We share the experience of living in Gorny Altai. Where can you stay, what are the prices at recreation centers, are there hotels, what are the living conditions and where to look for places for a tent. 2020 prices and tips.
Before the trip, we knew almost nothing about accommodation in Altai and drove almost at random, without booking anything in advance. We will tell you what prices are in the region, what to expect from hostels and hotels, and where you lived yourself. We will also provide a list of the best tourist centers and hotels in Gorny Altai, according to tourists' reviews.
Our trip... For a month and a half we traveled by car in Gorny Altai and visited all the most interesting places from Manzherok to the border with Mongolia. We share our experience with you in a series of articles about rest in Gorny Altai.
Rumguru - search for hotels, recreation centers and guest houses.
Two different Altai
Let's be clear: there is a tourist Altai (about 100 km along the Katun River to Chemal and the north of Lake Teletskoye; conditionally - to the Seminsky Pass) and, let's say, wild. In tourism - a developed infrastructure and all the benefits of civilization with its shortcomings. But at every step there are comfortable recreation centers.
In the wild - you know yourself: at the tourist centers, convenience is almost always on the street, but beauty and solitude. Several times we lived in the ail - the cone-shaped national dwelling of the Altaians. Recreation centers and hotels are rare, so we advise you to plan in advance where you will spend the night.
Almost the entire trip we lived just behind the Seminsky pass, we tried to stop in tents, if the weather allowed. The camp was set up only on the territory of recreation centers.
Recreation centers in Gorny Altai
The shores of the Katun in the tourist Gorny Altai are almost entirely built up with recreation centers. They look great, usually these are beautiful log cottages in a pine forest. Prices depend on the type of accommodation and start from about 1000-1500 rubles for a double room. Guarded parking (sometimes paid), the territory is fenced. There are barbecues, bonfires, arbors.
Accommodation in tents on the territory of the base is not always possible, check. The cost starts from about 100 rubles per person. Sauna (from 600 rubles per hour), shower (from 50 rubles per person) are paid separately.
In the summer, especially on weekends, we were faced with the fact that there were no places at many bases. If you want to live cheaper, we advise you to book in advance on the Rumguru service. If you are willing to pay more, in principle, you can not book. We did not book anything in advance because we were constantly moving around and we did not have a clear travel plan. We just stopped by those that we saw along the way, or searched on the map in the MAPS.ME mobile application.
Recreation centers in non-tourist Altai are strikingly different - there is no gloss and splendor, there are no amenities. Places for a tent are either from 100 rubles per person, or from 200 rubles. from the tent. The amenities are outside, and there is usually no electricity on site.
Recreation centers where we stayed:
- Eco-base "Green Kolobok" in Aktash - from 500 rubles / person We lived in a house with heating. Excellent soft mattresses. There is Wi-Fi, a washing machine, a shared summer kitchen (everything you need), a sauna, a shower and royal toilets with toilets with soft seats! After a week in the taiga, it's just a luxury. In summer it is sold out, it is better to book in advance. Later they set up a tent there. Book >>
- Cordon Aru-Kem in the Uch-Enmek reserve - accommodation in a village 400 rubles per person, shower - 50 rubles per person.
- Visit center of the reserve "Uch-Enmek" - 400 rubles / person
- On the Jumala sources it is possible to live in houses with plank beds and a stove. The cost is 200 rubles per person. Bathing in the bathtubs (200 rubles / person) and firewood (150 per bundle) are paid separately. Mice in the houses are free and in abundance.
See what prices are for housing in Gorny Altai for two:
Lodging | price, rub. | Example |
Place for a tent | 150-300 | |
Guest house room | from 1000 | Cedar coast |
Ail or house | from 1200 | Thurman |
Resort room 3 stars | from 2200 | Hotel Manzherok |
Excellent Reviews Junior Suite | from 4000 | The ark |
4 star hotel with pool | from 4500 | Leshotel |
Comfortable glamping tent | from 6700 | Saikol Kamain |
Chalet by Lake Teletskoye | from 7000 | Chalet O&K |
Altai Hotels
There are not so many hotels in Gorny Altai - there are much more recreation centers. There are enough hotels in the Chemal region, on the shores of the Katun, Lake Aya, on the Teletskoye lake. The closer you are to the border with Mongolia, the less housing and the worse the conditions.
In hotels, almost everywhere, the cost is in the range of 400-600 rubles per person.
Hotels where we stayed:
- "Kok-Boru" in Ongudai - from 500 rubles / person Toilet, shower and refrigerator are shared, there is a cheap dining room. Boiler with hot water.
- Hotel "Zarya" in Kosh-Agach - from 400 rubles / person Facilities on the floor, there is a shared kitchen, Wi-Fi.
- "Tashanta" in Ulagan - from 200 rubles / person Such a low price due to the outside toilet and lack of shower. Well, the wilderness because.
We can also recommend a private guest house in Chagan-Uzun (at the entrance to the right of the bridge, you will see a billboard with a telephone).
Find out about the best hotels for families with children in Altai.
Rest for savages in tents in Gorny Altai
When we were going on a trip, we thought that Gorny Altai was one continuous place for a tent. Then they read the advice, reviews, horror stories of tourists and decided: it is better to put tents in the protected areas of tourist centers (or tent camps) or very far from roads and villages.
We wrote about this in the article about safety in Altai - there you will learn why it is better to adhere to these rules.
Is it worth it to have a rest in Gorny Altai in tents by savages or choose tourist centers and hotels? We recommend combining! This will add variety and help save on accommodation. Prices at the bases for "campers" are usually either from 100 rubles per person, or from 200 rubles. from the tent.
Since the weather is changeable, follow the forecast. Check in to hotels and recreation centers in bad weather or when you miss comfort. We somehow had to live in a tent on the banks of the Katun for several days when it was raining. There is little pleasure: the humidity is high, things almost do not dry, it is dank.
Advice: Choose tents with high water resistance. Take the sleeping rooms warmer - in August at night the temperature went up to + 9 ° C, and at an altitude of 2000 meters generally up to + 5 ° C, we were very cold. Place a travel mat or air mattress under your sleeping bag if you are driving.
Where we rested in Gorny Altai in tents (and prices for places):
Eco-base "Green Kolobok" in Aktash - from 150 rubles / person Places for a tent are even, on the bank of the stream. They cut the lawn. There is a place to stretch the ropes and dry clothes. You can use the shower for free. Nice toilets. There is a summer kitchen, there is Wi-Fi. Washing 150 rub. Bathhouse 800 rubles per hour. Near the dining room "M-52".
Recreation center "Igistu-kol" by a lake in the taiga on the way to Katu-Yaryk. The cost of living in a tent is 100 rubles. per person. Almost wild conditions: you can wash in the lake (free of charge) or in the bathhouse (700 rubles per hour). Electricity only from the generator for those staying in the house. For a connection, you need to go to a certain point along the road.
Katun coast, an unnamed private area in the village of Izvestkovoye. 80 rubles / person There is no electricity, you can wash yourself in the river or in the bathhouse.
In the reviews, tourists share proven places where in Altai you can set up tents and have a rest for savages for free. I took note of these places, but we did not put up a tent there, so check the places yourself:
- In the area behind the abandoned hydroelectric power station on Chuya, immediately behind the Mena base.
- There is a large meadow on the left bank of the Katun beyond Inegen village.
- behind Chemal in a clearing near the Island.
- On the Biya river, before reaching Artybash, there are several exits to the river.
- There are many places behind the Chike-Taman pass on the banks of the B. Ilgumen River, as well as on the river. Chuya all the way to Kosh-Agach. You just have to go and take a closer look at the places.