The Schedule of the Tour "The Karakoli - the Katun"

The 1^st day. Meeting at the airport, at the bus station in Barnaul. A bus drive along the route: Barnaul (a town) - Biisk (a town) - Chemal (a village). The length is 217,48 miles, the time of the drive is approximately 7 hours. Then we change our bus to a special Land-rover-66 (a cross-country vehicle with a cab) and drive up to the last inhabited house for hunters and shepherds (in Russian this place is called cordon) at the Cuba river. (The length is 16,16 miles, the time needed is 1 hour). Dinner. Camping. Preparation for the trip. That means: distribution of the food, equipment; instructions on the safety measures, and training tours. Banya. The evening of getting acquainted. Beginning with this day you will live in tents; food will be prepared by the instructors on fire.

The 2^nd day. Starting the route. Horse traveling from the cordon to the Cedar glade N1. The approximate length and time: 9,94 miles, 4 hours. This day a light ascent along the river Imurt waits for us. A very even pace will let you adjust to the horse quite easily. Reaching the Cedar glade we shall camp among the ancient cedars.

The 3^rd day. The route: the Cedar glade N1 - the Akkainski gate - the Upper Ugul River. The approximate length and time: 7.46 miles, 4 hours. Crossing the boundary of the forest, we move along the loach. A shot stop near the rocks, called the Castle of Ghosts, a place covered with legends. Then rising a little we get to the gate Akkainski. The path swinging among the sparse growth of cedars, dwarf willow, moss and lichen goes down to the river-head of the Ugul, where we settle our camp on a big charming glade. The same day we may visit Ugulskoe lake (its form reminds you of the figure eight), or the waterfalls on the river Vodopadka.

The 4^th day. The route: the Upper Ugul (a river) - the Vodopadka River (from the word vodopad - a waterfall) - Lake Veronica - the Cedar Glade N2. The approximate length and time: 9,94 miles, 5-6 hours. A steep path down the Vodopadka River will lead us to the Ugul River. Going up this river for some time, we see a snow mountain, under which a raging torrent breaks its way. The path goes farther to a beautiful Lake Veronica, at the beginning of which one can see a high cascade waterfall. This day we are also to rise to the mountain ridge Iolgo. Having gone several kilometers along the ridge, we are to come down to the Cedar Glade N2.

The 5^th day. The route: The Cedar glade N2 - the Karakolskie Lakes - The Bagatash gate - the Castle of Ghosts - the Imurta River - the cordon at the river Cuba. The approximate length and time: 18,64 miles, 5-6 hours. First we reach the Karakolskie Lakes. From there we shall rise to the gate Bagatash (to translate it from Altaiski - means A Stone Frog; its height is 6 692,91 feet). From here a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains opens before you. If the weather is fine you can see the highest peak in Siberia - Beluha (14 783,46 feet). From the height of the gate you will enjoy the view of the Karakolskie lakes. From there they seem black and look like seven mirrors scattered about the plate. Then passing the Castle of ghosts we shall come down the Imurta River to the cordon at the river Cuba, where we shall camp and have rest.

The 6^th day. The route: the cordon at the river Cuba - Chemal (a village) - the estuary of the river Choba. The approximate length and time: 43,50 miles, 1,5 hours. Rafting: the estuary of the river Choba - the rapids Biika - the rapids Elandinskii - Chemal. The approximate length and time: 18.64 miles, 3 hours. Having breakfast we shall drive to the estuary of the river Choba - an initial point of the water part of our tour. Here we shall take helmets, life jackets, paddles, shall listen to the instructions on safety measures and start rafting along the Katun River. This day we are to face the rapids of the 3^rd and 4^th complexity class: the Elandinskii and Biika rapids and also some interesting local obstacles.

The 7^th day. Rafting: Chemal (a village) - the Chemalskie Vorota (Gate) rapids - the Iradash rapids - Cheposh (a village). The approximate length and time: 24.85 miles, 4 hours. This day we are to go through the Chemalskie Vorota rapids (the 2^nd complexity class), the Iradash papids, and several other serious obstacles. We shall have a chance to see Chemalskaya Hydroelectric Power Station and a wonderful Island Patmos, several smaller islands, fantastical rocks; if we are lucky we shall see grey cranes. We shall finish our route not far from a village Cheposh. Then we shall camp, have some rest and celebrate our trip with delicious dinner, laughter and songs till the very morning.

The 8^th day. A bus drive along the route: Cheposh (a village) - Barnaul. The Hotel Barnaul. The approximate length and time: 198.84 miles, 6 hours. A departure day. After breakfast we pack our things and drive home.