Offline Journey: walking through the uncharted lands of Belovodye
If you are ready for an autonomous trek along a route that is only partially known, willing to disconnect from communication and the internet, spend time alone with yourself and your thoughts, and witness breathtaking landscapes previously seen only by local bears – this journey is for you!
mysterious lakes far
from curious eyes
in the highlands, the Milky Way
above your head
following Old Believer
rituals
berries, and tasting
local delicacies
butter, cottage cheese,
milk, and cream
› Carrying your own 80-liter backpack;
› Getting wet in the rain, pushing through thickets, wandering through cedar forests;
› Drying clothes by the fire, sleeping in a tent, washing in icy water;
› Watching sunrises and sunsets from panoramic peaks, seeing thousands of stars and the Milky Way;
› Drinking aromatic tea, eating fresh pine nuts straight from the branch, picking blueberries;
› Jumping off a huge boulder into a pool under a waterfall;
› Enjoying a traditional bathhouse by a stream at the end of the trek;
.. and much more that will forever make you a part of Katon-Karagai.
Arrival in Ust-Kamenogorsk. Meeting at the airport, transfer to a café for lunch. Briefing on the upcoming program. Then, transfer to Katon-Karagai. Upon arrival, accommodation in a small hotel at the foot of the mountain in a deciduous forest. Dinner and rest.
Early rise. Breakfast at the hotel. During breakfast, we will have a final briefing and check our equipment. Then, we cheerfully load our belongings into the cars, most likely UAZ vehicles, which will kindly take us halfway up the gorge, sparing us some effort so we can focus more on the beauty.
At the shepherd’s meadow, we will have tea, a snack, adjust our backpacks, and set off towards the wild waterfall. We will have lunch at the waterfall. Depending on the mood, weather, and desire, there will be an opportunity to take a dip in a small lake under the waterfall.
After lunch, we continue ascending through the gorge to the Valley of Quiet Lakes.
Upon arrival, we will set up camp on a picturesque meadow by the largest lake. We prepare dinner and rest.
Car distance covered: 11 km
Hiking distance: 11 km
Elevation gain: +1450 m
Overnight altitude: 2600 m
Early rise before dawn. We hike to the nearest panoramic peak. Watching the sunrise over the Kazakh Altai, admiring the vast landscapes. If lucky, we might see Mount Belukha and Lake Markakol.
We descend back to the camp, have breakfast, and rest for the whole day. Depending on the weather and mood, we can swim in the lake, sunbathe, or simply relax. We prepare dinner and, at night, observe the dome of the starry sky, which here feels within reach.
Elevation gain/loss: 300 m. Overnight altitude: 2.600 m.
Breakfast in camp. We pack up and continue along the route. Passing the small and easy Kyzylkum Pass (2720 m above sea level), we descend into a valley with many stunning and completely wild lakes. Here, we have a chance to encounter wildlife: bears, mountain goats, marals, and even the elusive snow leopard.
We take a break and have lunch by one of the lakes.
After lunch, we continue descending through the gorge, crossing several mountain streams. Upon reaching a small lake on the edge of a cedar forest, we set up camp. We light a fire, prepare dinner, and rest.
Elevation loss: 480 m. Overnight altitude: 2.120 m.
Breakfast in camp. We pack up and descend further. Passing through a small cedar forest, we collect fresh cones – in the evening, we will roast them over the fire. By lunchtime, we reach the final campsite, where a hot meal and a field bathhouse by the river await us.
We settle into the camp, have lunch, and go to the bathhouse to relieve fatigue and recharge. We have dinner by the fire and relax.
Elevation loss: 390 m. Overnight altitude: 1730 m.
Breakfast in camp. After breakfast, we load into cars (again, likely UAZ) that will take us to Katon-Karagai. Along the way, we will stop at a scenic viewpoint near the pass, admire the panoramic view of Belovodye, learn interesting facts about the construction of the Austrian Road, enjoy coffee, and continue the journey.
By lunchtime, we will reach Katon-Karagai, have lunch at a café, and visit the local market where one can buy local products: honey, herbs, pine nuts, tinctures, and more.
By evening, we arrive at the Old Believers’ village. We cross the river using an authentic boat.
We settle in at the Kerzhack settlement and head to the bathhouse.
This traditional Old Believers’ bathhouse ritual uses fermented herbal infusions, essential oils, and local whisks made of birch, fir, and nettle. It is not just a bathhouse visit – it is a purification ritual for the mind.
After the bathhouse, we have dinner and rest.
Breakfast in the best Old Believers’ traditions: homemade cottage cheese, sour cream, butter, freshly baked bread, bliny, porridge, jam, honey. After a hearty meal, we visit a small museum at the local school, where we learn about the history of the Katon “stonemasons” – settlers of the 18th century. After the excursion, we head back towards the city.
We drive along the “Road of Dreams” along the shore of the largest reservoir in Central Asia. We stop at a wild shore for a swim and a picnic with freshly brewed coffee.
By evening, we reach the city, have dinner in a café, share our impressions of the route, and check into a hotel for rest.
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport. Flight home.
