The quiet corners of Katon
Many legends have been woven around these lands, their origins reaching back long before civilization took the form we know today. These territories became home to more than one people, absorbing subtle traces of each culture. Here, the distortion of space is truly felt, and the perception of time begins to change. Nature is beautiful everywhere in its own way, but the sacred cannot be seen with the eyes — it can only be felt… © Anatoly Savichev
places and
interesting people
mysterious lakes far
from curious eyes
Arrival in Ust-Kamenogorsk, meeting at the airport. We'll immediately head out of the city. Once we leave Ust-Kamenogorsk, we'll stop at any place we like and have a small picnic lunch. We'll head towards Katonah, making short stops along the way. We'll arrive in Katonah late in the evening, check in, have dinner, and rest.
*We'll determine the exact accommodation closer to the arrival date based on organizational details. In Korobikha, we'll be staying in local guesthouses. The accommodations are simple, yet homely and unpretentious.
A traditional village breakfast: fresh cottage cheese, sour cream, cream, and lovingly prepared porridge. Afterwards, we'll stop at a small local history museum housed in a local school. We'll learn about the history of the settlers who fled to the lands of Belovodye in the 1800s.
We'll then travel along the Bukhtarma River, making several stops. We'll visit the village of Pechi, now Barlyk, and see a house built over 100 years ago. We'll visit our friends and taste the best kumys in Katonah.
We'll arrive in Katonah by lunchtime, but we'll decide together where to stop for lunch. There are several options, each with its own unique charm.
After lunch, we'll travel along the right bank of the Bukhtarma, trying to find wild strawberries. By evening, we'll reach Klimov's farmstead. We settle in, go to the bathhouse, have dinner and rest.
Breakfast in the best Old Believer traditions: pancakes, fritters, sour cream, cottage cheese, jam, and, most importantly, porridge from a Russian stove! After breakfast, we'll head to an apiary and learn all about bees and honey. For the most adventurous, sleeping on beehives is a way to restore the body after prolonged physical exertion, known since the 1800s.
We'll have lunch at a farmstead and then head to a couple of interesting places. We'll visit the Berel burial mounds. We'll visit a museum displaying some artifacts discovered during excavations. The museum guide will tell you many interesting things.
After the museum, we'll ascend to a practically abandoned village, which offers a truly unique view, somewhat reminiscent of Mount Fitzroy. We'll wander around the village, and if we have a chance to talk to the only resident, we'll visit the local forest; maybe we'll be lucky and find raspberries. We'll settle down in a cozy clearing in the forest, have a small picnic, and simply watch "how the trees grow."
In the evening, we return to the farmstead, go to the bathhouse, have dinner, and rest.
We'll have a picnic lunch and admire the beauty. In the evening, we'll return to civilization. We'll check into a charming guesthouse, Yasnaya Polyana. We'll have dinner and rest.
Rise early to catch your flight and depart for Ust-Kamenogorsk. We'll pack breakfast and eat it along the way.
***The itinerary is subject to minor adjustments and changes due to high season and occupancy at accommodations. We always leave room for adventure and improvisation.
The base price includes:
- Comfortable SUVs throughout the route
- Professional guide/driver
- Accommodation in guesthouses
- Full meals three times a day, snacks along the way
- Picnic supplies
- All entrance fees and environmental taxes along the route
