Excursion AUTO Tour along the Chuisky tract.
"Golden Ring of Altai"
"Golden Ring of Altai"
summer 2021
Chuisky tract is an ancient thread of the Silk Road.
For the stunning beauty of mountain landscapes, the M52 highway (the old name), or the federal highway P256 "Chuysky tract" is officially recognized as a National Treasure. It has a total length of 970 km. It runs from north to south through three regions - the Novosibirsk region, the Altai Territory and the Altai Republic. It is part of the Asian route AH4 (6000 km), which runs through Mongolia and China to the Pakistani port city of Karachi. The length of the historical section is 640 km (from Biysk to the state border with Mongolia). Completely covered with smooth asphalt and no tunnels. Passages through the mountain ranges are equipped in the form of high-mountain passes (Seminsky, Chike-Taman, Durbet-daba), giving the route additional aesthetics and extreme.
The most authoritative National Geographic magazine has included the P256 Chuisky tract highway in the TOP-10 of the most beautiful highways in the World. Among the dense mountain ranges and spurs of Gorny Altai, there are very few places for convenient passage or travel. Once found a successful route does not lose its significance for millennia.
The oldest Chinese chronicles mention the "Mungal Trail" (a branch of the Silk Trade Route) leading from Mongolia to Western Siberia. If we take the modern Chuisky tract, the road map will almost coincide with the old pack crossing over the mountains. Thanks to its long history, the tract itself has become a rare sightseeing with many archaeological monuments and iconic places. In terms of tourism, it is on par with the Great Gateway Road in China or the Great Ocean Road in Australia.
The most authoritative National Geographic magazine has included the P256 Chuisky tract highway in the TOP-10 of the most beautiful highways in the World. Among the dense mountain ranges and spurs of Gorny Altai, there are very few places for convenient passage or travel. Once found a successful route does not lose its significance for millennia.
The oldest Chinese chronicles mention the "Mungal Trail" (a branch of the Silk Trade Route) leading from Mongolia to Western Siberia. If we take the modern Chuisky tract, the road map will almost coincide with the old pack crossing over the mountains. Thanks to its long history, the tract itself has become a rare sightseeing with many archaeological monuments and iconic places. In terms of tourism, it is on par with the Great Gateway Road in China or the Great Ocean Road in Australia.
The PROGRAM of the Excursion Auto Tour can be drawn up Individually, taking into account all YOUR wishes.
What can be included in the PROGRAM:
-Chemalskaya hydroelectric power station and Patmos island;
-Chekchysh gorge, observation deck and waterfall;
-Oroktoy bridge;
-Cascade of Karakol lakes;
-Passes Seminsky, Cheke-Taman, Ulagansky and Katu-Yaryk;
-Petroglyphs Kalbak-Tash, Deer stones of the ancient Scythians;
-Katunskie terraces, Tsaplin suspension bridge,
-Fusion of Chuya and Katun;
-Kuraiskaya and Chuiskaya steppes;
-North-Chuysky ridge (Chuyskie Alps);
-Bolshoi Aktru Glacier, Blue Lake;
-Tract "Kyzyl-Chin" (Altai Mars);
-Geyser lake;
-Red Gates, Dead Lake, Pazyryk burial mounds;
-Stone mushrooms;
-Uchar waterfall;
- Lake Teletskoye - we will sail by boat across the whole lake.
-Waterfalls of Lake Teletskoye Korbu and Kishte;
-National Museum of the Altai Republics (Gorno-Altaysk);
-We can taste the national Altai cuisine;
-Listen to Altai legends and songs;
-Chemalskaya hydroelectric power station and Patmos island;
-Chekchysh gorge, observation deck and waterfall;
-Oroktoy bridge;
-Cascade of Karakol lakes;
-Passes Seminsky, Cheke-Taman, Ulagansky and Katu-Yaryk;
-Petroglyphs Kalbak-Tash, Deer stones of the ancient Scythians;
-Katunskie terraces, Tsaplin suspension bridge,
-Fusion of Chuya and Katun;
-Kuraiskaya and Chuiskaya steppes;
-North-Chuysky ridge (Chuyskie Alps);
-Bolshoi Aktru Glacier, Blue Lake;
-Tract "Kyzyl-Chin" (Altai Mars);
-Geyser lake;
-Red Gates, Dead Lake, Pazyryk burial mounds;
-Stone mushrooms;
-Uchar waterfall;
- Lake Teletskoye - we will sail by boat across the whole lake.
-Waterfalls of Lake Teletskoye Korbu and Kishte;
-National Museum of the Altai Republics (Gorno-Altaysk);
-We can taste the national Altai cuisine;
-Listen to Altai legends and songs;
The COST of the program is calculated based on the number of days, participants and planned Excursions!
