7 days
Fixed dates
10 people
from 7 years
Basic
Guest house or camp site
Russian
Alpine skiing, Snowboarding, Excursion tours
Off to snow-capped mountains and rough waters! No banal excursions or boring museums: you will plunge into the quaint, picturesque and mystical world of Altai, see swans wintering on an ice-free lake, get acquainted with the culture and way of life of the Old Believers, go skiing and go horseback riding surrounded by amazing landscapes.
Active days with many impressions alternate with free time, which can be devoted to skiing or snowboarding, snowmobiling or husky sledding.
You will see flocks of snow-white swans peacefully swaying on the water in clouds of frosty steam, graceful shy deer and huge shaggy yaks.
Visit a family of Old Believers, whose way of life has not changed for many centuries, and you will be able to touch ancient household items. During your visit to the cheese factory, you will taste delicious craft cheese and homemade sweets. You will be able to try the ski slopes of Belokurikha and Manzherok, and if you wish, take a steam bath or relax in the Finnish sauna. We will also visit the village of Chemal, the island of Patmos with a suspension bridge leading to it. Get ready to admire and photograph a lot! Altai is incredibly beautiful at any time of the year. In winter, this is an amazing place where snow-capped mountain slopes contrast with the dark green of coniferous forests and all shades of blue in stormy and calm waters. Of course, you will see the famous Katun River, which looks completely special at this time of year, and a unique creation of nature - the Blue Eyes of the Katun, which open only in autumn and disappear in spring. We will also take a walk to the waterfall, which has turned into an icefall and amazes with its majesty.
Eco-hotel complex on the top of the mountain. The cleanest air, panoramic views of Mishina Mountain, high-quality service and only environmentally friendly materials. It’s easy to breathe here, and the snow crunches pleasantly under your feet. There is a Finnish sauna and a health center on site, and the restaurant complex serves buffet breakfasts.
A park hotel surrounded by a pine forest, where you can relax in a calm and quiet environment. The spacious rooms are located in a cedar chalet: there is a lot of light and a pleasant aroma of wood. On the territory of the hotel there is an unusual park of wooden sculptures created as part of the Altai festival. Attraction" in 2018 and 2022.
We meet at the Gorno-Altaisk airport no later than 10:00. Please choose your flight based on your pick-up time.
We will begin our acquaintance with the region with one of the most poetic locations, Swan Lake. Hundreds of majestic birds that have flown from the Russian Arctic spend the winter here. There are no analogues of the lake in Siberia - it is the only one and unique. After a walk along the shore, taking hundreds of mesmerizing shots, we will have lunch overlooking the lake. Then we go to the Olympus Park hotel in Belokurikha, after accommodation - free time. Spend it at your discretion: you can visit a ski slope, a biathlon track or an ethnographic museum recreating the image of an Altai village of the 19th century, and in the evening take a steam bath in a hot bathhouse.
After breakfast, we leave for the village of Solonovka.
Here, in a family estate that is more than a hundred years old, a family of Old Believers lives. You will not only hear the story of the appearance of the Old Believers in Altai from the lips of the owner of the estate, but also see many ancient household items. Don’t think that they are under glass, as if in a museum - each of the “exhibits” can be touched, tried on, and taken a photo with it. Here we will be treated to a delicious home-cooked lunch. Afterwards we will go to a goat farm and cheese factory. You will see how craft cheese is created, taste it and homemade sweets from Altai natural products. In the evening - free time.
We are located in Belokurikha - and this means that you definitely need to appreciate its famous ski slopes!
Today you can organize your leisure time the way you want. Go downhill skiing, snowboarding or cross-country skiing on groomed trails of intermediate difficulty. The resort also has a tubing run. After winter fun, do you want to relax?
We recommend visiting the bath complex at the Sanduny Altai base. This is a real paradise for lovers of heat and steam: a white or black sauna, a rejuvenating vat with herbs in the open air! Please note: the tour price does not include ski passes, ski equipment rental, transfer to Sanduny and a visit to the bath complex. Lunch and dinner are also on your own.
After breakfast we leave Belokurikha and set off from the Altai Territory to the Altai Republic.
On the border of two regions, in a picturesque valley surrounded by mountain slopes, there is one of the famous Altai maral farms, “Kaimskoye”. You will learn what diseases are used to treat antlers - the unossified young horns of deer. In addition to graceful and fast deer, the complex is home to massive, imperturbable yaks, which can also be seen up close. The fourth day's program also includes horseback riding. Choose the format that suits you: on horseback or on a sleigh, in harness. In any case, you will be able to enjoy amazing views of the snow-capped mountains! The price includes breakfast and dinner, and you can have lunch yourself at the maralnik restaurant.
On the fifth day we will see the main river of Altai - Katun, stormy, powerful and beautiful.
We will definitely stop in those places where ice has not frozen the water (Katun never freezes entirely). Stunning shades of deep blue and piercing blue, a flair of frost on the bending branches of trees and ice of fantastic shapes. Then we will walk to the Kamyshlinsky waterfall. Unlike Katun, it freezes in winter and turns into an icefall - crystal streams of water frozen in flight. After visiting the village of Chemal, we will go on a short hike to the Blue Lakes of Katun.
They are also called Blue Eyes of Katun. These brightly colored lakes are unique in that they only open in autumn. In winter, they look simply incredible surrounded by snow-covered shores, birches, spruce and pine trees. The daily price includes breakfast and dinner, lunch on your own.
Taking a break from a day full of emotions.
Today is a free day in Manzherok. This is one of the most popular resorts in Altai, so everyone will find something to their liking. You can rent equipment and hit the ski slopes, and then ride around the surrounding area on a husky or snowmobile. A more peaceful and relaxing way to have fun is to take a cable car to the top of Malaya Sinyukha Mountain, enjoy the beautiful view of the peaks from the observation deck and take a walk through the forest. The daily price includes breakfast and dinner. Lunch and additional entertainment - on your own.
Breakfast and transfer to the airport. Come back to continue exploring the beautiful Altai at another time of the year!
Meeting with the guide and start of the program is before 10:00, so choose morning flights taking this time into account.
We recommend the tour for children over 7 years old. There is a discount for travelers 7-12 years old.
Additional payment is made for independent entertainment on free days (sauna complex, ski and snowboard rental, etc.), as well as dinners and lunches on some days. If you plan to purchase alcohol and souvenirs, also take these costs into account.
Even if you don't plan to ski or snowboard, we recommend taking a ski suit with warm pants and good wind protection. You also need comfortable winter shoes.
Mobile communications and the Internet are available at the accommodation locations throughout most of the trip; they may disappear briefly during the transfer along the route.
Ask questions to the tour coordinator
Tour from an official tour operator from the Rostourism register
