Pearls of nature

Tchemalsky Region

The Region disposes several recreational centers and tourist complexes, as well as numerous places for "non-organized" camping-tourism. The Tchemal Region is very popular among tourists due to beautiful nature and picturesque landscapes of the Katun banks, birch and pine forests and parks, rather low wooded mountains.

Touristically, the Tchemal Region is considered one of the most developed Altai regions. The so-called "rural" tourism with the elements of "active recreation" - is the main tourism type in the Region.

From Tchemal one may easily walk to the Katun Hydro-Electric Power Station, to the valleys of the rivers Kuba and Tchemal, to v. Anos (House-Museum of G.I. Tchoros-Gurkin).

Warm humid summers, snowy and relatively mild winters are characteristic of the Region. In summer maximum temperatures may reach +36-+38C. In some years very low temperatures were observed, with the absolute minimum in Tchemal - 46C. Average January temperature is - 12,6ŚC; the duration of the period without frosts (in days) - 123, average annual precipitation amount equals 584 mm.

V. Tchemal - the center of the Tchemalsky region - is situated 95 km southward from Gorno-Altaisk (approximately 3 hours by car). There is bus communication with Gorno-Altaisk.

Presently, there are 13 tourist bases on the territory of Tchemalsky Region. "Rural" tourism - a new type of tourism (accommodation in a village in local people's private houses) is especially developed. The basis of this type of tourism is the use of family resources: dwelling houses, bee-gardens, personal plots, hayfields, cattle, transportation means, cultural and spiritual heritage, free labor forces.

The largest tourist institutions of Tchemalsky Region are:

Tourist complex "Katun" . V. Uznezya, 17 km away from Ust-Sema. One of the oldest tourist complexes of Altai, founded in 60-ies. Capacity - up to 500 people.

Tourist base "The Katun Crown" . V. Barangol. The base is 44 km away from Gorno-Altaisk, 310 km away from Barnaul. Capacity - up to 45 people.

Tourist base "Raft-Premiere" . Near v. Tcheposh. Capacity - approx. 50 people.

Tourist bases "Areda-1" and "Areda-2". 6 km away from v. Tchemal, on the bank of the Kuba River. Capacity of each - approx. 25 people. Tourist base "Areda-1" - a 2'' building for 14 people.

Rafting programs under instructors' guidance are offered at tourist bases "The Katun Crown", "Raft-Premiere", "Areda-1" and "Areda-2", at the tourist complex "Katun".

Tourist base "Katun" offers excursions, horse-riding tours, children's camp, a unique 10-days journey "Around the Golden Ring of Altai"; bronchitis, asthma and other diseases treatment is also offered. Other ways of "active recreation" are possible at other bases. Sports equipment for hire. The "Areda" bases offer individual programs, which include hunting and fishing. There is a consultation center of tourist agency "Sibalp" (Novosibirsk) in v. Anos. The center offers help in the organization of tours and rafting. Experienced guides-instructors.

The opening of the Arts Salon, offering articles of folk trade and souvenirs, is planned. In the middle of July, a Bards' Song Festival is held at tourist base "Katun".