Mountain Altai is an amazing region that combines gently sloping plains and bizarrely rising rocks, the sound of waterfalls and the silence of gorges, the tranquility of mountain peaks and the rapid flow of rivers. And the village of Chemal, the capital of the district of the same name, is the center of picturesque places and unique natural sites. Special microclimate (here warmer than anywhere else in Altai), natural beauty, rich aromatic mountain air and easy accessibility attract a large number of tourists here.
Modern hotels with a range of various services and developed infrastructure allow you to enjoy the benefits of civilization, while only two or three kilometers away is wild, untouched, virgin nature. Holidays on Chemal allow you not only to enjoy unique picturesque views, but also to get unforgettable experiences, including extreme ones. More on all this below.
How to get to Chemal
The road route to Chemal begins in Novosibirsk, Barnaul or Gorno-Altaisk. From these cities the famous Chuisky tract leads to the village (route P256 Novosibirsk - border with Mongolia). In the area of the village of Ust-Sema, you need to turn from Chuysky onto the Chemalsky tract (the Ust-Sema - Chemal - Kuyus highway). The distance from Ust-Sema to the resort is 37 km, from Gorno-Altaisk – 89 km.
The village can be reached by intercity bus from Biysk, Barnaul or Novosibirsk. Two routes depart from Novosibirsk daily (morning and night), travel time is 9 hours 30 minutes. Departure point is Avtovokzal metro station in Novosibirsk.
4 flights depart from Barnaul every day: morning at 07:40, afternoon at 13:45 and 14:40, night at 02:15. Travel time is from 6 hours 05 minutes to 6 hours 40 minutes.
From Biysk (Altai Territory), in addition to ongoing flights from Barnaul, 2 flights depart daily: at 10:30 and 15:05. Travel time is from 3 hours 45 minutes to 5 hours 20 minutes, depending on intermediate stops.
All buses heading to the resort make a stop at the Gorno-Altaisk bus station, so no additional routes are organized from the capital of the republic.
Interesting places in Chemalsky district
Kamyshlinsky waterfall is located 13 km from the Biryuzovaya Katun base. It has two cascades, the height of the water fall is 12 m. You can get to it through the Tsarskaya Okhota recreation center along a suspension bridge or from the village of Ust-Sema on the left bank of the Katun along a path. The waterfall is always the center of attention of tourists. There are walkways on it that go straight under the rock. The bravest tourists bathe in sparkling ice streams.
Mountain Altai is famous for its clean water and many springs. Hiking tourists who often visit these areas say that you can drink water here from any stream, lake or source. Not far from the village of Askat there is the Silver Spring - an inconspicuous spring, the water from which contains silver. After crossing the bridge over the Askatka River, following the signs, it is easy to get to it on your own.
And don’t forget a container to collect tasty and healthy water.
The last point of the Chemal tract is the village of Kuyus, famous for two attractions - petroglyphs and the Kuyus waterfall. The road to it from Chemal passes through the Elandinskaya Valley - a place of amazing beauty, where green picturesque hills “pretend” to be real mountains, and the aroma of field herbs fills the air. Kuyus Grotto and Kyzyk-Telan are two petroglyph compositions located 100 m from each other. Kuyus is also a kind of landmark - in 2012 it turned 400 years old. 7 km from Kyzyk-Telani there is one of the largest burial grounds - mounds.
The riches of Gorny Altai are inexhaustible. There are many more interesting places in the Chemal region that you can see on your own if you are traveling by car.
Climate and weather in Chemal
Chemal gained its popularity not only for the beauty of the surrounding nature, but also thanks to the surprisingly mild microclimate characteristic of the valley. The average annual temperature in Chemal is +4.4 °C - this is approximately the level of Kazan and Veliky Novgorod. For example, in neighboring Gorno-Altaisk the average annual temperature is +2.8 °C, in Barnaul – +2.6 °C, in Kemerovo – +1.3 °C. In addition, the weather here is very often sunny - the number of cloudy days per year does not exceed 42. And the third factor influencing the microclimate of the resort is the low wind speed: in December and January it is 2 m/s, and in other months it is almost completely calm. So the valley is dominated by calm, sunny weather with much higher temperatures than in the surrounding cities and towns of Southern Siberia.
Despite all the delights of the local climate, Chemal is still characterized by seasonality. All four seasons are pronounced: the average temperature in January in the village is -10.9 °C, in July - +18.9 °C. Climatic spring sets in in March, and by April all the snow melts away. Winter begins in November, when permanent snow cover sets in. The average annual air humidity is about 70%; in April and May it does not exceed 60%. The amount of precipitation during the year is 525 mm, the most precipitation falls in July - 105 mm.
