Team Gorky Tours

Chuya and Katun Rivers Whitewater Rafting

Region: Russia, Southern Siberia, the Altai Mountains
Activity: rafting
Season: July

ALTAI MOUNTAINS IN SOUTHERN SIBERIA

The mountainous part of the Altai region is one of Russia’s most picturesque areas. Altai nature stands out by its primordial purity unspoiled by man. The rigorous peaks soaring into the skies with their white caps of eternal snows, the virgin taiga clad in a green attire of lush vegetation, the pellucid rapid rivers, the azure lakes with crystal clear water, the bright, uncommonly large flowers of alpine meadows, the steppes and even semi-deserts-all those are the wondrous and unique, mountainous country of Altai.

White Water river rafting

Chuya-Katun rivers

(10 days)

Data 2018: 03-11.07, 16-24.07

The route is intended for those craving sharper sensations while rafting, although people without special training can also handle it.

Departure for Barnaul from Moscow around 11 p.m. by air company “Siberia” from Domodedovo airport or by “Aeroflot” from Sheremetevo-1 airport.

Itinerary

Day 1. ( July 08, July 20 )

Arrival Barnaul. Depart for 12-hour bus trip to the village of Chibit. On board, you breakfast on sandwiches, dairy food, fruit, and juice Stop at the marketplace in the village of Srotski where you’ll be able to buy a lunch of such local delicacies as pies, potatoes, pickled cucumbers, mushrooms, honey, and shish-kebab. Overnight in tents on the bank of Chuya river.

Days 2. Rafting down the Chuya river. Riding the rapids Burevestnik, class 3. Riding the rapids Begemot (‘Hippo’), class 4.After rapid Begemot is a camping.

Day 3. From early morning there are shivery (small rapids) on the river, smoothly flowing into the rapids Slalomniy (‘Slalom’), class 4+. Make sure you avoid rocks and reefs, which calls for a keen eye and good physical effort. The rapids length is about 1,5 km. After lunch, several rapids, class 3.

Day 4. Shooting the rapids Turbinniy (‘Turbine’) and Gorizont (‘Horizon’), class 3+. Both are in narrow canyons. You can feel the rapids’ approaching – the water roars. For 25 meters the water fluctuation in Turbinniy is 4 meters. The rapid Gorizont is in 4oo meters after Turbinniy. The end of the Chuya rafting is at the its confluence to Katun.

Day 5. After a day of fairly tough but unnamed rapids reach the Class 3+ Ilgumen rapids, Kadrin pipe. Camp for the night in the river beach and enjoy a satisfying dinner.

Day 6. The featured rapid of the day is Shabath, a solid Class 4. Camp on the big river beach. From camp you may take a short walk to see ancient petroglyphs.

Day 7. Rest day. Short trekking, sauna.

Day 8. A 25-mile day of swift current and big rolling waves, takes us to a camp near the village of Edigan

Day 9. Go out with a bang, running rapids like Teldekpen and Yelandinsky.

The drive back to Barnaul is a few hours shorter this time. Stop at the village of Srostki again, where you can buy a good lunch and maybe some sea-buckthorn oil or Altai honey to take home. You stay in Barnaul at the eponymous hotel, a two-star affair with bar, restaurant, sauna, stores, and laundry service.

Day 10. ( July 17, July 29 )

Early morning flight from Barnaul to Moscow, arriving at about 10:00 a.m. Connect with homeward-bound flight.

Dates 2016: July 08- 17, July 20-29

LAND COST: 56 000 Rub, min 12 persons.

Rates quoted are per person, based on sharing double accommodations.

What’s Included

¨ expert leadership

¨ accommodations in hotel in Barnaul ( DBL)

¨ all arrangements in the field, including camp meals, cook staffs, group gear, and river rafting equipment

¨ meals as noted (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)

¨ airport transfers

¨ ground transportation