Andrey Korolev (traveler)

Andrey Korolev graduated from the Department of Animal and Veterinary Medicine, Perm State Agricultural Academy (PSAA, 1993–1999). Further on he worked as a senior lecturer at the Department of Internal Non-Communicable Diseases (PSAA). Since 2004 till present he works as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Tourism, Faculty of Geography, Perm State National Research University (PSU).

Andrey Korolev started to be engaged in tourism at the age of 15, rafting along the rivers of the Kama region and climbing nearby ridges, widening the range of his travels to the Caucasus and the Polar Urals. Over time, the complexity of routes increased, and Korolev started gradually forming his own team.

The traveler visited Ural (Southern, Middle, Northern, Sub-Polar, Polar), East and West Sayan, Altai (Russian and Mongolian parts), Caucasus, Tien Shan, Pamir, Kamchatka, Chinese Pamir, Putorana Plateau, Kun-Lun, Tibet, Peruvian Andes, Argentine Andes, New Zealand, Australia, Greenland, East Africa, Alaska, Antarctica, Madagascar.

The total number of expeditions by Andrey Korolev exceeds 100; out of them 14 are graded the highest 6 grade of difficulty. Under his guidance around 1000 people participated 1-2 grade sports expeditions; 400 of them received qualification in sports tourism, a few became prize winners of local or national champions.

Andrey Korolev is repeatedly published in popular international magazines, such as National Geographic, National Geographic Traveler, "GEO", etc. He is also a regular author and information source for various media. In 2016 Andrey Korolev became a prize winner of the "Vertical" International Festival of Mountain and Adventure Films (Moscow) in nominations "Travel Notes, Essays, Diaries" and "Illustrated Publications".

In 2010, Andrey Korolev he was awarded the title and honorary badge "the Honored Traveler of Russia".

In 2014 he was nominated and received the Stroganov Prize for outstanding achievements in sports.

• 1998: Exploring and launching new sites for ski tourism in the Central Tien Shan, Ak-Shyrak massif (Russia). Initial ascent to summit named Perm Peak (5,050 m; 16,570 ft).
• 2000: Winter ski crossing of the Pamirs, North to South, from the Alai Valley to the Bartang River, along the glaciers of Fedchenko, Vitkovsky, Grum-Grzhimailo, etc. The first-ever attempt of winter ascent to Independence Peak (6,940 m; 22,769 ft); successful attempt of crossing a pass of the 3A-3B grade of difficulty over the Yazgulemsky Range.
• 2001: Ski expedition over the Mongolian Altai and the South Chui Ridge. The second winter visit to the tourist area, the first winter ascent to the summit peak of Tavan-Bogdo-Ula (4,082 m; 13,390 ft). First crossing of several passes, the second winter ascent to Nairamdal (Khüiten Peak) (4,374 m; 14,350 ft).
• 2005: Bicycle crossing of Kun-Lun and Tibet. Complete the first route of the route, the opening of a new tourist area — the pole of inaccessibility of Eurasia — the Changtang Plateau, in Northern Tibet. For the first time in world tourism, Kun-Lun and Tibet were crossed from North to South, from the Taklamakan Desert to the Brahmaputra River basin — as a joint autonomous route. For the first time in cycling, a 6,000 m (19,690 ft) high pass was crossed. The route covered 2,500 km (1,553 miles) and lasted 49 days with 53 passes crossed, most of them first-time ever, with the average height 4,800 m (15,750 ft).
• 2006: The first official sports trip to the Peruvian Andes, opening a new trekking area with a rout fully completed at the first attempt. For the first time, Russian travelers reached the Amazon issue, climbed the top of the mountain above and double-named it "Peak Perm" (originally named Cerro Huaitano 5,500 m; 18,040 ft); 2B grade of difficulty. Ascent to Nevado-Koropunu (6,500 m; 21,330 ft), one of the highest extinct volcanoes on Earth. Ascent to mount Aconcagua (6,962 m; 22,840 ft), the highest point of the Southern and Western Hemisphere.
• 2007: Research and sport expeditions to Australia and New Zealand. An attempt to climb Mount Muztagh Ata (7,546 m; 24,760 ft, Chinese Pamir), reaching the altitude of 7,200 m (23,620 ft) from where Andrey Korolev descended by mountain ski (the record for Perm Krai).

