Which of us does not like to travel, discover new places, watch the beautiful and little-known? Such a pastime is not only entertaining and interesting, but also broadens one's horizons, helps one get closer to nature, calms nerves and improves mood.
The most fascinating and curious journey through the territory of our homeland can be a tour of the Altai mountains, reviews of which will be given in this article.
What is this area? How is it remarkable? What should I look for and what places can I visit while traveling in Altai? The answers to these and many other questions are recorded below.
Mountain Altai. What it is?
First of all, it is a beautiful diverse region, where high powerful mountains are buried in bright valleys and deep lakes, and their peaks touch the skies with snowy peaks.
Mountain Altai has virgin forests resting on gentle slopes, quiet transparent streams and a variety of unusual representatives of flora and fauna.
The nature of the Altai Mountains is striking in its many-sidedness and pristine nature. Clean air and a refreshing wind, snow-capped peaks of mountains and enchanting green lowlands, picturesque open spaces and elegant ponds. Travelers note that while traveling in Altai, the spirit is breathtaking from such magnificence and solemnity of wild virgin nature, where a person’s foot has rarely yet set foot. The power of mountain peaks, the splendor of the plant world, and the expressiveness of mountain lakes also fascinate . Expressiveness and relief, and sometimes the gentle simplicity of the Altai landscapes do not leave anyone indifferent.
What you need to know if you are going to go hiking in Altai?
Recommended Season
First of all, you need to determine the date of travel. The best time for a hiking trip in Altai is August and September, when there are fewer ticks in the thickets and when there is the least water on the roads and in the gorges.
Where to stay
Of course, you can travel around this region year-round, especially recently, when many recreation centers appeared on the foothills for every taste and budget. First of all, these are the villages of Chemal and Teletskoye, in which small tourist hotels are located, quite convenient and comfortable even for fastidious guests. You can get here on the way or by public transport.
But still it’s no secret that the most interesting and most beautiful places in Altai are those where buses do not reach and where you can be reached only on foot. These picturesque hinterlands (more precisely, one of them - Lake Darashkol) will be discussed below.
What to see
The mountains of the Altai Territory are rich in exotic colorful places where it is pleasant to spend time, it is convenient to relax both in soul and body, and to escape from life's worries and hardships.
First of all, this:
- Sophia Glacier Gorge (located near the village of Beltir);
- Kyzyl-Chin gorge (located beyond the village of Chagan-Uzun);
- repeater (located behind the village of Aktash, the view from the very top is simply breathtaking);
- Teletskoye Lake (especially at night, you can reach the reservoir through the village of Artybash or through the valley of the Chulyshman River);
- pass Katu-Yaryk;
- Lake Darashkol.
We’ll talk about the last picturesque place in more detail.
Where is Darashkol
According to the administrative-territorial division, this reservoir is located in the Ust-Koksinsky district, the center of which is the village of Ust-Koksa (translated from the Altai language - “blue water”).
This area is located in the south-west of the Altai Republic and is considered a mountain-steppe zone. Its total area is 12,958 square kilometers.
Ust-Koksinsky district, according to its administrative location, is a border territory in which border guards have the right to require a passport from tourists, and even a pass in the border zone. This should be considered for those who go to this area for walks.
Ust-Koksinsky district is rich in picturesque landscapes. There are high mountain peaks, seething Siberian rivers and other beautiful ponds, one of which is Lake Darashkol.
It is not without reason that this reservoir in the Altai dialect is called “Beautiful Lake”. In the mountains where it is located, especially exquisite and magnificent sunsets are observed. Also, as many tourists note, a festive and festive atmosphere reigns here, which is composed of high snow-capped peaks and a quiet surface of transparent waves.
The pond is located in the Katun Range, in the Yoldo-Ayra Valley, which is the left tributary of the Kucherla River. Let's get acquainted with this area in more detail.
Picturesque frame of a reservoir
Darashkol is a real lake in the mountains, as it is geographically located within the Katun Range. The length of this mountain range is one hundred and fifty kilometers. Its highest point is the snow-capped Belukha Mountain , the height of which reaches more than four and a half kilometers.
