Rafting along the Lower Katun River

Rafting along the Lower Katun River in the Altai Mountains  рис.1 Rafting along the Lower Katun River in the Altai Mountains  рис.2 Rafting along the Lower Katun River in the Altai Mountains  рис.3 Rafting along the Lower Katun River in the Altai Mountains  рис.4 Rafting along the Lower Katun River in the Altai Mountains  рис.5 Rafting along the Lower Katun River in the Altai Mountains  рис.6 Rafting along the Lower Katun River in the Altai Mountains  рис.7
We invite you to take part in an uncomplicated rafting trip. This tour runs along the Lower Katun River from the mouth of the Edigan River to the village of Rybalka.
During the tour it is planned to visit a lot of interesting places: Chemalsky tract, Sartakpai gate, Chemalskaya Нydroelectrostatic Power Plant, Patmos Island, Kamyshlinsky waterfall, Tavda caves, Turquoise Katun, Lake Aya and others.

During the rafting you will pass lots of the rapids.

This is the most beautiful and accessible section, which can be visited by children's groups and parents with children.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

rafting along the most beautiful and accessible section of the Katun River

uncomplicated rafting suitable for family vacations

fascinating excursion to Tavda caves (extra charge)

acquaintance with Chemal, one of the most popular places in the Altai Mountains

visit to Kamyshlinsky waterfall

Difficulty: to everyone
Group size: from 6 pax
Participation with children: from 7 years old
Duration: 5 days
Accommodation: Tent — 4 nights

Tour dates:

from 11 August to 15 August 2024

35 000 RUB / person

TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1. Group meeting in Barnaul/Gorno-Altaisk. Barangol. Preparation for rafting

Meeting the group in Barnaul/Gorno-Altaisk city.

Meeting time depends on the place of arrival:

– at Barnaul airport – 07:00–08:00

– at Barnaul railway station – 08:00–09:00

– at the airport of Gorno-Altaisk – till 11:00.

Transfer to Barangol village (auto 300/40 km) and further to the mouth of Edigan river (auto 90 km, 2–3 hours).

Moving along the Chemalsky road up the right bank of the Katun River. On the way you can see ancient burial mounds, rock paintings, Biikinsky cave and grotto, which preserved traces of ancient man's stay here, Oroktoi bridge, lunar landscapes of Teldekpen rapids – observe amazing landscapes and feel the tart flavor of mountain steppes.

Preparation for rafting, studying safety techniques.

Dinner.

Overnight in tents on the bank of the Katun River.

Accommodation in tents

No electricity

Bad mobile signal

No shower

Day 2. Rafting on the Lower Katun

Rafting on the Katun with passing the rapids «Teldekpen», «Biika», «Yelandinsky».

Chemal village is one of the most popular places in the Altai Mountains. In its vicinity there are a great number of sights that deserve the closest attention: hydroelectric power station, water reservoir, the confluence of the rivers Chemal and Katun, sources of Living and Dead water, rock of love, crying rock, Sartakpai gate, goat path and others. A huge number of legends and true stories tell about these amazing places.

Stop for overnight in tents not far from Chemal village.

Accommodation in tents

No electricity

Bad mobile signal

No shower

Day 3. Rafting on the Katun river. Excursion to Chemalskaya HPP

After passing a small part of the river we make a stop for the excursion to the Chemalskaya Hydroelectric Power Station (entrance fee to the dam – 150–200 rubles, paid on spot).

Continue rafting: we will see Patmos Island – an amazingly beautiful place in the Altai Mountains. Here in 1915 was moved a wooden temple, built in 1849 in Chemal, but the temple was destroyed over time. By 2001 the temple was restored and consecrated again. Old icons are gradually being renewed in the temple. On the stone of the island, the nuns carved an image of the Mother of God with a baby in her arms. Next to the temple there is a skete of St. John the Theologian.

Rafting on the Katun with passing the rapids «Cheposh», «Seminsky».

Lunch at Kamyshlinsky waterfall. Kamyshlinsky waterfall consists of two cascades, the total height of 12 meters, it is small but very beautiful, at the foot of the rock jets break into thousands of splashes of all colors of the rainbow.

Not far from Tavda caves we stop for overnight in tents.

Accommodation in tents

No electricity

Bad mobile signal

No shower

Day 4. Excursion to Tavda caves. Rafting

Excursion to Tavda (Tavdinskiye) caves (entrance fee 150–200 rubles, paid on spot).

People are always attracted by the unknown, mysterious, hidden by darkness. Caves are probably the brightest example of the mystery created by nature. When a man gets into the narrow or wide passages of «underground palaces», he can be possessed either by anxiety and fear, or indomitable curiosity – both attracts, makes you return again and again to solve this mystery.

Caves are quite a rare geological phenomenon. They allow a man to look deep into the earth, to know the contents of its bowels, to look at the grandiose, impressive work of water. During the whole excursion you will be accompanied by legends, legends and true stories about Tavda caves.

We continue rafting along the Lower Katun. Passage of «Muninsky» rapids, «Manzherok» shiver and «Manzheroksky» and «Aisky» rapids.

It is possible to bath in the artificial lake Turquoise Katun (entrance is paid on spot).

Overnight in tents.

Accommodation in tents

No electricity

Bad mobile signal

No shower

Day 5. Final day of the tour. Departure to Barnaul / Gorno-Altaisk

Excursion in the area of Lake Aya, swimming, buying souvenirs.

Return to Barangol village (auto 20 km).

Dinner (included in the tour price). Bath (Russian banya).

