Location: Republic of Altai
Top Things to do in Republic of Altai
Top Restaurants in Republic of Altai
The 10 Best Things to Do in Republic of Altai, Russia
The Altai Republic (Russian: Респу́блика Алта́й, Respublika Altay, Russian pronunciation: [rʲɪˈspublʲɪkə ɐlˈtaj]; Altai: Алтай Республика, Altay Respublika) is a federal subject of Russia (a republic). Its capital is the town of Gorno-Altaysk. The area of the republic is 92,600 square kilometers (35,800 sq mi), and its population is 206,168 (2010 Census).
Restaurants in Republic of Altai
1. Church of St. John the Theologian Patmos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 165 reviews
Reviewed By TubaKoseogluOkcu - Istanbul, Turkey
This place is called "Patmos" island as it resembles the place St-John saw in his famous dream. The catch is not the monastery but the suspension bridge leading to it. Underneath the bridge flows the mighty Katun river and both shores are covered with green trees. The nature is at its best at this location. Walking on the suspension bridge very exciting as it sways at every step. Monastery building is very simple, nothing extraordinary inside. We were told nuns were still living in it but we did not see any. There is also a souvenir shop on the main land shore where the income is used for the maintenance of the monastery. It's an interesting landmark. Make sure you see it if you are at Chemal.
2. Lake Teletskoye
Overall Ratings
5 based on 66 reviews
Reviewed By bill a
The lake is untouched and we used it to exit the Chulshman valley. In the middle is a UNESCO waterfall worth the walk. The shores are pristine and the lake is a little Bayikal.
3. Mountain Pass Katu-Yaryk
Overall Ratings
5 based on 49 reviews
Reviewed By TubaKoseogluOkcu - Istanbul, Turkey
Katu Yaryk was the highlight of our Altai trip in many terms: first, it had a historic meaning for us. This is the place that Ergenekon saga (the saga about how Turks started their 3 centuries long migration to Anatolia) talks about. The epic story says that Turks melted the iron on the Mountains to escape from where they were trapped. In fact, the geographical formation of the Mountains can easily trigger one's imagination in line with this saga. So, this spiritual meaning was overwhelming for me.
Second, the raw beauty of this place is breathtaking. No pictures, no movies, no words can describe how you feel there vis-a-vis this view. It's really larger-than-life...
Third, we were given two options: either we could climb it with cars (and cars could not stop during the commute as the hill is very steep) or we could climb it on foot. I opted for the second option and gosh.... that was so difficult... The physical effort required was overwhelming....
There is nothing "urbane" around (no kiosks, no WC, no shops, nothing....), so be prepared to be "tête-a-tête" with nature...
In short, this was one the places I have been on earth that impressed me so much... If you are ever nearby, don't miss that chance to visit it... It will be a once in a life time exprience...
4. Belukha Mountain
Overall Ratings
5 based on 46 reviews
Reviewed By liljis - Helsinki, Finland
Our travel agency had chosen Len Alp Tours as the local operator for our Belukha climb. Our internaltional group had nine people who reached the summit.
We were the last group for season of summer 2015. The weather was amazing all the way from Akem to the summit and back, although earlier rain ment there was knee-deep snow in the mountain and our guides had to work hard to break the trail.
Technically the climb is not difficult, but the approach treks are long and trail is not good, so you should be in good shape and have shoes that you know can manage 20km per day. We had a day of technical training near Tomsky hut which was good for the less experienced of us.
For the climb it was handy to have triple-boots (boots with removable inner shoe, La Sportiva Spantik for my girlfriend and Scarpa Phantom 6000 for me) to keep your inner boots warm inside sleeping bag, but it was not extremely cold on the mountain so something more suitable for 4500m mountain might have been a bit lighter. It all depends on you and how your feet work in -10-15 degrees centigrade. My girlfriend did feel cold toes as we started our summit push 5am.
The trail from Tomsky hut back to Akem is quite poorly marked if you walk it without guide like we did. But we made it through even after a lot of wrong turns! Tomsky hut is really simple and there's lots of mice looking to store food in your climbing boots, so keep food items high up on the wall and boots maybe also there.
Our two main climbing guides were very experienced and strong. Also the trekking guides came with our group to the summit to get some experience and led two rope groups. It helps if you have done some alpine climbing earlier and know how to navigate on the glacier and how to use the ice-axe and crampons.
Remember to bring your passport you Akem and Tomsky hut. Don't leave it in Vysotnik, Tyungur or elsewhere. Keep it with you.
I wouldn't recommend Belukha to be your first visit to Mountains as the itinerary is quite tough, but if you have done few trips to Mountains before then Belukha will be an adventure you will always remember!
Len Alp aTour's Vysotnik and Akkem camps are excellent.
