Climbing Belukha from Kazakhstan, 4509m
Spend an unforgettable 11 days in the Altay Mountains climbing Mount Belukha from Kazakhstan with an IMFGA guide with all the necessary skills to take you safely to the summit.
Private
Altai
11 Days
Jun - Aug
High
Advanced
Highlights
- Climb the mystical Belukha mountain in the Altai range.
- Experience a remote and technical mountaineering dream come true.
- Reach the summit of Belukha safely with the help of certified local guides.
Description
Remote, rugged, and technical, Belukha stands tall at 4,506 m (14,783 ft) as an Altai mountaineering dream. On this 11-day excursion, you will be guided to its summit by expert mountaineers from the region.
This is a mystical mountain, that is said to hold one of the sacred doors to the Buddhist spiritual kingdom of Shambhala. It is a powerful peak for curious explorers, and we will climb to the summit from Kazakhstan.
The route includes some pitches of fixed ropes and places for roped-team movement. Therefore, this is not a peak for beginners. The guide in charge will teach you everything, but you must come with some prior preparation. Also, keep in mind that we will divide the group equipment equally among all participants (including food, gas, group mountaineering equipment, etc.), so you need to be in great physical shape and be ready to carry a backpack of around 20 kg.
You can find a day-by-day description of the itinerary below. Keep in mind that it’s tentative and dependent on weather conditions as well as the group’s overall conditions.
Price includes
- Accommodation included
- Guiding fee
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Transport during the trip
- Permit and entrance fees
- Mules and horses
Price details
- PRICE INCLUDES:
- guides (1 guide per 2 clients)
- 2 nights in a hotel in UstKamenogorsk
- Accommodation in the tent camp Altai – Pro
- Highaltitude meals
- Sauna, shower (base camp) firewood is collected independently
- Tents
- Horses (for each client and equipment)
- Equipment (ropes, harness, ice ax, jumar, helmet, descender, crampons)
- Highrise gas, burners, high-rise cookware
- Electricity in the base camp
- Swimming pool in the base camp
- Services of a guidegroom
- Entrance fees and fees to the KatonKaragai National Park;
- Passes to the border zone
- Transfer UstKamenogorsk — lake Yazovoe — Ust-Kamenogorsk
- PRICE NOT INCLUDED
- Airplane tickets
- Porter or personal guide
- Tips for guide and stuff
- Insurance
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival to Ust-Kamenogorsk (UKK)
Arrival to Ust-Kamenogorsk (UKK, Kazakhstan). There are flights via Almaty or Nur Sultan (Astana, Kazakhstan). Or you can fly to Novosibirsk (Russia) and cross the border by car (we will organize it is you prefer this variant). Transfer to the hotel.
Day 2: Transfer to Lake Yazovoe
Departure to the village Katon-Karagai (350 km) where we will get our boarding permits. Transfer to the village of Karaayryk, then off road pitch to the lake Yazovoe.
Day 3: Horse ride to the Altai-Pro camp (1925m)
The scenic trail runs along the lake and further through the swampy area. After about 4 hours we descend to the valley of the White Berel River and organize lunch in old wintering place of Sarsenbay.
After lunch we go through the territory of the National Park between firs and cedars, along blueberry and honeysuckle bushes. Near the «Devil’s bridge» over the White Berel River we will make a stop for rest. This wooden bridge was built in 1938.
In the evening we arrive to the Kok-Kol waterfall at the Altay-pro Base Camp.
Day 4: Trek to Camp 1 (2400m)
We take personal and group equipment which is divided equally among all participants (food, gas and group mountaineering gear).
We will visit the sacred place Kyndyk-Tas, where the Prayer Stone is located. It is also called the Nicholas Roerich Stone (Russian famous painter). Pilgrims gather at this place. We will reach the Great Berelsky glacier and go further along the glacier to the Camp 1. We cook food in tents. Night at Camp 1.
Day 5: Trek to Camp 2 on Big Berel Saddle (3500m)
We will wake up early and go with full mountaineering equipment to Camp 2 (crampons, harness, helmet, ice axe). We cook food in tents. Night at Camp 1.
