Fishing in Siberia, Kuznetskiy Alatau

Region: Russia, Southern Siberia, Kuznetskiy Alatau range
Activity: teahouse trekking, flyfishing
Trip Category: special
Difficulty: easy to medium, no need of special skill (kids from 9 years old are allowed).
Dates: May-October

     Kuznetskiy Alatau - "The Blacksmith's Mountains" is the medium-altitudes mountain land on the south of Siberia, slightly to the North from Altai, which keeps untouched wild nature so far. The area is practically unpopulated, so unique mountain taiga consists from firs, silver firs (pihta) and Siberian stone pines keeps it's virgin purity. Due to absent of industrial infrastructure, the ecological situation is perfect. The highest point of the entire area is Verhniy Zub ("Upper Toth") mount, 2178 m. There are no serious obstacles like snow and ice-covered passes en routes, trails lay in taiga or in some higher parts on tundra flats. The unique feature of the area is - despite of lower to medium altitudes- the presense of 80+ glaciers! So you can try real alpine landscape without any risk of AMS! The area has a very wide net of mountain rivers and small lakes with crystal clear water (no dregs which is important for fishing!), inhabited by a lot of species, including grayling, taimen (Siberian Salmon, Salmo Taimen), pile, perch and many others.

    Another key features are the well-developed network of mountain huts (priut) and easy to get there/away (the 1st huts are on the railroad just across the Tom river), so teahouse-style hiking - similar to Nepal or other tourist's areas is possible!

    We offer 3basic itineraries- the 1st is easy-grade and is perfect for flyfishing, 2 river basins are covered. The 2nd is a bit more adventure and includes far remote part of Belsuu river which is considered as a most perfect fishing goal. The 3d is real adventure an combines flyfishing with lake fishing in remote Golden Valley. If you have more time, you can combine all trips in one to cover the entire area. Shorter or any other personalised trips are possible as well - just us!

Variant 1- flyfishing in Amzas and Maliy Kazir river basins, 10 days. Grade: easy.

Itinerary

Day 1	Arrival to Novokuznetsk. Meeting at airport or railway station, transfer to Mezhdurechensk (about 1,5 hrs, minibus). Hotel accommodation (DBL).
Day 2	Train to Luzhba village (about 1,5 hrs). Short hiking (500 m) with Tom river crossing to Priut Kuzbasskiy ("Kuzbass Asilum"). Rest, checking the gear, consultations, training (you can fishing in neighbour Tom river immediately!). Russian bania (sauna)- the water is directly from mountain stream!
Day 3	Hiking up to "Priut Alguiskiy" ("Alguy Asilum") along Amzas river gorge. 9 km (rural road, abandoned talc mines en route. Flyfishing in Amzas river and it's tributaries. Hut accommodation.
Day 4	Hiking up to "Priut Rubanovskiy Stan" ("Rubanovskiy' Asilum") on Shorskiy Pass (about 1,000 m), lunch, then descent to Maliy Kazir river valley to Priut Kupriyanovskaya Poliana ("Kupriyanov's Glade Asilum"). 8 km. Rest. Bania. Hut accommodation.
Day 5	Flyfishing in Maliy Kazir river. Hut accommodation.
Day 6	Spare day for the case of bad weather.
Day 7	Hiking up to "Priut Rubanovskiy Stan" ("Rubanovskiy' Asilum") on Shorskiy Pass (about 1,000 m), lunch, then descent to "Priut Alguiskiy". 8 km. Rest. Bania. Hut accommodation.
Day 8	Hiking Priut Alguiskiy - Priut Kuzbasskiy. Hut accommodation. Russian bania. Firewell dinner.
Day 9	Train to Mezhdurechensk. Transfer to Novokuznetsk. Hotel accommodation (DBL).
Day 10	Transfer to airport. Departure from Novokuznetsk.

Variant 2- flyfishing in Amzas and Belsuu river basins, 14 days. Grade: easy to medium.