Patmos island
It is a small island with sheer cliffs on the Katun River. To get there, you need to walk along a suspension bridge located 15 meters above the water level. For those who are afraid of heights, such a walk can be stressful. But do not forget that everything is thought out and it is held by more than eight strong cables. Notices with a warning are posted around: more than 15 people cannot be on the bridge at the same time.
Perhaps someone remembered the island of the same name in the Aegean Sea. They say that it was there that John the Theologian preached. There is a legend in Altai: in a prophetic vision, two churches were shown to the evangelist. One - off the coast of Turkey, the second - in the wilderness of Siberia. Orthodoxy here, in Altai, appeared at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1849, the first Orthodox church appeared in the village of Chemal. After 66 years, it was transferred to the island of Patmos. In the 1920s, the church was destroyed, and only in 2001 the temple was rebuilt again. Today, the complex includes a female monastic community.
Chemal small hydroelectric power station
In 1935, a hydroelectric power station was built at the confluence of the clear, transparent Chemal and the muddy, greenish Katun. It worked for 75 years until in 2011 there was an accident in the turbine room. Now the hydroelectric power station is a museum surrounded by magnificent nature. Thousands of tourists come here every year. An excursion along the Chemal tract from Gorno-Altaysk will acquaint travelers with the history of this place, and those who wish can join the rides for an additional fee.
Valley Che-Chkysh
Che-Chkysh is translated from Altai as "cramped, narrow place". And indeed: sometimes the gorge narrows to 15-20 meters, and with a slope height of 100-150 meters it looks spectacular. The steep slopes have contributed to the fact that rock climbing competitions were once held in the valley. Now there are about a hundred rocky slopes for both beginners and professionals. A stream flows along the bottom of the valley, and a little further the locals built a waterfall, which many come to see. We will get to the observation deck with a breathtaking view of the Katun valley.
Oroktoy bridge
Where the Katun narrows as much as possible (and this is also the deepest part of the river), a new Oroktoy bridge was built in 1997. The previous one, wooden, was destroyed by floods in the 90s, so for some time residents were ferried from one bank to the other along the river on a cradle, which was attached to the stretched ropes. Today the bridge offers a view of the real Altai nature.
It is a small island with sheer cliffs on the Katun River. To get there, you need to walk along a suspension bridge located 15 meters above the water level. For those who are afraid of heights, such a walk can be stressful. But do not forget that everything is thought out and it is held by more than eight strong cables. Notices with a warning are posted around: more than 15 people cannot be on the bridge at the same time.
Perhaps someone remembered the island of the same name in the Aegean Sea. They say that it was there that John the Theologian preached. There is a legend in Altai: in a prophetic vision, two churches were shown to the evangelist. One - off the coast of Turkey, the second - in the wilderness of Siberia. Orthodoxy here, in Altai, appeared at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1849, the first Orthodox church appeared in the village of Chemal. After 66 years, it was transferred to the island of Patmos. In the 1920s, the church was destroyed, and only in 2001 the temple was rebuilt again. Today, the complex includes a female monastic community.
Chemal small hydroelectric power station
In 1935, a hydroelectric power station was built at the confluence of the clear, transparent Chemal and the muddy, greenish Katun. It worked for 75 years until in 2011 there was an accident in the turbine room. Now the hydroelectric power station is a museum surrounded by magnificent nature. Thousands of tourists come here every year. An excursion along the Chemal tract from Gorno-Altaysk will acquaint travelers with the history of this place, and those who wish can join the rides for an additional fee.
Valley Che-Chkysh
Che-Chkysh is translated from Altai as "cramped, narrow place". And indeed: sometimes the gorge narrows to 15-20 meters, and with a slope height of 100-150 meters it looks spectacular. The steep slopes have contributed to the fact that rock climbing competitions were once held in the valley. Now there are about a hundred rocky slopes for both beginners and professionals. A stream flows along the bottom of the valley, and a little further the locals built a waterfall, which many come to see. We will get to the observation deck with a breathtaking view of the Katun valley.
Oroktoy bridge
Where the Katun narrows as much as possible (and this is also the deepest part of the river), a new Oroktoy bridge was built in 1997. The previous one, wooden, was destroyed by floods in the 90s, so for some time residents were ferried from one bank to the other along the river on a cradle, which was attached to the stretched ropes. Today the bridge offers a view of the real Altai nature.
Chuisky tract. Route R 256.
Healing waters of Arzhan-Suu
Mineral spring Arzhan-Suu, (from Altai - "holy water"). The water is considered curative due to its high content of silver, copper, manganese and ferrous iron. Usually tourists who come here do not miss the opportunity to try it and even take it with them from a legendary source. The spring is surrounded by "shaman-trees": people believe that they grant wishes. According to an ancient custom, light ribbons 20 cm long and 5 cm wide are tied to the branches.
