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Starting Grid

Sprint Race 2

Sprint Race 1

Sprint Race 2 Starting Grid

Sprint race 1 starting grid, qualifications 3.

Qualifications 2

Qualifications 1

Second Free Practice

First Free Practice

H2O RACING'S

Carbon neutral strategy.

The UIM F1H2O World Championship is the world’s foremost international series of single-seater inshore circuit powerboat racing.

Highly competitive, intensely challenging, risky and entertaining, inshore circuit powerboat racing is the ultimate adrenalin rush and regarded as one of the most spectacular and exciting sports in the world.

Erik Stark - 4

Ferdinand zandbergen - 12, thani al qamzi - 5, duarte benavente - 10, bartek marszalek - 77, alexandre bourgeot - 74, peter morin - 7, rashed al qemzi - 16, jonas andersson - 1, ben jelf - 9, alberto comparato - 6, filip roms - 18, stefan arand - 2, rusty wyatt - 17, sami selio - 11, cédric deguisne - 73, marit stromoy - 50, ahmad al fahim - 3, brent dillard - 8, team vietnam, victory team, stromoy racing, maverick racing, sharjah team, red devil - smc f1 team, team abu dhabi, china ctic team, f1 atlantic team, n.3 - june 2024.

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A sad day for powerboating

In what turned out to be an emotionally charged UIM F2 Drivers Briefing prior to the final round of the UIM F2 2022 World Championship Pelle Larsson the UIM F2 Race Director announced he was standing down from the role and that he has also decided now was the time to leave the UIM.

In a carefully prepared speech he informed all the drivers and their radio personnel that this would be his last F2 and would leave all his assignments within powerboating in UIM and at national level.

‘Of course, there are several reasons why I have made this decision, but I don’t want to have any bitter taste in my mouth when I’m leaving, but there is one thing that still annoys me, that I want to explain, I think some of you already know or have understood that something was wrong at the beginning of the season.’

I had decided to stop working for UIM back in December 2021. It was about what happen in the two XCat race that happened in Fujairah and Dubai, what was happen there during the race and especially after. That was the moment I lost most of my respect for UIM because a high ranking UIM guy did something he did not have a clue about. Sure, we all make mistake, but we must be able to admit the mistake, and understand that you made mistake, you cannot just go on like nothing happen.’

‘What happened to the Abu Dhabi XCat Team, was for me a total disaster. I was Race Director, but I did not make any decision on this case. They were made over my head, I heard that something was going on, and even today I still don’t know the whole outcome of it. The way one man was acting for those two weeks to me and to the others who were working hard for this sport is not acceptable in my world. I normally leave behind things that happen on race site on my way back home, but this is still stuck with me.’ ‘I want to take this opportunity to apologies to Abu Dhabi, how wrong they were treated and how others team, and the public have treated them after the wrong decisions that come out, and still now no one know exactly what the outcome was, maybe someone should explain?’

‘To make this story short, after these two XCat races I made my decision already in my report, to STOP. The UIM Secretary General Thomas Kurth and I had many conversations about this, but I was clear about my decision. Then we came to February and closer to the F2 season start. It had already started with emails, messenger, and phone calls, teams wondering what was happening with F2 for 2022. Then I start thinking and saying to myself, I do not want to be the bad guy here, leaving F2 so close to the season start, that’s why I decided to stay for 2022. Working with the UIM office, has been perfect, easy to work with them, I have known them for many years, especially Chantal Mercadier, who is Head of the Office there.’

‘On purely a personal level I am also need at home more to take care of my wife; we been married for nearly fort-four years, so it is my duty to be close to Gerd to help care for her while she undergoes treatment for her illness. I will continue my work as General Secretary at the Royal Motor Yacht Club, so I will still be involved with boats, more like pleasure boats though but certainly not as so much as I have put into boat racing since I started way back in 1971.’ ‘I want to take the opportunity to thank you all for all these year in F2 family, you have meant a lot to me, and you have taught me a lot. For sure I going to miss all this.’

‘To be honest I have been mentally training for this moment since February and now it’s time go out and do a great race together, see you soon at prize giving to celebrate the 2022 F2 World Champion.’

The Drivers Briefing concluded with a three-minute standing ovation from the UIM F2 racers and their radio personnel, with several of them coming up to hug Pelle as a sign of their thanks to him.

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Hot of the press. In the weekend of July 21 the UIM F2 World Championship 2017 will take place in Antwerp,  Belgium. We invite all supporters there. Excellent concept: the entrance is free and the arena is in front of the ‘Zuiderterras’, a walking terrace along the river Scheldt. The venue is quite unique, it is located very close to the pictoresk part of Antwerp with lots of restaurants, pubs, shops and the Town Hall. Be there, we will!

2015 F2 Powerboat Tonsberg

THE ANATOMY OF AN F1H2O POWER BOAT -->

F1 H2O boats don’t really look much like boats – in fact, they’re more like an aeroplane with short wings. This is partly because they try to minimise the time they spend in the water. In order to go as fast as possible, they actually prefer to hover just above the surface. To find out more about these amazing machines, let’s take a closer look to Team China’s CTiC machine.

1: Engine: A Mercury V6 two-stroke engine(!) producing 450bhp and going up all the way to 9000 rpm. The whole engine until can swivel up and down, which is called trimming.

2: Transfer case: A gearing system that transfers the engine output to the propeller.

3: The propeller. The propeller is one of the key parts of the boat. Like the tyres on a racing car, it provides traction and propulsion. Various propellers of different sizes, weights and shapes are used in F1H2O. The propeller is chosen based on the conditions and fuel load.

4: Fuel tank: Takes 120 litres of fuel, which is just enough for a 45-minute race.

5: Hull: Every boat as a special carbon fibre hull, made entirely from carbon fibre.

6: Cockpit: Driver’s position. The driver sits in a carbon monocoque style cage which provides impact protection. The driver can ‘trim’ using paddles on the steering wheel and accelerate using a throttle pedal.

7: Airbag and ballast tank: (8) In the event of a crash in which the boat risks ending up face-down in the water, an airbag is deployed forcing the boat back up. A seal opens at the bottom so that the rear end of the boat fills up with water, stabilising it.

9: Oxygen tank: In a worst-case scenario, in which the driver and cabin end up under water, each boat has its own oxygen supply with a mouth piece in the cabin so the driver can breathe while submerged.

10: Steering system: Very precise steering by means of a wire system, controlled by an electrically powered steering system.

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Altai Travel Guide - Known as Russia's Switzerland

Home / Russia Travel Experiences / Altai Travel Guide – Known as Russia’s Switzerland

Welcome to majestic Altai, a land of snow-capped mountains, fascinating nomadic tribes and heart-stopping wilderness adventures. One of the most beautiful and pristine regions in all of Russia, the borders of this wild and untamed domain touch the semi-deserts of Mongolia and the vast Kazakh plains.

Still well off the mainstream travel radar, Altai supports a growing, community-based eco-tourism industry. A veritable paradise for hikers, climbers, rafters and nature photography enthusiasts, Altai’s major drawcard outside of its breathtaking scenery, is the remarkably intact ancient culture of its various indigenous tribes, a few of whom still live a traditional, semi-nomadic lifestyle and practice shamanic religious beliefs.  

The World Heritage-listed Golden Mountains of Altai are a refuge for some of the world’s rarest animal species. In rugged beauty of these stunning ranges, one can hike for days on end in complete solitude. After decades of obscurity, this tremendous region is finally beginning to open up to a new breed of adventure traveller.

Finding practical information on Altai isn’t always easy, so we’ve put together this Altai Travel Guide to help you plan everything from where to go, what to do and when to visit, right down to the practicalities of travelling, trekking and touring in the remote, rarely-visited area. We’ll also provide you with a brief snapshot of the lifestyles and customs of the ethnic Altaians who call the region home, and what you can expect from the local culture and cuisine.

Table of Contents

Why Travel to Altai. Sights to Explore.

The Altai Republic spans some 92,500sqm, straddling the junction of the Russian Siberian taiga, the steppes of Kazakhstan and the semi-deserts of Mongolia. A quarter of Altai is covered in forest, while its rivers, consisting of 20,000 tributaries, wind their way through mountain valleys and gorges northward to the Arctic Ocean. An immense region with an incredible amount to offer, seeing even a fraction of the Altai would take years of hardcore travel! In fact, much of the Altai Republic is still virtually inaccessible to the ordinary tourist.

Thankfully, we’ve come up with an authoritative list of Altai’s most extraordinary destinations and must-dos, and why they should be on any adventure traveller’s bucket list.

The Golden Mountains of Altai

Spanning a staggering total of 1,611,457 hectares, Altai’s mighty mountain range encompasses the Altai and Katun Natural Reserves, Lake Teletskoye and Belukha Mountain. The Golden Mountains are is a UNESCO World Heritage site, forming the major mountain range in Western Siberia and the source of its greatest rivers – the Ob and the Irtysh. The region harbours the most diverse vegetation and microclimatic zones in central Siberia, from steppe to dense mixed forest and high alpine vegetation. The dramatic Altai ranges are home to nearly 700 animal species, including the mountain ram, reindeer and the critically endangered snow leopard.

