REVIEWS - page4

When I was going on a horse riding tour for the first time, I doubted myself. I chose this tour because it is short - three nights at the bases, four in tents in the forest. The journey to the first base takes about 5 hours (we were met at the airport). There is immediately nature, air, tranquility. I must say that only 2 of us came, but the tour still took place! We were accompanied by an instructor and a horseman, Altaians, experienced people. The first crossing was difficult because it was raining. You shouldn’t trust any weather forecasts in Altai; the weather changes quickly. There are two parking lots during the tour, both are well equipped and have been in use for a long time. Words cannot describe the beauty of these places. Air, mountain rivers, horses grazing around, not a soul, just no one at all! Radial riding on horses on other days is not difficult. The tour is not overloaded with events, you can sleep and relax. They fed us very well: a variety of dishes, fruits, sweets, whatever you wanted! They heated water to wash themselves from bottles. In general, this is not a difficult tour at all for a city person accustomed to comfort. But far enough from civilization to say: “Yes, I was in the Altai Mountains and saw all its beauty.”

I had been looking for rafting for beginners for a long time, so I chose this tour. What’s convenient about it is that there is a support vehicle (the boat is free of things) and a camp bathhouse (this, as it turns out, is such a pleasure that you can’t refuse). The team working on this route is pure gold! The male instructors delve into every detail, patiently explain everything, just titanic patience and goodwill! I was lucky, I was assigned to a 2-seater boat with an instructor and his dog. The dog was the rafting star! Everyone who saw us on the river admired how calmly the dog endured the trip in a kayak. The river is calm, transparent, clean. We swam a lot! The shores are picturesque. There is only one minus in the Tver region - insects. Horseflies are prevalent this year. It is imperative to take closed clothing, even if it is hot. Be sure to cover your arms and legs. Many were burned on the first day, some were wearing shorts and swimsuits. And just take a few different types of hand gloves. Hands are erased. And so - everything was wonderful! This is not a difficult tour at all for the first time. This is a vacation! Moreover, you need to sign up well in advance, since there are always a lot of people interested in rafting. I signed up 1.5 months in advance!

I never thought that you could go to Karelia for three days. But from a letter from the owner of Adventure Guide, I learned about this active tour, which packs a lot into it. You can try sup-boards, go rafting and ride ATVs. The hosts, instructors Pavel and Egor, not only carried out all this, but also exceeded the program, showing us all the beauties along the way. We were taken by boat to the island where the ancient temple is located; in general, we saw a lot of old villages and temples. During the day, while there were activities, we were fed fresh fish, vegetables, and wickets cooked over the fire. I have never tried so many different varieties of fish on any tour! And every two hours there were delicious teas! And this despite the fact that we spent the night on the territory of the Shishki base, in warm houses, where, again, breakfast and dinner were included! I had special dietary requests. Everything has been taken into account! They brought separate tea especially for me and served separate dishes in the cafe.

I recommend this tour to those who want to try the activity, the level is easy. Although ATVs require some skills, or it is better to put your man on the steering wheel, the road is not straight for you. Look at the beauty to your heart's content! You will feel the flavor of Karelia. You will see many rivers and relax on Lake Onega.

The land of lakes and waterfalls.

A harsh and majestic land. A place where character is forged and all human shortcomings and virtues are exposed. There are no “bows” here, only minimalism and nothing superfluous. This region is rich in its mineral resources, animals, birds, plants, human “expanse” and courage. Norilsk is a city that works despite the harshness of nature, extracts nickel and copper for the benefit of the state, but with the same huge “steps” it harms the environment. Although in recent years he has been trying to take the righteous path: he is looking for options to cleanse the city of mountains of scrap metal, installing filters for hydrogen sulfide, starting to build new housing for its residents, and developing tourism. But this is Taimyr, this is the Arctic, it is impossible to fix everything at once with a snap of your fingers. Here you will have to roll up your sleeves, put on rubber boots and throw a mosquito net over your face, and also grab a “bag” of perseverance and patience. Because the national way of life was created in this region with the sweat and blood of NORLAG prisoners. And it will be difficult to cover up this mark with fresh cement...

Well, Taimyr is harsh, but those who are patient and do not give up halfway will be rewarded. In its depths it hides the edge of many lakes, mountains and waterfalls, as well as rare animals and birds. Today I will take you on an excursion into the depths of this mysterious world - the Putorana Plateau.

