Nomad

AUTOTOURISM

Choose this tour to see our unique land, to find every climatic and landscape zone of Asia and Siberia and to travel along the famous northern branch of the Great Silk Road.  During the trip you’ll cross deserts and taigas, catch a large pike or a uskuch-lenok, to say nothing of rowing, riding on horseback and hiking. You are going to see Zaisan Lake, the most ancient in the Altai, the wild central Asia Cherny Irtysh River, beautiful Markakol Lake and to drive up along old Austrian road to Burkhat pass. Standing on the pass one can see Mt. Belukha.
This tour is also convenient for families. It is one of the most popular of our tours. This tour is also suitable for traveling on cross-country motor cycles.

NOMAD

The tour is for nature enthusiasts, who take interest in the history and ethnography of central Asia - those who indulge in wildlife photographing and filming, as well as those who love fishing with a rod or a spinning reel in lakes and mountain rivers.

Physical Fitness: no restrictions
Tour Duration: Total - 8 days   Tour - 7 days
Group: 3-6 persons
Season: May-September, preferably early June-September
Recommended Equipment: Clothes, both for hot and cool weather (temperature may range from –5C to +20C), water-proof clothing for rainy weather, high gum boots for fishing, ankle-high trekking boots, sun-blinkers, UV protective cream, repellents, a rucksack, a fishing tackle set (for fishing in lakes and mountain rivers) and a sleeping bag.

ITINERARY: Ust-Kamenogorsk-Zaisan Lake-Kiin-Kirish-Cherny Irtysh-Markakol Lake-Kara-Kaba River-Barkhot pass-Rakhmanovskiye Klyuchi (Rakhmanov springs) health resort-Ust-Kamenogorsk

ANNOTATION: Altai from Mongolian means Golden mountains. Situated at the junction of the Mongolian, Russian and Chinese borders, this mysterious and beautiful land, due to its geographic and political characteristics for the most part, has been preserved - pure, virgin and difficult to approach. God endowed this rather little piece of East Kazakhstan nature with every type of landscape: desert, taiga, sparkling eternal glaciers, waterfalls, numerous rivers and lakes.
The northern branches of the Great Silk Road pass along the pictorial East Kazakhstan expanses. While travelling, you’ll have a wonderful opportunity to admire the ruins of the unique Buddhist Ablaikhan temple, ancient burial sites of Dzhungar warriors and graves of the leaders of the bellicose Kazakh tribes. What about wandering along the shores of Zaisan Lake, the most ancient lake in the whole of central Asia? Further you’ll be able to enjoy the coolness of the alpine Lake Markakol, whose shores in the XVII-th century were populated by Urunkhai tribes. Choose the tour and you are going to see difficult passes of the old Austrian road and Mt.Belukha (4506m), the highest peak in Siberia and Altai. Buddhists believe that the Belukha area is a paradisiacal realm - and you are going to see a lot of other not less exciting things…
Another attractive feature of our region is that due to certain political reasons it was closed not only to foreign bur Soviet tourists as well.
A fisher is going to experience the time of his life at Lake Makakol - one of the most beautiful lakes of the Altai. Just try to outwit grayling, uskuch (lenok), and taimen  in the mountain rivers and lakes! 

Tour Program: 

Day 1 After arrival in Ust-Kamenogorsk we transfer by a jeep (1,5 hr, 80 km) to Sibinskiye Lakes, splendid crystal-clear lakes surrounded with granite crags. Not far from the lakes there are ruins of Ablainskit, an ancient Buddhist temple, where the richest collection of Tibeten scrolls was found. According to legends, a treasury including a golden adult-sized Buddha statue is hidden in the temple. The monastery was found on the  shore of one of the lakes, not far from Ust-Kamenogorsk, in a granite massif. In all there are five lakes not far from each other.
In the evening-we are going to fish perch, pike and wild carp and after that, stay overnight in tents on the shore.

Day 2 Early in the day- we go by jeep (3hrs, 140km) to Kurchum passage across Bukhtarminskoye reservoir (the Irtysh River). The road passes along mountain spurs of the Kalbinsky range across Chechek, Targyn and Umysh passes, along encampments of Dzhungar tribes and places where ancient Kazakh, warlike Argyn and Naiman tribes used to live. A number of ancient Dzhungar burial sites are to be found there. We take the ferry across Bukhtarminskoye reservoir, and then we drive along the northern shore of Zaisan Lake - the most ancient in Asia.
Now heading for the heart of the Zaisan basin, we can admire the fabled beauty of unique Kiin-Kirish - weathered many-colored  (for the most part red) clay sediments, which make very bright and odd landscapes reminding of those on the Mars as fantasists describe it.  A little bit of imagination and one can find turrets, little ships, chapels and yurts in Kiin-Kirish.
Heat and lack of water impart more colouring to this severe fantastic scenery. We stay overnight in the arid Prizaisan basin among quaint flamboyant Kiin-Kirish hills, where fleecy rhinos used to wander in the Paleogene epoch.
A short visit to the unique Barkhot and Baklany (Mt Shekelmes region) capes is possible. The spits with widths of  100 – 200 metres enter the lake to a distance of 3 – 3,5 km. We have an excellent opportunity to watch flocks of pelicans and cormorants on the sandy shores. For the night we put up in tents on a shore of the lake.