The ridge, consisting of granite and metamorphic schists, is diverse and attractive due to its vegetation cover. Up to a height of two kilometers, cedar and deciduous forests grow here, and above meadows, rocks and even talus prevail.
Glaciers with impressive massiveness are located along the ridge, the total area of which almost reaches three hundred square kilometers.
The Kucherla River, to the basin of which Lake Darashkol belongs, is formed by the confluence of two sources flowing from different glaciers. The length of Kucherla reaches fifty kilometers, and the basin area is about six hundred thirty-five square kilometers.
As you can see, the nature surrounding Darashkol is picturesque mountains, dense forests and river valleys. There is always something to see and there is always something to admire.
A little about the pond itself
Before describing Lake Darashkol, it should be mentioned that it is located at an altitude of almost two kilometers two hundred meters above sea level. Majestic cedars grow around the pond, aromatic lingonberry hides, tall larches quietly sigh.
The lake is eight hundred and ninety meters long and three hundred and thirty meters wide.
The pond is very inaccessible to travelers, but this does not detract from its attractiveness. Numerous tourists from different countries spend a lot of time and effort to get to this wonderful corner of nature and fully enjoy its virginity and beauty.
How to get to this lake? A detailed route will be given below.
Note to traveler
First of all, you should know that the lake can only be reached on foot. Where to start?
If you take the city of Biysk, known to all Altai tourists, as a starting point, you should take the direction to the M-52 highway and keep the path to the village of Ust-Sema. At this interval, the road is asphalt, very convenient and comfortable for any type of road transport.
In the village you should drive through the old bridge and climb to Semensky Pass, which can also be easily overcome by personal car at any time of the year. After the descent, the travelers will be met by a fork, where it will be necessary to choose a direction to the villages of Ust-Koks and Ust-Kan.
Thus, having traveled two hundred kilometers, tourists get to the beginning of the Uyman steppe, beyond which, if you drive another sixty kilometers, the village of Tyungur will be.
Tourist centre
This village is the starting point in our route. There are many tour operators and organizations offering their services for delivering travelers to the lake. You can offer walking tours, which on average last about six to seven days, or horseback riding lasting four days or more.
What you need to know when going on a similar tour?
Recommendations and Tips
First of all, if you have never been to a lake, do not rush to go there yourself. This is best done with a guide and instructor, as well as with several fellow travelers.
If you want to get to Lake Darashkol comfortably, then choose a horse ride. You can ride a horse quite comfortably (if you don’t know how to do this, then you will certainly be taught this at the camp site). Moreover, the advantage of horse riding lies in the fact that you can put the load on the animal, and go on foot yourself, admiring the beautiful views.
On such tours it is best to take warm clothes, as it is cold in the mountains, especially at night and even in the summer.
The duration of the walking route is about a hundred kilometers, so you should have the necessary physical and moral stamina to go on such a trip. Children under twelve years old are better not to take. Most likely, none of the guides and guides will dare to take children of primary and secondary school age into their group.
Going on such an interesting and unforgettable trip, it should be remembered that during the trip there will be no mobile connection. This should be prepared mentally and psychologically. But nothing can distract you from the contemplation of the natural beauties and virgin depths of the Altai Territory.
You should also be prepared for the fact that cooking does not lie on the shoulders of the instructor or guide, but the traveler himself. It is unlikely that you will meet a restaurant or at least a dining room along the way. Therefore, it is worth stocking up on food in advance so that you can maintain your strength on this difficult but beautiful path.
Moreover, during the trek you will need to listen to the tips and recommendations of a guide who will tell you how to wade a river with a strong current, cross gently sloping rocks and climb steep peaks.
And finally
As you can see, a trip to the Altai mountains is a very interesting and stressful pastime. To consider the rich nature of the Altai mountains and valleys, you should have extraordinary stamina, dexterity and courage. However, the result is worth it. The virgin nature around Lake Darashkol (the goals of this route) will amaze you with its beauty and expressiveness, tenderness and emotionality, colorfulness and expressiveness.
With a little patience and effort, you will see beautiful, breathtaking places. These are lush deciduous forests, and dense plantations of high cedars, and prickly overgrown lingonberries and blueberries, and the gentle expanse of lake waters, snow-capped mountain peaks, and much, much more that cannot be expressed in words and that you only need to see and feel.