Belukha Mounta in

The real beauty of the Altai region is Mount Belukha, the highest peak of Siberia and Russia (4,506 m). It is actually 1,000 m higher than the surrounding mountain ridges, and it is one of the most popular attractions in the region among adherents of active tourism. Glaciers cover some 70 square km of its surface, as the mountain lies in a region of year-round snows. Those that have managed to reach Belukha’s ice-covered crest quickly get a sense of the enigmatic and mystical force of the Altai Mountains.

The climbing season usually begins in May and ends in September. In summer the temperature on the top of the mountains is about 6 C° on average.  However, even in summer it can get as cold as −20 C°, whereas in winter it can drop to a frigid −45 C°.

Aktru Glacier

There are nearly 1,500 glaciers in Altai, the result of having survived five different glacial periods. Aktru is the most accessible one. It is one of the most impressive places in the mountains and we highly recommend visiting it if you have more than 5 days at Altai.

The heights start from 1,500m and go up to 3,000m high. At the height of 2,500 m the mountains are covered by snow all year round. Among the main attractions are the “Blue Lake” located on the height of 2,840m and “Teacher’s Saddle”, from where you can have a view on Altay mountains hundreds of kilometres ahead. The path to the “Blue Lake” lies along the glacier itself, so it’s quite an interesting experience: the surface of glacier seems to look like a surface of another planet…

Altai’s lakes, rivers and waterfalls

Lake teletskoye.

Part of the Golden Mountains region, stunning Lake Teletskoye is revered by the local people as Altyn Kol (the Golden Lake). The largest lake in Altai, it is 78km long and 5km wide where it lies between the mountain ridges of Korbu and Al-tyntu. Many locals believe no visitor has truly experienced the true beauty of Altai until they have seen the holy lake with their own eyes.

Watching the sublime scenery pass by on a boat trip is truly marvellous, but the region has, even more, to see on land, with numerous day and overnight hikes to explore. Climbing to the top of Tilant Tuu observation hill rewards with breathtaking views of almost the entire lake, while a day trek to the remote meeting place of Teletskoye and the Tretya River ends in series of cascading miniature waterfalls. The lakeside village of Belyo is home to friendly indigenous inhabitants and is renowned as the warmest place in western Siberia. 

Katun River

Fed by the glaciers at the top of Mt Belukha, the Katun River races through a series of valleys and gorges in the Altai mountain range, before meeting the Biya River at Lake Teletskoye. The two rivers join to form the mighty Ob. Flowing all the way to the Arctic Ocean, the 3,650km long Ob is the world’s seventh longest river. The Katun holds an important place in the spirituality and culture of the Altaians.

Katun and its tributaries, like the Chuya River, are among Russia’s best whitewater rafting destinations, with heart-pumpingly quick rapids and wave trains plunging into tranquil, glassy pools, all surrounded by Altai’s tremendous forest and mountain scenery.

The Blue Geyser Lake

The Blue Geyser lake is located in the Ulagansky district, close to the Aktash village. It descends 2 meters deep and it is roughly 30 meters wide. Its enchanting blue hues are a result of the thermal springs which simmer beneath the surface, forcing a sand-clay debris to the top.

As their form changes with the geyser, they can often be seen ‘dancing’ as they create new patterns in the lake. The lake itself is almost transparent, and its crystal clear surface is unwavering as it does not freeze even during the winter months. Staring into the heart of the lake, you can observe moss and sea grass swaying in motion with the thermal bubbles, almost as though the lake were breathing.

Seven Lakes Valley

In the shadow of Mount Ak Oyuk (3,670m) lay the impressive Ak Ouk Valley, home of the seven lakes – a picturesque landscape of mountain streams, pooling glacial runoff and mountain lakes. Each lake has its own unique charm and colour, characterised by the stones which line the bottom. Your visit to the seven lakes valley will be marked by wonderful hues of aquamarine, turquoise and piercing clear blue water.

Merging of Katun and Chuya Rivers

There is a place in Altai, where two majestic rivers Chuya and Katun merge, creating beautiful scenery. From ancient times the confluence of this two rivers is seen as sacred and respected place in Altai. This place even got its own name – “Chui-Oozy”, which is translated from the Altai “mouth of the Chuya River”.

Uchar Waterfall

There are several stunning waterfalls in the region such as the Korbu, Kamyshlinksy and Tekelyu, but Uchar is one of the most spectacular of them all. The Uchar waterfall is located on the Chulcha river and is the largest waterfall in the Altai region, with a stream fall of 160 meters. The waterfall itself is relatively young, having evolved about 100- 150 years ago.

The name, ‘Uchar’ is roughly translated to mean ‘inaccessible’, and this reflects the slightly difficult trail that one must traverse in order to glimpse its majesty. The path itself follows the valley to the waterfall, hugging the mouth of the Chulcha river. One of the easier ways to reach this monolith is by taking a boat from the top of Lake Teletskoye and across the water at Artybash village before following the road to the mouth of the river. The path requires river crossing and the navigation of boulders, so it is best done with a guide.

Pristine Landscapes of Altai

Kyzyl chin – the rainbow mountains.

The Rainbow Mountains of Altai, or Kyzyl- Chin are a range of rolling hills, dowsed in hues of orange, burgundy, mustard and white.

Their majestic colour display is a result of different layers of coloured clay which is abundant in the soil of this region, and which gives it a Mars-like appearance. This area is also thought to have once been a sea, and so it is common to find fossils and ammonites throughout the terrain.

Stone Mushrooms at Akkurum

Emerging from 2 to 7 meters high from the mountainside like enokitake, these outcrops of stone have been weathered into mushroom-like stone figures. Age is also vary from tens to hundred years. The most amazing thing that it continue to grow. The reason is specific soil consisting clay and gravel. It has strong dry state condition, but it is destroyed by influence of moisture and carried away by torrential streams.

These fascinating natural carvings can be found on the banks of the Chulyshman River. You need to cross the river and climb the trail that runs along a steep slope to reach the two large «spawn». Trip takes 2-3 hours depends on skill level. It should be noted that the best time for photo of stone «mushrooms» is no later than 7.00 am, because mushrooms are in the shadow almost all day.

Katu- Yaryk Pass

There are some outstanding vistas throughout the Altai region, but one of the best views comes from traversing the Katu-Yaryk pass . At 1,188m above sea level, it is one of the scariest high mountain passes in the world due to its loose gravel terrain, narrow roads and lack of barriers. If you’re brave enough to navigate the side of this cliff, you’ll be welcomed by exquisite views from the Chulyshman valley.

Chuisky Highway – Siberia’s Silk Road

The Chuysky Trakt (also known as the Chuya Highway) is the main highway in the Republic of Altai, connecting Russia to the Mongolian border. This long, lonely road begins in Novosibirsk and traverses along almost the entire length of the Altai mountain range, extending 962km in total. Completely paved, the Chuysky Trakt is unquestionably the most scenically stunning road in Siberia. Many experienced overland travellers consider Chuysky to be among the most beautiful asphalt roads in the world.

Karakol Valley

This stunning valley is one of the highlights of the Golden Mountain region. With a glacial river running through its herb and wildflower-covered meadows, stands of spruce and fir trees sprout from the steep slopes, while snow-covered peaks loom large in the distance. The area is home to a handful of small indigenous villages, and tourism in the valley, a designated National Park, is carefully managed by the local people.

A small ski base operates in winter, while spring and summer is prime hiking and camping season. The Karakol is an important archaeological site, with many ancient burial grounds and shamanic rock paintings having been found in the valley’s foothills.

Saylyugemsky National Park

Situated at a crossroads in the Altai mountains, where the borders of Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia meet, Saylyugemsky is where the mountains, the steppe, the forest and the desert converge. Due to its remoteness, Saylyugemsky is a critical habitat for one of the most endangered animals in the world – the snow leopard. The hiking trails within this little-visited are challenging, but the rewards are truly extraordinary – breathtaking views over surreal high altitude desert landscapes, rivers and prairies, ice caps and glacial valleys. 

Ukok Plateau

Mysterious and still largely unexplored, this is the most remote and isolated part of the Altai Mountains. The Plateau lies at the heart of the Eurasian continent, almost equidistant to the four oceans of the world. Home to rare animals such as argali sheep, black stork, steppe eagle, and that most elusive of all predators, the snow leopard, while few outsiders have set foot on the Ukok Plateau, others have lived here for generations.

Scattered among Ukok’s cosmically silent grasslands are the yurt camps of the Altai Kazakh and Telengit nomads. Even before them, Scythian tribes made their mark here, leaving burial mounds, rock carvings and stone sculptures littered throughout the region. One of the most important archaeological finds in Russia was the 5th-century mummy, the ‘Siberian Ice Maiden’, unearthed here in 1983 and now housed in the Republican National Museum in Gorno-Altaisk. 

Chemal (population 4,000) is the capital of Chemalsky district. The region has the most developed tourist infrastructure of anywhere in Altai, with health resorts taking up prime spots on the banks of the Chemal and Katun rivers, a smattering of hotels, hostels and campsites. Much of the tourism in Chemal revolves around the Varota Sartikpayev Gorge, home of the old Chemal Hydroelectric Power Station. Bungee jumping is offered off the bridge above the hydro dam. Rafting and ziplining are also popular in summer.

If you’ve come to Altai for peace and isolation, escape the tourist crowds of Chemal town and explore Chemalysky’s outlying villages, bucolic, rural paradises where shamanism is still central to the people’s beliefs and spiritual practices.

