Altai has always attracted people with its mysterious beauty and picturesque nature. In this article we will analyze the most popular routes for road travel in Altai.
How can you visit many spectacular places in a short period of time, get acquainted with the customs and incredible atmosphere of the Altai Mountains? Traveling by car will completely solve this problem. In addition, if you are traveling with your whole family or a large group, you can save a lot on the cost of excursions. In just a few days of car travel you can see many interesting places, marveling and admiring the richness of nature.
Before the trip, we recommend checking that everything is in place: documents (licence, vehicle registration certificate, insurance, etc.), money, food, water, etc. You definitely need to take a good mood with you on a trip, otherwise your vacation will be incomplete.
Where to relax in Altai in the summer by car?
Cascade of waterfalls on the Shinok River
We will start our journey from Gorno-Altaisk. Using the map, we make our way to the “Cascade of Waterfalls on the Shinok River” reserve. Here, steep rocky slopes are combined with the green colors of dense thickets and a noisy mountain river. Height changes from ten to 70 meters formed a cascade of waterfalls, which are an incredibly beautiful natural creation. This is the Soloneshensky district of the Altai Territory, where a river runs down the slopes of the Bashelaksky ridge. A good asphalt road will lead us to Biysk, heading towards the villages of Soloneshnoye and Topolnoye. On the way to the pass, go around the clamps, past the dangerous section of the route, the dirt road will lead you to your destination. There is a campsite at the turn to Shinka waterfalls, you can stop there. The waterfall amazes with its inaccessibility; there are guaranteed to be many fabulously beautiful photographs.
Denisova Cave
The next stop on the route is Denisova Cave. Leaving the gorge, a road will be built along the river that will lead to the archaeological site. Human remains were found there, and scientists attributed it to a new subspecies. Local residents have a lot of stories and legends about this mysterious cave. “Bear Stone” is how the name of the cave is translated from the local dialect; according to legend, a local shaman lived here.
Multinskie lakes
Time on the road will fly by. You can go to the Multinskie Lakes cascade. If we take the village of Multa as a reference point, the lakes will be located further south. This is the territory of the Katunsky mountain range. The cascade of waterfalls is located at an altitude of up to two thousand meters above sea level. Mountain routes can test your technique, but it's worth it. Snowy peaks, taiga forests and the pristine beauty of the Multinsky lakes.
Roerich House-Museum
If you want to touch hand-made art, we can offer a trip to the memorial house-museum of the great Russian artist N.K. Roerich. The route goes through the village of Verkh-Uimon, and the museum itself is located on the territory of the artist’s former estate. The summer exhibition pavilion willingly welcomes guests who want to get acquainted with the artist’s work. In the book pavilion you can purchase literature to remember your trip.
Where else can you go in Altai by car in the summer?
Seminsky pass
We set off along the Chuiskoi tract. You need to take care to fill the tank full, because beyond the Seminsky Pass, fuel will cost a pretty penny. Despite the fact that this is the highest pass, if you follow the traffic rules, you can reach your destination without any problems. You can stay at one of the recreation centers, for example, “Dynamo” or “Seminsky Pass”.
Geyser Lake
The next pass is Chike-Timan. Heading to the confluence of the Chuya and Katun rivers, you will see how nature, typical mountain Altai, is transformed. Traveling by car along the Chuysky tract, visit the attraction of these places - the geyser lake. The eruption of gases throws clay out, and radial patterns appear on the water. The spectacle is memorable.
Mars in Altai
Turning from the Chuysky tract towards Chagan-Uzun, you can find yourself in a wild desert area - the very beginning of the Chuy steppe. There are colorful mountains here, which are often called Mars in Altai. The mountain slopes of the valley are painted in red, orange and deep burgundy shades. There is almost no vegetation, only rare bushes can be seen in the shadow of the ravines.
