Horseback riding tour in Katon-Karagay Park.

Sights of environs on Kazakh Altay to a tour on horses.

Horse ride walk on Kazakhstan.

“To travel is to live”

Hans Christian Andersen.

Short description of route of tour across Kazakhstan Altay:

Ust-Kamenogorsk - Verkhnie Tainty village - bridge across Bukhtarma Reservoir – villages Ulken Naryn – Katon-Karagay – Uryl – Berel - Lake Karakol (Yazevoe) - upper reaches of Lake Karakus - Itolgon stream - Lower camp Big Kokkol - Upper camp Big Kokkol - Big and Small Berel glaciers - Itolgon stream - Lake Karakol (Yazevoye) - villages Berel - Uryl - Katon-Karagay - Ulken Naryn - bridge over Bukhtarma Reservoir - Verkhnie Tainty village - Ust-Kamenogorsk.

Distance of route: 1094 km
Distance of an active part of a route: 104 km.
Season: from July 1 to September 1.
Best time for an tour: July, August.
Duration of tour: 10 days, 9 nights.

Detailed program of tour day after day from Bukhtarma reservoir to Berel village:

Horse-riding expedition in Kazakhstan.

Day 1. Ust-Kamenogorsk - lake Karakol (Yazevoye) (495 km).

Transfer: Ust-Kamenogorsk - bridge across Bukhtarma Reservoir (175 km).
Arrival on Kaznakovskay a crossing, expectation of the ferry.
Crossing on the opposite coast of bridge across Bukhtarma Reservoir (4 km).
Further transfer: bridge across Bukhtarma Reservoir - settlement of Katon Karagay (206 km).
A lunch in the settlement of Katon Karagay.
Further transfer: Settlements Ulken Naryn - Katon-Karagay t - Uryl (60 km).
A stop in the settlement of Uryl, it is possible to visit shops here. Farther on our way shops will not be any more.
Transfer: settlement of Uryl - settlement of Berel - bridge through river Belaya Berel - settlement of Karaayryk (Yazovka) - Karakol (Yazevyi) falls (45 km).
Walk on the falls Karakol (Yazevyi).
Transfer: Karakol (Yazevyi) falls - lake Karakol (Yazevoye) of 1656 m. a. s. l. (5 km).
Arrival on the lake Karakol (Yazevoye). Accommodation in guest houses or in tents, a dinner and overnight.

Day 2. Lake Karakol (Yazevoye).

Breakfast. The lake Karakol (Yazevoye) is a fascinating part of our route across the Kazakhstan Altai. The lake Karakol (Yazevoye) is in the picturesque valley located at the height of 1656 m. a. s. l. Lake length, from the North on the South 3 kilometers, width is 600 meters.
The lake rather warm during the summer period, it is possible to swim in the lake. In a clear weather from the coast of the lake the magnificent view on double tops of Mount Belukha of 4506 meters above sea level opens. Only one species of fish - an lives in the lake. Day of rest on the lake Karakol (Yazevoye). Lunch.
Walks in the environs of the lake.
Return to the camp, dinner and overnight.

Day 3. Lake Karakol (Yazevoye) – sheep station Sersembay (18 km).

Breakfast. We leave the lake Karakol (Yazevoye) and we go to the thrown sawmill which is in a northeast part of the lake (5 km).
Here short stop, rest.
Horse-riding: the sawmill - Nizhnee sedlo pass height is 1970 subway above sea level the lake Karakus (7 km).
After sawmill the track goes for rise. A lunch in way. Our track goes along the Russian border which is from us the northwest. Soon the boggy glade about 3 kilometers long begins. It is a little more time in way and before us the picturesque panorama of the lake Karakus will open.
On the way we pass the pass of 1786 m. a. s. l., our further way goes to the sheep station Sersembay (the sheep station of the shepherd Tursunkhan) which is located at the height of 1600 m. a. s. l. (6 km). A dinner and overnight in tents.

Day 4. Sheep station Sersembay - Lower camp Big Kokkol (19 km).

Breakfast. Further horse-riding: the sheep station Sersembay - the right inflow of river Belaya Berel a stream Itolgon height of 1607,6 m. a. s. l. (6 km).
After the sheep station and the wide track, up river Belaya Berel begins. From east slope of the Katun ridge many streams flow down.
Horse-riding: Small river Itolgon - bridge through river Belaya Berel (8 km).
We continue our way to the bridge through river Belaya Berel on the right side of the river. A lunch at the bridge. The bridge through river Belaya Berel was constructed in 1938. This difficult engineering construction which serves for a crossing through the river of 87 years (2025).
The bridge is built of a larch and hammered together by shod nails.
Further horse-riding: the bridge through Belaya River Berel - Lower camp Big Kokkol of 1795 m. a. s. l. (5 km). In the environs of the bridge through river Belaya Berel very picturesque place, is a lot of berry here - bilberry. From the bridge steep and difficult slope on the pass begins. Arrival in Lower camp Big Kokkol, pitch up a tent, dinner and overnight.

Day 5. Lower camp Big Kokkol. Day of rest and easy walks.