What to do in Altai

Hiking and trekking.

The Altai Mountains are sacred ground for passionate hikers, taking trekkers deep into one of the world’s last untouched wilderness regions. The scenery here is some of the most captivating on earth – evergreen forests, creeks and waterfalls, rivers rushing through narrow gorges, mirror-surfaced lakes and snow-capped peaks. To truly appreciate Altai’s incredibly varied landscapes and increase your chances of spotting wildlife such as argali mountain sheep, ibex, musk deer and lynx, you’ll want to trek for several days, camping close to water sources along the way.

Trekking tourism is relatively new to Altai – trails aren’t always well marked (if at all) and good maps are hard to come by. Going with a tour or accompanied by a local guide is strongly recommended.

Horse Riding

The horse is an integral part of the culture of many of Altai’s indigenous people. Nomads learn to ride horses as soon as they learn to walk. Altai’s horsemen are famed far and wide, and Altai breed horses legendary for their strength and reliability, so it’s no surprise that there are many who believe the best way to experience the region’s wilderness is on horseback.

A multi-day horse riding trek will pass by crystalline rivers cutting through lush alpine meadows, dense forests, wide-open plains, wind-swept high steppe and dramatic mountain passes.  Horse riding safaris provide a unique opportunity to interact with local cultures and experience an extraordinarily diverse array of landscapes.

Whitewater Rafting and Kayaking in Altai

The Altai Republic is Russia’s ultimate whitewater rafting and kayaking wonderland. The Katun River and its tributaries, like the Chuya River, alternately gush through wide valleys and squeeze their way through narrow canyons, creating the perfect conditions for whitewater adventuring.

The Katun has rapids of all grades, allowing amateurs to enjoy short sessions in the gentler sections, as well as offering challenging, multi-day expeditions for extreme rafting enthusiasts. The annual Chuya Rally, which first kicked off in 1989, was the world’s first international rafting competition. Every year around June, the quiet, rural Chibit region in Altai becomes one of the world’s adventure capitals, as the competition attracts top rafters from around the globe.  

Skiing and Winter Sports

With perfect winter conditions for skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing, the rapidly expanding settlement of Belokurikha, practically unknown until the end of the Soviet era, has become one of Siberia’s premier winter sports destinations. As an added bonus, unlike gloomy weather you might associate with Siberia throughout most of the year, Belokurikha enjoys sunshine roughly 260 days a year.

Today there are around 20 resorts and hotels in the picturesque Belokurikha River Valley, as well as a growing number of the health spa, restaurants and nightlife venues. A variety of trails are on offer for beginners through to hardcore enthusiasts. On every visitor’s must-do list is the climb to the peak of Mount Tserkovka. A 25-minute cable car ride takes you to the summit, and from the top it’s an adrenaline-pumping ski all the way down the 2,600m long slope – the longest run in the area by far.

The two other main slopes are Katun, which is split into two parts with two cable lifts in operation. At the top of Katun is another lift that ferries skiers up to Severny, a narrower, faster and much more challenging trail.

Photography in Altai

The Altai Mountains have a kind of wild beauty that seems almost impossible to comprehend. Mighty mountain ranges piercing through the clouds, tumbling gorges, verdant valleys crisscrossed by glacier-fed streams and alpine forests shrouded in mist.

Altai is full of landscapes so extraordinary they seem like scenes from a fantasy, a mythical otherworld. And with so few outsiders visiting this region, they may as well be. For landscape photographers, Altai is a lost paradise, a dreamscape where few have pointed their lenses before. Take a roadtrip along the Chusky Trakt and Katu-Yaryk Pass and the photo opportunities from the high altitude viewpoints are staggering.

Cultural Immersion

For generations, the inhabitants of the Altai Republic lived in almost complete isolation, continuing to practice their semi-nomadic lifestyles, cultural traditions and religious customs with little influence from the outside world. While the republic today is also home to many people of ethnic Russian ancestry, over a third of the population are indigenous speakers of the Altaian language.

The People of Altai – Culture and Cuisine

The one million square mile Altai-Sayan Ecoregion (designated by the World Wildlife Fund, and including small areas of China, Kazakhstan and Mongolia) is home to 5 million people, speaking 40 languages. The indigenous population are known collectively as the Altaians, descendants of the Turkic tribes with ancient cultural links to the Mongols.

Among the Altaians are various clans or tribes, with their own unique traditions and cultural practices. Some of the main groups are the Tubalar, Chelkans and Kumandin of Northern Altai, and the Altai-Kizhi, Teleut, Teles and Telengit of Southern Altai. Each tribe speaks its own dialect of the Altai language. Today, indigenous Altaians make up about 34% of the Altai Republics total population of 206,000. Around 57% of the population are ethnic Russians, while the other major ethnic group, the Kazakhs, account for just over 6% of the population.

While at one time, most Altai people lived nomadic and semi-nomadic lifestyles, relying on horses and the building of mobile yurts to move around the mountainous terrain, today many Altaians prefer to live in spacious ails (six-sided conical huts) within permanent rural settlements. Many indigenous Altaian villages can be found in the fertile valleys near the Katun River and its tributaries. with attached summer kitchens used for drying cheese, meat and preparing drinks such as chegan (a lightly fizzy yoghurt-based drink) and a mild, milky alcoholic spirit known as archaka .

Religion and traditions of Altai people

Altaians have traditionally practised native religions based on shamanism, as well as Buddhism and Burkhanism or Ak Jang (“White Faith”), a newer religious movement that began to flourish among Altaians communities beginning in the early 1900s. Burkanists belong to family clans that revere their own totem plants and animals. The Burkanists pray to a variety of spirits, including legendary figures from traditional oral epics, which are recounted to this day in lengthy and complex performances by masterful throat singers. Like Burkanism, Altai shamanism survives largely through oral tradition. Without written prayers and canonical texts outlining principles, declarations, rules and commandments, religious practices and beliefs are passed on through oral teachings, visual symbolism, ritual and ceremony.

Altai also harbours a small community of ethnic Russian Old Believers in the Uymon valley, near Lake Multinsky. Uymon village was founded by the Old Believers 300 years ago as a place where they could continue to practice as Orthodox Christians without persecution from the Russian Imperials, and later the Soviets. The village’s Museum of the Old Believers is dedicated to preserving the stories of these proud and resilient survivors.

Many indigenous Altaian settlements and nomadic camps can be found in the fertile valleys near the Katun River and its tributaries. In recent years, certain villages have begun to open their doors to respectful, responsible tourism on their lands. Tours focusing on cultural immersion often visit villages, providing foreign guests with an intimate insight into the lifestyles and customs of today’s Altaians. You may be given the chance to sample home-cooked Altai cuisine, witness a traditional throat singing performance and even meet with a village shaman.

At certain times of the year, travellers with an interest in traditional nomadic culture can arrange to spend up to week travelling with the nomadic Telengites. With only 2,400 remaining, they are one of the smallest indigenous groups in Russia.

Altai Kaichi and Throat Singing                 

Among the most famous ancestral traditions known among the Altai is throat singing. The style of throat singing or ‘overtone singing’, (as it sounds as though the vocalist is singing two notes in separate frequencies at the same time) performed in Altai is unique to certain cultures in Siberia and Mongolia.

Storytellers, known as kaichi, perform folk stories and heroic epics, passed down by the generations, through the medium of throat singing. Sometimes they are accompanied by music on the tapsure, a two-stringed instrument. If you are lucky enough to spend time with friendly Altaian community, do not miss the chance to folk

Altai Cuisine

As a historically nomadic, herding culture, Altai cuisine is based largely on meat and milk. Yaks, as well as cattle, goat and horse provide the primary sources of meat and dairy. Other foods, such as pine nuts, mushrooms and honey, are foraged from the woods in season.

Milk is used to make drinks such as chegen (a lightly fizzy yoghurt-based drink) and a mild, milky alcoholic spirit known as archaka ). Cheese, called kurut is made from chegen . Smoked over wood on an open fire, kurut is a very hard cheese with a strong and salty flavour and can last for very long time.  

Some popular meat dishes you’re likely to come across in cafes and restaurants include:

• Byyr – barbecued meat (usually mutton liver), prepared shashlik-style on wooden skewers and cooked vertically beside an open fire
• Kerzen – another style of barbecue using large, diced pieces of mutton meat
• Miun – Meat cooked on the bone on an open fire until is soft and tender, served in a broth with carrots and onions

Another staple is kocho , or Altai barley soup. This soup is made from a meat broth of lam, horse or beef on the bone. Altai cuisine tends to be simple but hearty, using few spices and seasonings. For kocho , usually only salt and dried wild onion are added to the broth for extra flavour, followed by barley grains, which give the soup its thick and creamy texture, perfect for warming the stomach in the winter months.

Festivals and Events in Altai

The Altai are primarily a cattle-herding people, so unsurprisingly, some of their most important national holidays are closely tied to the farming calendar. The Altaians also celebrate a number of religious holidays. Traditionally, the Altai people held strong beliefs in shamanism, and followed animistic beliefs which perceive that all of nature – animals, plants, rocks, rivers and mountains – are alive and interconnected, and that every season and natural phenomenon posses a spirit. Religious events among the Altai are usually connected to the worship of these spirits.