Morning. Drizzling rain. Cold and piercing wind. Early rise and loading onto the “Wizard” boat. This is where miracles begin! Moving a little away from the shore, the connection slowly disappears (over time it will disappear completely) and the outlines of the city. But in return, nature reveals its beauty wave after wave: shaggy larches, mirror lakes and mountains with flat tops, as if someone had carefully trimmed them. At times, no, no, but you can see loons, seagulls, ducks, if it is the end of August, then watch how yellow colors appear on the trees in some places (“golden” autumn comes here early), and there is snow on some mountain peaks. The weather here is very changeable and capricious: it can give you bright sun and northern lights or torrential rain with strong winds. And all this within one day. And yes, be careful, Morpheus has a strong influence on people here, but here he doesn’t want to resist!

Now we are already on Lake Lama (translated from the local as sea, which is plausible with its waves and rocky beaches), mooring to the base of the same name. We are greeted by the local residents of the Kamenny Peninsula with a ringing bark: Zhuzha and Harry, peaceful and friendly. It’s worth walking a little along the wooden flooring and you find yourself near a large wooden house, built in 1941, in the shape of an airplane. Once upon a time, pioneers lived and vacationed here, then NORNIKEL workers, and now just tourists who crave adventure and unprecedented beauty.

Our acquaintance with the peninsula begins with its history. The story is not simple, like the whole Arctic. Where, in permafrost conditions, houses were built and erected not just by prisoners, but by people with brilliant minds, who had the imprudence to say something unnecessary or to be simply displeasing to their state. So on one hill a cross was erected in memory of the Baltic generals, and at its foot, in the thick of trees, there was a small burial place. Few people know about this, but they were brought here in 1941, in military greatcoats (which were later replaced by prison sweatshirts) to serve their sentences (or rather, to build). The generals were already at that age when it was difficult to even get off the ladder, let alone work. As you understand, they did not live in such conditions for long...

If you put aside all the hardship of life in Taimyr, you can see its beauty and pristine nature. We will enjoy the cascade of waterfalls that replace each other one after another. Their power in their flow, splashes, blue water. Let's enjoy blueberries, blueberries and even red currants. And mushroom pickers here will find freedom for themselves and will be stupefied by the number and variety of mushrooms... Well, well, the day is coming to an end, you can wrap yourself in a blanket and sing a couple or three romances with a guitar, drink hot tea and more, tell a heroic legend about yourself and immediately laugh out loud, amazed at your imagination.

Morning, hearty breakfast and off we go. It's time to visit the mountain lake, which is located in a stone circus and a four-hour walk from the base camp. A short walk along the river, and then trekking through the forest-tundra. This is where the hard part begins. Firstly, the path to the top is always not easy, secondly, the local berries beckon you to stay and not go anywhere (but the midges don’t let you relax and try in every possible way to fly somewhere), thirdly, the dwarf birch trees are very closely intertwined with each other and spread along the ground in a thick carpet, so it’s very difficult to walk along them. And two more serious “rivals” - the wind and the enchanting view of Lake Lama and the nearby mountains, you want to sit and contemplate. But... we climbed here for a reason, but we are leading our way to a lake of snowy origin. And there is one more test ahead - kurumnik (stone embankments). Here you need to be extremely focused, the stones can be shaky and unstable. Particularly astute ones may feel like “goats” and deftly jump on them, but do not be deceived, this can be dangerous! A little time later, we approach the lake: cold, crystal clear and rebellious, because the wind does not spare its surface and blows from all sides. That’s when you feel that you can’t survive in this land alone, only mutual assistance and love can warm you up and save you from the bitter cold. Loneliness is the lot of snowy mountains, but they are not completely alone. In a couple of days we will have to climb to a height of 1060 meters, which the locals called Pavel, and on the contrary, about the same height, the Elena peak.

Now descent, rest. Fishing. Clouds.