Nature
If you list the natural attractions of Chemal, then the first on the list will be its air. There are several reasons for its uniqueness:
- Firstly, the climate in these places is strikingly different from that typical of the Altai Republic. There is almost no snow here, and the winter temperature rarely drops below -8 degrees, while just 10-15 km from the village it reaches -25. In summer it is warm and sunny here, which is also not typical for other areas. In terms of the number of sunny days, it can be compared with the Crimean coast.
- Secondly, the air is filled not only with ozone, but also with essential oils. This is due to the relict pine forest growing nearby, the trees of which emit these same oils.
- Thirdly, moderate dry air, which is facilitated by the absence of swamps. Many travelers who have been here know everything about Chemal and its attractions, but are not aware of one amazing phenomenon. There are no mosquitoes here, which is completely unusual in places near water and forests.
- Fourthly, the mountains surrounding the village with their alpine meadows contribute to the cleanliness and ozonization of the air.
The nature of Chemal has become the main reason for its popularity among tourists.
When is the best time to go
Now Chemal is a year-round resort, so the choice of time for a trip depends on the goals being pursued. In winter, tourists come here for snowmobile rides and dog sled rides. Many vacationers visit the resort in March to welcome spring, which comes here much earlier than anywhere else in Southern Siberia. By the end of March - beginning of April, all the snow in the valley melts, and the temperature can rise to +20 °C.
The most suitable period for walks in the surrounding mountains, waterfalls and lakes is from June to October. In June – August, mountain rivers and lakes warm up, so seasoned tourists can swim in them. In September and October, the time of golden autumn comes, which is especially beautiful here.
Population
The usual population of Chemal is a little over 4 thousand people; in general, the rural settlement of Chemal with its subordinate settlements is 4,500 inhabitants. However, during the tourist season it increases many times thanks to the tourists who come here. The vast majority of local residents are Russians and Altaians by nationality.
Cultural
For those who decide to relax and improve their health in Altai, it will be interesting to know what sights to see in Chemal related to local traditions and people. One of these objects is cultural.
It consists of 4 yurts, each of which highlights the life and customs of the Altai people:
- the first yurt is dedicated to national clothing and household items;
- the second provides information about the elders of the clans about whom materials and photographs were collected;
- the third is a yurt for thinking about peace, religion and friendship; the attributes of faith are presented here;
- the fourth tells about the nomadic life of the Altai people.
The museum is young, but more than 12,000 people have already visited it, which indicates people’s interest in the history of Altai and its inhabitants.
Where to stay in Chemal
The choice of places to stay in Chemal is really great. In this sense, the village differs little from other Russian resorts in its accommodation facilities.
- Standard 2-3 star hotels. The advantages include complete landscaping, heating in winter and air conditioning in summer, a bathhouse in the yard and even a swimming pool. Cost – from 1000 RUB per day.
- Rooms in poorly equipped hotels or small houses. This is the most common type of housing in Chemal. Facilities are located on site, and hot water is often heated in tanks in the sun. Bathhouse - for a fee. The cost of accommodation in such hotels is from 500 RUB per day.
- Cottages and houses for rent - 2-3 room houses with full amenities and good repairs. The cost of such housing usually starts from 9,000 RUB per day.
- The private sector is the most diverse type of housing in Chemal. Presented from granny-type rooms and summer houses to quite decent dachas. Facilities are usually located in the courtyard; residents are allowed to use a summer kitchen and shower. Cost – from 400 RUB.
Recreation centers on Chemal
With the development of tourist routes throughout Russia, interest in traveling around the Altai Mountains has grown sharply, and especially to Chemal with its easy accessibility and unique microclimate. There is a large selection of recreation centers, houses and rooms in mini-hotels in the area. You can find different price options: both for a weekend trip and if you want to spend a vacation here. It all depends on the location of the recreation center on Chemal and the range of services provided. But residents of surrounding Siberian cities also like to spend weekends in Chemal, so it’s best to book your accommodation in advance.
And now to the prices.
A one-bedroom apartment at the Les & Mountains hotel will cost you RUB 4,500 per night. The hotel has a very good location: you can easily walk to the main attractions of Chemal.
There are also more budget accommodation options here. For example, a stay in the guest house “Usadba U Gory” costs 2,500 RUR for a double room with a balcony.
