AN OUTLINE ITINERARY

The following itinerary is intended as a working guide only .This is what a trekking Tour Looks like.
Parts can be done of course. So we target 18 to 21 days.

Day 1. Arrive in Moscow. Overnight flight to Krasnoyarsk.

Day 2. Arrive in Krasnoyarsk in the morning. Fly to Kyzyl. Rest in the hotel. Afternoon walk around Kyzyl. Hotel.

Day 3. Full day sightseeing in Kyzyl. Hotel.

Day 4. Drive 390 km to the west of Kyzyl. On the way we will see Scythian burial mounds and the stone monument called "Genghis Khan". Camp not far from the Shivilig medicinal Spring where Tuvans worship the Spirit of the Spring Master.

Day 5. Walk through the forest to the foot of Mount Ush-Mongulek over a little pass with a very good view. Then we pass some Tuvan yurts and walk up by a mountain stream. Ca. 6 hours.

Day 6. Climb Mount Ush-Mongulek, 3485m, 1B. No special equipment required. From the top we have a good viewpoint and panorama of the Skalisty (Rocky) Ridge. Descend to Chailag- Mongulek campsite by a small green mountain lake at 2200m. 6-7 hours. There is the option to go with the horses round the mountain to the camp, (not the ascent). Tuvans say the God of the Salchak's clan is hidden in the Chailag- Mongulek mountain. On the top there are four 1500 years old burial mounds.

Day 7. Walk over a little pass to Kurgag Kholash River. We cross the mountain river and walk along a relatively flat path by the forest boundary. Lunch in about 4 hours. Then cross a pass, 2327m, and drop down into the Sir-Buzun Gorge. Visit to a local yurt. Camp by the Sir-Buzun River. 6 hours.

Day 8. Steep walk up to cross a pass, 2400m. View of snowy mountains. Down by a serpentine path to the Khemchik Valley to cross the Khemchik River by a bridge. Camp near the river. 5-6 hours.

Day 9. Walk up by the Khemchik Valley to the mouth of the Chohon-Khem River. This is a gorge with steep slopes. 5-6 hours. There is a legend saying that long ago a man with very long hairs lived here. That man used to eat a whole cow every day. He buried remains of the eaten cows under big boulders in the gorge. We will see that "burial mounds".

Day 10. Walk up by the Chohon-Khem River. Camp in its upper reaches.

Day 11. Walk over the Shivitig Pass, ca. 3,000m. Down along the Chinge-Khem river. 4-5 hours.

Day 12. Walk along the top of Dagyr Dag Ridge. Excellent panoramic view. Camp by the forest boundary. 6 hours.

Day 13. 5 hours walk down to the Khemchik Valley. Camp by the river.

Day 14. Drive to Abakan. Hotel.

Day 15. Fly Abakan-Moscow. Transfer to Rossia hotel.

Day 16. Transfer to the airport in Moscow.