Day 1: City, River, and Gastronomy
Arrive in Ust-Kamenogorsk and check in to your hotel. Visit the Museum of History and Local Lore and see the exhibition “Gold of the Saka and Turkic Nomads,” previously displayed in London.
Take a river cruise along the Irtysh to the confluence of two rivers. End the day with a gastro dinner of modern Kazakh cuisine prepared by top chefs. The menu is crafted specially for guests of this tour.
Day 2: On the Road, Katon, and Old Believers
Enjoy a morning breakfast at La Festa restaurant. Depart from the city and transfer to Katon (approx. 6 hours). The route goes through scenic mountain serpentines and riversides of East Kazakhstan.
Arrive in the village of Korobiha, the centre of Russian Old Believers in the Katon district. Stay in authentic village houses and experience a true rural lifestyle. Visit the school museum of Old Believers and honey. Korobiha is the capital of Katon honey.
In the evening, relax in a black-style banya (optional). Have dinner with Katon-style tea, homemade jam, and natural honey.
Day 3: Yasnaya Polyana and Mountain Pass
Start your morning in Altai. On the way, taste Katon kumys. Arrive at the guesthouse “Yasnaya Polyana,” one of the most atmospheric and well-known bases of Katon. Meet the owners who moved here from Almaty. Check in to cosy rooms.
Get familiar with handcrafted works in the spirit of Altai shamanism. Enjoy an Altai tea ceremony against the backdrop of mountains. Ascend to the Burkhat Pass (2100 m), the best viewpoint in Katon. Learn about the start of the Old Austrian Road, a unique engineering project in the mountains. Return to Yasnaya Polyana for rest.
Day 4: Burial Mounds and Return
Have breakfast at the guesthouse. Visit the famous Berel Burial Mounds, an outstanding archaeological monument of nomadic culture.
Optionally, take a horseback route (upon request and additional payment). Have a farewell lunch at Yasnaya Polyana. Depart to Ust-Kamenogorsk. Check in to the SEVEN boutique hotel or apartments. In the evening, enjoy a gastro dinner of European cuisine with modern interpretations of classic dishes. Spend the night at the hotel.
Day 5: Breakfast and End of the Tour
Have breakfast at the hotel. Take a farewell photoshoot. Check out of the hotel in the first half of the day.