The beginning of September is the golden time of Putoran. The weather is kind to us: today it is warm, bright sun, trees in elegant “dresses” of yellow and red. We are preparing for the ascent, we are worried, we are in a little hurry (what if the weather changes and we won’t see anything there, because the previous group climbed in the snow a week ago). But, no, someone invisible “agreed” with the weather so that we could fully enjoy this day (if it’s a secret, Lama makes wishes come true, the main thing is to ask correctly). And here is our usual road along the river, an ascent along a dry stream bed, forest-tundra, a kurumnik and stone “gendarmes”, which we walked around to the side so as not to disturb them. Plateau. There is a lot of light, space - the “roof” of the world, everything from above seems small, simple, distant and at the same time so close that you can almost touch it with your hand. Huge lakes now fit in the palm of your hand, and rivers are just thin winding threads. How could you live without this feeling of flight, scale and freedom? Sometimes we forget where we live and what surrounds us, and only in such moments of freedom do we free our minds from the frailty of little things and leave only what is really important!

Yes, sometimes it’s worth experiencing all the hardships of life in order to later understand what you’re worth. And this ascent and journey is proof of that. Now it's time to return to civilization. Saying goodbye is always painful for me, but also trembling, because the hope of returning always warms my soul...

“The Wizard” again, a long return to Norilsk, but you are already full of life and feelings that saturate you. Dudinka. Dream.

The last day of getting to know Taimyr, the Yenisei, with its sad history, but with hope for the best.

I sincerely hope that the finest hour of the Arctic is still ahead and that more people will experience the beauty of the Putorana Plateau.

The mist of your blue eyes...

I saw Lake Lama in it.

In the fragments of stones, and about them

You walked, stumbling, stubbornly.

The coldness of the water beckoned you...

Through the pink dust of sunset

The endless day floated by, and you

The expanse is ironing, rumpled with ripples.

And the cold fire trembles,

Like the trembling wind of a dryad,

He hugged you and his palm

You didn't reveal it for a reward.

You handed it to me

Breathing restlessly and raggedly,

And my heart walked

On the sharp stones of Putorana.

Osman Delebash

I went on the “Weekend in the Saddle” tour for the November holidays. It is still quite warm in this region at the beginning of November. The hotel is literally in the mountains and the rooms are immaculate. The horses are not tourist horses. They love to trot and are always ready to gallop. At first it scared me, but now I definitely don’t want to go on a tour where you can only walk.

I am endlessly grateful to your wonderful company and especially to the CHIEF ANGEL, thanks to communication with which I, without a doubt, went on a tour to the Kostroma region! Anna Podlesnykh is a virtuoso professional with the highest level of empathy and communication, customer focus and precision in execution! It is thanks to her that I will go horseback riding again!) Thank you for having such highly qualified specialists who will always advise with a smile and tenderness and select exactly what I have always wanted! The tour is a blast! I have never been so happy!!!! Thank you!!!!!

My wife and I really enjoyed rafting on the Sudogda River. The most beautiful places in Russia. We would like to note the work of Maxim and Svyatoslav (our instructors). They made us cozy and comfortable, fed us deliciously, made us a luxurious bathhouse, and competently guided us along the route (there were guides along the rifts). Thank you! We will definitely try to raft with them again!

My son and I went on a kayak trip along the Lukh River on June 19-23, 2023. A wonderful route, a picturesque river with clear water, gently sloping sandy banks, a pine forest with an admixture of oak, linden, and birch. There are a lot of well-maintained, clean parking lots. We were taken by car from the Vladimir station to the slipway site (and back). Well done guys instructors! We assembled and disassembled kayaks, stored firewood, prepared delicious food, in general, all we had to do was relax and sometimes row leisurely)))) Of the five days there was one day, on it they set up a camp bathhouse with a stove, hung spruce, pine, juniper branches inside, made brooms and birch and oak, and steamed from the heart. And then I’ll run into the cool river!!!!!! Many thanks to the organizer, instructors and team, the trip was unforgettable, I wanted to stay for another week!

We have been on this wonderful tour since July 21st. We really liked everything: the place, the organization, the attention with which the organizers treated the guests, and the river was magnificent, clean! In five years of rafting and hiking, this was the most comfortable rafting! Thank you very much for your work, for such a reverent attitude towards guests and caring for everyone! We will definitely come again)). Special thanks to instructor Zhenya - always very patient, positive and organized! Thank you

My friend and I went on a horse riding tour for 10 days. She actually sat on a horse for the first time here. She liked everything, the only bad thing was that they didn’t really explain how to sit and control the horse, but we all helped her. What I liked: the attitude of the staff.

