Trekking to Darashkol Lake and Mount Belukha
From 72 000₽ per group
Description
Type: Multi-day activity
* Lake Darashkol is one of the most rarely visited high—altitude lakes in the Katun range.
At a time when the main flow of tourists tends to Akkemsky Lake and the foot of Belukha, the lakes of the upper Kucherla valley remain unnoticed by most tourists. Due to the inaccessibility and lack of horse trails, Lake Darashkol remains the wildest corner of the Belukha area, which is accessible only to physically prepared tourists with mountain hiking experience. And the translation of the name speaks for itself: "beautiful lake" is how Darashkol is translated from the Altai language.
The turquoise valley of the Kucherla River with one of the largest lakes in Gorny Altai, Kucherlinskoye, awaits us on this hike. Of course, the main goal is Lake Darashkol with radial exits to the valleys of the Nemytsky and Myushtu—Aira glaciers, the highest equestrian pass in Russia - Karatyurek (3000 m) and Akkem Lake at the foot of the highest point of Siberia, Belukha.
Available languages
Group type
Age restrictions
Training level
Transfer
day 01
First day - check-in
Type of accommodation:Camping
Arrival in the village of Tyungur: from Gorno-Altaysk – 450 km, 8 hours, from Ust-Koksy – 60 km, about 1 hour.
Accommodation in summer cottages at the campsite.
Dinner at the cafe.
Meeting with the guide.
day 02
Day two - Lake Kucherlinsky
Type of accommodation:Tent
After breakfast, car transfer to the Izokeru parking lot (21 km, 1 hour).
Packing of public and personal cargo on cargo horses.
The start of the active pedestrian part of the route.
Traveling light (without backpacks) along the valley of the Kucherla river to Lake Kucherlinsky with a smooth climb.
Parking on the shore of Lake Kucherlinsky.
Lunch on the route is provided with a lunch package.
From this day until the end of the active part of the route, accommodation in 2-3 local tents, cooking over a campfire or gas.
Distance: 13 km.
Total climb: 413 m.
The height of the camp is 1701 m.
Travel time: 5-8 hours (depending on the pace of the group).
day 03
Day three - Yoldo Aira Waterfall
Type of accommodation:Tent
From this day until the end of the hike, we transport our backpacks on our own.
We escort the cargo horses back to Tyungur, distribute food and public equipment evenly among the backpacks, leave the food on the lake for the return trip and start moving through the wildest places where the flow of tourists is no longer so great compared to the Akkema and Kucherly valleys.
In the first half of the day, we move along the eastern shore of Lake Kucherlinsky to the confluence of the Upper Kucherla River.
From the confluence point along the kurum presses, we exit to the parking lot on a cozy terrace in the cedar forest near the Yoldo-Aira waterfall.
In the evening, we pick blueberries and lingonberries.
Distance: 6 km.
Total climb: 100 m.
The height of the camp: 1790 m.
Travel time: 5-8 hours.
day 04
Fourth day - Lake Darashkol
Type of accommodation:Tent
Today we will reach the pearl of our hike.
After breakfast, after crossing the Upper Kucherla river ford, we begin climbing along the Yoldo-Aira waterfall into the "hanging" valley of the same name.
On the way up the valley, there is a pronounced change in high-altitude landscape zones and the nature of the relief, which is not typical for the Belukha massif area. Granite rocks fall in ledges down the valley with streams of water flowing down from them in the form of waterfalls.
After another climb to one of these ledges, we reach our cherished goal — Lake Darashkol, one of the most picturesque and inaccessible corners of the Katun Ridge.
We organize a camp on a granite cape that juts far into the water surface of the lake, creating the feeling of being on a small island.
Distance: 6 km.
Total climb: 348 m.
The height of the camp: 2138 m.
Travel time: 5-8 hours.
day 05
Fifth day - Nemytsky Valley
Type of accommodation:Tent
Today is a variable day. Depending on the physical condition of the group, weather conditions and other factors, it is possible to make a radial exit to the valley of the Nemytsky stream with the glacier of the same name.
A full day of rest at Lake Darashkol is also possible.
The decision is made by the guide together with the whole group, having assessed all the factors influencing the further passage of the route.
Distance: 4 km.
Total climb: 454 m.
The height of the camp: 2138 m.
Travel time: 4-6 hours.
day 06
Day six - return to Yoldo Aira Waterfall
Type of accommodation:Tent
Return on the way up the Yoldo-Aira valley to the parking lot at the waterfall of the same name in the Upper Kucherla valley.