Sofia Glacier
Heading along the South Chuysky ridge you can get to the Sofiysky glacier. Vacationers will enjoy the panorama, because this is one of the largest glaciers in Altai. The glacier is constantly retreating, which is associated with global warming. When planning a trip here, think over your route and pack warm clothes. A short hike will be beneficial, so figure out where to park your car.
This is just a small part of the sights that you can see when going on a road trip to Altai. In summer it is especially beautiful here; nature is rich in colors, sounds and pristine purity. The diversity of landscapes and the mysterious beauty of Altai. As for the costs of the trip, they depend mainly on the number of days and the distance of the chosen route. Thrifty tourists often spend the night in tents and take provisions with them. Before the trip, carry out diagnostics of the car; on the road you need to be confident in yourself and the vehicle. Think over the route and make adjustments in time, in case you have to stay somewhere and good luck!
How much money should you take with you?
For those who plan to visit Gorny Altai by car, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the list of upcoming costs. This will allow you to correctly budget your trip.
Sample list of expenses:
- Gasoline: RUB 38,340.
Based on the calculation: AI-95 gasoline grade, cost 45 rubles. 10 kopecks per 1 liter, fuel consumption - 10 l/100 km, distance traveled 8,500 km (the road to Altai and back includes travel from Moscow to the village of Aktash-Moscow, plus 100 km - travel on secondary roads).
- Car depreciation: RUB 6,750. (based on the initial cost of the car 1 million rubles, engine capacity less than 3.5 liters, useful life 37 months).
- Accommodation: 14,000 rub. (on average - 2000 rubles per day).
- Meals: 11,200 rub. (800 rubles per person per day).
- Entertainment (excursions): 6,200 rub. (Manzherok and cable car - 2,200 rubles, visit to the Karym maral farm - 2,000 rubles, Bolshaya Tavdinskaya cave + apiary - 2,000 rubles).
- Communication: 350 rub. (for example, MTS Smart tariff: 6 G Internet, calls 300 min., 300 SMS).
- Insurance: 4,700 rub. (700 rubles insurance against tick bites, which includes all necessary types of assistance and coverage from 1 million rubles per person; 4000 rubles – insurance against accidents during cycling, trekking and other active activities).
Important! Mountain Altai is considered one of the regions with a large number of dangerous (infected) ticks: every second or third tick is a carrier of some kind of disease, so before traveling we recommend getting vaccinated against encephalitis.
- First aid kit: RUB 1,450.
| A drug | Cost, rub. |
| mezim (for digestive problems) | 300 |
| hydrogen peroxide (for treating abrasions) | 80 |
| patch | 230 |
| rescuer (ointment for burns, bruises, cuts, sprains) | 140 |
| aspirin (antipyretic) | 100 |
| spasmalgol (for headaches) | 200 |
| bandage | 50 |
| elastic bandage | 350 |
Kyzyl-Chin (Martian Mountains) | photo by Natalya Shadrina-Chepel
How to get there
The starting point for recreation and tourism in the Altai Mountains will be the city of Gorno-Altaisk. You can get there, for example, by plane. Planes fly from Moscow, Krasnoyarsk, Yekaterinburg. Flights via Barnaul or Novosibirsk will be even cheaper. For example, a flight from St. Petersburg to Gorno-Altaisk, with a transfer in Novosibirsk, will cost only 7,648 rubles (as of 07/16/20)
If you take the train as a basis, you need to know that the nearest railway station to the Altai Mountains is the city of Biysk. From Biysk to Gorno-Altaisk 100 km. by bus for 250 rubles. Train travel from Moscow will cost approximately 5,000 rubles, from Novosibirsk – 1,000 rubles.
Chuya tract in Altai. Image by sivakovdenis from Pixabay
There is a well-developed bus service throughout the Altai Mountains. From Gorno-Altaisk there are buses every day to Chemal (300 rubles), Artybash (450 rubles), Kosh-Agach (850 rubles). If you are looking for a ticket to Gorno-Altaisk, but there are no direct flights, pay attention to flights to the village. Maima. This is a suburb of Gorno-Altaisk, from which you can get to the city by bus every 20-30 minutes.
