Belukha 4,506 m · turquoise lakes of Siberia
Belukha Climb via Delone Pass
Technical 11-day ascent of Belukha (4,509 m), the highest peak of Altai, via the Akkem valley and the Delone pass. Grade 4A, tent camps, 1 instructor per 2 climbers.
- Duration
- 11 days
- Max altitude
- 4,509 m
- Difficulty
- Demanding
- Group size
- From 2 people · 1 instructor per 2 climbers on the climb
- Region
- Altai
From€2,880/ person
Next date
18 Jul
- 4.9 traveller rating
- 95% summit success
- No payment to book
Overview
About this tour
Belukha (4,509 m) is the highest peak of Altai and a serious technical climb of grade 4A. It is also one of the most beautiful mountains in Russia, surrounded by glaciers, high-mountain lakes, alpine meadows and Altai valleys.
The route runs through the Akkem valley, Akkem Lake, the Tomskie Stoyanki camp and the Delone pass. As you gain height, forest paths give way to alpine meadows, moraines, glaciers and snow-and-ice slopes. Over 11 days the group covers about 82 km, mostly far from civilisation and living in tent camps. You carry a rucksack and should be ready for long walking days, changeable weather and simple living conditions.
The technical part involves travel over glaciers and snow-and-ice terrain, work in crampons and rope teams, and fixed-rope and rock sections. The programme includes acclimatisation, training sessions and two reserve days in case of bad weather, with 1 instructor per 2 participants on the climb. For an extra fee a helicopter flight is possible to shorten part of the approach on foot.
Belukha lies in the border zone between Russia and Kazakhstan, so a border-zone permit must be arranged in advance; we help with the preparation and paperwork.
This is not a first mountaineering climb. Experience of technical routes of grade 3A–3B is strongly recommended, and a classic ascent of Elbrus or Kazbek on its own is not enough: those routes give useful altitude experience but differ greatly in technical difficulty. Before booking, you have a consultation with our manager, who assesses your experience and fitness and may recommend extra training or preparatory climbs.
- Belukha, 4,509 m: the highest peak of Altai and a grade 4A technical climb
- Classic route via the Akkem valley, Akkem Lake, Tomskie Stoyanki and the Delone pass
- About 82 km over 11 days, from forest trails to glaciers and snow-and-ice ridges
- Crampons, rope teams, fixed ropes and rock sections on the Delone pass and summit ridge
- 1 instructor per 2 participants during the climb
- Two reserve days for weather, and help with the border-zone permit
Day by day
Itinerary
Weather may change the order of days; your guide always has a reserve plan.
- Day1
Meet in Gorno-Altaysk and drive to Kucherla
We meet by 10:00 at Gorno-Altaysk airport, then visit the border authority to pick up your border-zone permits. After that comes a long transfer of about 9 hours (453 km) to the village of Kucherla, with a lunch stop at a roadside café. In the evening we reach the village, check in to a guesthouse and rest before the trek.
- Day2
Off-road transfer and the first long trekking day
2,055 mAfter breakfast in Kucherla we take a 20 km transfer in a high-clearance vehicle to the Tri Berezy (“Three Birches”) tourist camp, where the walk with rucksacks begins. Today we cover about 23 km along the Akkem river with a climb of about 1,000 m, stopping for lunch on the way. The day is long and demanding, especially in rain when the path can be badly washed out: expect around 11 hours on the move. In the evening we reach Akkem Lake and settle in the campsite, sleeping in spacious four-person tents on wooden platforms.
- Day3
Rest and acclimatisation at Akkem Lake
2,055 mA rest and acclimatisation day after the long walk, with a stroll to Akkem Lake. In the evening the instructor talks through the tactics of the Belukha climb, and we check all gear and clothing once more so everything is ready for tomorrow.
