A Quick Introduction to Katon
A wonderful opportunity to explore Katon-Karagay on a guided group tour at an affordable price. Discover the region’s highlights: the famous honey market of Katon, the historic Austrian Road, the Burkhat Pass, Lake Yazovoye with stunning views of Mount Muztau, and the healing Rakhmanov Springs.
Departures run weekly from Tuesday to Friday.
3-5 km per trip
on the route: 2,300 m
recreation centers
of Katon
3 to 14 people
guest house
guest house
Arrival in Ust-Kamenogorsk, meeting the group at the airport. A short briefing with the guide about the travel program. Seating in vehicles and departure towards Katon-Karagay. After approximately 2-2.5 hours, we will stop for a picnic with a beautiful panoramic view on the shore of the Bukhtarma Reservoir.
The Bukhtarma Reservoir occupies a significant part of the Bukhtarma depression. It consists of two main sections: the river section - in the valley of the Irtysh River, the lake section - formed on the site of Lake Zaysan, where a vast open water area has developed.
According to a number of sources, the Bukhtarma Reservoir is one of the largest artificial reservoirs in the world. Its area is approximately 5,490 km². In the valleys of the Bukhtarma and Narym rivers, as well as in the Monchekur depression, bays were formed ranging from 30 to 50 km in length and up to 10 km in width. The reservoir provides a deep-water navigation route and improves navigation conditions on the Irtysh River. The creation of the reservoir is associated with the construction of the Bukhtarma Hydroelectric Power Station. The filling of the reservoir began in 1960.
After a late lunch, the bravest guests may take a swim. Then we continue our journey. By dusk, we will arrive in Katon-Karagay. Accommodation and dinner.
*Accommodation is in a guest house or a small hotel, depending on availability. Double or triple rooms with all standard amenities: shower and toilet.
are off-road
guest house
guest house
Wake-up at 8:00 a.m.
Breakfast and preparation. We leave the accommodation no later than 10:00 a.m.
We begin the day with a visit to the village of Katon-Karagay itself: we will stroll through the local improvised market, where you can buy honey, herbs, tinctures, and even pantocrine. We will also visit a couple of semi-ruined historical sites preserved since the 18th century.
The settlement of Katon-Karagay was formed in the Soviet period by merging two localities - not Katon and Karagay, but the volost settlement of Katon-Karagay (founded in 1868) and the Cossack stanitsa Altayskaya (founded in 1871). The two settlements were located about two versts (approximately 2 km) from each other.
Here is how they were described by the well-known regional researcher, priest Boris Georgievich Gerasimov, in his article “A Trip to the Rakhmanov Mineral Springs”:
“The stanitsa Altayskaya lies in the valley of the left tributary of the Bukhtarma River and is completely immersed in the greenery of gardens. Irrigation channels run murmuring along the streets. A beautiful, dense alley, mainly of birch trees, gives the settlement a picturesque appearance. In stanitsa Altayskaya, the postal route from Ust-Kamenogorsk ends and is replaced further on by a local district road. The fair held from December 6 to 19 reportedly has a turnover of up to 250,000 rubles…
The Katon-Karagay settlement is located two versts from stanitsa Altayskaya. The settlement has a market, a customs office, a school, the chamber of a justice of the peace, and a small hut on chicken legs with the sign ‘Altai Detention House.’ The rural chief of Ust-Kamenogorsk district also lives here.”
After leaving the village, we head toward the so-called “Austrian” road, which will take us up to a viewpoint near the Burkhat Pass.
This unofficial name comes from a little-known historical fact. Prisoners of war from the former Austro-Hungarian Empire were brought to the outskirts of the Russian Empire, near the borders with China, during the years of the First World War (1914–1920). Under inhuman conditions, in just two years (from 1914 to 1916), at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level, they manually built a mountain road. The road was constructed to connect Altai with the Irtysh region and had a purely strategic purpose for guarding the borders of the Russian Empire, as it reduced the distance from Katon to Markakol from 500 km to 90 km. Therefore, the road can also be considered a monument to heroic human labor. It was built by only 300 people (!). How many of them died during construction, how many returned home, or how many remained in Kazakhstan - no one knows today…
At the viewpoint, we will admire the breathtaking views of the Bukhtarma River valley, the entire Katon area, and, if the weather is favorable, we will see the main landmark of Katon - Mount Muztau (Belukha).
We will also have a picnic lunch here. After lunch - depending on the mood and weather - there will be an opportunity to take a short walk to the nearby cedar forest. By evening, we descend from the pass and drive to the guest house. Accommodation, dinner, and rest.
*Accommodation in one of the guest houses in the villages of Uryl or Berel, depending on availability. Double or triple rooms with standard shower and toilet facilities.
guest house
guest house
Wake-up at 8:00 a.m.
Breakfast and preparation. We leave the guest house no later than 10:00 a.m. Depending on weather conditions and road accessibility, we head either to the Rakhmanov Springs or Lake Yazovoye. Each destination is unique and interesting in its own way.
Lake Rakhmanovskoye is located in a narrow mountain valley surrounded by forested slopes at an altitude of about 1,800 meters above sea level. The lake is approximately 2.5 km long and about 600 meters wide. According to various sources, its maximum depth reaches 30 meters. In summer, the water temperature usually does not exceed 15°C. Local residents say that the lake was named after a hunter named Rakhman, who lived and hunted in these areas long before they became popular. A legend about the discovery of thermal springs on the lake’s shore is also associated with him.
Lake Yazovoye is very popular among tourists aiming to reach the foot of Belukha or climb its summit. It is located along the most popular trail in the area, leading to the Kok-Kol base camp, where many natural attractions are concentrated.The lake is about 3 km long and 500 meters wide. Its maximum depth reaches 10 meters. It lies at an altitude of approximately 1,655 meters above sea level. The water temperature is relatively high for a mountain lake due to its dark color and silty bottom. It is said to be the only body of water in Southern Altai where ide fish are found in abundance - and fishing for them is permitted here. In good weather, the shores of the lake offer a stunning view of the two-peaked Belukha massif.
During the day, we will enjoy a scenic picnic. In the evening, we return to the guest house for dinner and rest.
depending on the situation
Early wake-up depending on flight schedule. Breakfast and departure to Ust-Kamenogorsk. We will stop for lunch at a cafe or organize a picnic along the way. Upon arrival in the city, transfer to the airport and departure home.
! Please note: Since Katon-Karagay is located in a mountainous area with specific weather conditions, the organizer reserves the right to adjust the itinerary solely to ensure the safety and comfort of the group.
