Way to Russia Talk Lounge

hpesch · Frequent Guest Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 14

Hi!
Anyone here who has been on a guided walking tour in the Altay? I'd like to hear what to expect. What kind of food is prepared, is it necessary to take additional food/things.
Thanks!
Henri

scottishstudent · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:01 am Post subject: the altai

Dear Henri - I was interested in your going to the Altai as I am working on a student project about tourism development in the Altai region. Can I just ask you whether you have organised your trip independently or through an organisation? Dis you find it easy to book your trip? What are you planning to do? I lok forward to hearing from you - Olivier (in Edinburgh)

hpesch · Frequent Guest Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 14

Someone told me, the participants have to carry the equipment (tents, sleeping bags, food) that is included in the price they have paid. So the price would only include guiding and transport, because if one has to carry these equipments one would rather bring one's own tents, sleeping bags and food along.
Has anybody participated in these tours?

hpesch · Frequent Guest Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 14

For the record, if someone is interested in walking tours in the Altai region.

The price mentioned here in wayofrussia.net is old. I paid 540 Euro for the trip to Multa lakes and extra for the horses to carry the food and the equipment that did not fit into my backpack.
We were fortunate to get horses, the other group heading to Belukha mountain was promised 11 horses but got none.

Because of poor organisation we missed almost the whole first day and had to wait till 7 pm for the buses to arrive. So after 2 hours walk dark fell and we camped on a meadow half way to Lower Multa lake, where we arrived next day.
Also the last day of walking did not take place, the bus took us back from the last camp and we spent 1,5 days at the base camp before departure to Novosibirsk.

The guides were no professionals and had not experience with non-Russian tourists. The guides actually did not do much more than showing the way. The tourists did all the cooking.
The food was mostly cornflakes, müsli, bread, rice, potato, pasta and corned beef. Once there was fish in the soup.
We had some Japanese who had been promised vegetarian food, but they had to get along with food without meat, so they went hungry most of the time.
The Russian tourists were nice people, with lots of trecking-experience, fortunately.

The guides practically did not give any information without questioning. After they found out that one of us spoke Russian they stopped speaking English almost completely.

Fortunately the beauty of the Altai nature made up for much. The camping sites were in good condition, no garbage except at the last camp.

A detailed account of the tour will be published on the net in the near future.