
24.07-01.08 ++
02.08-09.08 ++
11.08-18.08 ++
20.08-27.08 ++

05.09-11.09 ++
07.09-13.09 ++
09.09-15.09 ++

and any dates upon demand mid June - mid September

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 Akkem lake 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 Akkem Lake, crossing simple pass (for acclimatization!) and placing a base camp (BC) on the Akkem lake in front of amazing Akkem wall. Then, after ice training, the mountaineers 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! Instead of hiking to/from Akkem BC you can take helicopter flight (Robinson R66, see Itinerary Variants 2 and 3 (NEW!). Also, you may order pack horses for luggage transportation.

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 12 days):

Day 1	Arrival to Barnaul. Meeting in airport or railway station. 12-hrs minibus trip to Tungur village. Overnight in mountain base, hotel accommodation near the bank of Katun river. You can leave extra luggage here. Dinner in a cafe. Meeting with the guide, consultations, gear check. Optional Russian bania (national wet sauna).
Day 2	4WD over Kuzuyak Pass (rural road, 1513 m), descent to Akkem gorge on a meadow called "3 Birches Glade" on the left bank of Akkenm river. Hiking up the Akkem river to the Akkem Lake base. Hut accommodation. Dinner in a cafe. 22 km/7-10 hrs hike.
Day 3	Hiking up the Akkem gorge and Akkem glacier to Tomsk Camp (3000 m). 3-4 bed rooms accommodation. 17 km, 6-8 hrs. +1000 m.
Day 4	Ice training on the "Arbuz" ("Watermellon") glacier. Using of crampons, fixed rope, belaying. Testing personal climbing gear.
Day 5	Cnt. training. Climbing Delone Pass (3400 m, ice/neve slopes 35-45 deg) up to Delone Peak spur assault camp (4000 m) site. Here you find the supply (incl. food, tents, fuel, stoves, utensil etc.) is already stored.
Day 6	Assault attempt to East (Main) Belukha (4506 m) over traverse Delone Peak. Start at 4:00 am. Steep snow, neve and ice. Return to the assault camp on Delone Peak spur.
Day 7	Assault camp conservation. Descent to Tomsk Camp.
Day 8	Extra day for case of bad weather. You can use it for the excursions to 7 Lakes Valley, Mountain Dew Lake or to the Roerikh shrine.
Day 9	Descent to Akkem Base Camp. Tent accommodation. Dinner in a cafe. Russian bania. 11 km, 4-5 hrs. -1000 m.
Day 10	Trek back to 3 Birches Glade. 4WD to Tungur. Hotel accommodation. Dinner in a cafe. 22 km hike + 17 km 4WD.
Day 11	Return to Barnaul. Hotel accommodation.
Day 12	Transfer to airport. Departure from Barnaul.

Itinerary (Variant 2 Express 9 days):

Day 1	Arrival to Barnaul. Meeting in airport or railway station. 12-hrs minibus trip to Tungur village. Overnight in mountain base, hotel accommodation near the bank of Katun river. You can leave extra luggage here. Dinner in a cafe. Meeting with the guide, consultations, gear check. Optional Russian bania (national wet sauna).
Day 2	Helicopter flight to Tomsk Camp. Hut accommodation. Ice training on the "Arbuz" ("Watermellon") glacier. Using of crampons, fixed rope, belaying. Testing personal climbing gear.
Day 5	Cnt. training. Climbing Delone Pass (3400 m, ice/neve slopes 35-45 deg) up to Delone Peak spur assault camp (4000 m) site. Here you find the supply (incl. food, tents, fuel, stoves, utensil etc.) is already stored.
Day 6	Assault attempt to East (Main) Belukha (4506 m) over traverse Delone Peak. Start at 4:00 am. Steep snow, neve and ice. Descent to the Central Plateau between East and West Belukha. Helicopter flight to Tomsk Camp then to Akkem Camp then to Tungur base. Hotel accommodation DBL, dinner at the cafe.
Day 7	Extra day for case of bad weather. You can use it for the excursions to Nicholas Roerikh and Old Believers museums in Upper Uimon village or to Kamenny baba (Stone Woman) turkish graveyard monuments staying at their original location in Katun gorge.
Day 8	Return to Barnaul. Hotel accommodation.
Day 9	Transfer to airport. Departure from Barnaul.

Itinerary (Variant 3 Express 7 days) NEW!

