Altai Miracles

Full day Moscow – city tour, visit to Kremlin – cathedrals and Armoury chamber, night flight to Gorno-Altaisk

AM Orientation tour - Red Square – GUM - “Stalin`s Seven Sisters” / Highscapers - Sparrow Hills (city’s best viewpoint) – New Maiden convent (outside) Your private vehicle and the guide will be waiting for you to invite you for an exciting tour of Moscow which is more than 878 years old. Our first stop is at the Red Square. Originally a commercial centre, Red Square has been at the very centre of Russian history since the 15th century, from Ivan the Terrible’s confession of his misdeeds to the people in 1550, to great demonstrations, executions and the great parades of the Soviet Union’s military might. Ironically, “krasny” originally meant beautiful; it came to mean “red” only in the last century! From the time of Ivan the Great the square was used as a huge gathering place for public events, markets, fairs and festivals. The magnificent square encompasses an area of over $ 70,000 square metres and is bounded by the Kremlin walls, St.Bazil’s cathedral, the Historical museum and GUM departments store, the shopping arcade, that was completed in 1893. At the southern end of Red Square is the almost fairy-tale like building of St Basil’s cathedral, commissioned in 1552 by Ivan the Terrible to celebrate his conquering of Kazan; legend has it that the architect was later blinded so that he could never repeat such a building that is so traditionally Russian. It is built of brick and comprises many colourful asymmetrical helmet & onion domes situated over nine chapels. Go to the best viewpoint on Sparrow hills, from which you could easily see most of the city. Sink in the atmosphere of the medieval Russia, when even daughters of tsars were doomed to become nuns (such were the rules, visiting the refined New Maiden Convent (outside). This is one of the most beautiful of the city collection of buildings, located to the south-west of the city centre, with 16 gilded domes, founded in 1524. Many noble women, including Peter the Great’s first wife and his sister took vows and spent the rest of their lives here and are buried here. Time for lunch PM Kremlin territory, cathedrals, Armoury museum After lunch visit the oldest part of Moscow – the Kremlin. You might be surprised how many ancient and magnificent structures one can see within its walls: 15th century cathedrals (the coronation, wedding and bury place of Russian rulers), bell-tower, Patriach’s Palace, Grand Kremlin Palace and of course the richest museum - Armoury. The Armoury has a fantastic collection of insignia of Imperial power, precious clothes, ceremonial harness and unique collection of imperial carriages. The 17th century throne of Alexey Romanov covered with a mosaic of turquoises and 900 diamonds, a pheloneon of Metropolitan Platon decorated with 150,000 pearls (it took the embroiderer 2 years to work on the pattern!), the famous Faberge eggs – is a tiny part of the whole collection. Late check out in Moscow hotel to relax before the night flight to Altai. Transfer to the airport for SU flight to Gorno-Altaisk (4,30 hr flight) 00.05-08.35 (+ 4 hr difference in time with Moscow)

Jeep ride along the Katun river banks, Chemal settlement visit, Patmos island, John The Evangelist church, Chechkysh clove – viewpoint on the river valley. Optional horse riding or quad bike trip

Today we start our expedition driving along the banks of the largest river of Siberia – the Katun river. It originates from the glacier of Beluha mountain – the biggest Siberian mountain. On the way we will make photo stops at the most picturesque place – to reach finally Chemal settlement. You will visit Patmos island and John the Evangelist church by crossing the hanging bridge over the river. The church contains miracle-working icons and the story of the place will leave non indifferent! Then we will walk to the river estuary making stops at the best viewpoints (500 m). Lunch in Clover restaurant. Drive to Chechkysh clove. Walk to the viewpoint where you will have the magnificent view over the river from the height of the bird’s flight. Options to Chechkysh clove drive: Option 1 – Horse riding along the terraces of the river (1,5 hr ride). By motorboat we cross the river to reach horse farm. After the experienced instructor briefing on Safety measures we start our ride along the picturesque slopes. Even novices will make it for sure! Option 2 – Quad bike. Drive to Upper-Anos settlement, safety measures briefing and we drive by quad bikes to Ermolinsky waterfall through fairy-tale like forest (1,5 h drive). Return to the hotel 18.00-19.00

Lake Teletskoye, waterfalls

Lake Teletskoye is the deepest late in Altai and one of the deepest lakes in Russia, rightly called “younger brother” of Baikal. They both have great depth and tectonic origin. The lake is included in UNESCO list as part of Altai bio-sphere natural reserve. The lake has the great reserve of fresh water and its banks – unique taiga forest that contributes to the bio variety of our planet. It takes 4 hrs to drive to the lake. Lunch on arrival in the restaurant. Then we will take the motorboat to have a trip along the lake. Visit to Choodor and Korby waterfalls and observation platform on Kuan cape. Back to the hotel at 21.00