Seminsky pass (Dal-Meku)
The highest pass on the Chuisky tract is Dal Meku. This place is also called "Eternal Mountain" or "Seminsky Pass". An unforgettable view of the Altai Territory panorama opens up from a height of 1,717 meters. From there, you can see the forests, fields and mountains nearby.
Chike-Taman pass
The name of the pass "Chike-Taman" is translated as "straight sole". Because of the dangerous slopes and the serpentine road, this pass seems to be higher than the previous one. But in fact, it is much lower - only 1295 m above sea level. The observation deck offers a view of the valleys of the Bolshoi and Malaya Ilgumen rivers; in the stone placers, you can see long-tailed ground squirrels, pikas or voles. Ivan tea, celandine, ferns, mosses and other interesting plants grow nearby.
Merging of Chuya and Katun
This is the place where the Chuya, which carries muddy waters from the glaciers, joins with the calm turquoise Katun River. Here two streams collide and mix. The rivers are surrounded by powerful mountains, which adds majesty and mystery to the overall picture. These places will remain in your memory for a long time!
Mineral spring Arzhan-Suu, (from Altai - "holy water"). The water is considered curative due to its high content of silver, copper, manganese and ferrous iron. Usually tourists who come here do not miss the opportunity to try it and even take it with them from a legendary source. The spring is surrounded by "shaman-trees": people believe that they grant wishes. According to an ancient custom, light ribbons 20 cm long and 5 cm wide are tied to the branches.
Seminsky pass (Dal-Meku)
The highest pass on the Chuisky tract is Dal Meku. This place is also called "Eternal Mountain" or "Seminsky Pass". An unforgettable view of the Altai Territory panorama opens up from a height of 1,717 meters. From there, you can see the forests, fields and mountains nearby.
Chike-Taman pass
The name of the pass "Chike-Taman" is translated as "straight sole". Because of the dangerous slopes and the serpentine road, this pass seems to be higher than the previous one. But in fact, it is much lower - only 1295 m above sea level. The observation deck offers a view of the valleys of the Bolshoi and Malaya Ilgumen rivers; in the stone placers, you can see long-tailed ground squirrels, pikas or voles. Ivan tea, celandine, ferns, mosses and other interesting plants grow nearby.
Merging of Chuya and Katun
This is the place where the Chuya, which carries muddy waters from the glaciers, joins with the calm turquoise Katun River. Here two streams collide and mix. The rivers are surrounded by powerful mountains, which adds majesty and mystery to the overall picture. These places will remain in your memory for a long time!
Chuisky tract. Route R 256.
Uch-enmek
The area of the park is 60 551 hectares. It is divided into three zones: reserved, specially protected and free, where tourists can come. Animals that Altai is famous for live here. Thanks to the park, the culture and life of the indigenous people are preserved.
There is also a mountain in honor of which the park is named (from the Altai "uch" is translated as "three", and "enmek" - "peak"). The highest point of the mountain is 2821 m. Once upon a time it was possible to climb the mountain only with shamans and performing special rituals along the way. Now this place is still considered sacred and it is forbidden to approach it, even taking pictures of the mountain separately is not recommended.
Teletskoye lake
400 years ago, when the Russian pioneers came here, the Turkic Teles tribes lived on the shores of the lake. Hence the name "Teletskoe" came from. And the locals have always called it Altyn-Kul, which translates as the golden lake. Why? There is a legend about this that the guide will tell you. The maximum depth of the lake is 323 meters, while the water is so transparent that it can be seen up to 15 meters deep.
"Mars" in Altai (Kyzyl-Chin)
"Mars" in Altai is located near the village of Chagan-Uzun in the Kosh-Agach region. It is a wonderful place for photographers, geology lovers and beauty lovers. Come admire! The mountains seem to be painted with stripes in different shades of red, yellow and green. Colored mountains of Kyzyl-Chin - this is what Mars is in Altai!
Geyser lake
Geyser Lake (Blue Lake, Silver Lake) near the village of Aktash is located on the 796th km of the Chuisky tract in Gorny Altai, a little away from the road. The depth of the lake is about two meters, the diameter is about 25-30 meters. A rather large stream flows into the lake. The geyser lake is one of a kind - rare in beauty, clean, non-freezing even in winter. This is the "earthly eye" of amazing turquoise color, always open to the Cosmos. On the mirror of the lake, you can see round or oval stains, which in fact are just a reflection of the processes taking place at the bottom of the lake. There, in the mysterious depths, from time to time "geysers" come to life, throwing a mixture of bluish clay and sand onto the surface, which forms a visible concentric circles at the bottom of the lake.