Two of the most significant events on the Altai calendar are tazhyl byur and saary byur , transitory times between the seasons when nomadic tribes would shift from one pasture to another. In June, the appearance of a full moon symbolises the start of summer and the tazhtl byur (green leaves) festival, a time to give thanks to the season’s blessings and the emergence of new pastures for their grazing cattle herds. Other festivals are devoted to autumn and the riches foraged from the taiga forests, while chagan bayram (‘White Holiday”), held in February is celebrated as the beginning of the New Year according to the lunar calendar.

Religious festivals tend to be family and community affairs, and each community. Since the Altai Republic has become more open and accessible to outsiders, a number of traditional festivals have evolved into more extravagant events, often involving large gatherings from different communities and a welcoming attitude to visitors.

Held over three days, El Oyin is Altai’s national festival and a celebration of the Altaian people’s nomadic culture. events are held around Altai, but most of the action takes place in a picturesque valley near the village of Elo in central Altai’s Ongudaysky District. The valley becomes an enchanting open-air stage, with music, dancing and theatrical performances by epic storytellers and master of throat singing. The event has grown over the years, with foreign visitors among a contingent of at least 20,000 spectators, regaled with costume parades, yurt building competitions, horse racing, rodeo wrangling, wrestling and archery contests. The atmosphere is joyous and proud and gives outsiders a rare opportunity to interact with people from various Altaian communities. Participants come from all across Altai, dressed in traditional ceremonial garb. By keeping their historical customs and traditions alive through an annual celebration, El Oyin helps to ensure Altaian identity remains strong in the hearts and minds of the next generations.

When to go to Altai

The Altai Republic has three main climatic zones – warm and humid continental, subarctic and cold semi-arid, making it essentially a year-round destination.

A decision on when to go to Altai should be made depending on what you want to do there. Altai’s climate is known to be quite harsh. This region is famous for long frosty winters, and hot but short summers. But even in summer, the temperature may go down, so it’s crucial to have some warm clothes with you. Tourist season is in the full swing there usually in summer, and there’s no wonder: it’s the perfect time for people who would like to be involved in many different activities.

Generally, Summer starts at the end of May-June and finishes in September. During that time it’s quite warm during the daytime (about + 20- 25 Celsius) and cool in the night (about +5-10 Celcius). During June and July, there may be quite a few rains, but August and September are the sunniest months (more than 60% of the time there’s no rain at all). In Summer, the snow is left only on the heights of 2,600m and higher and the winds in the valleys are not very strong. So the best months for travelling at Altai in Summer are July, August, and the first half of September.

Winter in Altai starts in October-November. That’s when it starts snowing and the mountains are covering by snow from top to bottom. The best months for travelling in winter are November and December. During that time, there’s mostly good weather and not very cold. The coldest months are January and February. The average temperature goes down to -15-20 Celcius. After that, in February and March, the weather is quite nice again. There are a lot of activities you may enjoy during this time, like skiing, snowmobiling, dog sledding , wildlife watching, and even swimming in frozen lakes.

The snow usually starts to disappear in the first half of May, so it is a beautiful Springtime in Altai at this period. During May, the Altai Mountains turn into a huge flowering glade and start blazing purple. This Rhododendron (also called Maralnik by locals) blooming period is the main event of spring in the Altai mountains; this insanely beautiful sight attracts many travellers from all around the globe – the sort of the Siberian equivalent of Japan’s cherry blossom festival! Local people believe that if Maralnik has blossomed, then spring has finally entered into its rightful stage.

Autumn is a shoulder season in Altai, and less visited as Summer or Winter, however, it’s one of the best times to come for the landscape photography experience. You’ll be given ample opportunity to snap stunning landscape photos of Altai at its very best. Contrasting colours are everywhere – red canyons, silver mountains, white glaciers, yellow grasslands, azure lakes, amber larch trees and evergreen cedar.

Transport in Altai – Getting There and Around

How to get to altai.

There are a handful of convenient options for reaching the Altai Mountains by air. From Moscow, you can take a direct flight to Gorno-Altaysk, the capital of the Altai Republic. S7 Airlines runs about two flights a week (check the schedule for seasonal changes to the timetable) with a flight time of about 4 hours.

Flights also operate several times a week from Moscow to Barnaul (just over 4 hours flight time). Larger, livelier and more developed that Gorno-Altaisk, it’s located further from the Altai Mountains, which makes this city second-popular after Gorno-Altaysk.

Although not part of the Altai Republic, lying 447km from the Altai capital of Gorno-Altaisk, Novosibirsk is one the most popular jumping-off points for trips into Altai. As the largest city in Siberia, Novosibirsk is well serviced by air, with daily flights to and from all the major Russian cities and some international flights from Frankfurts, Hannover, Beijing, Seoul and Tel Aviv.

You can also reach the Altai region travelling part of the way on the historic Trans-Siberian Railway . This is a rather more comfortable way to reach Altai by rail, and of course the Trans-Siberian is an incredible overland travel experience in itself.

You can board the Trans-Siberian at Moscow or another stop along the western part of the railway. To continue on to Altai, you’ll be taking the Trans-Siberian as far as Novosibirsk (a 2-day journey from Moscow). From Novosibirsk’s Main Station, you can catch a train on the 601H Route south into Altai. Expect to reach Barnaul (228km from Novosibirsk) in just under 10 hours.

From Novosibirsk or Barnaul, the cheapest way to get into Gorno-Altaysk is by bus. There are around 4 to 5 trips per day from Novosibirsk, while buses depart from Baurnal roughly every 2 hours.

Accommodation in Altai

With tourism still very much a developing industry in Altai, in many parts of the region, accommodation standards are still fairly basic. In larger towns like Gorno-Altaisk, Barnaul and Chemal, tourism is increasingly making an impact on the local economy. New hotels and resorts are springing up year after year, although the market still caters mainly to domestic Russian tourists. Comfortable lodgings and some luxury accommodation can easily be found in the main tourist areas. In the remote areas, the travelers stay in the nomad yurts or campsites.

Campsites in Altai

Hiking and other outdoor activities in the Altai Mountains are by far the region’s biggest drawcards. To accommodate tourists on multi-day, outdoor expeditions, a number of private campsites, rest bases and simple guesthouses have sprung up, particularly in the northern part of the Altai Mountains, where the warmer climate attracts the largest numbers of hikers and trekking groups.

Campsites are mainly concentrated around:

• The northern shores of Lake Teletskoye (close to Artybash village)
• Several sites along the Katun River, easily accessible from the Chuysky Highway which runs parallel to the river
• Continuing south along the Katun to the Chemal tributary, a collection of riverside campsites are concentrated mainly in and around Chemal village

Below are some great options, from luxury hotels to camping grounds in Altai:

• Altay Resort (Urlu-Aspak village)
• Altika eco-hotel (Chyuisky Tract, Ust-Muny village)
• Altay Village (Teletskoye Lake, Artybash)
• Aitau Sporting Hotel (Chemal)
• Green Landia (Manzherok)
• Urochische Aktra (Teletskoye Lake, Artybash)
• Les i More glamping (Kosh-Agach)
• Nikolskaya Deer Farm (Nikolskoye village)
• Tayozhnik tourist complex (Manzherok)
• Klever Resort (Chemal)

Tours in Altai          

International tourism is still young in the Altai Republic. Even compared to other areas in Siberia, Altai is still very much a frontier destination, although a few places, like Chemal, have seen significant development in recent years. Still, most of this vast, mountainous region consists of wilderness and small, isolated settlements, making getting around as a traveller challenging.

Most visitors to the Altai arrive on pre-arranged tours , either in groups or with a private tour guide and driver. If you’re planning on a multi-day hiking or rafting expedition anywhere in Altai, a guide should be considered essential. We hope you enjoyed this Altai Travel Guide.

56 th Parallel will soon be running small group tours to the Altai Republic. Private tours that cater to your interests can be arranged at any time, on request.

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Altai Republic (Russia) Travel Guide: A Journey through Twisting Mountain Roads

• December 13, 2023

Altai: Land of Shamanic Traditions and Otherworldly Scenery, Complemented by First-Rate Tourist Amenities

Popular ski resorts and rugged nature reserves, where few human feet have trodden — all this is the Altai Republic at once. In 2020, the region was visited by 2 million tourists — twice as many as the year before. But at the same time, untouched nature has been preserved here. We tell you where the most picturesque landscapes and unique archaeological sites are located, when and where you can see the mummy of the Altai princess, and how to reach the remote lakes where the Old Believers hid from persecution.

How often do tourists encounter bears — and who is much more dangerous than these animals? How to plan a trip and what customs and traditions of the Altai people should be remembered so as not to offend anyone? Where to stay and what to bring back from the trip? And what to pay attention to when traveling on one of the most beautiful highways in the world — the Chui Tract — and beyond its borders.

In Russia, there is the Altai Krai and the Altai Republic — these are two different regions. The Krai is located to the north, and its landscapes are mostly fields and steppes. The Republic is to the south — it is mountains and taiga, sometimes also called the Mountain Altai.

Table of Contents

Gorno-Altaysk is the capital of the republic and its only city

All the main attractions of Gorno-Altaysk can be explored in a day. The city won’t astonish you with beautiful architecture, but it’s cozy: there are many pleasant parks and squares. Founded in 1830, Gorno-Altaysk grew from a small settlement of the indigenous Teleut people. However, the first humans lived here over a million years ago: the site of the city was one of the oldest settlements of primitive man in Eastern Asia — the Ulalinka Site.

