In recent years, domestic tourism has been experiencing a renaissance. Today, a holiday in Altai is the dream of every resident of our country; there is beautiful nature, amazing waterfalls and lakes, a large number of rock paintings. But the main difficulty for travelers is not packing things or even the remoteness of the region, but planning a route. After all, the trip should not only bring pleasant impressions, but also be interesting and educational.

If you are planning a trip, but don’t know where buy a tour to Altai, then the easiest solution would be to cooperate with the Altai Mountains Spirit company. This tour operator has been operating on the Russian market for more than 8 years. Over the years, more than 5000 people have already managed to travel with him. All clients have access to XNUMX/XNUMX support. The company's employees will help you choose the ideal travel route around Altai. The company offers various vacation options; families with children, solo travelers, and representatives of different age groups can find the best option. Every traveler can now get help in finding tours around Altai.

How to get to Altai from different cities of Russia

The easiest, most convenient and fastest way to get to Altai is, of course, by plane. Gorno-Altaisk Airport was modernized not long ago and is now ready to welcome passengers from Moscow, Novosibirsk and Barnaul. The optimal solution for most guests in the region would be a connecting flight.

You can also come to Barnaul or Novosibirsk by land, and from there fly to Gorno-Altaisk, in which case the flight takes only one hour. You can also travel the entire route by bus, train or car.

There are many options to get to Altai and each traveler makes a decision based on his own preferences, budget and free time.

Beautiful places in Altai: where to go to Altai for the first time

When choosing what to see in Altai, you need to take into account that there are two main tourist areas - in the middle reaches of the Katun (Chemal area, Lake Aya and nearby), as well as in the north of Lake Teletskoye. These places have the most developed infrastructure, recreation centers operate, and this is where most tourists go. It is also worth going to the Chike-Taman mountain pass, from the observation deck of which amazing landscapes open up.

​When determining a route to beautiful places in Altai, you need to focus not only on geographical names, but also on the time of year. Most tourists come here in the summer months. During this period it is warm and comfortable here. But if you are not ready to constantly be in a noisy tourist crowd during your vacation, then you should choose either a different time or more remote and remote places.

Route for the first visit to Altai

Most tourists get to Altai through Barnaul or Gorno-Altaisk. But the second option is a higher priority, since it is closer to the most interesting places. Most planes arrive in the morning, which means that immediately after landing you can go further, but to do this you need to buy a bus ticket in advance. You can also stay in the city and explore local attractions.

Karakol lakes

A group of seven lakes located on the slope of the Iolgo ridge in Altai is called the Karakol Lakes. The reservoirs are located at a distance of 300 to 800 meters from each other. The length and width of the largest lake are 440 meters and 350 meters respectively, and the maximum depth is 10 meters. Tourists choose excursions to the Karakol Lakes, as well as holidays at the recreation center of the same name. Camping with tents, even on the territory of the base, is not possible everywhere, since this area is classified as a protected natural monument.

The lakes are located in mountainous areas at different altitudes and therefore the climate and nature here have differences. The lakes located below are surrounded by cedar forests, those higher are among meadows, and next to those located at an altitude of 2097 meters, alpine tundra grows. The weather in Altai is pleasingly varied, as is the climate; to visit one location you need to be prepared and take warm clothes.

Katu-Yaryk

The steep descent into the valley of the Chulyshman River is 3,8 kilometers long and, including 9 turns, runs along the mountainside and is called Katu-Yaryk. Here is the only road, using which residents and guests of the Chulyshman Valley can get to the outside world. This is also the only way to get to Lake Teletskoye.

The road appeared here relatively recently - only in 1989. Previously, it was possible to get to the river valley and the southern shore of the lake by water or using horse trails. Although the road climb is recommended only with the use of off-road vehicles, it can also be done by passenger cars.

Of course, it is impossible to call Katu-Yaryk just a road, although this path is more comfortable than horse trails or a river, but the slope of the pass is 70% or at an angle of 63 °, which is quite a lot. The average slope of the road subgrade is 18% or 10°. The excursion along the pass will leave a lasting impression, but it is definitely worth it.

Chulyshman Valley

The Chulyshman valleys are located in the eastern part of Altai; the name of this location comes from the name of the Chulyshman River. Like many other tourist places in Altai, the valley is located in a remote place, which does not make tours here any less attractive for tourists.

There are many interesting places in the river valley, not only the Katu-Yaryk pass, but also:

• waterfalls of the Chulyshman valley. This is an incredible sight, especially during the deepest periods of spring and autumn. However, even in winter, the waterfalls can amaze with their beauty, because at this time the stormy stream turns into a beautiful lace. The most frequently visited waterfalls are Karasu, Kurkure and Uchar;

• stone mushrooms. These are the remains of rocks, which over time took the form of mushrooms, there are quite a lot of them and they were formed in the process of uneven resolution of the rocks. The height of mushrooms varies from 1,5 to 7 meters. This is the most striking and interesting natural monument of Chulyshman.

teletskoye lake

Lake Teletskoye is the second largest natural reservoir of fresh water after Lake Baikal. You can visit this place at any time, but if you plan not only to admire the beauty of Altai, but also to enjoy a beach holiday or skiing, you should come in summer or winter. The average air temperature in summer is +26 °C; there are no severe frosts in winter; usually the thermometer shows no more than -11 °C.

There are two large tourist areas on the lake - the villages of Artybash and Yogach, they are located on different banks, but are united by a bridge and for the locals this is one settlement. On the coast of Lake Teletskoye there is everything you need for a good rest. These include comfortable beaches located in the village of Yogach, and numerous attractions and entertainment locations in Artybash.

A holiday on Lake Teletskoye will be the best alternative to a holiday on the Black Sea coast. Moreover, here you can get new impressions and a boost of vitality.

Holidays in Altai with Altai Mountains Spirit

Planning a trip independently, even within Russia, is not suitable for everyone. Therefore, an excellent solution would be to cooperate with professionals who can organize the perfect vacation. By purchasing a tour from a company, you get the opportunity to completely immerse yourself in the unique wild nature and atmosphere of this region for just a few days. Even extreme adventures will be available to you. The Altai Mountains Spirit company guarantees reliability and safety to every guest.

The creation of a tourist program, route and other organizational issues are undertaken by the travel agent, including the transfer of guests to the place of accommodation and to the routes. Any type of holiday is available. Fans of active tourism will be able to ride snowmobiles and go fishing, as well as explore local caves and other interesting locations. However, if you just want to enjoy the beauty of nature and relax in a calm environment, this is also possible.

Company employees will tell you which buy a tourwhere to book tickets, which method of travel to choose, how to get to Altai, and will also be able to find answers to many other questions.