A Photographer's Guide To The Altai Mountains

If you’ve already been to Moscow and St Petersburg, it’s high time to explore the other side of Russia. With its snow-capped mountain peaks, azure lakes and winding rivers, Altai is a place all nature lovers should visit at least once in their lifetime. With this guide by the professional photographer Cesur Kuchuk, your Altai photos are sure to generate extra Instagram envy.

Altai is a broader term that usually comprises the Altai Republic and Altai Krai, which encompasses the mountains and the national park. If you have enough time, be sure to see these incredibly photogenic places in Altai.

Lake Kuiguk

This fascinating lake, nestled between mountain peaks, will haunt you with its ethereal beauty. It’ll take you a while to get there, but the mind-blowing views are definitely worth it. Actually, there isn’t just one, but several lakes that go by the name Kiuguk.

The main lake is a piercing blue color, while a smaller lake nearby has somewhat of a softer hue. For the most alluring mountain lake reflections, come here at sunset. There’s also a visually stunning waterfall, where you can take great photographs.

Kurayskaya Steppe

Should you choose to visit this trademark Altai location, brace yourself – the views might just sweep you off your feet. If you’re looking to take truly spectacular images, visit Kurayskaya Steppe in the fall; snow-capped mountains overlook the tapestry of red, yellow and green foliage.

Usually the best shots from Kurayskaya Steppe are the ones made during sunset, when trees have softer hues and winding rivers turn bright blue. There are plenty of great angles there, but for more atmospheric photos, you may want to add a person in them. Just be sure to dress for the occasion: yellow, orange and dark-green colours match fall foliage perfectly.

Chuya Highway

Stretching for almost 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), Chuya Highway runs through the entire Altai. You’ll need a couple of days to make the most of it; there are so many photogenic spots, you’ll probably stop every 10 minutes to snap a photo. Chuya Highway is particularly spectacular in the fall: hills and valleys seem to be painted in every shade of red, green and yellow. Of course, the seemingly endless highway is an attraction in its own right.

Belokurikha

Unlike the places we’ve already mentioned, which are situated in the Altai Republic, this one is located in Altai Krai. Belokurikha is a perfect spot to experience winter in Siberia. Consider travelling here late in November. By this time, spectacular pine forests are already covered in snow, and the temperatures are still bearable.

For great shots, drive around the Belokurikha resort, and you’ll be fascinated by the sheer amount of snow and otherworldly trees, entirely covered in ice. If you have a drone, give it a go. You may be able to capture a photo above the winding blue river that has carved its way through the snow powdered forest. Talk about upping your Instagram game.

Beside being an ultimate bucket-list destination, Altai is a sheer photographer’s goldmine. Visitors can truly experience the diversity of Russia’s nature in just one area. There are snowy cloud-piercing mountains, sky-blue lakes enclosed by picturesque cliffs, stunning waterfalls and lush forests – all that beauty is here, in Altai, waiting to be captured with a camera.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.