All the most interesting antiquities are gathered in the National Museum . It is a must-visit to better understand not only Altaian traditions but also East Asian culture as a whole. Altai is the ancestral home of the Scythians and Turkic peoples (Altaians, Turks, Kazakhs, and many others). In 552 AD, the ancient Turks created a state — the khanate, and here the Turkic script originated, with the Altai Mountains being a part of the Great Silk Road.

In 2012, the museum underwent a major reconstruction and is now modern and accessible — equipped with ramps and an elevator. The collection includes archaeological finds from frozen burial mounds, deer stones , statues, runic inscriptions from the Turkic period, and shamanic attributes — in a couple of hours, you can visualize all the main stages of the ancient history of the Altai Mountains.

Visitors often come to the museum specifically to see the mummy of the Ukok Princess — for whom a separate hall was built. In 1993, on the Ukok Plateau in the Ak-Alakha River valley, archaeologists excavated a burial site dating back to the 5th–3rd centuries BCE. In the tomb, a Scythian woman lay in a sleeping position with six horses. The perpetual permafrost preserved her numerous tattoos and clothing: a silk blouse, a woolen skirt, felt stockings, and a fur coat. Her head was adorned with a complex hairstyle nearly a meter high — made of hair, wool, felt, fabric, leather, and carved ornaments. Scientists took the mummy to the Novosibirsk Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography. Later, it was established that the woman died at 25 from breast cancer.

Ten years later, a devastating ten-point earthquake occurred in the Kosh-Agach region, the consequences of which are still seen as fractures and cracks in the ground. Religious people took this as a sign: the Ukok Princess was angered and wanted to return home. Some believed it was enough to bring her back to Altai, while others insisted that her body should be reburied. Eventually, in 2012, the mummy was brought to the Gorno-Altaysk National Museum.

But the disputes did not end there. In 2014, a severe flood hit the Altai Mountains, destroying hundreds of homes. Two months later, a major hailstorm with hailstones the size of chicken eggs shattered windows and slate roofs, destroyed gardens, left dents in cars, and felled trees. A couple of weeks later, the Council of Elders of the Altai Republic decided to bury the princess, and their decision was approved by the head of the region. In 2015, representatives of the Turkic Spiritual Center filed a lawsuit in the city court for the return of the princess to the Ukok Plateau, but were denied. The court justified this by stating that burial would lead to the loss of a scientific and cultural object.

As a compromise, the museum management devised a schedule for displaying the Ukok Princess. You can only see her during the waxing moon, not any day as before. In traditional Altaian culture, this is the best time for public and family events, religious and ritual ceremonies, and important beginnings. The museum’s website publishes a schedule with possible visiting dates. An adult ticket costs 250 rubles (2.45 euros), a family ticket (two adults and no more than three children from seven to 16 years old) — 450 rubles (4.40 euros).

The permanent exhibition of the museum features paintings by the main Altai artist Grigory Choros-Gurkin, a student of Ivan Shishkin. In Altai, Grigory Ivanovich is loved not only for his talented epic landscapes but also for his active public work. In 1937, the artist was falsely accused and executed in the NKVD prisons. Today, a street where the museum is located is named after the painter, and the name could have been given to the airport. In 2018, the Public Chamber proposed to name 47 Russian airports after distinguished compatriots, and online voting was conducted nationwide. Most residents of the Altai Republic chose Choros-Gurkin, but followers of Nikolai Roerich from other regions also joined the voting — the traveler visited Altai in 1926 during his Asian expedition and was also included in the list. Eventually, Roerich won by a small margin, which upset the locals so much that they decided not to name the airport after anyone.

The play ‘The Ascent to Khan Altai’ by Andrey Borisov, about the life of Gurkin, is usually one of the most popular productions in the drama theater. From the theater, you can walk to the city park and the ‘Blue Altai’ cinema. There are no particular entertainments here, but it’s a nice place for a walk: the building stands near a small lake, and almost from there starts the promenade of the Maima River. Along the bank, there’s a boulevard with gazebos and a bridge leading to the foot of Komsomolka.

Opposite is Mount Tugaya, which is great for hiking. To reach the observation deck, one must climb 750 stone steps. From this point, the entire Gorno-Altaysk is visible. Next to the mountain, there’s a stadium and a spring, adorned with marble statues of fairy tale heroes — Yrystu and Alyonushka. Sometimes there’s even a queue for the water.

Just a couple of minutes’ walk from the spring is the ‘Enchi’ ethnogallery in the printing house building. On the second floor, paintings by local artists, felt, cedar, stone, and clay souvenirs, musical instruments are sold, and you can try on national clothing. On the first floor, there’s the ‘ Typografia’ restaurant (35 Kommunisticheskiy Avenue), serving Altai cuisine: meat snacks, which are various types of boiled meat with onions; ostrich fern, which tastes like mushrooms when cooked; grayling, the most common fish in the Altai Mountains. Altaians, being former nomads, predominantly prepare dishes from meat and milk. The average bill is 500 rubles (4.89 euros), and local dishes should be ordered in advance, as 90% of the menu is European cuisine. In the ‘City’ cafe-bar (26/1 Chaptynova Street), you can try burgers with maral meat — Altai deer (450 rubles (4.40 euros)) and lamb dishes (about 500 rubles (4.89 euros)). There are a few other local dishes typically eaten in Altai. Chegen is a sour milk drink similar to kefir or ayran; boorsoki are small doughnuts fried in deep oil; Altai flatbread made from dough; talkan — ground barley grains added to tea or water with salt and butter; chokchok — a dessert made of talkan and honey; kurut — dry cheese.

The Chui Tract – one of the most beautiful roads in Russia

The road to many attractions passes along the Chui Tract. Meandering rivers along the tract, mountain gorges, green valleys, and steppes will alternate with each other. All the main natural monuments seem to be strung along this road.

In the Russian Empire, a ‘tract’ was a term used for an improved dirt road or, in general, a major well-traveled route connecting important settlements. But today in Siberia and the Urals, some roads continue to be called ‘tracts,’ mainly historical ones.

The site of the modern Chui Tract was once the Mungal Tract, references to which can be found in Chinese chronicles dating back a millennium. By the mid-18th century, it was a trade route with Mongolia, consisting of a narrow pack trail winding among passes and ridges. In 1914, the road began to be widened and improved for vehicle travel.

The Chui Tract is a federal road, and its condition is noticeably better than that of regional routes. For example, the Teletskoye Tract is also very beautiful, but its surface is significantly worse. The road from Aktash to Ulagan to Balyktyul is a dirt road that occasionally turns into asphalt.

Manzherok — a bike park in summer, a ski resort in winter, and a cable car operating year-round

The village has many comfortable tourist bases, hotels, and campgrounds — and therefore, it’s always full of tourists. In summer, people come here to ascend to the observation deck on Mount Malaya Sinyukha (1020 meters) via the gondola cable car. On weekdays, an adult ticket costs 500 rubles (4.89 euros), on weekends and holidays — 600 rubles (5.87 euros), and guests staying at hotels on the resort territory receive one trip as a gift. From the top, there are views of the Katun River and Manzherok Lake — it’s warm enough, and people even swim in it in summer. The rarefied air tints the mountains in a bluish shade, which is why Sinyukha got its name.

At the top, there’s a café with a standard selection of sandwiches, pastries, drinks, and souvenirs. You can also paraglide with an instructor — 10–15 minutes in the air cost 5000 rubles (48.93 euros), including photos and videos of the flight.

Bike rental ranges from 300 to 5000 rubles (2.94 – 48.93 euros) per hour, depending on the specifications. ‘Manzherok Bike Park’ is the first professional bike park beyond the Urals with four tracks of varying difficulty. The ‘Green’ track is for beginner riders, with a length of 1850 meters, starting from the middle station of the cable car. The ‘Blue’ track has a low level of difficulty, a wide and smooth 1700-meter-long route, also starting from the middle station, featuring jumps and simple turns. The ‘Red’ track, with a medium level of difficulty, includes two routes of 700 meters each and one of 3000 meters, with steep descents and sheer sections. And the most challenging one is the ‘Black’ track.

The park also has a 4.5-kilometer walking trail, a wooden extreme park, and a dirt pump track.

On the mountain, there’s a shaman’s hut, where from time to time one can meet a shaman (usually during the waxing moon). This is specially designed for tourists and is more of an educational and entertainment format. Normally, folk healers are not very public people, they live the same life as everyone else, and in a crowd, they are indistinguishable from ordinary passersby. Locals find them through recommendations from acquaintances. Agencies often offer various tours under the name ‘Trip to a Shaman’. But whether there will be a real shaman at this meeting is unknown.

In winter, six ski runs of varying difficulty levels open on Malaya Sinyukha. There is a separate slope for beginners, and instructors are available to teach — a one-time lesson costs from 1800 rubles (17.62 euros) per hour. For children with special needs — cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, hearing and vision impairments — specially qualified instructors conduct the lessons. They teach rollerblading in summer and skiing in winter — from 1200 rubles (11.74 euros) per hour.

