Altai Ski Touring (Siberia, Russia)

ACTRU VALLEY, WILDLIFE AND DISTANCE FROM CIVILIZATION. OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCOVERY OF THE PRIMARY NATURE OF THE RUSSIAN ALTAI

The long season from November to May and the diverse mountain landscape of the Aktru Valley are interesting for lovers of touring skiing and snowboarding. From beginners to pros. Steep walls, glaciers, unspoiled snowy landscape and high mountains – all this you will find in the remote landscape of the Aktru valley. The Aktru Valley lies in the southern part of Siberia, in the Altai, near the border with Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan.

The Altai mountains are situated in Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and a small part of China. It is the center of Eurasia where Siberia and Central Asia come together, which makes it a unique location with many options and almost no other place is similar to this. Translated from the Mongolian language the word Altai means “golden mountains” and indeed they are a unique natural treasure. 

Three major factors make Altay mountains a recreational domain of great value: amazing natural diversity (various landscapes, climates, an abundance of wildlife); thin population, historically nomadic (Mongolian and Kazakh ethnos), who has a very natural way of life; and remoteness from any industries (the region lives only for tourism and agriculture).

The genuine treasure of the mountains is “Belukha”, the highest point of the Altai Mountains, and of the Siberian Region as well. It is of 4509 meters high and is completely covered with snow, from its peak to its bottom.

The valley is interesting for both trekking in summer and skiing in winter. Here the peaks rise from 3500 to 4000 m high, and the highest peaks are Maashey-Bash (4177 m) and Aktru-Bash (4044 m). There are also 5 glaciers in the mountain range: Mali Aktru, Veliki Aktru, Slap, Kyzyltash, and Karatash. Not far from our accommodation is a beautiful, more than a 600-year-old forest of Siberian cedar, waterfalls, and lakes.

Our accommodation is in the Aktru base camp, which is the oldest camp in the area (since 1938) and lies right at the foot of the Aktru glaciers. Accommodation with a full board with traditional Russian cuisine in houses made of Siberian cedar, which can accommodate from 6 to 15 people. There is also a café in the camp and the use of wifi is available at an additional cost. Every evening, for the purpose of relaxation and regeneration, we have a Russian sauna or bath, as the Russians say.