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The Karakoli - the Katun
Type of the tour: equestrian and aquatic kinds of activity.
The whole duration: 8 days (from Barnaul).
The duration of the active part: 6 days (4 days on horses, 2 days for rafting).
The length of the active part: 45,98 miles on horses, 43,50 miles - rafting.
Time of the year: June - August.
 Location: Russia, the Southern Siberia, Gorni Altai.
Location: Russia, the Southern Siberia, Gorni Altai.
It's impossible to understand what is better: to go at a slow pace on
your horse amid cedar taiga or to rush down with a violent river; to
perceive the quietness of the purest lakes or to burst into the roar of
rapids; to be an able rider or a fearless rafter. If you want to get
everything this tour is for you! During the four days of horse riding you
will visit Veronica Lake, the Karakolskie and Ugulskoe lakes; will have
the chance to see small, but very beautiful waterfalls at the Vodopadka
River; will conquer several passes with the height of more than 6,561.68
feet. After that you will change horses into special boats, called rafts
to become conquers of the White Water. Interesting rapids and wonderful
nature will enrich your impressions of the horse-riding part of the tour
and remain in your memory forever.
 Equipment: We shall provide you with all the necessary
equipment: a tent for two persons (if you want you may live there alone,
in this case, please, let us know about it beforehand), a warmth-keeping
mat and a sleeping-bag, a mackintosh, special bags for carrying some cargo
on horses, helmets, life jackets, waterproof packs for personal
belongings, special equipment for rafting, a first-aid set, an awning to
protect from rain, tableware and cutlery. WE EXPECT YOU TO TAKE YOUR
PERSONAL BELONINGS: a small rucksack or a sports bag, a tracksuit, a
mackintosh, rubber high boots, warm clothes for cool nights: a warm
sweater, warm trousers, warm jacket, a knitted cap (to protect your ears),
and wool socks. You will also need things for everyday wearing: a
cloth-cap or a headscarf, trousers without coarse seams for horse
traveling, a wind jacket, two T-shirts, a light shirt with long sleeves,
sports footwear, socks (three or more pairs), shorts, two pairs of gloves.
For rafting you will need: neoprene footwear, or trainers with wool socks,
or river sandals for underwater swimming. You must have: specific
medicine, personal hygiene belongings, some substance to protect you from
insects, a torch, (photo) camera, sunglasses, swim suit (desirably), a
clasp knife (desirably).
Tour Program
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Meeting at the airport, at the bus station in Barnaul. A bus drive along the route: Barnaul (a town) - Biisk (a town) - Chemal (a village). The length is 217,48 miles, the time of the drive is approximately 7 hours. Then we change our bus to a special Land-rover-66 (a cross-country vehicle with a cab) and drive up to the last inhabited house for hunters and shepherds (in Russian this place is called cordon) at the Cuba river. (The length is 16,16 miles, the time needed is 1 hour). Dinner. Camping. Preparation for the trip. That means: distribution of the food, equipment; instructions on the safety measures, and training tours. Banya. The evening of getting acquainted. Beginning with this day you will live in tents; food will be prepared by the instructors on fire.
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Starting the route. Horse traveling from the cordon to the Cedar glade N1. The approximate length and time: 9,94 miles, 4 hours. This day a light ascent along the river Imurt waits for us. A very even pace will let you adjust to the horse quite easily. Reaching the Cedar glade we shall camp among the ancient cedars.
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The route: the Cedar glade N1 - the Akkainski gate - the Upper Ugul River. The approximate length and time: 7.46 miles, 4 hours. Crossing the boundary of the forest, we move along the loach. A shot stop near the rocks, called the Castle of Ghosts, a place covered with legends. Then rising a little we get to the gate Akkainski. The path swinging among the sparse growth of cedars, dwarf willow, moss and lichen goes down to the river-head of the Ugul, where we settle our camp on a big charming glade. The same day we may visit Ugulskoe lake (its form reminds you of the figure eight), or the waterfalls on the river Vodopadka.
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The route: the Upper Ugul (a river) - the Vodopadka River (from the word vodopad - a waterfall) - Lake Veronica - the Cedar Glade N2. The approximate length and time: 9,94 miles, 5-6 hours. A steep path down the Vodopadka River will lead us to the Ugul River. Going up this river for some time, we see a snow mountain, under which a raging torrent breaks its way. The path goes farther to a beautiful Lake Veronica, at the beginning of which one can see a high cascade waterfall. This day we are also to rise to the mountain ridge Iolgo. Having gone several kilometers along the ridge, we are to come down to the Cedar Glade N2.
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The route: The Cedar glade N2 - the Karakolskie Lakes - The Bagatash gate - the Castle of Ghosts - the Imurta River - the cordon at the river Cuba. The approximate length and time: 18,64 miles, 5-6 hours. First we reach the Karakolskie Lakes. From there we shall rise to the gate Bagatash (to translate it from Altaiski - means A Stone Frog; its height is 6 692,91 feet). From here a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains opens before you. If the weather is fine you can see the highest peak in Siberia - Beluha (14 783,46 feet). From the height of the gate you will enjoy the view of the Karakolskie lakes. From there they seem black and look like seven mirrors scattered about the plate. Then passing the Castle of ghosts we shall come down the Imurta River to the cordon at the river Cuba, where we shall camp and have rest.
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The route: the cordon at the river Cuba - Chemal (a village) - the estuary of the river Choba. The approximate length and time: 43,50 miles, 1,5 hours. Rafting: the estuary of the river Choba - the rapids Biika - the rapids Elandinskii - Chemal. The approximate length and time: 18.64 miles, 3 hours. Having breakfast we shall drive to the estuary of the river Choba - an initial point of the water part of our tour. Here we shall take helmets, life jackets, paddles, shall listen to the instructions on safety measures and start rafting along the Katun River. This day we are to face the rapids of the 3rd and 4th complexity class: the Elandinskii and Biika rapids and also some interesting local obstacles.
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Rafting: Chemal (a village) - the Chemalskie Vorota (Gate) rapids - the Iradash rapids - Cheposh (a village). The approximate length and time: 24.85 miles, 4 hours. This day we are to go through the Chemalskie Vorota rapids (the 2nd complexity class), the Iradash papids, and several other serious obstacles. We shall have a chance to see Chemalskaya Hydroelectric Power Station and a wonderful Island Patmos, several smaller islands, fantastical rocks; if we are lucky we shall see grey cranes. We shall finish our route not far from a village Cheposh. Then we shall camp, have some rest and celebrate our trip with delicious dinner, laughter and songs till the very morning.
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A bus drive along the route: Cheposh (a village) - Barnaul. The Hotel Barnaul. The approximate length and time: 198.84 miles, 6 hours. A departure day. After breakfast we pack our things and drive home.
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