Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrive at the Altai

   • Upon arrival at the airport of Gorno-Altaysk, participate in meeting according to the Altay traditions. Artists in traditional costumes perform good wishes and treat you with national bread called Baursak.

   • Transfer to the Inegen' agro touristic complex, accommodation and rest.

2. Day 2: Drive to the Chuyskiy Tract and Valley of Geysers

   • Drive to the Chuyskiy Tract and get acquainted with unique monuments in the valley of the Chuya River.

   • Visit the Valley of Geysers, see waterfalls on the upper and lower Karasu River, admire the snow and glaciers of the majestic North-Chuyskiy ridge and get acquainted with the blast furnaces of ancient nomads.

   • In the afternoon, arrive in Kosh-Agach village, located near the Russian-Mongolian border. Kosh-Agach is situated in the Chuya steppe, which surprisingly resembles Mongolia. There is a low precipitation level here. The village itself is located at an altitude of 1800 to 1900 m. above sea level and surrounded by four thousand mountain ridges on all sides. Due to the natural and climatic conditions, the starry sky over Kosh-Agach is the most suitable for astronomical observations. It is the place where we plunge into the riddles of the universe.

3. Day 3: Explore the Valley of the Kyzyl-Chin River

   • After breakfast, make a trip to Mars, the name of the geological monument in the Valley of the Kyzyl-Chin River. Being on the line of the Charysh-Terekty tectonic fault, on the surface of the Earth appeared the most ancient rocks of the Altai-the weathering crust formed long before the formation of the modern Altai mountainous country. The valley's landscape is painted in a variety of shades of red, and due to this feature, the territory is called Mars.

   • Head to the banks of the ancient lake, which filled the entire Chui valley in the glacial age. Follow the traces of a huge water reservoir of the Ice Age. Clays had been brought by the water of the ancient glacial lake for thousands of years.

   • In the evening, return to the hotel.

   • Observe the night sky through a telescope.

4. Day 4: Visit the Saylyugemsky National Park

   • Visit the Saylyugemsky National Park (on the border with Mongolia) and climb to the top of the mountain, see rare animals such as argali, also called mountain sheep, and spot the snow leopard. In the territory of Altai, there is the largest population of these rare animals that live exclusively in the highlands, and there is also the northernmost distribution of snow leopards.

   • In the evening, get an opportunity to enjoy a throat singing concert and watch a shamanistic rite.

   • Enjoy traditional treats of the nomads of Altai for dinner.

   • Observe the night sky through a telescope.

5. Day 5: Explore the Tarkhatinskiy megalithic complex

   • Visit the top of Zhalgyz-Tobe mountain to see petroglyphs. On Kurgak mountain, see the longest runic inscription found in Altai. It is known that the Turks (6-11 centuries AD) were excellent warriors and created the first written language among the peoples of northern Eurasia.

   • In the afternoon, visit one of Altai's most ancient and mysterious observatories - the Tarkhatinskiy megalithic complex (the Aeneolithic - Early Bronze Age). It is proved that all the sanctuary objects are strictly oriented to the cardinal directions and have a different magnetisation and composition of rocks than stones located nearby. To construct this ritual complex, the ancient builders had to deliver enormous blocks for tens of kilometres. How and for what purpose the sanctuary was built is still a mystery.

   • In the evening, return to the hotel and go for a starry sky observation.

6. Day 6: Discover the Yustyt Valley

   • After breakfast, visit the valley of the Yustyt River, there is the necropolis of the ancient nomads. The valley is replete with mounds, and there are many deer stones and petroglyphs. In the old days, a sizeable metallurgical area was located here, as evidenced by the remains of forged and ancient smelting furnaces. The Yustyt Valley can be compared to the Nazca Lines in South America because from a height, you can see that the stone constructions of the kerexurs (mounds with an external framing of stones) intertwine into a single unique pattern.

   • Visit the temple mountain of the Turu-Alty sanctuary. This structure occupies the whole ridge of Turu-Alty. The ancient complex was a temple of the sun. On the slopes of Turu-Alty Mount, there are numerous mounds, ritual fences and petroglyphs. At the highest point of the mountain ridge, there is the altar-a stone slab facing south with multiple images of deer, symbolising the sun. It is possible that in ancient times, rituals were performed here and luminary observations. On the days of the vernal and autumnal equinox and the winter and summer solstices, the sun sets at the horizon in strictly defined places. The mountain also has a unique acoustic effect. From the highest point, you can hear the prayer offering from the Kosh-Agach Mosque, located more than 40 km from here.

   • In the evening, return to the hotel, starry sky observation through a telescope.

7. Day 7: Drive back to the Gorno-Altaisk

   • Drive to the vicinity of the airport of Gorno-Altaisk.

   • As an option, offer to take a helicopter flight to the mysterious Ukok Plateau. It is located in the heart of the Altai Mountains at the intersection of China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Russia. Through the Ukok Plateau, the civilizations of the ancient empires of China, India, Asia Minor, and the nomads of southern Siberia got in contact with each other. The mummy of the Ice Maiden, a noble lady who lived in the 6th-2nd centuries BC, was discovered here. It was preserved in the lenses of ice in the mound and is considered the patroness of Altai. At the end of the tour, make a helicopter transfer to the tourist complex on the Lower Katun.

8. Day 8: Final Departure

   • Early breakfast and transfer to the airport to depart to Moscow or another city.