Breakfast. The mine Kokkol worked till 1954. From Lower camp Big Kokkol stayed at home only two today. Environs of Lower camp Big Kokkol are the traditional tourist camp lot of all tourists traveling in Altai. From here radial routes to the bottom of Belukha, Big and Small Berel glaciers, on the Upper camp Big Kokkol, the lake Kokkol are made.
Radial walk on Kokkol falls which are near our camp (15 minutes).
Watching falls it is possible to see the water dust rising from below up as dense fog which forms iridescent shine. Walk in the environs of Lower camp Big Kokkol. From environs of Nizhny of the camp in a clear weather the magnificent view on top of East Belukha of 4506 m. a. s. l., a wide panorama overlooking the Berel glacier opens.
In a bottom the river of Big Kokkol which flows into river Belaya Berel flows. Through Big Kokkol river the bridge on the opposite coast on which small house built wood are located is laid. A lunch and dinner, overnight in tents.

Day 6. Lower camp Big Kokkol - Upper camp Big Kokkol (abandoned molybdenum mine) (9 + 9 = 18 km).

Breakfast. We will make radial walk to the Upper camp Big Kokkl. We ford the river Big Kokkol, on the way we will visit the lake Kokkol.
The top camp is on the pass to camp the real old way paved through rocks and big stones is paved. On the pass there is a museum under the open sky - barracks, it is a lot of mining equipment, portable engine, the diesel on which carts transported ore (meter box), the cars "Ford". Lunch on the Top camp.
There is a concentrating factory which are in good shape too. Here world of rocks, glaciers and snow, mosses and lichens, mountain lakes and crystal streams. Walk in environs. Return to Lower camp Big Kokkol, dinner and overnight.

Day 7. Lower camp Big Kokkol - Big and Small Berel glaciers (6 + 6 = 12 km).

Breakfast. Big Berel glacier. Is situated in the southern mountainside of eastern part of Katyn ridge in Belukha region. The length is 10.4sqkm , the total area is 10.3km. The total area of the glaciers is 12.2km, the size of the ice is - 0.89km.
Small Berel glacier. Is situated on the southern mountainside of Katyn ridge in upper White Berel river.
The area is 8.9km, the length is 8.3km, the size of the ice is 0.72km.
We leave the camp and on the way we visit the thin lake of Balance (Warm).
The lake was formed of glacial water. The lake is located opposite to Mount Belukha in good weather in it mountains and the blue sky are reflected. Excursion to a foot of the Berel glacier. At first the track goes on slopes the overgrown cedar wood.
Small fords through streams. We go down to the Warm lake. Water in the lake is warmer, than in the neighboring glacial lakes. Further the ford through riverheads. During a rain this ford can be a serious obstacle.
Behind the ford the steep slope on the helipad.
There is a camp of rescuers of regional group from Ust-Kamenogorsk. From this place the wonderful view of the Berel glacier and the beauty Belukha opens. We come back on the stony taluses slipping from a glacier and we begin rise on its spurs.
After visit to lake Balance (Warm) we go down to Lake White and soon we will pass in a glacier grotto from where sources of river Belaya Berel begin. Lunch on the way.
Returns to Lower camp Big Kokkol, a dinner and overnight in tents.

Day 8. Lower camp Big Kokkol – sheep station Sersembay (19 km).

Breakfast. Horse-riding: The Lower camp Big Kokkol - the bridge through river Belay Berel (5 km).
Horse-riding: the bridge through river Belaya Berel – Small river Itolgon (8 km).
A lunch on the way. On the way we pass the pass of 1786 meters above sea level, our further way lies to the sheep station Sersembay (the sheep station of the shepherd Tursunkhan).
Further horse-riding: the sheep station Sersembay (6 km).
Arrival in sheep station Sersembay, pitch up a tent, dinner and overnight.

Day 9. Sheep station Sersembay - Lake Karakol (Yazevoye) (18 km).

Breakfast. Horse-riding: the sheep station Sersembay - head of the lake Karakus (6 km).
Horse-riding: head of the lake Karakus - the pass the Nizhniy saddle - sawmill (7 km).
A lunch on the way.
Horse-riding: sawmill - the lake Karakol (Yazevoye) (5 km).
Arrival on the lake Yazevoye, accommodation in guest houses or in tents, a dinner and overnight.

Day 10. Lake Karakol (Yazevoye) - Ust-Kamenogorsk (495 km).

Breakfast. Transfer: the lake Karakol (Yazevoye) - the Settlement s Berel - of Uryl (50 km).
A stop in the settlement of Uryl, visit of shops.
Further transfer: the settlement of Uryl - the settlement of Katon-Karagay (60 km). A lunch in cafe.
Transfer: the settlements of Katon-Karagay - Ulken Naryn - bridge across Bukhtarma Reservoir (206 km).
A crossing on opposite coast of Bukhtarma reservoir (4 km).
Transfer: Bridge across Bukhtarma Reservoir - Ust-Kamenogorsk (175 km).
Arrival in Ust-Kamenogorsk, farewell dinner and end of the tour.

Tour Note:

1. The guesthouse on Lake Karakol (Yazevoye) may be occupied; in this case, overnight stays will be in tents.
2. From days 3 to 9 of the tour, overnight stays will be in single and double tents.

Sights of environs on Kazakh Altay to a tour on horses.