Distance: 6 km.
Total height drop: 348 m.
The height of the camp: 1790 m.
Travel time: 4-7 hours.
day 07
Seventh day - Myushtu-Aira Valley
Type of accommodation:Tent
Today we will make a radial exit to the wild valley of Myushtu-Aira with the glacier of the same name and the huge icefall "Vector", to the very foot of the Belukha massif from the western side.
The place is very rarely visited, you will not find crowds of tourists here.
Distance: 15 km.
Total climb: 616 m.
The height of the camp: 1690 m.
Travel time: 6-8 hours.
day 08
Day eight - Lake Kucherlinsky
Type of accommodation:Tent
Return along the ascent route to the northern shore of Lake Kucherlinsky. We pick up the food package for the return trip, left 5 days ago.
Distance: 6 km.
Total height drop: 100 m.
The height of the camp: 1690 m.
Travel time: 4-7 hours.
day 09
Day nine - Cedar parking lots
Type of accommodation:Tent
Today we begin a two-day ascent to the Karatyurek pass, followed by a transfer to the Akkem River valley and Akkem Lake.
Throughout the day, we climb through the forest area to an intermediate overnight stay in front of the Karatyurek pass called Cedar parking.
Distance: 8 km.
Total climb: 584 m.
The height of the camp: 2284 m.
Travel time: 5-8 hours.
day 10
Tenth day - Akkem Lake
Type of accommodation:Tent
Today we will reach the highest point of our entire route, the Karatyurek pass (3000 m), the highest equestrian pass in Russia, which offers one of the most panoramic views of all the four thousand meters of the Belukha Mountain massif.
We start the ascent from the parking lots from the border of the forest area along the horse trail.
After overcoming the pass, a steep descent into the Akkem river valley to the campsite near Akkem Lake.
We have dinner in the cozy cafe of the campsite.
You can order a sauna.
Distance: 9 km.
Total climb: 716 m.
The height of the camp: 1972 m.
Travel time: 7-8 hours.
day 11
The eleventh day
Type of accommodation:Tent
We continue to explore the foot of Belukha and the Akkema Valley. Today we have the opportunity to go to the radial exit to the valley of 7 lakes at the foot of Ak-Oyuk. The valley is very saturated with colors and contrasts. The dangling glaciers of Ak-Oyuk are combined with a picturesque green valley and blue lakes.
If you want to rest and conserve your strength before going to Tungur, then you can make a radial exit for half a day to the Yarlu Valley. It's a simple walk through the park forest with a very smooth, unobtrusive climb. The valley is famous for its "Stone City", which is a place of "strength" for many followers of various philosophical teachings.
The valley of 7 lakes.
Distance: 12 km.
Total climb: 600 m.
The height of the camp: 1972 m.
Travel time: 4-5 hours.
Yarlu Valley:
Distance: 7 km.
Total climb: 250 m.
The height of the camp: 1972 m.
Travel time: 3-4 hours.
day 12
The twelfth day - Tungur village
Type of accommodation:Camping
Today we say goodbye to the Beluga Whale and begin our descent along the Akkem river valley to the 3 birch glade, from where a GAZ 66 car will pick us up and take us to the Tyungur campsite in civilization, where we will have a festive dinner and finally taste the products that we missed so much in the mountains during these two weeks.
Distance: 22 km.
Total height drop: 1000 m.
Travel time: 5-8 hours.
day 13
The thirteenth day - it's time to go home
Type of accommodation:Not included
Breakfast at the cafe at the campsite, departure from the village of Tyungur.
Details
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Excluded
Requirements for the participant
Recommend to bring
Starting point
* Meeting of all participants at the airport of Gorno-Altaysk or in Gorno-Altaysk. Meets the guide personally or the transfer driver. Departure to Tyungur village no later than 10:00 (local time). Accordingly, you must arrive in Gorno-Altaysk no later than the specified departure time. If your flight arrives later, you must arrive 1 day earlier in advance.Finish point
* The city of Gorno-Altaysk or the airport of Gorno-Altaysk at 19:00 on the last day of the program.How to get
* 1. The plane to Gorno-Altaysk. 2. Railway to Biysk, then bus to Gorno-Altaysk. 3. Private car.
Cancellation policy
* Cancellation of a reservation 30 days or less before the start of the tour - the prepayment will not be refunded. In other cases, a refund minus the actual expenses incurred (at least 15% of the tour price).
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