Chemal — an abandoned hydroelectric station, rafting, and views from Mount Camel

It is believed that Chemal is the warmest village in all of Siberia. It has a mild climate, and there are many sunny days throughout the year — averaging 20 per month in summer. The area is known for its gardens, such as the popular ‘Peony Garden’ ecopark . The park features a guest house, a restaurant with tasty pizza (average check 700–800 rubles (6.85 – 7.83 euros)), and a nursery for ornamental plants.

Patmos and Chemal Hydroelectric Station. Altai has its own Patmos. But here, it is a very small islet — a rock with sheer walls in the middle of the Katun River, accessible by a suspension bridge. It was named after a monastery built in the 19th century. During the Soviet era, the hermitage was destroyed. In 2001, a church of John the Theologian was built on its site.

From the bridge towards the hydroelectric station runs a one-and-a-half-kilometer goat trail, in places with wooden or stone steps and railings, and in others, it’s made of clay soil. It’s better to walk here in clear weather — it’s not very safe in the rain. The trail leads to the Chemal Hydroelectric Station by a challenging but short route. This is not the only way — you can bypass the forest and Mount Beshpek via Sadovaya Street. The hydroelectric station was built in the 1930s, but today it is not operational. Various extreme attractions, rafting, and souvenir shops are located on its territory.

The most interesting souvenirs are sold in Askat — a village of artisans in the Chemal district. A clearing with workshops is located at the entrance, where you can also watch the local craftsmen at work. In the village itself, there is a linen shop and the Golovan’ master’s estate. About a kilometer upstream of Askatka is the Silver Spring — the stream’s waters are rich in silver.

Camel. A mountain with a height of 927 meters on the southeastern outskirts of Chemal, near the hydroelectric station. A well-trodden trail leads to the top, which is clearly visible even from afar. No special preparation is needed to get there, and the views of the surroundings are magnificent.

Rafting. The Katun River in the Chemal and Manzherok areas is suitable for beginner rafting. Many popular and uncomplicated routes start on the shore near Patmos or the Turquoise Katun. A three-hour rafting trip with all equipment will cost about 800 rubles (7.83 euros). Rafting on the Chemal River is a bit more challenging and costs around 1500 rubles (14.68 euros).

Karakol Lakes. From the village of Elekmonar (eight kilometers from Chemal), you can go trekking to the Karakol Lakes. Suitable for those who don’t travel further along the Chui Tract but want to see mountain landscapes. The main advantage is accessibility — almost to the lakes, ZIL trucks go, and the last part of the route can be walked or reached by a more passable GAZ-66 vehicle or on horseback. Commercial tours usually take a whole day. If you want to stay in a tent or spend a day or two at a recreational base, you can organize the trip independently, paying separately for transportation to and from each side, or walk the entire way.

In the Karakol Valley, there are many sacred places for the Altai people: the Bashadar burial grounds with sacrificial layouts, the Nizhnee Sooru site, where, according to legends, evil spirits dwell. On the left bank of the Karakol River, on the Bichiktu-Bom mountain, you can see petroglyphs from different eras. Another sacred place is Lake Arygem with its pure spring water and the Arzhun-Suu mineral spring.

On the way to Aktash — passes, ancient petroglyphs, and high-altitude lakes

Aktash is a village from which it is convenient to reach attractions towards Ulagan and Kosh-Agach. Along the way, there are many picturesque landscapes: you will have to overcome two passes — Seminsky and Chike-Taman and you can see the confluence of the Chuya and Katun rivers.

Seminsky Pass (1717 meters). Located at the 583rd kilometer of the Chui Tract. The ascent from the northern side stretches for nine kilometers, the descent to the southern side — 11 kilometers. Over this short distance, several vegetation zones will change: steppe-forest, forest, and high-mountain. There is an observation deck at the top where you can eat and buy souvenirs.

Tavdinsky Caves. A complex of 30 caves represents a kind of prototype of a multi-apartment building. People lived in these caves for several centuries: during excavations, artifacts from the early Iron and Bronze Ages were found.

The Barangol Necropolis consists of kurgans of the Pazyryk culture, which are scattered on both sides of the Chui Tract. Between the villages of Barangol and Ust-Sema, there is a six-meter Kamyshlinsky Waterfall with two drops.

Chike-Taman Pass (1460 meters). The road to the pass winds up endless twists of serpentine, and at the top, there is an observation deck with a view of these steep turns. On the platform, there are also several cafes and souvenir kiosks.

After the Chike-Taman Pass, there are many natural monuments: rock images, caves, kurgans. After the village of Inya, perhaps the most interesting of them is the Kalbak-Tash site . It is the largest complex of petroglyphs in Altai and practically on the side of the Chui Tract — it doesn’t require a long and tiring walk to reach. The oldest images are about eight thousand years old. Scientists have deciphered only about three thousand of them, and that’s far from all. If you look on your own, most of the drawings can simply be misunderstood. Therefore, it is best to go on a guided tour.

Yalomanskaya Fortress (settlement) — an ancient structure at the mouth of the Bolshoy Yaloman River. A little further — Ayr Tash Stone Gates — a place where the Chui Tract is squeezed between two sheer cliffs. Ininsky Bridge — the first and only two-chain suspension bridge built in the Soviet Union.

Chuy-Oozy — the confluence of the Chuya and Katun rivers, a sacred place for the Altai people. It is a cliff from which one can see how one river flows into another: the waters of the Chuya are muddy, those of the Katun — clear. Nearby is the eponymous nature park — a large ancient sanctuary with a huge number of rock drawings and kurgans. For example, the deer stone Adyr-Kaya, presumably erected two to three thousand years ago. It is a plate of greenish slate with a cut top. It was from this stone that the study of the deer stones of the Altai Mountains began.

Shirlak Waterfall (Maiden’s Tears). Another attraction that is easy to reach. It is clearly visible even from the road when traveling along the Chui Tract towards Chibit and Aktash.

Chibit Village. From here start the routes to the Shavlinsky Lakes, which formed due to the melting of the North-Katun Glaciers. The Lower Shavlinsky Lake is the most accessible for unprepared tourists, to which one can get from Chibit on horseback. The road is quite long — 35 kilometers, but there are many stops along the way. More prepared hikers can continue the route to other Shavlinsky Lakes and passes of the North-Chuya Ridge. Through the passes, you can reach the Maashey Glacier, go to the Karakabak Lakes or the Abyl-Oyuk and Kamry Lakes, and reach the watershed of the Kurundu and Yungur rivers. All these are challenging routes for experienced hikers.

In addition, Chibit often hosts various water racing competitions: here flows a very difficult section of the Chuya. Nearby are two waterfalls: Big Ular and Upper Karasu (Little Ular).

Aktash — an excellent base for exploring the surroundings

In Aktash, tourists are offered jeep tours around the area. A trip in an off-road vehicle along selected routes will cost about 2500 rubles (24.47 euros) per person. However, some attractions can also be reached with your own car.

Relay Station. An operating radio tower on Mount Verkhnya. From a height of 3000 meters, fantastic views of the North-Chuya Range and the Kurai Steppe open up. It’s better to go there in clear weather, otherwise, you won’t be able to see all this beauty due to the clouds.

‘Mars-1’ and ‘Mars-2’. A place that gained fame a couple of years ago when a blogger traveling in Altai dubbed these mountains ‘Martian’ on their Instagram. They are located approximately nine kilometers southwest of the village of Chagan-Uzun, and their red color comes from compounds of iron and manganese. You can drive to ‘Mars-1’, but ‘Mars-2’ requires a walk.

According to locals, they knew about the red mountains before — but didn’t consider them anything special. It’s also preferable to visit the ‘Mars’ in clear weather — the mountains acquire a Martian color only when the sun is shining. On a cloudy day, it all looks less picturesque.

The Geyser Lake is located six kilometers from Aktash. A wooden bridge leads to the lake, and on the way, you have to pass through the territory of a tourist base and pay 100 rubles. Of course, there are no geysers at the bottom of the lake, but springs. There are also three layers of clay: blue-black-blue, and the springs constantly create new patterns on the surface from these layers.

Red Gates. Rocks between which a narrow road winds, if you go towards Ulagan. The composition of these rocks includes cinnabar — a mercury mineral.

Uchar Waterfall. The largest waterfall in the Altai Republic, located within the Altai Nature Reserve.

Ulagan. A major district center with supermarkets. This is where civilization ends. Attractions along the way include the Stone Mushrooms in the Akkurum area, the Katu-Yaryk pass, and the Chulyshman river valley — also very popular places.

Kosh-Agach District — trekking to the glacier, lakes, and megaliths

Kosh-Agach is the coldest point in the Altai Republic during winter. The village is situated in an intermountain basin, hence it has a sharply continental climate. At the same time, according to meteorologists, the Kosh-Agach region is one of the sunniest in Russia. Since 2014, the country’s largest solar power station has been operating here.

Akturu Valley. To get to the ‘Akturu’ alpine camp, first, from the village of Kurai, one must reach Perevalka — an intermediate camp. From there, you need to travel either by a special vehicle or on foot. In ‘Akturu’, you can stay in a cabin, cottage, or tent. The area has baths, a cafe, and showers. The camp’s programs with excursions, accommodation, transportation from and back to Kurai cost 24,000–32,000 rubles (234.88 – 313.18 euros) per person for five days.

The easiest route to the Waterfall Stream and the Small Aktru Glacier takes two to three hours. It does not require any special preparation and is suitable for families with children. A guided tour for a group of five people costs 3000 rubles (29.36 euros). The Big Aktru Glacier (eight kilometers long) and Blue Lake are located 12 kilometers from the camp.