The area of the park is 60 551 hectares. It is divided into three zones: reserved, specially protected and free, where tourists can come. Animals that Altai is famous for live here. Thanks to the park, the culture and life of the indigenous people are preserved.
There is also a mountain in honor of which the park is named (from the Altai "uch" is translated as "three", and "enmek" - "peak"). The highest point of the mountain is 2821 m. Once upon a time it was possible to climb the mountain only with shamans and performing special rituals along the way. Now this place is still considered sacred and it is forbidden to approach it, even taking pictures of the mountain separately is not recommended.
Teletskoye lake
400 years ago, when the Russian pioneers came here, the Turkic Teles tribes lived on the shores of the lake. Hence the name "Teletskoe" came from. And the locals have always called it Altyn-Kul, which translates as the golden lake. Why? There is a legend about this that the guide will tell you. The maximum depth of the lake is 323 meters, while the water is so transparent that it can be seen up to 15 meters deep.
"Mars" in Altai (Kyzyl-Chin)
"Mars" in Altai is located near the village of Chagan-Uzun in the Kosh-Agach region. It is a wonderful place for photographers, geology lovers and beauty lovers. Come admire! The mountains seem to be painted with stripes in different shades of red, yellow and green. Colored mountains of Kyzyl-Chin - this is what Mars is in Altai!
Geyser lake
Geyser Lake (Blue Lake, Silver Lake) near the village of Aktash is located on the 796th km of the Chuisky tract in Gorny Altai, a little away from the road. The depth of the lake is about two meters, the diameter is about 25-30 meters. A rather large stream flows into the lake. The geyser lake is one of a kind - rare in beauty, clean, non-freezing even in winter. This is the "earthly eye" of amazing turquoise color, always open to the Cosmos. On the mirror of the lake, you can see round or oval stains, which in fact are just a reflection of the processes taking place at the bottom of the lake. There, in the mysterious depths, from time to time "geysers" come to life, throwing a mixture of bluish clay and sand onto the surface, which forms a visible concentric circles at the bottom of the lake.
Chuisky tract. Route R 256.
Pass Katu-Yaryk
The Katu-Yaryk pass is perhaps the most difficult and dangerous pass in Gorny Altai. It is located away from the busy Chuysky tract, on the 31st km of the Balyktuyul - Balykcha highway. Katu yaryk in translation from the Altai language means a solid crack, gorge, and a narrow path. There is another version of the translation of this name - a long road. The length of the descent is 3.8 kilometers. This short distance consists of 9 turns along the mountainside. The average slope of the roadway is 10 °. The road is unpaved and rocky. The height of the pass from the foot to the observation deck is over 500 m.
Uchar waterfall
The largest in Gorny Altai, the Uchar cascade waterfall (Big Chulchinsky waterfall) is located on the right tributary of the Chulyshman - the Chulcha River, 11-12 kilometers from the place of its confluence with the Chulyshman. One of the versions of the translation of the name "Uchar" is "Inaccessible". Indeed, getting to it is not so easy. In 2011, the association of tour operators included Uchar in the list of the 5 most inaccessible attractions in Russia. The walking tour to the Uchar waterfall takes one full day.
Stone mushrooms
In the Karasu gorge, where the tributary of the same name Chulyshman flows, there are Stone mushrooms - unusual forms of relief, formed as a result of selective washing out (scientifically - denudation) of heterogeneous rocks. These mushrooms grew like this: a block of solid rock served as a kind of umbrella for its foundation. The softer rock around the base was washed away by sediments, and the "stem" grew, grew, grew ... And so on for many, many years.
Ulagan lakes
Several dozen lakes on the Ulagan plateau between Aktash and the village of Ulagan. The largest are Surulukol, Baluktukol, Tuldukol, Uzunkel.
Some lakes are located directly on the Aktash-Ulagan highway, for example, Cheybek-Kol (Dead Lake) and Uzunkel.
The lakes are rich in fish and are therefore a popular destination for fishermen. In some lakes, fish are farmed artificially.
On the shores of the Ulagan Lakes, there are several tourist centers that provide their visitors not only with accommodation, but also fish tours, ATV and horse riding, boating on the lakes.
Organization and support:
- Julia MOREYOrganizer of Author's tours in Gorny Altai and South Urals. Travel and feet guide on the route. I live in Gorny Altai, in the Ust-Koksinsky region.
- I organize multi-day horse and trekking routes to the foot of Belukha and sightseeing tours in Altai. Guide to places of power.
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grezy.altaya@bk.ru
grezy.altaya@bk.ru
