As the Soviet idol, Vladimir Vysotsky, sang, nothing, except mountains themselves, might be more beautiful than mountains. He was right. Now imagine what is like to horse trek in Russia’s Altai Mountains.
Depicted travel facts
Destination: Lake Akkem near Tyungur village in the Altai Mountains.
Travel direction: Russia -> Siberia -> Trans-Siberian Railway -> Barnaul -> Republic of Altai -> the Altai Mountain -> Tyungur village -> the Akkem River -> Lake Akkem.
Horse riding trekking route: Tyungur – the Akkem River – Lake Akkem.
Location: Check the map below.
Author of the following photographs known as prime_ch is an active traveller and a big fan of the Altai Mountains. He comes to this mountain area annually. Every summer he takes time off for trekking here. Amazing!
In August 2010, with friends, he decided to escape from hot-as-in-the-hell Moscow to South Altai in Russia’s Republic of Altai.
How to get to the village of Tyungur
Prime_ch recommends to make the way from Moscow to Barnaul as comfortable as possible as the rest of trip will demand much strengths and efforts. It means it is wisely to take the direct train “Altai.” If Russian summer appeared to be as hot as it was in 2010, it’s better to travel the Trans-Siberian Railway in an air-conditioned couchette.
Driving from Barnaul to Tyunguru takes 10 hours, but after the long train travel it’s good to take time and reserve two days for the way to the horse trek starting point. Night stop you can make on the bank of the Katun River at the camp near Tavdinskie Peshery (Tavdinsky Caves), that charges 50 roubles per person.
Entry permit for the Republic of Altai
International visitors must get the entry permit, when crossing the border of the Republic of Altai. Foreigners must also have a person, who is ready to take administrative reponsibilities for his/her travelers.
It is obligatory. The Republic of Altai is a Russian frontier region.
Here come horse trek pictures
All trekking pictures were taken by Prime_ch in summer of 2010. Enjoy!
That was Anton, the local guide.
Travellers met a nonordinary motorcyclist from the Siberian city of Tomsk, whose obsession was to explore the Altai Mountains on his motorbike only. He loves going on hard-to-pass mountain treks.
They stopped by Lake Kyulduayr for night. A pretty nice place, but with the army of hungry mosquitos.
They wrapped their headscarfs in such a way, as the Altai sun was sizzling in the daytime:
Another night stop was made at a Tekkelu waterfall:
Around the area of two Tekkulu Waterfalls.
The Akkem River:
Lake Akkem and surroundings:
An old Orthodox Church at the source of the Akkem River:
Horse trekking to Lake Akkem is the well known tour among Russian horse riders and active travelers. Apparently, this travel is not easy. Some physical strengths are required.
To see photographs in large sizes, click on thumbnails in the gallery below:
What do you think about the described travel destination?
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