Article Trek around Belucha
Below the highest mountain of the Altai
The trek around Belucha is one of the most visited treks in the Altai Mountains, but you may still not meet any tourists on some days. I am adding a description of the trek for 6 days, but it can be arbitrarily shortened or extended by visiting other attractions, the minimum time to cross the trek is 4 days.
Hike through the Kucherly valley
Across the river
Belucha trek1: the tour begins in the small Russian village of Tjungur, then passes through the village of the same name Kucherla and continues all day along the river Kucherla. The hike is for 8–10 hours depending on what part of the valley you want to cross. During the whole trip, there are places for tents at regular intervals and also two turbases (cottages with the possibility of buying snacks and accommodation). continue reading
Ascent to the Kara Torek saddle
The valley of the river Tekkeloska
Belucha trek2: crossing the Kara Torek saddle is a two-day trek, so there is no hurry and you just have to climb 1000 meters at a leisurely pace. There are several options that can be chosen to climb the saddle, we choose the least walked and at the same time not recommended route through the valley of the river Tekkeloska, which in the end seems to us the most beautiful. continue reading
Transition to Lake Akkemsky
Altai
Belucha trek3: the final ascent to the Kara Torek saddle and the descent to Lake Akkemsky is the most physically demanding part of the trek so far, when we ascend by 1000 meters, which we then descend. During the trek, it is not possible to replenish drinking water supplies, but it is possible to enjoy the unforgettable views of the bottom of the surrounding hills, which in many ways resemble the much higher mountains of Central Asia. continue reading
Hike under Belucha
Hike to the glacier
Belucha trek4: After three days we leave our backpacks in place and set off on a one-day trek lightly on the glacier to the base camp for the ascent to Belucha. The hike is all day and most of the day it passes through stone fields, where it is very easy to get lost, I tried it myself. continue reading
Behind the waterfalls
One last look at Belucha
Belucha trek5: We set off again on a one-day hike without backpacks to see the waterfalls. The hike is undemanding and passes along a poorly marked route, but the possibility of getting lost is very low, first it crosses the river and then continues with an easy ascent to the opposite ridge, to one of its highest parts where there is a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside. continue reading
Akkem Valley
Rainy road
Belucha trek6: after five days we descend through the valley of the river Akkem into civilization along the left bank of the river Akkem, the path is difficult because after last year's rains a large number of slopes have collapsed and buried the original path. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos from the whole day, because it rained all day with smaller breaks. After about 8 hours of pedaling, we get to the turbaza, where you can buy supplies and sleep in a tent and the next day go again for about 6 hours to the village of Tjungur, or pay for a car and be in Tjungur in about an hour. We choose the second alternative and after a rainy day all day we drive down to the camp where we can indulge in hot food and use the next day by horseback riding, but about that in the next article.
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