I traveled with them to Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands - Shikotan, Kunashir and Iturup. Incredibly, stunningly beautiful, how harsh, how soulful the places are. Our Far East is beautiful, I recommend it to everyone without exception.

In August, my son and I went rafting on the Zusha River (Oryol region) - we were absolutely delighted! I liked everything: the organization, the nature, the route itself, and we were also lucky with the weather. I recommend it to everyone. Next year we plan to repeat it with friends.

This year the winter has been very bad: frosty, snowy - it was necessary to take advantage of it urgently. On the evening of January 19, we set off to plow through the Meshchera forests on skis. As usual, I have little paws and don’t have my own skis, and I have no desire to organize either, so again I’m a businessman. Everything went great. We were met, taken, accommodated superbly, fed deliciously and put to bed. On Saturday we woke up, had breakfast and drove off.

18 km of untouched snow in the winter forest was beautiful. This is not a boring ski track in the park: somewhere you had to follow a path, somewhere you had to take a snow shower while shaking off branches, somewhere you had to untangle yourself from these branches. Everything as I like and at a comfortable pace. In the evening, a furry surprise awaited us near the house - a local cat. The bathhouse was also waiting, but I skipped it, and Yulia liked the bathhouse: she went for half an hour and stayed for two.

On the second day it was noticeably cooler (-17 versus -6 on Saturday) but sunny. In Moscow, we see the sun extremely rarely, so no frost could stop us, we had to soak in it to the maximum. As a result, we ran 10 km, there was no time for more, because... final day. In general, I am very pleased, I recommend the organizers and the base.

I went to Khibiny to ride mountain snowmobiles. Wonderful impressions from the excellent organization, warm welcome, and professional work of the guides.

We lived in a sanatorium, next to the snowmobile base; equipment was included in the price of the tour. The food is delicious and varied.

I want to thank you for the tour. We really enjoyed it. Excellent organization, super hotels, delicious food, thoughtful program, reliable transport, guides - just fire. Overall, the trip exceeded expectations and even the bitter cold did not prevent us from enjoying the winter beauty of Lake Baikal. Thanks again. Looking forward to your next adventures

Thank you very much for this tour!
Everything was at the highest level. VIP service!
The same tour where you don’t have to worry about anything and just relax.
Although I had to work hard, but only on the water to use the oars, but what about rafting without rowing?
Otherwise everything was at the highest level. Delicious food. 3 meals a day. Even our tents were assembled and dismantled by wonderful organizers. You didn’t have to take any dishes with you, everything was provided.
The overnight stops were chosen in very picturesque places. There were a small number of tourists and very interesting people on the tour, which was only a plus. Thank you very much for this wonderful weekend.

We went rafting with Evgenia (04/28-30/2024). I completely agree with her. You constantly catch yourself thinking all inclusive, but not Ultra (they don’t serve it).
Ideal for retirees and beginners if the weather is good.

Wonderful holiday, very kind and helpful staff!

They explain everything very clearly and put you on a horse; I had never ridden a horse before. Lots of entertainment!

Sergey and Galina, thank you very much and good luck!

I'll definitely come again!

During the May holidays, I spent several days at the Alloy of the Elements in Novosil. Cold and windy days did not stop us from enjoying the bike ride and kayaking on the Zusha River. The organizers of our active holiday, Olga and Igor, organized everything for the tour participants - meals, accommodation, hikes - everything was thought out, everything was on point.

It was very interesting! Thanks to our instructors Georgy, Pavel and Denis - everything was professional, fun and friendly. Thanks to Anna, who supervised our trip and was attentive to all our wishes and nuances of our vacation. Everything was great.

Rafted on the Uksa on May 17-19.

This is my fourth rafting in Karelia and there is something to compare with.

The organization of the rafting is excellent. After the train and before the start of the rafting, we were fed a sumptuous breakfast (which was a surprise).

Then everything went exactly according to plan. Instructors Andrey, Maxim and Vladimir are each a professional in their field.

They organized both the rafting itself and the parking lots with full dedication. They fed us well, entertained us and brought us together.

After the rafting, we were taken to a beautiful bathhouse and again fed a hearty and tasty meal.

In general, we exceeded the program to the maximum!