Day 1
Arrive in Barnaul. A representative of «Len Alp Tours» meets you at the airport. Travel by bus to reach the base camp «Vysotnik», which is situated in a picturesque place on the bank of the Katun river near the village of Tiungur ( 750 km, 10 hours). Accommodation is in two-story wooden cottage, in rooms housing 2 people each. A «welcome» dinner. The «Vysotnik» base camp (850 m) is owned by «Len Alp Tours». Sauna and communal toilets are in a separate nearby building. There are also a café, a sports ground, a parking and a small hiking equipment rental center. Clothes and items not needed for the trek can be left at the check room.
Day 2
Today we start our trek from the base camp «Vysotnik» (850 m) passing through Kucherla, last populated area on the way to the mountains – the stow Elan – the meadow Izekeryu in the valley of the Kucherla river (1300 m). Accommodation is in trekking tents on the field. On the way we visit ancient people’s grotto. We make a stop to look at the ancient petroglyphs on a rock. Food is cooked on the open fire. We are 5 hours on the way, 24 km.
Day 3
The meadow Izekeryu – the valley of the Kucherla river – the Kucherla Lake (1786 m) – Upper the Kucherla River. Our direction is up in a gorge in a close Siberian taiga. Accommodation is in trekking tents on the bank of the river. Food is cooked on the open fire. We are 7 hours on the way, 21 km.
Day 4
Headstream of the Kucherla River – shallow of river Kucherla - lake Darashkol (2200 m). A trail along the Kucherla Lake is entire obstruction and slashing. You may need a rope to cross the shallow. Far off you may see the upper waterfalls of river Ioldo-Airi. An overnight stop is nearby the lake in woodless zone on the 8 shape cape. Food is cooked on gas. 6-7 h, 11 km.
Day 5
Today is the halting day at Darashkol. The way up goes along the Nemitskii stream towards cognominal glacier. You can eye Western Belukha, its passes and glaciers as well as the Kapchalskii pass and glacier at an unusual angle.
Day 6
The Darashkol Lake – the Western Ioldo-Airi pass (1 Adifficulty level, 2840 m) – the Ioldo pass (2850 m). The way up is of two types – screes and glacier. A magnificent view on Belukha massif and the whole Katunskii ridge is opened from the pass. From exact this place the reservation Katunskii starts. Further we go down by traverse to the Ioldo pass and to the beginning of the Kuragan River, where we have an overnight. The overnight is on a stony ground. Food is cooked on gas. We are 6-7 h, 10 km. An obstacle character: a screes side is made without belay.
Day 7
Way down from the pass to the Ioldo valley – the Arukol Lake. The whole day we are going down along one of the Kuragan streams in a urstromtal valley to the Arukol lake. An overnight is on a surrounded by taiga meadow with wooden benches and table. We are 6-7 hours on the way, 10 km.
Day 8
The Arukol Lake – kordon Kazinikha. We are passing by awesome floods: tiny graded lakes of different colors with stony banks with snow peaks on the background. Then we pass a shallow of the Kuragan River named Bachanikha. An overnight is on the kordon near by the place «Camp Kolobok» with a shed. An unstrained day. We are 6 hours on the way, 8 km.
Days 9
Kordon Kazinikha – the Osinovka River valley – the Alla-Askir River.The rest of the way we are walking in the valley of Lower Kuragan passing its tributaries. The trail to Osinovka goes through the burnt forest, crosses the river by a bridge, and continues to go through the burnt forest and comb rock, leaving Lower Kuragan far away below. The way down from the branch to the river lies within high grass. Finally we are at the night stop – the bank of the Alla-Askir River. 6-7 hour, 10 km.
Day 10
R. Alla-Askir - stream Kirgis (1285m) – the Gromotukha River. The trail to Kirgis lies in comb rocks with long ascents. Behind the stream a good trail begins. It goes nearby snowy mount Ermak (3132 m) which is on the right bank of the Lower Kuragan River, wild valley of the Ermoshka Stream, a part of Kuragan valley with the width of 10 m, and crossing Gromotukha by a log. 20 km, 7-8 hours, 16 km.
Day 11
R. Gromotukha -The Katun River – the base camp «Vysotnik». A tractor laid road is the final part of the trip. It goes in a hilly area with underbrush of strawberry. In its outflow, Kuragan, is divided to many arms. Nearby there are mowing of inhabitants of Katanda village. At the camp – dinner.18 km, 6-7 h, 23 km.
Day 12
Breakfast. Departure to Barnaul