We continue to share delightful routes created specifically for you along with the Russian Explorers photographers. Vadim Makhorov (@makhorov) prepared the guide to Altai! And for you to take advantage of it as soon as possible, in our telegram channel we are playing flights to Gorno-Altaysk from Aeroflot. The rules of the action can be found by the link.
Altai is one of the most beautiful places in Russia. Here you will find activity for every taste. Mountain lovers can climb an actre or Belukha, fans of alloys – go on a Katun raft, preferring a comfortable vacation with their family will find all the conditions here. And wildlife seekers can go on a hike. I have prepared for you a small author’s route for the weekend, ideal for the first acquaintance with Altai.
When to go and how to prepare
You can go to Altai at almost any time of the year. In winter, you can admire the snowy forests and mountains surrounded by the steam of mountain rivers. Summer is an ideal time for outdoor activities. I advise you to come here in September – the golden autumn transforms Altai. It’s no longer hot, but still warm. In addition, there are also fewer tourists, which means it is higher than the chance to book good housing.
As for the preparation, for a trip in the summer or early autumn I recommend taking a standard traveler’s set with you: trekking boots, windproof pants and jacket, fleece sweatshirt, and sunglasses. In September, thermal underwear may also need. In the mountains, the weather is unpredictable and often does not correspond to the forecast, so you need to be prepared both for the heat and for sudden frosts. Be sure to take a thermos with you – this thing will always come in handy on a trip.
How to get
I recommend flying to Gorno-Altaysk, it is there that it is most convenient to start this route. A ticket back and forth costs from 10,900 rubles* per person.
What to visit and what to do in Altai
Since we are flying with you for the weekend, we have a little time – I propose to immediately go to the most beautiful places. To do this, we need to rent a car. It is not necessary that it be an SUV. We will go along the Chuysky tract – it is supported in perfect condition. In 2014, National Geographic Russia included the Chuysky tract in the list of ten most beautiful roads in the world.
On Friday, I suggest you spend the night in one of these hotels in Gorno-Altaysk:
Eco-hotel “Altika”-from 6500 rubles* per night per person;
Hotel “Golden Sands” – from 3000 rubles* per night per person;
Eco-base “Elena”-from 7000 rubles* per night per person.
The first day
Remember that it gets dark in the mountains earlier, so it is better to go on the road right in the morning. About 350 km will go a day, visiting various attractions along the way.
The first stop will be almost immediately – A durable nursery Not far from the village of Cherga. At the moment, the world has a little more than 8,000 individuals of the last representatives of wild bulls. And in the nursery you can feed these rare animals with the hand.
Point on the map
Then we go along the Chuysky tract aside Seloed Kurai. On the way, you will need to drive two passes. The first will be Seminsky – we do not stop there. Immediately after you begin to notice that the landscape is changing and the mountains around are becoming higher. On the way, you yourself will see many points with a beautiful look.
The next stop – Pass Chike-Tamanlocated at a distance of about 160 km from the nursery. On a winding road, you will get to the very top, from which magnificent panoramic views open.
One of the unusual spectacles in a journey along the Chui tract are Katun river terraces. The aligned sites of various widths standing at different heights above the other – the terraces form huge steps along the banks of the Katun River.
In the village of the village Small Yalomanhalf an hour from the Chica-Taman pass, you will find several terraces. Also, it will be possible to see how the river bizarrely bends in this place with the letter S. And a little further on one of these steps is a solar power station.
The next stop will be a place where Chuya River flows into the Katun River. On top it is clearly visible how the water of different colors from the rivers encountered is mixed.
Dot
Not far from the confluence of Chui and Katuni is The tract Kalbak-TashWhere you can see well -preserved petroglyphs. For 3 km there are about 5,000.
Dot
The next stop – Geyseric lake Near the village of Aktash. It is remarkable with its blue color. Watching him, it seems that it is alive. If you put the camera on timelaps, you can see how blue clay at the bottom of the lake gurgles due to beating sources-therefore it is called geyser.
Dot:
By evening, we come to the night in the village of Kurai, you can stay here at any recreation center you like. The level of comfort here, of course, is much lower – the thing is that you are not in the most popular tourist part of Altai. I advise you to go to the store, buy snacks and sandwiches the next day – you have to go to the Aktr gorge. The road is broken to it and very stony. There are fords. Therefore, even if you have leased an SUV, I do not advise you to go there on a rolling machine. It is better to order a casting from the locals by car UAZ. How to do this, you will understand on the spot – they will stand waiting for tourists at the entrance to Kurai. Also, staff can also help you in the place where you stop.
The second day
Early in the morning after breakfast, go to Valley Aktra. It will take several hours. The road is not easy, but picturesque. Get ready for the fact that there will be a lot of shake, but it’s worth it. When you go into the valley itself, the first thing you will see a spilled river with a mountain in a background.
Dot:
UAZ will deliver you to Alplager. Here climbers and gaiters often stop before climbing. If you had more time, you could also stay there, but since you are limited by the weekend, in the evening you will have to return to Kurai. By the way, there is a dining room in the allager, you can have lunch.
Then you have a choice, which direction for walking to choose. You will learn all the information about the tracks in the alponda. If you love hiking, I advise you to reach Rock formations of lamb foreheadsto see Glacier and Mountain Aktra. This is one of my favorite places in Altai.
In the evening we return to UAZ to Kurai, we spend the night. And in the morning we go to Gorno-Altaysk-it’s time to go home!
To fully see Altai, you need to go there for at least a week. But this does not always work, so our route is the best acquaintance with Altai. After this trip, you will want to return here again to explore other places of the region.
*Prices are valid at the time of publication