Of course, by car you will have complete freedom to move around the Altai Mountains. All roads from Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Barnaul lead to the Chuysky tract. It runs throughout the Altai Mountains. The road is in decent condition, but when you exit it, dirt roads, gravel and off-road terrain begin. It is better to take a four-wheel drive vehicle.
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Day 2 - What to see in Manzherok and the surrounding area
After breakfast at the hotel, we went for a walk around the main tourist area of Altai to see what it was like. Very nice place, there is even an artificial lake.
It was possible to walk further, but again, in order to save time, we went by car to the Tavdinsky caves.
This cave is through. There are no amazing stalactites inside, but what I saw really impressed me. Perhaps because we were able to see the cave on our own early in the morning before the opening without crowds of tourists.
Coming out of the cave and climbing to the top, we were finally able to see Katun from above.
Nearby is the Taldinskaya karst arch. This is one of those places that you must see in Altai.
Down opposite the cave there is a small forest. If you follow the path, you can go to the bank of the Katun, which is what we did. Here on the observation deck there is a monument to Roerich.
From here we drove by car to Manzherok to the cable car to Mount Malaya Sinyukha. Awesome view, but terribly slow cableway. The one way journey takes half an hour.
There is also something to see at the top. There are many places in the Altai Mountains where you can see Altai ails and models of other traditional structures, the peak is one of such places.
Having descended, we decided to stop by Lake Manzherokskoe. Despite the fact that it was mid-September, people were swimming. Having enjoyed all this calm beauty, we moved on.
We made a short stop at the Arzhan-Suu spring.
Further the road lay through the village of Ust-Muny.
Behind the village there is a river station. From here you can go rafting or swim to the Kamyshlinsky waterfall.
The weather was not too hot and we did not ride along the Katun. We decided that we were quite capable of seeing the waterfall on our own in Altai. In one go we looked at the Tsar’s Hunt camp site; the design here is at a high level.
The trail leads through a small ethno-park and goes into the forest.
Kamyshlinsky waterfall is larger and more powerful compared to what we saw on the first day of our trip.
Here in the cafe we had a tasty and inexpensive lunch of Altai pilaf.
Our busy day was slowly coming to an end, and we headed towards the hotel. On the way we made a small detour by car and crossed 2 bridges at once to Ust-Sema. Here the Chuya highway turns right, and we went left towards Chemal.
Our hotel was located near the bridge to Askat. Having quickly settled in, we went to see this village. There are simply stunning views on the bridge over the Katun, don’t drive past.
There is a Buddhist temple in Askat. The temple looks like someone's dacha with a couple of ropes hung with colored flags. After the Buddhist temples of Thailand, this is not the place to see in Altai.
Having stocked up on food in the neighboring village of Uznezya, we spent the rest of the evening on the banks of the Katun. The descent to the shore was right from our hotel.
Is it possible to vacation in Altai in the summer of 2021 by car: where to go
In summer, the Altai region is among the top most visited places. The salt lake Bolshoye Yarovoye can replace the Black Sea. In addition to relaxing on the beach, you can take a range of wellness treatments. The Altai region is famous for its healing mud and antler baths.
In summer, tourists actively visit the Belokurikha resort. In 2021, many sanatorium tours will be organized in Belokurikha, where people with various diseases of the skin, nervous system and other problems will be invited to treat.
Advice!
Anyone going to Altai for the first time should know that it is worth buying tickets in advance, since at the height of the season almost all places are already taken.
Anyone who loves the Swiss Alps will appreciate Mount Belukha. It delights with its beauty and huge white peaks that are reflected in the mirror water. This memory will become one of the most vivid in life.
Housing issue
People don’t go to Altai to relax in a luxurious “five-star” hotel. Most travelers try to make their trip on a budget, and are aware that they will have to live in tents, campsites, or, at best, in an average-level recreation center. There is no need to compare hotels by their star rating.