Day 6: Attempt to climb Belukha 4509m
Climbing to the top of Belukha. We wake up at night, have fast breakfast and put on full equipment. We will meet the dawn on the summit ridge. Climbing in roped teams. In the afternoon we will descent to the Camp 2.
Day 7: Reserve day
If the ascent was made on the 6th Day, then the reserve day can be used for descent or some trekking. The program can be adjusted with a guide.
Day 8: Descent from Camp 2 (3500m) to Altai-Pro Base Camp (1925m)
Day 9: Descent to Yazovoe lake. Horse riding
Day 10: Descent to Ust-Kamenogorsk (by car)
End of the program. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11: Flight home
Equipment you will need to bring
Down jacket with a hood, large enough to put on over a fleece jacket Warm fleece / Softshell Long sleeve warm thermal underwear shirt Long sleeve underwear shirt (Light/medium) Water proof and breathable jacket with hood (Gore Tex is strongly recommended) T-shirts Fleece or Softshell pants (with full side zips to allow ventilation) Two pairs of long underwear pants (one light and one medium-warm) Waterproof and breathable pants (or bib pants) with full side zips for easy putting on and taking off Trekking pants Shorts Socks2-3 pairs 3 pairs of thermal socks (medium-heavy thickness) Hat with brim (best option) or bandana or cap Climbing (double or triple) high-altitude expedition boots Light weight trekking boots Sandals for Osh and Base camp 2 pairs Softshell gloves High-altitude warm mittens Thick hat (Softshell or fleece) Warm Balaclava or Buff (face protection) Glacier glasses Ski mask (4+ level) Extra pair of your ordinary glasses (if you wear them) Down or hollow fiber filled sleeping bag good for -15-20 degrees Celsius Sleeping pad, either a Therm-a-Rest, or a closed-cell foam pad Head lamp with extra 2 sets of batteries Water bottle 1 liter (with insulators) Thermos 1 liter Backpack 60-80 liters Additional: one day pack 40-50 liters (should be big enough to hold two liters’ thermos, a snack, extra clothing, and a camera for the summit day) – or you can use big one. Ice axe 60-70 cm Telescopic ski poles Crampons (well fitting, preferably “step-in”) Gaiters Harness Leash with 2 rope ends (Y-form) 3 Binners Belay (rappel) device + «prusik» (1,5 м of 7mm rope) Fixed rope ascender (joumar) Helmet (Attention! During transporting in luggage helmet may be damaged, we recommend you to carry it in hand baggage) Sun screen cream (spf 50+) Your specific first aid kit Lip balm (spf 25+) Favorite lightweight snacks, vitamins, isotonic Personal mug, spoon, plate.
About the guide
Grigory
5.0
(3)
Mountain Guide
Grigory is a passionate and experienced KMGA/IFMGA/UIAGM guide with plenty of mountaineering under his belt. He has a Russian sports master which he acquired in 2006, he was the 2007 Moscow Mountaineering Champion and has guided since 2008 in Nepal, the Caucasus, Tien Shen range, Alps, and more. He is also a Certified Alpine Ski instructor since 2014 and has an Avalanche Rescue certificate from the Russian Association of Mountain Guides.
Languages
Russian | English
Certificates
KMGA | IFMGA
What people are saying about Grigory
Umesh
Excellent trip well planned with superb guides Have already recommended to friends who want to climb Elbrus
Matt
I climbed with Anton and Maksim; both really great guys. The trip was fully private with just myself climbing. This was a very fast trip beginning in Terskol; not the huts/barrels. Maksim and I climbed up the barrels from Terskol where we met Anton. Anton and I rested about 6 hours until midnight then made a single push to the summit and back down to barrels. The entire round trip was about 23 hours. The weather was cold, snowing/sleet, lots of wind and little to no visibility. We made good time in challenging conditions. Planning and coordination of the trip was smooth and easy. Great job and great company all the way around. Thanks!
Umesh
Excellent trip well planned with superb guides Have already recommended to friends who want to climb Elbrus
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