- Day4
Akkem Lake to Tomskie Stoyanki camp
3,000 mAn early start at 04:00–05:00 and a walk of about 13 km with roughly 1,000 m of climbing to the Tomskie Stoyanki camp. The forest zone is left behind and we reach the glacier zone, where we pitch the tent camp. In the afternoon, depending on the weather and how everyone feels, we rest or, if you wish, train: practising crampon technique on snow and ice and the basics of handling equipment.
Comfort
Accommodation & meals
Guesthouse in Kucherla
2 nights at a tourist base in six-bed guesthouse rooms, with breakfast and dinner included.
Akkem Lake campsite
Spacious four-person tents on wooden platforms at the base campsite near Akkem Lake, with meals provided.
Tomskie Stoyanki and assault camp
Tent camps in the glacier zone, using expedition assault tents; meals are provided.
Meals
Meals are included from Kucherla onwards: hot breakfasts and dinners at Akkem Lake base camp (porridge, soups, grains and vegetables), freeze-dried food higher up and snack lunches on the trail (sweets, nuts, dried fruit, cheese, sausage). Roadside-café meals during the transfers are at your own cost.
Price details
What's included
Included
- Consultations at every stage of preparation, including help with the border-zone permit, and an online prep channel with a training plan
- Professional mountaineering instructor, 1 per 2 participants
- Transfer Gorno-Altaysk – Kucherla – Gorno-Altaysk
- GAZ-66 off-road transfer Kucherla – Tri Berezy camp and back
- 2 nights in six-bed guesthouses at a tourist base in Kucherla with breakfast and dinner
- Accommodation and meals at the campsite near Akkem Lake
- Meals in the Tomskie Stoyanki camp and the assault camp
- Delivery of group cargo (tents, equipment and food) to the Akkem Lake campsite in advance
- Expedition assault tents
- Safety kit: satellite phone, radios, GPS navigator, first-aid kit and registration with the rescue service; doctor contact by satellite or mobile phone; pulse oximeter with daily saturation checks
- Elbrus Expert certificate for the Belukha ascent, a branded long-sleeve shirt and a medal
Not included
- Travel to Gorno-Altaysk and back
- Meals in roadside cafés during the transfers
- Personal gear and clothing
- Mountaineering insurance (compulsory)
- Optional horse transport of personal kit to Akkem Lake and back (about €8 per kg, indicative price from the 2024 season)
- Optional helicopter flight to shorten part of the approach (extra fee)
Dates & prices
Choose your date
Small international groups. Booking is free — we confirm details with you before any payment.
18 – 28 Jul 2027
11 days
Regular price€3,860Now€2,880per personGuidesAvailableBe the first14 – 24 Aug 2027
11 days
Regular price€3,860Now€2,880per personGuidesAvailableBe the first
Need other dates or a private group? — we organise departures on request.
Packing list
Required equipment
What to bring for this programme. Most technical items can be rented from us — no need to fly with them.
Equipment
- Mountaineering crampons
- Large backpack 70–85 l with rain cover
- Climbing harness with 3 carabiners, self-belay lanyards and a 1.5 m cord
- Belay/descender device (Reverso type)
- 4 m of single dynamic rope
- Locking pear-shaped carabiners ×6
- Jumar (ascender)
- Headlamp
- Sleeping bag, comfort −10 °C
- Sleeping mat
- Mountain glacier glasses
- Ski goggles
- Thermos, 1 l
Clothing
- Double mountaineering boots
- Trekking boots or membrane sneakers
- Rubber boots
- Warm down jacket (−15 to −20 °C)
- Warm expedition mittens
- Climbing trousers (softshell recommended)
- Fleece top (Polartec 200)
- Light trousers or shorts
- Warm fleece hat that fits under a helmet
- Thin Polartec gloves
- Trekking socks, 2–3 pairs
- Thin socks, 3 pairs
- Cap or wide-brimmed hat
- Buff or balaclava
- Synthetic T-shirts, 3
Personal items
- Compression bags
- Toiletries
- Mug, spoon, bowl and knife
- Sunscreen SPF 50
- Waterproof pouch for documents
- Plastic water bottle
- Power bank
First-aid kit
- Personal first-aid kit · Minimum: gauze bandage, adhesive tape, antiseptics, antiallergy drugs, medicine for fever and colds, stomach tablets, elastic bandage, haemostatics and your own medication for chronic conditions
RentPersonal kit can be sent by horse to the Akkem Lake camp for a fee (indicatively about €8 per kg). The horses take two days and the group one, because they use different paths, so keep anything you need for the first night, such as your sleeping bag, with you.
