Altai Mountains
Russia · Altai Republic · 900 m
Description
The Altai Mountains (Алтайские горы) rise in southern Siberia where Russia meets Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China, a range of glaciated peaks, larch forest and dry steppe that carries the UNESCO listing Golden Mountains of Altai. The Chuysky Trakt runs the length of it from the Katun valley up onto high open plateau, and most travel here follows that road. Mount Belukha closes the southern end at four and a half thousand metres, sacred to the Altai people and the target of the main treks. Scythian burial mounds and rock carvings sit beside the highway. Winter shuts most of it down.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 5 to 12 days (optimal 7 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: June – September
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Golden Mountains of Altai (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Chuysky Trakt through the Katun valley
- Lake Teletskoye and its shoreline waterfalls
- Kurai steppe and the North Chuya ridge panorama
- Mount Belukha base camp trek(Multi-day trip)
- Katun river rafting (June - September)
- Katu-Yaryk pass and the Chulyshman valley
- Multinskiye lakes trek(Multi-day trip)
- Kalbak-Tash petroglyphs
- Geyser Lake near Aktash
- Patmos Island and the Chemal hydro station
- Denisova Cave and its excavations
- Tavdinskiye caves above the Katun
- Karakol valley and the Scythian burial mounds
- Maral antler baths on the deer farms
- Ukok Plateau and the Pazyryk kurgans(Multi-day trip)
Getting there
- Airports:
- RGK