Day 1	Arrival to Barnaul. Meeting in airport or railway station. 12-hrs minibus trip to Tungur village. Overnight in mountain base, hotel accommodation near the bank of Katun river. You can leave extra luggage here. Dinner in a cafe. Meeting with the guide, consultations, gear check. Optional Russian bania (national wet sauna).
Day 2	Helicopter flight (Robinson-66) to Tomsk Camp (3000 m). 3-4 bed rooms accommodation. +2150 m. Acclimatization hike and ice training on the "Arbuz" ("Watermellon") glacier. Using of crampons, fixed rope, belaying. Testing personal climbing gear. Dinner from chief.
Day 3	Acclimatization/training ascent on Tomsk Students Peak (3650 m). 1st, 40-45°, 300 m ice slope to Delone pass (3498 m). Then, in pairs, climbing relatively gentle neve/snow/few rock slope up to the summit. Descent same way to Tomsk Camp. Dinner.
Day 4	Helicopter flight to Belukha Central Plateau (4000 m). Ascent using fixed rope to the summit of Eastern (Main) Mt. Belukha (4509 m, 3-5 hrs). Descent same way to the plateau, helicopter flight to Tomsk Camp then to Tungur camp. In a case of bas weather, tent overnight on the plateau and helicopter descent next day.
Day 5	Extra day for case of bad weather.
Day 6	Return to Barnaul (Gorno-Altaisk, Biysk, Novosibirsk). Hotel accommodation.
Day 7	Transfer to airport. Departure from Barnaul.

Cost (light package, available upon demand): 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, Russian bania 2 times in Tungur, tent pick or hut accommodation in Tungur, pack horses Tungur - Akkem Lake and return, horseman service, trekking guide Tungur-Akkem Lake and return, rescue rangers team registration.

Cost (full package, available upon demand): 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, 4WD transportation Tungur - 3 Birches Glade and return, 3 times a day hot meals in Tungur and in Akkem BC, lunch boxes on active part and food for breakfasts and dinners (climbers cook themselves with the guides support), Russian bania 2 times, tent (2 and 4-person dual layer tents) accommodation in Tungur, on trekking and Akkem BC, common camping and climbing gear (tents, caremats, cooking utensil, gas stoves, gas cartridges, ropes, avalance showel, 1st aid kit, walkie-talkie), personal gear rental: belaying belt, crampons, helmet, ice axe, self-belaying ropes, ascender and descender (jumar + Figure of 8), carabiners; trekking guide, climbing guide (1 per each 3-4 climbers), rescue rangers team registration, insurance. NOTE: most of the climbing stuff (tents, common climbing gear, food and fuel) is already stored at BCs so you carry only your personal belongings + some group stuff. However you can order pack horse support for the trekking part and carry only the daypack (see Full package + pack horses support below).

Cost (full package fixed dates + pack horses support Var. 1): 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, 4WD transportation Tungur - 3 Birches Glade and return, 3 times a day hot meals in Tungur and in Akkem BC, lunch boxes on active part and food for breakfasts and dinners (climbers cook themselves with the guides support), Russian bania 2 times, DBL hotel accommodation in Tungur for 2 nights, tent (2 and 4-person dual layer tents) accommodation on trekking and Akkem BC, common camping and climbing gear (tents, caremats, cooking utensil, gas stoves, gas cartridges, ropes, avalance showel, 1st aid kit, walkie-talkie), personal gear rental: belaying belt, crampons, helmet, ice axe, self-belaying ropes, ascender and descender (jumar + Figure of 8), carabiners; 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 fixed dates Var.2): 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 Central Belukha Plateau to Tungur base; all permits and local fees, 3 times a day hot meals in Tungur, food for climbing, Russian bania 1 time (in Tungur), hotel accommodation in Tungur for 2 nights, hut accommodation at Tomsk camp, common camping and climbing gear (tents, cooking utensil, gas stoves, gas cartridges, ropes, avalance showel, 1st aid kit, walkie-talkie), personal gear rental: belaying belt, crampons, helmet, ice axe, self-belaying ropes, ascender and descender (jumar + Figure of 8), carabiners; climbing guide (1 per each 3-4 climbers), insurance.

Cost (express package fixed dates Var.3): 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 to Tomsk Camp, then to Central Belukha Plateau and return; all permits and local fees, 3 times a day hot meals in Tungur, food for climbing, Russian bania 1 time (in Tungur), hotel accommodation in Tungur for 2 nights, hut accommodation at Tomsk Camp + meals, common camping and climbing gear (tents, cooking utensil, gas stoves, gas cartridges, ropes, avalance showel, 1st aid kit, walkie-talkie), personal gear rental: belaying belt, crampons, helmet, ice axe, self-belaying ropes, ascender and descender (jumar + Figure of 8), carabiners; 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. Extra days for the acclimatization and extra excursions in Tugur (you can arrive prior to group tour start date). 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: Nicolas Roerikh and Old Believers museums in Verkhniy Uimon; Stone Women (Kamenny Baba, Turkish warrior grave monument) staying in it's original location; 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 (available for custom tours only: 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.

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!
extra Russian bania;
gear rental;
horse riding trips;
4WD from Tungur to 3 Birches Glade and return;
horses for carring luggage and/or riding to/from Akken lake;

Mt. Belukha: The Heart of the Altai. 7/9/12 days.

Tungur village area aerial panoramic view, 4K