Katun Rafting in Siberia
“I wanted to thank you for the outstanding trip. It really was one of our best trips ever – very full, rich and varied. Unmatched and invaluable! It was also a birthday that I’ll long remember! I know how unique it was to have your sister along and she made all the difference in making it a trip that immersed us in the culture in a way that would never have happened otherwise.
I can’t wait to see the video!”
:) Betty Durso - Siberia 2005
KATUN RIVER – WHITE WATER RAFTING IN SIBERIA – 16 Days
The Katun is similar in style to the Colorado through the Grand Canyon with huge, safe wave trains and big recovery pools. It is a large volume (6000 CFS at put-in) fun river with plenty of Class 3 and 4 rapids that are mostly pool drop. We will be spending lots of time with local Siberians and visiting places and people that most Americans have never experienced.
We begin our 16 day journey when we arrive in Moscow and enjoy a walking tour of the Kremlin. Red Square and St Basil’s Cathedral followed by a second day exploring the city by van. That second night, we fly overnight to Barnaul, the capital of Siberia’s Altai Region. Barnaul is a thriving city undergoing significant change that you will experience first hand as you observe strolling the grand Avenues and sipping tea in the sidewalk cafes. That night, we spend the evening and night with a local family from Barnaul so you can experience first hand how the locals live in Siberia!
The following day we drive to Ust Sema along an ancient route used by the spice trade. We visit local villages, stop at holy sites and camp in the mountains at a rustic campground. The following day, we drive to Tungur where we continue our journey through the Altai mountains and finally camp at our destination, our put-in on the Katun River.
Our rafting descent of the Katun will take us through a variety of landscapes from deep canyons to open meadows to rolling hills and sandy beaches strewn with Siberian pines. The Katun’s rapids are Grand Canyon style: long series of wave trains and big fun. A highlight of the trip is visiting Siberian villages and meeting people living life as they did hundreds of years ago, untouched by the politics of change. Our Bio Bio team will include Russian guides and locals from Barnaul. Each night on the river, the festivities will include Russian folk singing around the campfire and plenty of dancing and cultural exchange.
On our 14th day, we depart for Barnaul and enjoy a farewell dinner with our hosts. The following day, we depart for Moscow and our long trip home.