Altai Plateau Traverse (Ukok Circuit)
Four-nation convergence on Asia's roof
The Ukok Plateau sits at 2,200 meters where four nations converge, a windswept steppe where archaeologists discovered the 2,500-year-old Ice Maiden mummy. This 300-kilometer circuit begins at Kosh-Agach and threads through the UNESCO Quiet Zone, following herder tracks across rolling grasslands broken by glacier-fed streams. The route passes ancient burial mounds and Soviet-era border fortifications while navigating boulder fields that guard approaches to the Tabyn-Bogdo-Ola massif on the Mongolian border.
Difficult rating requires high-clearance 4WD with low-range transfer case for river crossings and loose rock sections. Travel June-September when mountain passes remain snow-free. Fuel in Kosh-Agach and carry 20 liters extra. Border zone permits mandatory from FSB offices in Gorno-Altaysk. Reward comes through complete solitude on one of Asia’s last untouched plateaus, camping under star-filled skies while golden eagles hunt marmots across endless grasslands.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Mixed |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 186 mi / 300 km |
| Duration | 4-5 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7546 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD with low-range |
| Nearest town | Kosh-Agach, Altai Republic |
| Land manager | Altai Tavan Bogd National Park |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
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