The Schedule of the Tour "A Pearl Necklace of the Lakes"

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 (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). This is at the river Cuba. (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 No.1. 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 No.1 - the gate Akkainski - the gate Airik - the valley Airik. The approximate length and time: 14,91 miles, 4-5 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 going up a little we get to the gate Akkainski. From here a magnificent view of the valley and Akkainskie lakes opens up before you.Coming down to the valley Akkai we go down a river up to a small waterfall. Then we shall move to the Airik gate through dwarf willow. Just near the gate we can see the mirrors of Airikskie lakes. They are famous for their clean water, which from the height of the gate seems dark-green. After that we descend into a wide flat valley of Airik. It is covered with cedars. Numerous streams and a gentle slope give a wonderful opportunity to choose a resting place to your taste. Having made a camp we shall visit the Karakokshinskaya cave.

The 4^th day. The route: the valley Airik - the gate The Devil's Finger - Baiauk lake - the Upper Ugul (a river). The approximate length and time: 9,94 miles, 3-4 hours. The path gradually goes up to the gate The Devil's Finger. The gate was called so because it resembles a hand with vertically rising fingers - rocks. Then the path goes down among Baiaukskie lakes and reaches the Tumannii (Foggy) gate. From here you can see the Iolgo ridge, the grand Akkaya river (7 824,80 feet) and the cascade of Baiaukskie lakes, in the valley of which there are a lot of snow mountains and sky-blue streams. The path swinging among the sparse growth of cedars and dwarf willow goes down. We shall settle our camp on a big charming glade from where we may visit Ugulskoe lake (its form reminds you of the figure eight), or the waterfalls on the river Vodopadka.

The 5^th day. The route: the Upper Ugul - the river Vodopadka - Veronica Lake - the Cedar glade No.2. The approximate length and time: 9,94 miles, 5-6 hours. A steep path down the river Vodopadka will bring us to the river Ugul. Going up this river for some time, we see a snow mountain, under which a raging torrent breaks its way. The path reaches a beautiful Veronica lake, at the beginning of which one can see a high cascade waterfall. Then along a steep stone path we are to rise to the mountain ridge Iolgo. Having gone several kilometers along the ridge, we shall come down to the Cedar glade No.2 to camp there.

The 6^th day. An excursion to Karakolskie Lakes. The approximate length and time: 3,73 miles on foot, 3-4 hours. This day we are to visit all seven lakes, a waterfall; also to slide down a snow mountain and eat real tourists' ice-cream.

The 7^th day. The Cedar glade No.2 - Karakolskie Lakes - the gate Bagatash - the Castle of Ghosts - the river Imurta - cordon at the river Cuba. The approximate length and time: 18,64 miles, 5-6 hours. First we reach Karakolskie Lakes. From them we shall start a steep rise to the gate Bagatash (from Altaiskii - means a stone frog). Here you will really be impressed by the beauty of the surrounding mountains. 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 Karakolskie lakes. From there they seem black and look like seven mirrors scattered about the valley. Then passing the Castle of Ghosts we shall go down the river Imurta to the cordon. There we shall camp, return our equipment and go to the banya. Then, after having some rest, we shall celebrate our trip with delicious dinner, laughter and songs till the very morning.

The 8^th day. A car drive: the cordon at the river Cuba - Chemal (a village). The approximate length and time: 13,67 miles, 1 hour. Then a bus drive: Chemal - Barnaul. Barnaul Hotel. The approximate length and time: 217,48 miles, 7 hours. A departure day. We have breakfast, pack our things, and drive to Chemal. There is a bus waiting for us, which will take us to Barnaul.