Aya — Manzherok — Chemal. A Gentle Start
The route begins in the village of Aya — the perfect gateway to Gorny Altai. The eponymous lake greets you with warm water and a calm atmosphere: boat rentals, swimming, and a suspension bridge over the Katun right at the shore. Nearby is the impressive Aya bridge-viaduct, worth seeing for its engineering aesthetics alone.
Next — a 15-minute drive to Manzherok. The village itself is unremarkable, but it's home to one of the must-visit spots on the route.
Chairlift to Malaya Sinyukha
From the mountain summit, one of the best panoramic views of the Katun River, Lake Manzherok, and surrounding ridges opens up. At the top — viewing platforms and a café. The ascent takes about 30 minutes, and every one of them is worth it.
The final stretch of the day — 50 km to Chemal, the main tourist hub of Lower Altai. Several landmark sites are concentrated here: the rocky island of Patmos with its church and suspension bridge, the picturesque Chemal Spit — the confluence of the Katun and Chemal rivers, the old hydroelectric station turned tourist complex, and the 'Goat Trail' — a narrow path carved along the cliff above the river.
In Chemal and its surroundings — dozens of guesthouses and tourist camps. Book one or two nights to take your time.
Elekmonar and the Road into the Mountains
The morning can be devoted to what you didn't finish yesterday: a leisurely walk to Patmos Island, a visit to the temple. Then — a drive back to the Chuya Highway and on to Elekmonar, about 100 km.
Along the way, stop at the 'Love Stone' — a place everyone calls by different names (Shishkular-Katail, Chisty Lug), but the essence is the same: a stunning meander of the Katun framed by cliffs and forest.
Elekmonar village itself is typical for the Altai, but from here, routes to the region's true treasure begin.
Karakol Lakes — a chain of seven high-altitude lakes, each with its own character and water color. The road is challenging: you need a 4WD vehicle or an arrangement with local drivers. But if time allows — this is one of the most impressive places on the entire route.
Another local attraction — the 'Dragon's Teeth' rocks (Tydtuyaryk): bizarre stone formations against mountain slopes.
Heart of the Chuya Highway. Passes and River Confluences
The most action-packed driving day — about 360 km from Elekmonar to Aktash. But this section is the quintessence of the Chuya Highway: the road people come here for.
Chike-Taman Pass (1,295 m)
A steep switchback, one of the most famous on the highway. At the summit — a viewing platform with views of endless mountain ridges. Climbing the old road, you feel the scale: this isn't just a pass, it's the gateway to a different Altai.
In the village of Kupchegen, take a rest stop: they sell authentic Altai tea, mountain honey, and kurut — dried curd that's convenient to take on the road.
Confluence of Chuya and Katun (Chuy-Oozy)
A place sacred to the Altai people, where the murky white Chuya flows into the turquoise Katun. A powerful landscape that impresses even seasoned travelers. Nearby — parking and cozy yurt cafés.
On the way to Aktash, several more stops await: the 'Red Gates' — a narrow passage between cliffs with a reddish tint from cinnabar content, ancient petroglyphs near the village of Inya, and an impressive 1930s suspension bridge — one of the engineering marvels of its time.
Aktash. Martian Landscapes and a Pass in the Clouds
Aktash is the key transport hub of southern Altai. Roads branch from here to Ulagan, Katu-Yaryk Pass, and further south to Kurai. This day is worth dedicating entirely to day trips.
'Martian Landscapes'
Multicolored clay hills a few kilometers from the highway, just before Aktash. Red, yellow, and ochre stripes against the mountains — a feeling of being on another planet. Easy to reach, no 4WD needed.
Katu-Yaryk Pass — 2–3 hours from Aktash. From the cliff edge, a breathtaking view opens onto the Chulyshman River valley: a green ribbon of river winds between sheer canyon walls hundreds of meters below. One of the most photographed spots in the Altai.
If you don't have a 4WD — take the Ulagan Highway to the Blue Lakes. The road over the pass is beautiful in itself, and the lakes with their incredible water color will stay with you for a long time.
Kurai — Tashanta. The Edge of the World
After Aktash, the landscape changes dramatically. The forest retreats, mountains grow taller, and the air becomes drier and colder. You enter the Kurai Steppe — a vast intermontane basin at an elevation of 1,500–1,600 meters.
North Chuya Range
The route's main panorama. Icy peaks (including Mount Aktru) tower over the dry steppe — a contrast impossible to convey in words. Best time for photos — dawn and sunset, when the snowy summits glow gold and pink.
At the foot of the mountains hides 'Kurai Babylon' — bizarre weathered rock formations resembling ruins of an ancient city.
Next — 110 km to Tashanta through Kosh-Agach, the district's largest village and center of Altai Kazakhs. After Kosh-Agach, the asphalt ends and the road 'to the edge of the world' begins: harsh steppes, strong winds, absolute solitude.
Tashanta is a border post where Mongolia begins. No attractions in the traditional sense, but the very atmosphere of the road's end, the sense of a frontier — that is the route's climax.
Ukok Plateau — a legendary high-altitude plateau (UNESCO site) south of Tashanta. Getting there is difficult: you need a special border zone permit, a 4WD vehicle, and several days. But this place, where the 'Altai Princess' was found, is unlike anything else on the planet.
For the night, return to Kosh-Agach or Kurai — Tashanta itself has virtually no infrastructure.
The Road Home
The return follows the same Chuya Highway, but it's not a repeat — you'll see everything from a different angle, in different light. Stop where you rushed past on the way up: take a closer look at the petroglyphs, drink tea in a yurt by the river confluence, bathe in hot springs. The road back is always faster, but don't rush — the Altai reveals itself best to those who take their time.
