Altai

• Hotels • Tours

Altai is evenly called the pride and a pearl of Siberia. You will hardly find the second such surprising corner which has united in itself the beauty of Tibet and the Alps. Everyone who has ever visited Altai, are admired by this unique beauty. Altai in the language of local people means „gold mountains".

The capital of Altai territory is Barnaul. It is one of the largest commercial and industrial centers of Siberia, the center of education and culture. The population of the territory is 2,7 million people. They are the representatives of 110 nationalities. The official language is Russian, but inhabitants of Altai are capable to communicate in German and English languages. Administratively the territory is divided into 60 areas, 11 cities, 5 of which are the regional centers. There are 1638 settlements on its territory, of which 925 are with the number of inhabitants less than 500 people.

Climate of Altai on plains is sharp-continental with long and cold winter, and hot and droughty summer. The basic rivers: Ob, Biya, Katun and Chuya. The largest lakes are Kulundinskoe, Kuchukskoe and Mikhailovskoe. Altai territory has significant stocks of minerals: non-ferrous metals, mercury ores, iron ore, manganese, tungsten, molybdenum, bauxites, gold and other elements. Several resorts using medical sources with radon water and therapeutic muds are located in the territory. A resort of world value is Belokurikha having surprising radon – silicate sources.

Altai is not only great creation of the nature, but also a museum of ancient culture in the open-air. Altai territory is one of the most interesting corners of Russia. During the last three years it was visited by the tourists from 60 countries of the world. What attracts foreign tourists? Climbers and mountain skiers are attracted by the unique mountains; the people interested in history and geography, by the inexhaustible minerals, a lot of archeological monuments; fans of hunting – by the woods in which bears, marals, elks, foxes, wild boars and wood-grouses are found.

In Mountain Altai any kinds of tourism are possible: automobile drives, horse tourism, mountaineering, mountain-skiing tourism, and the pedestrian hikes. Practically each person, having visited once Mountain Altai, comes back here again to enjoy the nature and the cleanest mountain air. During your travel to Altai you can stay at the hotel of the European level, in a wooden small house on bank of the mountain river or simply in a tent.

Altai has everything necessary to be developed and be improved: rich and various fauna and flora, the fertile grounds, the developed economy and fine people.