Another very interesting housing option on Chemal is the “Dream Shore in Altai” estate . There are several accommodation options here, but, for example, a one-story house with a balcony-terrace overlooking the river costs 4,000 rubles per night. The view, I must say, from here is breathtaking.
The Chemal region is not only the village of Chemal. In the neighboring villages: Elekmonar, Anos, Askat, Uznezya, prices for accommodation at recreation centers are not much different from the cost of living in Chemal. But the environment there is quieter and calmer than in the village of Chemal, which is the district administrative center.
What and where to eat
As the main tourist center of Altai, Chemal is not at all deprived of places where you can eat delicious food. The entire Chemalsky tract is literally dotted with restaurants, cafes and eateries for every taste and budget. In the village itself, the concentration of food places reaches its climax. In addition to the usual Russian, Asian and European cuisines in tourist places, tourists in Chemal are given a rare opportunity to try the traditional cuisine of the Altai people.
The most common Altai dish is kocho soup, prepared from meat on the bone with the addition of pearl barley flour. Another traditional Oromo dish is the local variety of manti. It is also recommended to try kan blood sausage, local salty kurut cheese, kaymak sour cream and boorsogi (puffs without filling). For lovers of especially exotic dishes, it will be interesting to try salted tea with milk and talkan (pearl barley).
From more traditional cuisine, 3 of the most popular Altai products can be noted. First of all, this is the famous Altai honey, secondly - pine nuts, presented in an assortment from ordinary unshelled nuts to nut halva. Well, the apotheosis of local cuisine - dishes made from maral meat, red deer meat bred by the Altai people. Venison dishes are quite expensive, so cafes and restaurants usually prepare them by pre-order. Alternatively, you can purchase venison in the form of sausages and dried pieces in bulk.
Transport
The village of Chemal itself is quite large, so moving around on foot is not so easy. The vast majority of vacationers come here by private car, but there are also many “horseless” tourists. 3 bus routes are designed to help such vacationers, all of them start from the “GES” stop south of the village itself:
- No. 1 goes to the “Konechnaya” stop in the north of the village, the length of the route is 23 km;
- No. 2 runs to the Tursib stop in the settlement of Tourbaza Katun, length - 45 km;
- No. 3 is the longest route, the final stop of which is “Ust-Sema” in the village of the same name, the total length is more than 78 km.
The second way to get around the resort and surrounding area is by taxi. There are many taxi services in Chemal, and there are even more private cab drivers. Another option is to bring your own or rent a bicycle from the hotel. With its help, you can easily explore the immediate surroundings of the village. But you still can’t get to remote places without a car trip. Exotic means of transportation, more like a tourist attraction, include horseback riding and dog sledding.
Mount Camel
A recognizable tourist place in the Chemal region of the Altai Republic. This mountain is included in popular tourist routes due to its close location to the main attractions of the surrounding area.
It got its name because of the shape of the ridge, which resembles the back of a Bactrian camel. The path to the top starts from the microdistrict of the same name. The path is well trodden here and can be seen from afar. Therefore, even without excursions it is easy to find it on your own. However, to climb to the very top, you will have to work hard: the climb up the steep slope is quite difficult. It can be difficult for an unprepared tourist to get to the very top. The path from the foot of the mountain to the top takes about an hour for people with good physical fitness. And the reward is a delightful view of the surrounding area and the mountain landscape for which Altai is so famous. The Katun River Valley is in full view from here. Other natural monuments and beautiful tourist places are also visible.
The highest point is located at an altitude of 927 meters above sea level (the right “hump” of the Camel, the southern ridge). The elevation difference from the starting point of the trail to the very top is more than 400 meters. The tourist route leads precisely to this part of the mountain: there is little forest here, so a wider and more bewitching view opens up. At the very top is the Russian flag. For many who climbed here, a photograph with him is like a sign of victory over the rigors of such a difficult path.
The route to the top of the mountain is only popular from spring to late autumn, as long as there is no snow. In winter, snow cover makes these steep slopes slippery and inaccessible.
This mountain is ranked among the iconic natural monuments of the Altai Republic.
Sights of Chemal
The main attractions of Chemal are associated with its surrounding nature, primarily the Katun and Chemal rivers. They have different characters and even the color of their water is different. If the Chemal is a turbulent narrow river with clear water, then the waters of the Katun are distinguished by an unusual turquoise color. At the confluence of two rivers, the waters of the Chemal appear dark against the background of the bright turquoise waters of the Katun; for a long time they do not even mix and flow downstream separately.
