The Chuysky Tract is the easiest route to Aktash. From there, the Ulagan Plateau, the Akturu Glaciers, and the Shavla and Karakabak Lakes are easy to reach. If you are considering accommodation in Aktash, you can first check whether the village works as a base for these regional scenic destinations and fits your travel plans. The nearby area also has lakes and rock formations with different features: Geyser Lake is seven kilometers from the village, and the Red Gate is 15 kilometers from Aktash.
Getting There and the Red Gate
The Chuysky Tract is often described as one of the most beautiful roads in the world. The Red Gate is located on the Aktash–Ust-Ulagan road and is designated a natural monument of the Altai Republic. Its tall cliffs stand out for their reddish color. The cliffs are made of multicolored igneous rocks formed from solidified lava; cinnabar in the local rocks gives them their rosy-red hue.
The road passes between the cliffs of the Red Gate and crosses the Chibitka River over a small bridge. This location along the road also helps orient visitors to the striking rock formation. For travel to Aktash, the Chuysky Tract is the main reference point; for the Red Gate, the road toward Ust-Ulagan is also relevant. Road conditions can change, so it is worth checking the latest situation before setting out.
Lakes in the Surrounding Area
Cheybekkyol lies in the Chibitka River valley near Aktash and the Chuysky Tract. Its name means “elongated lake.” The lake has an unusual shape and is fed by meltwater and mountain streams that flow into it from the Chibitka River. Both its location in the river valley and the incoming water shape the character of this body of water.
Geyser Lake offers a different perspective: it is a small spring-fed pool, 20 to 30 meters in diameter, in the Myone Creek basin. There are no geysers there. The water is clear, and patterns on the bluish lakebed resemble a cross-section of malachite. While Cheybekkyol is characterized by its valley setting and tributaries, Geyser Lake is defined by the pool’s small size and its strikingly patterned bottom.
Planning a Visit to Geyser Lake
Geyser Lake is near the Chuysky Tract. A wide wooden walkway leads directly to the lake from the grounds of the Malenkiy Ray tourist base. Access arrangements may change, so check the current options before your visit. This keeps the specific access route part of your planning without assuming that access via the walkway is always available.
The distances of seven kilometers to Geyser Lake and 15 kilometers to the Red Gate provide different reference points for the area around Aktash. Also nearby are regional destinations that are easy to reach from Aktash: the Ulagan Plateau, the Akturu Glaciers, and the Shavla and Karakabak Lakes. When choosing where to stay, you can weigh these scenic destinations and the route along the Chuysky Tract as separate considerations in your travel plans.
Discover more destinations: Katun', Biysk, Kamlak, S. Manzherok, Rybalka, Vlasikha, Petropavlovskoye, Askat.
View the main travel overview: Altai Region.