Greenland, 2010.

Tibet, 2014.

Perm State National Research University standard on Mount Whitney, Oct. 13, 2016.

• 2009: For the first time ever, the central part of Kun-Lun and Tibet was crossed from west to east. The journey was dedicated to the 170th birthday anniversary of Nikolay Przhevalsky. The route with a duration of 36 working days covered 1,518 km (943.2 miles). 44 passes were crossed, most of them for the first time. The glacial knot of the Ulugh Muztagh mountain was explored with accents to 2 peaks: 6,200 m (20,340 ft) named the Przhevalsky Peak and 6,100 m (20,010 ft) – the Roborovsky Peak. Also for the first time in a joint autonomous route two glacial knots were connected: the Ulugh Muztagh and the Monomakh Cap.
• 2010: An attempt to ski-cross Greenland, dedicated to the 150th birthday anniversary of Fridtjof Nansen, making it one of the first officially declared sports trips in Greenland. A new tourist area was explored and opened, and several passes and peaks were pioneered.
• 2011: For the first time, a cycling ascent to the highest point of Africa – Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m; 19,340 ft) was accomplished. Also for the first time, Kunlun, Tibet and the Himalayas were crossed from north to south through a pole of inaccessibility of Eurasia — as a joint autonomous route.
• 2013: Climbing Denali (McKinley), the highest point of North America (6,194 m; 20,320 ft).
• 2014: for an incomplete two months the Perm scholars expedition covered 2,500 km (1,553 miles) at an average height of 5,000 m (16,400 ft) above sea level, with a target to conquer the top of the Monomakh Cap (6,800 m; 22,310 ft) and explore the uninhabited territories of Tibet. An attempt to ascend the Monomakh Cap was cut due to the Chinese troops’ special forces, who deported the scholars from the area, forcing the team to reconsider further rout in the direction of eastern Tibet.
• 2015: Expedition to the Sayan Mountains. The route passed through the most inaccessible places of Southern Siberia – Tofalaria. The expedition took 29 days and covered over 550 km (348,1 miles) with the first time exploration of 15 geographical locations. The highest and most beautiful pass was given the name of the 100th Anniversary of Perm University. Later on in 2015 Andrey Korolev took part in the first Russian meteorite expedition to Antarctica.
• 2016: Planting the standard of the Perm State National Research University (PSU) at one of the highest points in the US, Mount Whitney (4,418 m; 14,490 ft) on the day of celebration of 100th PSU Anniversary with a live broadcast of the event.
• 2017: Skiing and cycling expedition to Alaska (1,600 km; 994.2 miles) to strengthen friendly relationship between Russia and the United States, dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the purchase of Alaska and the 75th anniversary of Lend-Lease.

• The Snows of the USA // GEO. 22.05.2014.
• The Inhabited Island // The Traveler. April–May 2013, pp 70–82.
• The Inhabited Island: A Voyage to Madagascar // National Geographic Russia. 25.06.2013.
• The Iced Iceland // GEO. 23.04.2013.
• The Mission Possible // GEO. 12.02.2013.
• The Pole of Inaccessibility in Eurasia // GEO. 18.01.2012.
• Tibet by Bike // National Geographic Russia. July–August 2011. pp. 96–103. Abstract. Full Text.
• Zyryanov A.I., Korolyov A.Yu. Tourist Zonation of Mountain Territories 1 // Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta (Bulletin of Moscow University). Ser. 5. Geography. 2009. #6. pp. 19–25.
• Pushing the Limits // National Geographic Russia, #69. June 2009. pp. 46–50.
• Zyryanov A.I., Korolyov A.Yu. Sample Tourist Routes: the Geographical Aspect // Vestnik Natsional’noy Akademii Turizma (Bulletin of National Academy of Tourism), St. Petersburg, 2008. #8. pp. 53–57.
• Tibet by Bikes // National Geographic Russia. #7 (34). July 2006.