Departure to Barnaul (22:00, auto 300 km) / Gorno-Altaisk*. Arrival in Barnaul about 03:00–04:00 next morning.

The end of the tour.

* Departure to Gorno-Altaisk airport next morning (40 km). It is necessary to book accommodation in Barangol village for one night. The cost of accommodation is not included in the tour price.

* The route and schedule can be adjusted depending on weather conditions and for safety reasons.

Good mobile signal

+ What is included in the price

  • English speaking guide service
  • visa support (invitation letter for Russian visa)
  • transport services from Barnaul/Gorno-Altaisk and back
  • meals: three meals a day on the active part of the route, on Day 1 – dinner only
  • accommodation in tents
  • guide-instructor services
  • rentl of necessary equipment 
  • recreational fees
  • medical insurance

- What is not included

  • tickets to/from Barnaul / Gorno-Altaisk
  • meals not included in the program (breakfast and lunch on Day 1)
  • services not included in the tour program
  • entrance tickets to excursion objects (Chemalskaya HPP, Tavda caves, artificial lake Biryuzovaya Katun)
  • additional night in Barangol village (in case of return flight from Gorno-Altaisk)
  • souvenirs
  • porter services
  • alcohol drinks
  • tips

Price clarification

Price of the tour – 35 000 rubles per person 

Tour map

How to get there

Please send us your arrival details in advance – flight or train number and time of your arrival in Barnaul or Gorno-Altaisk.
Local time is differs with Moscow time +4 hours (when in Moscow 12:00 – in Barnaul 16:00).

Meeting of the group:

At the airport of Barnaul from 07:00 to 08:00 local time.

At the railway station in Barnaul from 08:00 to 09:00 local time.

At the airport of Gorno-Altaisk until 11:00 local time.

In case of the delay of the plane, train, bus or car and possible late arrival in Barnaul, be sure to inform the tour operator about the situation.

Boarding is organized by the bus driver according to the list, not earlier than 07:00. Backpacks and oversized equipment are loaded either in the trunks or in the cabin, depending on the capacity of the vehicle.

Return transfer at the end of the tour:

Departure to Barnaul/Biysk: in the evening (22:00) of the last day of the tour, arrival in Barnaul around 03:00–04:00 am, in Biysk around 01:00 am of the next day. In Biysk the passengers can be dropped off only on the route of the bus, the bus does not enter the bus and railway station. Thus, return tickets should be purchased for the next morning.

Departure to Gorno-Altaisk is carried out on the next day after the end of the tour at 07:00–08:00 am (depending on the time of departure). In this case it is necessary to book accommodation for one night in Barangol. The price for accommodation from 1000 rubles per person. Accommodation is not included in the cost of the tour, booked in advance on full payment.


There are several ways to get from Moscow to the starting point of the tour:
the most convenient way is by airplane to Gorno-Altaisk (about 4,5 hours from Moscow: Aeroflot, Pobeda, S7 and other airlines).

You can also get there:
– by flight to Barnaul (4 hours from Moscow, Aeroflot, S7 Airlines and others);
– by train to Barnaul (2,5 days from Moscow);
– by flight to Novosibirsk (3,5 hours from Moscow, Aeroflot, S7 Airlines and others);
– by train to Novosibirsk (2 days from Moscow)
Flight tickets to Novosibirsk are often cheaper than to Barnaul, but transfer from Novosibirsk takes longer.

Flights from Moscow to Barnaul or Gorno-Altaisk usually depart in the evening and land the next morning. Flights from Barnaul depart to Moscow in the morning and land in Moscow the same morning. There are day flights from Moscow to Novosibirsk, which are convenient to arrive at the time of the tour start. There are evening and morning flights from Novosibirsk to Moscow.

Meals

Tour price includes: three meals a day on the active part of the route.
On Day 1 breakfast and lunch are not included and paid on spot.

On the route food is cooked by a guide on a campfire or gas burner. If tourists wish, their help is also possible. 

Essential equipment list

Must-have
Recommended
Provided equipment

group first aid kit

bivouac equipment:

2/3-person tents (with awning, Normal Troubadour 3)

3/4-layer syntepon sleeping bag (+5C, Russian hunting)

polyurethane foam mat (karemat)

utensils (bowl, mug, spoon)

campfire and kitchen equipment

special group equipment: 

complete rafting equipment (rafts)

group drybags 

repair kit 

personal special equipment: 

paddle

life jacket

helmet

diving suit (neoprene diving suit is issued by the guide against a signature in the logbook)

drybag 100-120 liters (for personal belongings, one drybag for two people)

For a fee

if you don't have your own sleeping bag, we recommend you to rent an insulated sleeping bag (3 000 rubles for the whole tour, -10C).

It is possible to purchase neoprene socks (check availability and cost before the tour). Shoes should be 1–2 sizes larger when using such socks.

F.A.Q.

Answers to popular questions
Are flight tickets included in the tour?
Flight tickets are not included in the tour price. You can book them individually, or we can help you with it.
Who can participate in the tour?
There are no special requirements for participants. Everyone can take part in a tour.
Children from 7 years old accompanied by an adult are allowed on the route.
Who will accompany the group on the tour?
The group of up to 12 people will be accomponied by 1 instructor and driver.

TOUR DATES

from 11 August to 15 August 2024

35 000 RUR /person

Difficulty: to everyone
Group size: from 6 pax
Participation with children: from 7 years old
Duration: 5 days
Accommodation: Tent — 4 nights

Tour dates:

from 11 August to 15 August 2024

35 000 RUB / person