5. Chemalskaya Hydro-Electric Power Station
Overall Ratings
4 based on 104 reviews
Reviewed By liljis - Helsinki, Finland
The amusement park and its shops were almost all closed, and the water level was low this time of the year. You should probably visit the place in June or July. I think they charged maybe 500 rubles for parking which seemed excessive as the place was almost dead.
6. Gorny Altai Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 46 reviews
Reviewed By Tinde_K - Moscow, Russia
I've been pleasantly surprised by the quality of exhibits and very interesting layout of models to represent the different kind of lives the local inhabitants lived throughout the ages. The museum is new, very nicely designed and the pyramid part in which the Princess from the Plato Ukok is resting is wonderful. Great and entertaining visit, highly recommended!
7. Waterfall Kobru
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By TubaKoseogluOkcu - Istanbul, Turkey
While crossing the Teletskoe Lake from north to south (the journey takes around 4 hours), we had a break at this waterfall and we loved it. The waterfall itself is not extremely impressive but the overall atmosphere is lovely. In fact, this was the most "touristic" place (in good terms) that I have seen in Altai Krai during our 9 days trip.
After our boat anchored to the shore, we took the short road that led to the waterfall. It's a 5 to 10 minutes long climb. On both sides of the road there are small yet cosy food kiosks and souvenir shops. I was looking for folkloric music (homey) CDs and that's where I found them surprisingly.
The waterfall is refreshing and beautiful yet small. The souvenir shops are the best I have seen in Altai. As for the food kiosks, they serve easy to cook local cuisine meals and we loved it.
In case you happen to be around this waterfall, you should definitely go and see it. Not only for the sake of the waterfall but also for the cute local atmosphere.
8. Anokhin Republican Museum of Local Lore
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42 reviews
Reviewed By TubaKoseogluOkcu - Istanbul, Turkey
This museum, sponsored by Gazprom, is by far the most professional museum of Altai region. Though majority of its visitors come to see Ukok Princess (a mummy found only in 1993 at Ukok plateau, belonging to a woman aged 25-30 who lived 2500 years ago), museum has a lot more interesting offerings.
The museum covers everything that pertains to Altai region: from fauna & flora to geological formations, from paintings and sculptures to ethnography and archeological remains, you can find all information you need about Altai in this museum. The Exhibitions are professional, guided tours are available as well as audio tours in various languages.
The building itself is very impressive, its façade ornated with tattoo figures found on the arms of Ukok Princess. As for this famous mummy, of course the mummy itself is not exhibited due to conservation concerns. Only photos are available as well as visual enactment of her tomb with mannequins. This is a disappointment for many who visit the museum only to see her.
But personally, I liked this place. As we visited it during the last day of our 9 days long South Siberia trip, it really helped to summarize all that we have seen and learnt during our journey.
9. Geyser Lake
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By Виталий К
Very beautiful lake! Easily accessible. It will be a great rest with family. Such lakes are widespreaded in USA.
10. Mountain Devil's Finger
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By KrissyOmega - Tomsk, Russia
Начну свой отзыв с того, что, когда мы собрались сами заехать на эту гору, я в интернете не нашла подробного описания как это сделать на своей машине, везде было написано одно и то же. Итог: со второго раза мы до неё добрались, теперь напишу как подробнее, может кому пригодится. Итак, если вы едете со стороны Новосибирска по Чуйскому тракту, приезжаете до моста через реку Катунь, поворачиваете на него, приезжаете, далее направо в сторону озера Ая, въехав в тур.зону, увидите маленькое кольцевое движение, второй съезд, который ведёт к отелю Корона Алтая, приезжаете этот отель мимо, въезжаете в посёлок Катунь, увидете перед собой сувенирные лавки по левую руку, сразу после них поворот на озеро Ая, вы не поворачиваете, приезжаете мимо до следующего поворота налево, не пропустите. Поворачиваете и едете вверх по дороге без асфальта, просто отсыпанной гравием. Вверх, пока не увидите поле и просто накатанную дорогу прямо, левее будет ещё дорожка в поле, но она совсем прочто типа для трактора. По прямой дороге (игнорируя указатель, что ехать дальше нельзя) до шлагбаума. Там вас встретит местный и скажет, что въезд платный (нам сказали, что 300 рэ), мы заплатили и поехали дальше, точнее выше. Если у вас низкая машина и без полного привода, то на саму гору вы не заедете, придётся идти пешком, но это тяжеловато, берите воду с собой и если будет солнце, то головной убор, если дождь вы туда вообще не попадёте. Итак мы ехали всё вверх и вверх и доехали до билайновской вышки, рядом с ней и торчит этот Палец. Вид красивый, стоит туда съездить. Местные возле вышки предлагают местный чай и воду. Если машины у вас нет, то можете заказать конный тур, очень живописно получится.
П.С. Если интересно как добраться до горы более подробно пишите расскажу и ещё дам совет, как возможно пробраться туда бесплатно, не платя за въезд. Мы с мужем сообразили уже когда ехали обратно.))
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