Kokkol': Trekking Routes and Mining History

The routes provide specific distance and duration details; the mine’s high-altitude location and historic tungsten and molybdenum mining shape its story. This lets you first decide how much time to set aside for a multi-day trek and whether mining heritage should be part of your stay.

Multi-day routes: distance, duration, and season

The 2022 park route information lists Altai Trails as 100 kilometers long and taking seven to nine days. It describes the route as a seasonal tourist excursion that can be done on foot or on horseback. Before your trip, check whether the route is currently operating.

The “K podnozhiyu Belukhi” trek lasts nine days and covers 95 kilometers. It passes through the valley of the White Berel and visits Kokkol Waterfall. As seasonal operation may vary, check current availability before your trip.

Although the routes are similar in length, their durations differ: Altai Trails is listed as taking seven to nine days, while the “K podnozhiyu Belukhi” trek takes nine days. If your travel time is limited, compare not only the total distance but also the stated duration.

Mining history at the Kokkol Mine

The Kokkol Mine lies at an altitude of 3,000 meters in the valley of the Bolshoy Kokkol River and is considered both a mining heritage site and an open-air museum. Tungsten and molybdenum mining began in 1938; operations ended in 1954. The cold climate helped preserve the buildings and equipment. Thus, the mine’s history includes not only the dates of production but also its preserved facilities.

East Kazakhstan as a broader travel context

In the broader destination of East Kazakhstan, Katon-Karagay National Park is part of the transboundary Altai Biosphere Reserve. The park’s natural landmarks include the Kokkol waterfalls; Kokkol Waterfall is about 80 meters high. Another natural attraction is Lake Yazevoye, a high-altitude freshwater lake of glacial origin—that is, formed by glaciers. It is popular with tourists, mountaineers, and trekking enthusiasts. The waterfall and lake offer distinct natural attractions for regional trip planning.

Berel is part of East Kazakhstan’s cultural context: an open-air museum has been established at the Berel kurgans. The burial site includes more than 100 burials, as well as funerary and memorial structures. The focus here is on archaeological heritage, adding a distinct cultural and historical dimension to the broader destination’s natural attractions. Another archaeological highlight in the broader destination of East Kazakhstan is Ak-Baur: the complex includes numerous petroglyphs, megaliths, and burial mounds dating from the Bronze Age and Saka period. This sets it apart from Berel, whose character as a burial site is defined by more than 100 burials and funerary and memorial structures.

Discover more destinations: Semey, Pervomayskiy, Aqsu, Kabanbay, Ridder, Akzhar, Öskemen, Petrova

See the broader travel overview: East Kazakhstan.