On a separate day, you can ascend to the Teacher’s Pass . The name is associated with the sports society of the same name, which opened a training camp here for teachers in the late 1930s. This pass leads from the Aktru valley to the valley between the peaks of Kyzyl-Tash and Jubilee. From the pass, one of the peaks of the North-Chuya Range , the Dome of the Three Lakes , is visible. It offers a beautiful view of Mount Belukha.

Throughout the Chuya Steppe (the upper course of the Chuya River), there is a huge number of archaeological monuments. For example, in the Elangash river valley, there is a complex of rock paintings stretching 18 kilometers in total. 20 kilometers southwest of the village of Kosh-Agach is the Altai version of Britain’s Stonehenge. An ancient megalithic complex of giant stone slabs over four meters high, arranged in a circle.

Teletskoye Lake — the second largest after Baikal

The village of Artybash is located on the shore of the second-largest freshwater lake in Russia. In Altai, Teletskoye Lake is called ‘Altyn-Köl’ — ‘Golden Lake’. Today, its surroundings are a protected nature reserve.

In summer, a ferry operates on Teletskoye Lake: from Yelangash (Artybash) to Cape Kyrsey (the southern shore of Teletskoye). You can admire the beauty of the lake and all the attractions along the way to Aktash. It also operates in the opposite direction. The ferry crossing for a passenger car costs 10,000–12,000 rubles (97.87 – 117.44 euros), motorcycle — 4,000–6,000 rubles (39.15 – 58.72 euros), pedestrian tourist 1,000–1,500 rubles (9.79 – 14.68 euros).

The most popular waterfall of Teletskoye, Korbu , can only be reached by water. It is 12.5 meters high. Near the bridge connecting Artybash and Yelangash, there are pleasure boats. For 1500 rubles (14.68 euros) per person, they offer tours to view the waterfalls, lasting a couple of hours. If desired, you can also go on the ‘Pioneer of Altai’ ship — but it takes five and a half hours and is more expensive — 1800 rubles (17.62 euros).

Near Korbu is another waterfall, Kishte . It is considered to be the loudest waterfall, although Korbu is taller. You cannot walk near it — it is surrounded by rocks and water, but the boats approach it closely. Opposite is the 80-meter Ayu-Kechpes, and on the western shore is Chedor, near which you can also disembark and walk, as near Korbu.

In Artybash, there are small private museums, such as ‘Ethnopark on Teletskoye’ . It consists of three yurt-museums, one of which recreates the exhibition of a traditional Altai dwelling: with a hearth in the center, and division into male and female sides. The exhibits — various household items — were shared by the indigenous residents of Altai villages over two years before the opening. The museum owner, Synaru Anatpaeva, treats visitors to herbal teas and chegen — one of the most beloved and popular national drinks in the Altai Mountains, made from fermented boiled milk. During such tea sessions, she talks about the traditions and customs of the Altai people, recalls legends about the attractions. Tourists ask about things they find interesting, such as wedding rituals, shamanism, or the history of the people.

In summer, on weekends, concerts are held in the park, where you can listen to ethnic Altai music. In addition to tours, there are workshops on felting, after which visitors leave with souvenirs made by their own hands. The ticket to the ethnographic park costs 400 rubles (3.91 euros), and the museum is closed in winter.

Uimon Valley and Mount Belukha

In the 18th century, Old Believers fled to the Uimon Valley to escape persecution. Later, local legends even suggested that the free country of Belovodye was located in these areas. Indeed, they are suitable places to hide: even today, the road to the villages of Uimon is very difficult and in places dangerous. Gromotukha Pass is a boundary with steep turns and a mound instead of asphalt. After it begins the valley. Mainly, people come here to see the Multinsky Lakes and conquer the highest point of Siberia — Belukha (4506 meters).

Multinsky Lakes. This is a cascade of lakes on the northern slope of the Katun Ridge, formed by a melting glacier in the upper reaches of the Multa River. 30 kilometers from the lakes is the eponymous village. There are several ways to get here: on foot or by truck GAZ-66 (popularly known as ‘shishiga’) or UAZ through off-road — muddy tracks, serpentine, and turbulent rivers. The trip from Multa to the lakes costs 1800–2000 rubles (17.62 – 19.57 euros), from Ust-Koksa — 2000–2500 rubles (19.57 – 24.47 euros).

In Ust-Koksa , there is the largest selection of accommodations, so tourists usually stay here. It is a district center with a population of about 4000 people. The village has a small airport and a bus station. Due to good transport accessibility, it is convenient to plan different routes from here. Tourist bases typically have their own off-road vehicles for taking guests to local attractions, or they collaborate with local drivers.

Another option is to stay closer to the lakes, in Verkh-Uimon, Multa, Maralnik, or Zamulta. These are small villages with populations of 600-700 people, so there are fewer hotels and tourist bases, but many locals rent out houses (from 1500 (14.68 euros) per day). There is not much difference in price. In Ust-Koksa, accommodations are more comfortable and there is a wider choice, but in nearby villages, this is compensated by much more beautiful landscapes — for example, the Gromotukha River and the pass of the same name.

Tourists usually visit three to five of the largest lakes, but there are a total of 42. The Multa River flows through the Upper, Middle, and Lower Multinsky Lakes, and they seem to flow into each other. Transportation usually only goes as far as the Lower Lake — beyond that, vehicles cannot pass. To reach the other lakes, you must cross the river or go around on foot.

Near the Lower Lake, it’s convenient to stay with a tent, where there are a couple of dozen camping spots, several small cabins (400 rubles (3.91 euros) per person, with outdoor washbasins and a fire pit) and a bathhouse (1000 rubles (9.79 euros) per hour), and electricity is provided by generators for a couple of hours a day. In the nearby ‘Multinsky Lakes’ mountain camp, rooms with a bathroom and a warm shower cost from 1200 rubles (11.74 euros) per day, and staying in your own tent on the territory costs 100 rubles (0.98 euros) per day.

To cross to the opposite shore of the Lower Lake, tourists use a motorboat to further access the other lakes. If there are four or more people, the cost is 350 rubles (3.43 euros) per person one way; for one to three people, it’s 1000 rubles (9.79 euros) per boat. It’s also possible to walk around the lake along the shore, about two kilometers.

The shore of the Lower Lake, which serves as the start of the route, is rocky, while the opposite shore is sandy, giving the water a turquoise hue even on cloudy days. The Shumy, the threshold where one lake flows into another, can only be crossed on foot to the Middle Lake. The Upper Lake is another five kilometers away, and a little further is the Katun Biosphere Reserve. Passes must be obtained from the game wardens (150 rubles (1.47 euros)), and a passport is required. A trail through the reserve leads to Lake Kuyguk.

Belukha is 1000 meters lower than Elbrus — the highest peak in Europe, but climbing it is considered more challenging. The mountain changes significantly each year, and the weather around the summit is very variable, with rocks falling due to glacier movements and frequent avalanches. Conquering it without mountaineering experience is not possible.

Therefore, travelers mostly go trekking to the foot of Belukha, but this also requires good physical preparation. Additionally, one must be mentally prepared for rain and cold nights. The routes can vary slightly, but usually, the entire journey takes 10–14 days. Along with guides, tourists set out from the village of Tyungur and visit Lake Ak-Kem, which reflects Belukha, the Ak-Kem Glacier, the Tekelyu Waterfall, the Valley of Seven Lakes, Kucherlinskoe Lake. Some tours include rafting on the Katun. On average, including transfers, the tour costs 25,000–30,000 rubles (244.67 – 293.60 euros).

Nature Worship. The locals greatly respect and value nature and react painfully when they encounter careless or disrespectful behavior. In June, Altaians were outraged by a video in which a Moscow blogger, for some reason, shot at the Katun River, which the indigenous people have revered since ancient times. The reaction was even sharper when a Novosibirsk company launched a mattress into the Geyser Lake with a very fragile ecosystem for an advertisement shooting.

This indignation is easy to understand, and it’s not just about the fear that the pristine beauty could be destroyed. Many Altaians still worship spirits, visit shamans, and perform traditional rituals. Nature is a cult, an animated sanctuary, and a source of pride. It is also a force with which people are closely connected, as the lifestyle of village residents remotely resembles that of their ancestors: many still engage in agriculture, hunting, and livestock breeding.

Influence of Traditions. Tourists often do not know that the colorful ribbons tied to trees in Altai are not for making wishes. Here, it is part of a religious ritual. But due to unawareness, travelers tie any piece of fabric they find to the branches, sometimes even cutting up their colorful clothing. In reality, tying ribbons is an offering to the spirits, for which people specially prepare.

The ceremonial ribbons are called ‘d’yalama’ and ‘kyira’, and they come in four colors, each symbolizing different phenomena. White symbolizes Altai faith and purity; yellow represents the sun and mountain peaks; green symbolizes plants and taiga; blue represents rivers and lakes. The ritual is performed at the new moon, in the morning or during the day. Ribbons are tied on the eastern side, in pairs — because everything on Earth has a pair. Before this, the new fabric is consecrated — fumigated with juniper. One ribbon is usually placed slightly higher as a sign that good is always stronger than evil.

The Altai people still observe old traditions, which are reflected in their daily life and creativity.