Itinerary

Day 1	Arrival to Novokuznetsk. Meeting at airport or railway station, transfer to Mezhdurechensk (about 1,5 hrs, minibus). Hotel accommodation (DBL).
Day 2	Train to Luzhba village (about 1,5 hrs). Short hiking (500 m) with Tom river crossing to Priut Kuzbasskiy ("Kuzbass Asilum"). Rest, checking the gear, consultations, training (you can fishing in neighbour Tom river immediately!). Russian bania (sauna)- the water is directly from mountain stream!
Day 3	Hiking up to "Priut Glukhariniy" ("Capercaillie's Asilum") along Amzas river gorge. 9 km, 1st part (about 4 km) - rural road. Flyfishing in Amzas river and it's tributaries. Hut accommodation.
Day 4	Hiking up to Priut Soboliniy ("Sable's Asilum"). 6 km. Fishing in upper Amzas river. Hut accommodation.
Day 5	Hiking from Priut Soboliniy to Priut Podnebesniy ("Below The Sky Asilum"). Steep ascent to the range, then traverse, then gentle descent. 12 km. Rest. Bania. Hut accommodation.
Day 6	Flyfishing in mid-Belsuu river and Podnebesniy stream. Hut accommodation.
Day 7	Hiking up along Belsuu river to Priut Taijesu ("Taijesu Asilum"). 15 km. Hut accommodation. Most remote and wild part of the route.
Day 8	Flyfishing in upper Belsuu basin. Hut accommodation. Amazing bania.
Day 9	Spare day for the case of bad weather.
Day 10	Hiking Priut Taijesu - Priut Podnebesniy. Hut accommodation.
Day 11	Hiking Priut Podnebesniy - Priut Glukhariniy. Hut accommodation.
Day 12	Hiking Priut Glukhariniy - Priut Kuzbasskiy. Hut accommodation. Russian bania. Firewell dinner.
Day 13	Train to Mezhdurechensk. Transfer to Novokuznetsk. Hotel accommodation (DBL).
Day 14	Transfer to airport. Departure from Novokuznetsk.

Variant 2- flyfishing and lake fishing in Amzas, Maliy Kazir and Bolshoy Huhuhuzuh river basins, 17 days. Grade: medium (2 nights tent accommodation involved!).

Itinerary

Day 1	Arrival to Novokuznetsk. Meeting at airport or railway station, transfer to Mezhdurechensk (about 1,5 hrs, minibus). Hotel accommodation (DBL).
Day 2	Train to Luzhba village (about 1,5 hrs). Short hiking (500 m) with Tom river crossing to Priut Kuzbasskiy ("Kuzbass Asilum"). Rest, checking the gear, consultations, training (you can fishing in neighbour Tom river immediately!). Russian bania (sauna)- the water is directly from mountain stream!
Day 3	Hiking up to "Priut Alguiskiy" ("Alguy Asilum") along Amzas river gorge. 9 km (rural road, abandoned talc mines en route. Flyfishing in Amzas river and it's tributaries. Hut accommodation.
Day 4	Hiking up to "Priut Rubanovskiy Stan" ("Rubanovskiy' Asilum") on Shorskiy Pass (about 1,000 m), lunch, then descent to Maliy Kazir river valley to Priut Kupriyanovskaya Poliana ("Kupriyanov's Glade Asilum"). 8 km. Rest. Bania. Hut accommodation.
Day 5	Flyfishing in Maliy Kazir river. Hut accommodation.
Day 6	Hiking Priut Kupriyanovskaya Poliana - Priut Yuria Diakonova ("Yury Diakonov's Asilum"). 10 km. Hut accommodation. Rest. Bania. Flyfishing in Maliy Kazir river (mid part) and it's tributaries.
Day 7	Hiking from Priut Yuria Diakonova to Priut Mazaevskiy Stan ("Mazaev's Hut Asilum"). 8 km. Fishing in upper part of Maliy Kazir river. Russian bania.
Day 8	Radial trip to Hunuhuzuh lake through a pass. Tent accommodation.
Day 9	Lake fishing in Hunuhuzuh lake. Tent accommodation.
Day 10	Hiking back to Priut Mazaevskiy Stan. Rest. Bania. Hut accommodation.
Days 11-12	Spare day for the case of bad weather. Hut accommodation.
Day 13	Descent from Priut Mazaevskiy Stan to Priut Kuprianovskaya Poliana ("Kuprianov's Glade Asilum"). 17 km. Lunch at Priut Yuria Diakonova. Hut accommodation.
Day 14	Hiking up to "Priut Rubanovskiy Stan" ("Rubanovskiy' Asilum") on Shorskiy Pass (about 1,000 m), lunch, then descent to "Priut Alguiskiy". 8 km. Rest. Bania. Hut accommodation.
Day 15	Hiking Priut Alguiskiy - Priut Kuzbasskiy. Hut accommodation. Russian bania. Firewell dinner.
Day 16	Train to Mezhdurechensk. Transfer to Novokuznetsk. Hotel accommodation (DBL).
Day 17	Transfer to airport. Departure from Novokuznetsk.

Cost: for an offer.

Included: Meeting and seeing off at airport, 1 night hotel accommodation in Novokuznetsk and 1 night in Mezhdurechensk (DBL), all transfers according the programme (including boats for Tom river crossing and railway tickets Mezhdurechensk-Luzhba-Mezhdurechensk, hut accommodation FB, hot meals on active part, guide/interpreter, porters and cook service, camping gear (tents etc. if mentioned above), rain cover.

Not included: visa fees, travel to/from Novokuznetsk (daily scheduled flights from/to Moscow ant St. Petersburg, railway from Moscow or Novosibirsk), personal gear.

Options. Any tailor-made trip is possible. Gear rental. Visa support.