The advantage is that in almost the most picturesque areas of Altai there are enough opportunities to stay in a relatively developed place. For example, in the village of Artybash and other settlements, areas for tent camps and parking lots have been organized. All this will cost a nominal fee per day of 150-300 rubles.
And in order to live among the mountains in comfortable conditions, you will have to book a room in a hotel, at a recreation center, or rent a room from local residents. But remember that during the peak tourist season, the most popular establishments may be busy. And in order not to stay on the street in the middle of the night, it is better to book rooms in advance on.
tourister.ru
Altai's hotel base is not bad and is constantly developing. Here you can also find modest residential houses with a minimum of furniture and simple amenities, but there are also good apartments with their own kitchen, bathhouse, barbecue facilities, Internet and children's playgrounds. Where it is better to stay is up to you to decide, depending on your personal preferences and financial capabilities. But remember that the most luxurious establishments set exorbitantly high fees for accommodation, which can reach 7,000 rubles per night.
We list the most popular and popular recreation centers among tourists:
- “AltaiRai” is located in the village of Elekmonar. For 3,500 rubles you will get not only a roof over your head, but also three meals a day, a clean beach on the banks of the Katun River and even access to a water park. The tourist office on the territory of the base will offer a huge variety of excursions and interesting routes around the Altai Territory.
- "Manzherok" is a park hotel located in the middle of a pine forest. There is a cable car next to it, and in the courtyard there is an open-air swimming pool, a sauna and a barbecue area. Families with children often come here, since for 1500-3600 rubles you can get a complete vacation with high quality service.
- “Zaimka Kamza” is located in the village of Tyuguryuk. Almost all rooms are located in separate wooden houses. The base has a swimming pool, playgrounds, and gazebos. It will be very interesting for children here, since deer are kept on the territory and children can play with the animals. The cost of the room is low - about 2000 rubles. However, car parking is available for a fee.
- “Lesotel” is another wonderful place in Souzga. Completely well-groomed area, equipped to the highest standard. There are wooden houses that look more like country cottages, free internet, a spa center, a restaurant, a swimming pool, and a cafeteria. Vacationers can choose from a variety of entertainment and excursions in the surrounding area. True, you will have to pay a lot for such luxury - from 3,000 to 9,000 rubles.
- Gold Camel is a real yurt camping experience. Living in it, you will get a lot of new impressions and vivid emotions, since this is not just an overnight stay, but an authentic home of the northern peoples. You can find it near the village of Kosh-Agach. Activities also include camel riding, cycling tours or jeep rides to more remote and inaccessible areas. Another advantage is that such a vacation is affordable for everyone - the price for a yurt for five people ranges around 3,000 rubles.
Altai "Mars"
The Martian landscapes of Altai impress many tourists. Altai “Mars” is located near the village of Chagan-Uzun in the Kosh-Agach region. This is a wonderful place for photographers and all beauty lovers. The name of the Kyzyl-Chin tract is translated from Turkic as “red gorge”. And, indeed, due to the high content of mercury in the rocks, the mountains have different shades of red. This is precisely why associations with the planet Mars arise.
Nutrition
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You can provide yourself with food during your trip in Altai, just like on any other hike through the mountains, rivers and forests. Living in a tent, you will cook over a fire using the products that you purchased in the nearest large city along the way. This is the most economical option.
If you have booked a room at a camp site or sanatorium, then there is a chance to relieve yourself of household responsibilities and delegate the cooking process to others. But in this case, be prepared that you will not get any delights or variety. In Altai, food is hearty and simple. The basis is always meat, milk, bread, cereal. But seasonings and hot peppers are used rarely and in limited quantities.
If you rented a room with breakfast only, then in most tourist villages there are enough cafes and restaurants where you can have lunch and dinner. In this case, the average check is about 300-500 rubles. But be prepared for the fact that due to the lack of high competition, the chefs do not try very hard. But people don’t come to Altai for the delicacies?
