The Golden Ring of Altay route is the longest in terms of distance and time. Thanks to this, you will be able to see many sights of the Altay Mountains. The 4x4 vehicle is necessary, since the asphalt pavement of the road is only on the Chuya Highway.

1. Gorno-Altaysk

In Gorno-Altaysk, visit the National Museum. Here you can see interesting collections on ethnography and archeology of Altay. You will see the famous Princess Ukok. After that, go to Teletskoye Lake in the village of Artybash. The distance from Gorno-Altaysk to Artybash is 160 km. The road has an asphalt surface.

The building of the National Museum in Gorno-Altaysk

2. Teletskoye Lake

Take a walk along the embankment of the village of Artybash. If you have time, visit the Teletskiy Ski Resort. Then get on the boat. You will have to go by boat the entire Teletskoye Lake to the southern shore, where the Chulyshman River flows into it. Look at the beautiful rocks of the lake, which go steeply into the water. Make a stop near the Korbu Waterfall.

Teletskoye Lake in the Altai is a tectonic crack, sandwiched between the rocky mountains

Korbu Waterfall near the eastern shore of Lake Teletskoye

3. Chulyshman River Valley

From the southern shore of Lake Teletskoye, go to the Valley of the Chulyshman River and settle in one of the campsites near the Akkurum site. On the opposite bank of the river, on the slope of the mountain, there are famous Stone Mushrooms.

Stone Mushrooms in the valley of the Chulyshman River are one of the main attractions of the Altai Mountains

View of the Chulyshman River Valley from the viewpoint on the Katu-Yaryk pass in Altay

4. Uchar Waterfall

The whole day should be allocated for hiking to the Uchar waterfall. The distance from the river bank to the waterfall is 8 kilometers in one direction. This route is not difficult even for untrained tourists. You will walk along the beautiful Gorge of the Chulcha River.

Uchar Waterfall in the Altay is one of the most beautiful and powerful waterfalls in Russia

The gorge of the Chulcha River and the cascade of the Uchar waterfall in the distance

5. Katu-Yaryk Pass

After that, go to the Katu-Yaryk pass. From the observation deck of the pass there are very beautiful views of the gorge. The incredible energy of the Altay Mountains is felt here. From the pass, follow the Ulagan road in the direction of the Chuya Valley. Make several stops along the way: near the Pazyryk Mounds, the Red Gate, the Ulagan Lakes and at the Ulagan Pass. The distance from the Katu-Yaryk pass to the village of Aktash, where the Chuya Valley begins, is 100 kilometers.

Fantastically beautiful views of the Chulyshman River Valley from the top of the Katu-Yaryk pass

The energy of Altay at the top of the Katu-Yaryk Pass is felt especially strongly

6. Aktru Glaciers

After spending the night in the vicinity of the village of Aktash, plan a visit to the Aktry Glaciers. They are located in the North Chuya mountain range. It rises very beautifully above the Kuray steppe. Mountain peaks are covered with snow even in summer. In the village of Kuray, you can rent a cross-country car with a driver who will take you to the Aktry Mountaineering Camp. It is impossible to get there by your own car. From the Intermediate base to the Aktry Mountaineering Camp, the road goes through a very picturesque Aktry Valley. It is best to walk along it.

Early morning at the Aktru Mountaineering Camp before climbing the mountains to the glaciers

Horses in the Aktru River Valley

Take a walk around the Aktry Mountaineering Camp. It is located in a grove of relict cedars, in a narrow mountain valley. The next day, plan an ascent to the Blue Lake. This is the only route that people can walk without special training and equipment. You will see the Big and Small Aktry Glaciers. The beauty of the mountain scenery is breathtaking.

7. Blue Lake on Aktru

Take a walk around the Aktru Alpine Camp. It is located in a grove of relict cedars, in a narrow mountain valley. The next day, plan an ascent to the Blue Lake. This is the only route that people without special training and equipment can walk. You will see the Big and Small Aktru Glaciers. The beauty of the mountain scenery is breathtaking, this is also part of the route along the Golden Ring of Altay.

Turquoise color of water in a Blue Lake near the Bolshoy Aktru glacier

On the left - the Blue Lake, on the right - the flow of the Big Aktru glacier

8. Altay Mars

After completing the journey to the Aktry Glaciers, return to the Chuya Highway and drive south to the village of Chagan Uzun. Next to it is another unique attraction - Altay Mars. Here you will see colorful mountains that really look like Mars. There are mountains of red, yellow, blue, pink, white, as well as all shades of these colors. After visiting the Mars-1 location, go down the creek bed (3 km) to the Mars-2 location.

The colored mountains of Altay Mars are a unique attraction of the Altay Mountains

The red and yellow color of the mountains prevail on Altay Mars

9. Chuya Highway

After Altay Mars, start your journey along the Chuya Highway towards Gorno-Altaysk. This road has been connecting Siberia with Mongolia and China for thousands of years, so you will see many natural and archaeological attractions on it. The total length of the Chuya Highway from Novosibirsk to the border with Mongolia is 942 km, but only the section from the Kuray Steppe to the Seminsky Pass (240 km) is of interest to tourists.

The North-Chuya ridge above the Chuya Highway

Geyser Lake with turquoise water is one of the most famous attractions of the Altay Mountains

Mandatory stops on the Chuya Highway are the Geyser Lake, the confluence of the Chuya and Katun and the Kalbak-Tash Archaeological Complex. You can also make stops at the Adar-Kaya petroglyphs and at the monument to the drivers of the Chuya Highway. After 300 km, the road goes along the Chuya Valley and the Katun Valley. There are very beautiful views around every corner. At the Seminsky and Chike-Taman passes, you need to make short rest stops.

10. Manzherok and Barangol

Near Gorno-Altaysk, the Chuya Highway again runs along the Katun Valley. There are small hotels and guest houses in many places, but the most interesting for tourists are the surroundings of the villages of Manzherok and Barangol. A ski resort has been built in the village of Manzherok, in Barangol you can walk along the Altay taiga to the Kamyshlinsky Waterfall.

The current of the Katun River in the village of Barangol is very fast

A pedestrian bridge over the Katun River in the village of Barangol connects the territory of the Tsar`s Hunting Hotel on both banks

The village of Chemal, which is located on the rocky shore of Katun, is very popular with tourists. Here you need to visit the island of Patmos, where the Church of St. John the Theologian, the Chemal hydroelectric power station and many other natural attractions are located.