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tours in Altay

 
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charles
Lounge Lizard


Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 179
Location: USA
PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:57 pm    Post subject: tours in Altay Reply with quote
Has anyone done an Altay tour with the Altair Travel company (Novosibirsk), recommended on this site? Good experience, bad experience? Or maybe you had some experience with a different operator? I am interested in trekking, kayaking, horse-riding - any feedback is welcome.

I am also curious if the people who go on this type of tour are only foreigners, or could I look forward to meeting Russians on the tour? $600 for a 2-week tour is a very good price by Western standards, but maybe this cost will exclude locals? (Of course the guides will be Russian, but I really dislike feeling like a tourist - better to do what the locals do - its usually more fun).
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Ekaterina
Talk Show Host


Joined: 28 Sep 2005
Posts: 261
Location: Moscow
PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Charles,
I sent my daughter there for horse riding and rafting tour a few years ago with another company. The price depends on the itinerary and it is usually less for Russian people. Probably they provide better service for foreigners. Actually the service is very bad but it may be interesting for you. I have just checked the prices of the company my daughter travel with and they have special prices for foreigners. I think if you pay 600$ it will be a group of foreigners. You may contact directly with the travel company and ask them to join you to a Russian group.
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charles
Lounge Lizard


Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 179
Location: USA
PostPosted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 12:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ekaterina, I really appreciate the info. Did your daughter enjoy the trip, despite bad service? I am guessing that in a Russian group, the guides will speak only Russian. Maybe that is one reason for difference in cost. I don't know if they would want to have somebody who speaks very bad Russian - it could be very difficult for me, too!
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Ekaterina
Talk Show Host


Joined: 28 Sep 2005
Posts: 261
Location: Moscow
PostPosted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 12:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Charles, my daughter enjoyed the tour very much but she doesn't recommend you to take that tour, you may be shocked of the service. The better service was on rafting.
Anyway Russian people in the group will be happy if you join them.
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charles
Lounge Lizard


Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 179
Location: USA
PostPosted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ekaterina wrote:
she doesn't recommend you to take that tour, you may be shocked of the service.


Now I'm really curious what kind of service she thinks will "shock" me: I'm a soft, spoiled American, right? Wink For me, bad service is a guide going far ahead and leaving his guests behind to get lost. Or being rude, in a bad mood, or who doesn't tell you where you are going, etc. It is difficult on an outdoor tour because everybody has a different level of fitness. Some might think we go too slow, some think too fast, etc.

Today I was thinking maybe I should do a 1-week rafting trip instead of a long trekking or horse-riding tour & spend more time in Moscow & St.P. What you tell me confirms my decision. thanks!

I'll trust that WTR recommends Altair Travel because they have good feedback from other travellers...?
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