Ecotourism Development Fund Dersu Urzala

To the Heart of the Sacred Shambala

The spurs of the Katunsky Ridge are one of the most scenic places in Russia. The juxtaposition of the wild grandeur of the mountains with peaceful and picturesque landscapes is dramatic. The glacier-covered Belukha Mountain (4503 m.) is towering there. This is the highest peak in Siberia and in the rest of Russia outside the Caucasus. There are many mountain lakes with turquoise waters on the Katunsky ridge. In July and August, the alpine meadows are in luxuriant bloom. There you can meet Siberian wapiti (red deer), musk deer, brown bear, sable, Siberian weasel, squirrel, chipmunk, Siberian ibex (mountain goat). The elusive snow leopard and the Altai snowcock also make a home of these lands. The tour takes us to the west and east parts of the Katunsky ridge: to the canyons of Kucherla and Ak-Kem rivers. Mountain passes provide extensive panoramas of the Katunsky Ridge and ice-covered Belukha Mountain. The Kucherla river is one of the most lovely mountain rivers of the Katunsky ridge and has milky blue water. One of the sides of the Kucherla gorge is forest-steppe with larch and stone ridges, while cedars and firs cover the opposite side. Higher along the route, there are cedar pine forests and alpine meadows. Another famous lake we will visit is the Akkem lake. It is not very big, but its waters reflect the peak and glaciers of Mount Belukha. These places are a real Mekka for mountaineers and artists. Our tour follows the well-known ring of Kucherla and Ak-Kem Rivers, but comparing with other standard tours, it includes more radial excursions in the area next to Belukha Mountain. During these days travelers without luggage will visit blossoming river valleys, multicolored lakes and enormous glaciers and will immerse in the world of wild nature. To make the trek easier, the pack horses will carry the camp equipment and major food supply. The tour requires the middle physical fitness and basic backpacking experience. In addition to visiting a unique corner of the world, you will also learn about the ancient culture of the Old-Believers (they are ethnic Russians who split off from the Russian Orthodox Church in XVII century and sought to live a self-sustaining life, in the most remote place they could find). You will visit the ethnographic museum in the Verhnii Ujmon village and also places connected with the expeditions of N.K. Roerikh, a famous Russian artist, traveler, archaeologist and writer.

Ecotour to Nature Reserves Around Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal is a natural wonder of our planet. It is the deepest (1,700 m in depth) lake on the Earth. It is also one of the oldest (25 million years) and largest lakes of the planet. It contains 20% of the world’s freshwater - as much as North America’s five Great Lakes all together. A specific feature of Lake Baikal is the remarkable clarity of its water, which is transparent for depths as great as 40 meters. Two thirds of the unique flora and fauna of this ''Gem of Siberia'' are endemic species and cannot be found anywhere else in the world, such as the Baikal Seal, local varieties of Artic cisco and gobies. The virgin Baikal forests are famous for their abundance of the very valuable sable, as well as high densities of the brown bear, Siberian stag, roe deer, musk deer, reindeer, capercaillie, and black grouse. In 1996, UNESCO declared Lake Baikal a World Heritage Site. Baikal is a legendary place famous for its breathtaking views, ancient traditions and sacred rituals of Buddhism and shamanism. This tour will offer the unique opportunity to visit the network of protected areas around Lake Baikal, to experience the most beautiful areas of primordial nature, as well as to learn about local culture and traditions.

Volcanoes and Bears of Kamchatka

Being a part of the Pacific Rim of Fire, the unique Kamchatka peninsula encompasses 28 active and over 160 dormant volcanoes, as well as more than 200 curative mineral springs. It is home to largest brown bears in Russia, magnificent Steller’s sea eagles and six species of salmon. In summer and autumn, fast running Kamchatka rivers are “boiling with hundreds of thousand salmon moving to their spawning grounds. This tour combines visiting the most well known volcanoes of Kamchatka and learning about traditional way of life of local indigenous people. Several days during the trip will be devoted to moderate hiking across rugged volcanic terrain and ascending volcanic craters (the hiking distances are up to 20 kilometers or 12 miles per day).

Best Nature Sights of Kamchatka

This tour program is similar with the tour “To the Kingdom of Salmon and Bear” described above, but does not include a 3-days trekking in the Kosheleva volcano area. The longest field trip will include two days of moderate hiking (up to 15–18 kilometers per day).

Mongolia Tour

Walking or riding pass with camels to Khoton-Noor Lake. View of Petrogliphs near bottom of Shivet-Khairkhan Mountain. Elevation up to Khara-Salagiyn-Daba passes. Transfer along Tsagan-Us river.

Three Giants of Taymyr

Taimyr Peninsula is one of the least accessible regions in Russia and can be compared in this respect with Antarctica or the North Pole. Some areas in Taimyr cannot be reached even with helicopter. This year we offer you a unique opportunity to visit this genuinely pristine corner of the planet on the shore of the Laptev Sea, joining the scientific expedition. During this trip, you can observe the Laptev walruses, polar bears, musk oxen and reindeer in their natural habitat, as well as learn about traditional lifestyle of local indigenous peoples – the Dolgans, Nganasans and Nenets. The expedition will take place at Cape Tsvetkov (latitude 74 °N, 450 km to the north-east of Khatanga). A stationary tent camp will be set up in the immediate vicinity of a walrus rookery. The rookery is stretched along a huge spit jutting several kilometres into the sea. This time of the year is the breeding season for the walrus, and the growing offsprings are particularly interesting to observe. The migration routes of the polar bear also lie through this area, where the walrus rookeries are their main attraction, so that visitors can witness some unique episodes of interaction between these giant animals. While our group will further move from the coast upward, into Byrranga mountains, the reindeer and herds of musk oxen can be encountered. Excursions will be done by marine rubber boat along the coastline. Between the Cape Tsvetkov and the Bay of Maria Pronchischeva, at the 40-m high rocky coast, there are fantastic geological objects enlisted in the UNESCO Heritage List. With luck, you will be able to see the mammoth tusks or other remnants of prehistoric fauna. Additionally, excursions by pneumatic all-terrain vehicles “Bronto” will be arranged to the Byrranga Mountains – the least visited mountains in the world. You will enjoy incredible landscapes and very high chances to watch musk oxen, reindeer (the biggest reindeer population inhabits the areas east to Putorana Plateau), polar wolves. Fishing in local rivers is beautiful: omul, chir, muxun, Arctic char, marine char. At a distance of 25 km from Cape Tsvetkov lies the magnificent rocky Island of Transfiguration (Ostrov Preobrazheniya), discovered by the Great Northern Expedition (V. Pronchitschev, S. Tchelyuskin, Kh. Laptev) in 1737. This famous bird rookery can be visited by helicopter.

Rafting down the Zun-Murin River

The best of Amurland & Ussuriland

Far Eastern Marine nature reserve - islands of Peter the Great Gulf - Khasan nature park - Kedrovaya Pad' nature reserve - Bikin river area - Muraviovka Crane Park. Extension: Udyl' lake