Another natural attraction of the resort is the island of Patmos, which received its name in honor of its Greek namesake because of the Church of St. John the Evangelist that was once located here. It was on Patmos in the Aegean Sea that the prophecy of the Apocalypse was once revealed to John the Theologian. The only way to Altai Patmos is by cable cars stretched over the mouth of the Katun. On the island itself there is now a replica of the burnt church. Now on the island there is a monastery of the Barnaul Znamensky Monastery, but the nuns themselves do not live on Patmos, but on the shore.
The main man-made attraction of Chemal is the hydroelectric power station located at the confluence of two rivers south of the village. The local hydroelectric power station was built in the 30s, but now its power is not enough for the expanded village. To enter the power plant you need to pay 450 RUB; here you can see the unique mechanisms of the 30s that still provide electricity. For passage through the territory of the power plant to the confluence of the Katun and Chemal, a fee of 100 RUB is also charged, but this can be avoided if you bypass the hydroelectric station along a mountain path along the river bank.
The legendary Chemal hydroelectric power station: description and photo
Chemal Hydroelectric Power Station
The hydroelectric power station in Chemal is an open-air museum and a popular destination for mountain tourism. She hasn't worked for a long time. Tourists flock here to explore the structure, take many interesting photos and just have a good time.
Despite the fact that the building has not been functioning for its intended purpose for a long time, all the structures are well preserved, including the dam. The water flowing through it creates turbulent streams, and it is impossible not to capture this in the photo: almost all tourists use such a beautiful backdrop.
From a significant object for Chemal and the surrounding area, the hydroelectric power station has turned into a recreational facility. Extreme entertainment is organized here - bungee jumping from the dam, a rope park, a cable car, including an extreme descent from the mountain. There are also quieter activities. For example, a shooting gallery and various games, a cafe. In summer there is a water park here.
Not a single tourist leaves without a souvenir: numerous souvenir shops offer them. And photo studios are organized in specially equipped tents, where tourists are invited to try on the image of a primitive man.
Living water and dead
The fairy tale in reality is embodied here in the form of two sources - with “dead” and “living” water. The first one should not be drunk due to its high iron content. But it is useful for bathing and rubbing: they note that such procedures help cope with the appearance of acne. “Living” water has a beneficial composition and can be drunk for its general strengthening effect. If you wish, you can take water with you.
Legend of the Leader
A mystical story is connected with the hydroelectric power station near the village of Chemal, which has come down to us from the times when it was still functioning. Stalin himself should come to the opening of the building. On this occasion, one gifted prisoner from these places was assigned to paint a portrait of the leader. He did his job perfectly and met the deadline. But having angered the caretaker for some reason, he was beaten. Angry at this attitude, he spat directly on the canvas, ruining it, for which he received an extension to his sentence. Stalin never came to the opening, but the portrait was still hung in the engine room. After the death of Joseph Vissarionovich in 1953, workers began to talk about seeing his ghost in the corridors of the station. And in the evenings the smell of pipe tobacco hung around here, although smoking on the premises was strictly prohibited. The anomalous phenomena passed only after a flood occurred, flooding the building itself and the portrait along with it.
Tips for tourists
Although Chemal is the object of the most civilized tourism in Altai, certain safety measures must still be observed when walking in the vicinity of Chemal. Shoes should be comfortable, well-worn in and suitable for mountain hiking. It is better to wear clothes made from natural materials, as synthetic fabrics are not as comfortable and can tear.
In spring and early summer, it is highly recommended not to go into tall grass. There are snakes in the vicinity of the village, but the most terrible enemy, as in all of Siberia, is ticks that carry tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease.
Most vacationers dream of swimming in the turquoise waters of local rivers. However, you need to remember that even on the hottest days the water temperature does not rise above +14 °C. So swimming is only available to seasoned tourists, while others are better off contenting themselves with hotel pools.
Chemal is often called the gateway to Altai, since it is usually from here that tourists begin their acquaintance with Altai. Chemal can boast of an optimal combination of local beauty, accessible location and relatively low prices.
Camp sites
Modern tourist centers appeared in the village quite recently, but they also offer guests to improve their health, and not just enjoy the appearance of the region. Each of them provides not only a comfortable life, but also rich excursion programs in the surrounding area.
Many of them are located near the beaches on the Katun River in picturesque places, but no matter what the attractions of Chemal are, the description cannot convey all the beauty and unique charm of this place. It’s better to come and check everything in person, experiencing the healing air of Altai and the friendliness of its inhabitants.