Inscriptions on Rocks. Eight thousand years ago, our ancestors left petroglyphs to pass knowledge to other generations. However, writing one’s name in paint on rocks today is of dubious value. Moreover, local volunteers struggle to restore the mountains to their original state. Since 2019, participants of the ‘Clean Altai’ project have been cleaning rocks of inscriptions along the most popular tourist routes: the passes of the Chui tract and the cliffs along the Katun, on the way to Ulagan. The work is costly and labor-intensive: there are many inscriptions, and volunteers spend hours removing paint with a sandblaster from a small area. On challenging passes like Chike-Taman, volunteers require the escort of road services due to the very steep and narrow turns.

What to Bring Back Home

Tourists usually buy honey and herbal balms based on honey, herbal teas, pantogematogen (a drink made from maral antler blood), local natural cosmetics, chocolate with pine nuts, and various cedar souvenirs. Near the passes and close to the attractions, there are always many souvenir shops. However, everything is significantly more expensive in such places, and the balms are often left in the heat for a long time, contradicting storage conditions. Therefore, it’s better to check out the same items at local markets in district centers or specialized phyto-pharmacies. In Gorno-Altaisk, such a pharmacy is located at Protocnaya Street 16/1.

Traffic Jams. During the summer, many residents from neighboring cities — Biysk, Barnaul, Novosibirsk, Kemerovo, Tomsk — come to the Altai Mountains to spend the weekend. Typically, they choose tourist bases and resorts near the city: Manzherok, Ayu, Biyuzovaya Katun, Chemal — places that can be visited in a day before returning for the start of a new work week. Therefore, starting from Friday evening and throughout the weekend, there is increased traffic on the Chui tract, sometimes leading to traffic jams. Serious collapses are rare, but it’s useful to know this feature to plan travel time — for example, not to miss a flight.

Wild Animals. The most common animals you’ll encounter are harmless rodents like chipmunks or squirrels, not bears. In the forests, be cautious of snakes. The likelihood of encountering a bear during a stop is very low — the brown bear is a cautious creature and usually does not want to encounter humans. In the summer of 2021, bears were spotted several times at Teletskoye Lake — where the Katun Biosphere Reserve is located. Who is more dangerous in such encounters — human to bear or bear to human — is a debatable question. In most cases, bears are scared of humans and run away, especially if the encounter occurs in a populated area .

Tick Season starts in spring and ends in autumn. Park areas and tourist bases are treated for dangerous insects, but if you plan to hike or take long walks in nature, it’s better to get vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis (the most serious disease transmitted by ticks) before the trip. The procedure usually consists of three stages. The first vaccine is given in the fall to prepare for the spring-summer epidemic, then another one in early winter. The third vaccination is done 9-12 months after the first. After that, the body will develop immunity for about three years.

If you don’t want to bother or if there’s little time before the trip, you can buy tick insurance. It’s sold by most insurance companies and costs about 400 rubles (3.91 euros). This amount can save money if you are bitten by a tick infected with encephalitis or Lyme disease. Without insurance, immunoglobulin injections for a person weighing 60-70 kilograms will cost at least 8000 rubles (78.29 euros).

Where to Stay

Accommodation in the Altai Mountains can be found to suit any taste and budget. If you go during the peak tourist season, it’s better to book accommodations in advance — at least a couple of months ahead. In Altai, the rule is – the closer to district centers, the greater the choice of comfortable accommodations.

Finding a place for a tent is not difficult. Tourists most often stay near the banks of the Katun River, where there are many organized camping sites. However, it’s most comfortable to camp on the territories of tourist bases: they are usually guarded and treated for ticks, and amenities include a bathhouse or shower. The price per person is on average about 150 rubles (1.47 euros) per day. But there won’t be much unity with nature or romantic campfire gatherings here.

The perfect combination of comfort and nature is glamping, but they usually only operate in summer. Glamping sites are often located in beautiful natural areas, and tourists stay in large tents, sleep on soft beds, and the site has showers with hot water and offers meals and organized excursions. Prices vary depending on the level of comfort. For example, a double yurt in “Ethno House Yurt” in the village of Aktash costs 1500 rubles (14.68 euros) per day, with shower and toilet in a separate building. In “Cheposh Park,” the minimum price for a double tent with a shower is about 5000 rubles (48.93 euros).

Here are a few more options: “Saikol” three kilometers from the village of Kurai, Cloud Park Altay in the Chemal district, the tent mini-hotel “Forest and Sea” in the Kosh-Agach district, and “Taigala” near Chibit.

How to Get There. In 2023, traveling from Europe or the UK to Gorno-Altaysk in the Altai Republic involves a series of connecting flights, as there are no direct flights to this destination.

One option is to fly to Istanbul, Turkey, utilizing airlines like Turkish Airlines, which offers extensive connections from various European cities. From Istanbul Airport (IST), you can then take a flight with Pegasus Airlines or Turkish Airlines to Russian cities like Moscow or Novosibirsk.

Another option is to fly to Yerevan, Armenia, with airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa, or British Airways offering flights to Zvartnots International Airport (EVN) in Yerevan. From Yerevan, you can take a connecting flight to Moscow with airlines like Aeroflot or Armenia Aircompany.

Direct flights to Gorno-Altaysk are available from Moscow, Kazan, Novosibirsk, and Krasnoyarsk. With the start of the summer tourist season, Nordwind Airlines offers direct flights from St. Petersburg. A round-trip ticket from Moscow to Gorno-Altaysk costs on average between 6000 to 15,000 rubles (58.72 – 146.80 euros). It’s also possible to fly to Barnaul (700 kilometers from Gorno-Altaysk), Novokuznetsk (800 km), or Novosibirsk (900 km), and then travel to Gorno-Altaysk by land transport. A ticket to Novosibirsk costs 5000–10,000 rubles (48.93 – 97.87 euros), plus an additional 3000 rubles (29.36 euros) for a bus and another seven hours on the road.

The nearest railway station to Gorno-Altaysk is located in Biysk, 100 kilometers away. To reach the capital of Altai, you’ll need to travel by bus or taxi. From Moscow to Biysk, the train journey takes two days, and a one-way ticket costs about 7000 rubles (68.51 euros). There are also trains from Novosibirsk and Barnaul.

These routes may involve overnight layovers, so it’s advisable to plan for potential stays in transit cities.

Getting Around the Republic. During the summer, Let 410 planes from “Siberian Light Aviation” with a capacity of 19 passengers fly to remote district centers from Gorno-Altaysk. There are flights to villages like Kosh-Agach and Ust-Koksa, with one-way tickets starting from 1500 rubles (14.68 euros). The journey takes about an hour. It’s a great opportunity to quickly reach your destination and experience flying in a small plane. Bus number 103 runs from the airport to the bus station in Gorno-Altaysk. A taxi ride would cost about 300 rubles (2.94 euros). Traveling to Kosh-Agach from Gorno-Altaysk by car takes no less than eight hours.

Daily scheduled buses run from Gorno-Altaysk to the most popular tourist destinations. The bus station does not have its own website, but it has an official Instagram account with a link to E-traffic , where you can view the schedule and buy tickets. Main destinations include Manzherok (about 120 rubles (1.17 euros)), Chemal (350 rubles (3.43 euros)), Onguday and Shebalino (400 rubles (3.91 euros)), Turochak and Artybash (500 rubles), Ust-Koksa and Multa (1000 rubles (9.79 euros)), Kosh-Agach and Tyungur (1500 rubles (14.68 euros)). An alternative is to find carpooling options on BlaBlaCar or rent a car. For example, on Booking Car , the minimum price for a car is 1700 rubles (16.64 euros) per day. Car rental services “Za Rulem” (Communist Avenue, 81, bldg. 2) and Arget (Biyskaya Street, 23) offer cars for an average of 2700 rubles (26.42 euros) per day.

When to Visit

In Altai, the climate is sharply continental: winter doesn’t hold back on frosts, and summer on heat. The weather greatly depends on the region, but in Gorno-Altaisk and the nearby villages, the warmest month is July. The average temperature is around plus 19 degrees Celsius, and heat up to plus 36 degrees can last for a couple of weeks. Nonetheless, even if traveling in the middle of summer, you should bring warm clothes. For example, the temperature on mountain passes is five to six degrees lower than on the plains.

Winter. In winter, people primarily come to Altai for picturesque landscapes and ski resorts. In Gorno-Altaisk, you can ski or snowboard on Komsomolka (402 meters) — an easy track suitable for beginners. The neighboring Tugaya mountain is designed for those with more serious sports training. But lovers of active recreation often choose ski resorts outside the city: ‘Manzherok,’ ‘Teletsky,’ or the ‘Semin Pass’ training center. Initially envisioned as a base for training athletes, it is now open to tourists.

Spring. At the end of April to early May in Altai, the red rhododendron blooms — this endangered shrub covers the mountains and rocks with bright pink flowers. Residents of nearby cities often come during the May holidays to see the bloom. There is especially a lot of rhododendron in the Mayminsky, Chemalsky, Ongudaysky districts, and beyond the Chike-Taman pass. Spring is also the best time to see waterfalls as they are full-flowing.

Summer and Autumn. In summer and autumn, there are more options available — from contemplating natural expanses to trekking in the mountains or off-roading in uninhabited areas. By mid-September, one of the main rivers, the Katun, becomes strikingly turquoise — the water changes color several times a year.

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