Day 3 Early in the morning we drive along the northern shore of Lake Zaisan – an enormous freshwater reservoir. The lake is 100km long and 30km wide, its area equals more than 1800 sq. km., while its depth reaches 8m. We  visit exotic deserts and prohibited fishing grounds where large pike, pike-perch and noble white salmon are found. At sunset one can watch hunchbacked perch hunting fish. On a lucky day every other cast of line brings a catch.
Being situated between enormous Zaisan Lake and high Altai mountain ranges, Prizaisan hollow, a unique natural object, combines the features of both. You are sure to like the whimsical mixture of plants, animals and landscapes. Dusty whirlwinds behind the hurrying vehicle, mirages in the red-hot desert, quicksand, haloxylons, camel thorns, a Kazakh aul, cherishing centuries-old ways of life and old burial sites of Kazakh clans’ chiefs leave memories you are not going to forget.
By and by the wide expanses of Lake Zaisan turn to meandering banks of the Cherny Irtysh River. Its right bank is abrupt while the left is gently sloping with large sandy beaches. In warm seasons there are millions of mosquitoes, midges and gadflies. It is time to take use of your repellents. But adventuresome fishing is sure to make you forget about them.  With the first frosts in September all these annoying things disappear and golden fishing period begins. The fishing usually takes place while we are rafting down the Cherny Irtysh River.
We drive forty kilometres along a lifeless desert before we reach the asphalt road leading to the high Alai mountains, and then again along roads which leave much to be desired. Then comes the eleven-kilometer ascent to Mramorny pass (Marble pass) at a height of 1399m above sea level. The pass opens to a grandiose view of endless Ak Kum (White Sands) sands (Chinese territory). After descending to the green Ak Dzheilyau (White Pasture) you’ll find yourself in woods, then comes the ascent of Tik Kabak pass and finally descending to Lake Markakol -our destination for today. We settle in a village house and a yurt. In the evening we can have a steam bath and then supper under  electric light.

Day 4 Markakol Lake, Urunkhaika Settlement
High-altitude Lake Markakol -the most beautiful in East Kazakhstan and its environs are not inferior to the lake itself. The pride of the Markakol sanctuary, apart from the lake, are the taiga woods, limpid mountain rivers and fair springs. This piece of nature of our republic is noted for a wide diversity of flora and fauna.
Lake Markakol, the largest in the Altai, is 38km wide and 19km long. Its area equals 455 sq.km. It is found in the intermountain basin between the Kurchumsky range in the north and the Azutau range in the south. Over 100 rivers enter into Lake Markakol while only the Kalzhir River has its source in the lake.
Familiarization with the lake and its environs: Lake Markakol is situated 1447m above sea level. In the north the lake opens an impressive view of the Sarymsakty range with snow-white Mt. Berkutaul (from Kazakh-Eagle’s Lodging, 3373m) and Aksubas mountains (from Kazakh-Head of White Water, 3308m). The lake is noted for crystal-clear water and abundance of uskutch, local subspecies of lenok (trout) and grayling.   In these parts a lot of Siberian deer, bears, wild goats, argalis and marmots are to be found.  The lake is a home to ducks, spines, coots etc. Here and there one can come across wild boars or traces of a snow panther. In the evening we can enjoy a steam bath after fishing uskutch in Lake Markakol.

Day 5 In the morning we drive along the old Austrian road  (constructed in 1915 by Austrian World War I prisoners) leading to Tarbagatai range. First the road passes along a dry mountain river channel, then up along a meandering side of a gorge to Alatau pass (1967m). From time to time it is necessary to get off to help  our driver surmount numerous obstacles. Then comes an abrupt descent to the Kara-Kaba River valley and crossing the famous Kalba bridge over the rapid mountain river. Iron parts of the bridge are badly damaged by water flow, ice and stones - result of spring floods. The bridge surface is also in bad condition and it takes a car a lot of effort to pass by logs while there are many holes through which one can see the Belaya Kaba River. Then the road goes upstream along a picturesque gorge. Several times it is necessary to drive from one bank to another across rather little bridges. Overnight-on a bank of the river.
Ascent to Burkhat pass. If the weather is fine one can admire, standing on the top of the pass, the beauty of Mt.Belukha (4,506m)-the highest peak of the Altai and Siberia. Visibility is good to more than 100km.  After the pass comes an abrupt, winding 1,000m long slope. En route you can enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the Bukhtarma River valley.  Half an hour later you’ll find yourself again driving along an asphalt road.
Our destination is Rakhmanovskiye Klyuchi health resort found at radon springs in the Arasan River valley, on the shore of Lake Rakhmanovskoye . No doubt you are going to like splendid woods, wholesome air full of taiga and alpine meadows, aromas and splendid lakes. Accommodation at cottages or tents.

Day 6 Rakhmanov springs. Relaxation and sightseeing at the lakeside. A brief ascent to the pass, to enjoy the breathtaking view of sparkling Mt. Belukha (4506m). A visit to Akhmanovsky waterfall, riding, boating and medicinal radon baths.

Day 7 Today we return to Ust-Kamenogorsk and put up at a hotel. At leisure in the evening we can have farewell supper in a restaurant.

Day 8 Departure from Ust-Kamenogorsk

NOTE: If you wish, the tour may be prolonged for one or two days, which you can spend travelling on sailboat along Bukhtarminskoye reservoir gulfs. 

SERVICE:

• Cross-country UAZ minibus is used for transfer to the starting point of the trip
• Meals three times a day
• Accommodations in tents, a village house or at an apiary
• Every group is accompanied by a professional guide and a cook
• Tourists are supplied with fishing tackle (for extra charge), tents for two and heat-insulating mats
• Excursions on horseback, by motor or rowing boats and radon baths are charged additionally
• Excursions are included in the tour cost
• At request the tour program can be slightly changed