Your team
Guides on this tour
Certified mountain guides who speak English and lead this route every season.
Reviews
What our travellers say
55 reviews on TripAdvisor
210 reviews on Google- Google
“Комфортный тур на западную вершину Эльбруса с юга с Сергеем Тарасовым. Это был не просто тур, а кинотур! Довольна всем! Организация на высшем уровне. Питание, трансфер, безопасность, аренда снаряжения - понравилось абсолютно всё! Спасибо огромное за эмоции и впечатления!”
ННаиля Филиппова September 2026 - Google
“Пользуюсь услугами компании не первый раз и планирую дальше с ними путешествовать: отличная компания, профессиональные гиды.”
AAleks September 2026 - TripAdvisor
Подъём на Эльбрус! Западная вершина.
“Поднялись с группой на западную вершину Эльбруса! У нас был опытный гид Алексей Сикилинда, который грамотно выждал погоду, и мы успешно взошли на вершину. Были ребята, которые говорили что им всё равно на погоду, ведь они идут с Ксенией Котляр, и пошли на день раньше. Но взойти на вершину у них не вышло, и они вернулись назад. А мы зашли) Спасибо опыту Алексея). Компания была максимально разношёрстная - плотник, доктор, менеджер и торговый представитель. Несмотря на это все нашли общий язык и поддерживали друг друга во время всего тура) Что конечно же положительно повлияло на успех восхождения. В целом о поездке впечатление отличное, всё было хорошо - трансфер, снаряжение, питание. Спасибо компании Эльбрус Эксперт за прекрасный тур!”
ССергей М September 2026
FAQ
Good to know
Do I need a border-zone permit?
Yes. Belukha is in the border zone between Russia and Kazakhstan, so a permit is mandatory. For foreign citizens the documents must be submitted no later than 30 working days before the tour start (15 working days for Russian citizens). We help with the preparation and paperwork, and on day 1 the group collects the permits from the border authority in Gorno-Altaysk. Bring your passport.
What experience do I need?
Belukha is not a first climb. Experience of technical routes of grade 3A–3B is strongly recommended; a classic Elbrus or Kazbek ascent alone is not enough. You need skills in crampons and rope teams, with the ice axe, fixed ropes, jumar, descender and self-belay, plus good endurance, comfort with long days carrying a pack and living in tents. Start targeted training 3–6 months ahead: long-distance running or other cyclic work, uphill walking, strength exercises, long outings with a pack and pull-ups. Before booking you have a consultation with our manager, who assesses your experience and fitness.
How do I get to the start and back?
The tour starts and ends in Gorno-Altaysk. Meet the group at Gorno-Altaysk airport by 10:00 on day 1. The return transfer from Kucherla leaves at 06:00 and reaches Gorno-Altaysk around 16:00, so book your flight home for 19:00 or later. Travel to Gorno-Altaysk is not included.
Can I fly part of the way, or send my luggage by horse?
Yes, both are optional extras. For an additional fee a helicopter flight can shorten part of the walk-in. Horse transport of personal kit to the Akkem Lake camp and back costs about €8 per kg (indicative price from the 2024 season). Horses take two days to reach the base camp while you take one, so do not send anything you need on the first night.
How do I book a place?
After your consultation with our manager, reserve your place and fix the price with a booking payment of about €400, or pay for the tour in full. The tour runs with a group of 2 or more participants. Compulsory mountaineering insurance and your own travel to Gorno-Altaysk are arranged separately.
The mountain is waiting
Ready for your summit?
From €2,880 per person. Pick a date now — we confirm everything personally, no payment at this step.