The five-square-kilometre Askat Valley is recognised as a natural monument and includes the village of Askat. This brings two travel interests together in Askat: the landscape, with hiking and horse-riding trails, and a village known as the “Town of Masters”. Many artists and craftspeople live here. When choosing a destination, it is therefore worth looking at both sides: the village’s art and cultural sites, and the valley with its seasonal features.
The Askat Valley and its trails
The village of Askat lies within the five-square-kilometre valley, which is recognised as a natural monument. The Askat Valley has hiking and horse-riding trails. Both walking and riding are therefore possible activity options during a stay. If you are planning a specific excursion, check the current access and condition of the trails beforehand. This lets you include outdoor activities in your travel plans without reducing the landscape to a single route.
Crafts in the “Town of Masters”
The name “Town of Masters” is associated with a village where many artists and craftspeople live. The Kauri Ethnographic Gallery in Askat offers an insight into a range of works. It displays pieces by the Kauri family and other Altai craftspeople. Examples include ceramics, hand-forged works, ocarinas and paintings. The range thus extends from functional art and crafts to visual artworks. If you would like to visit the gallery, check its current opening hours in advance.
Cultural sites with different focuses
The Diamond Way Buddhist Centre is situated between a forest and a bend in the Katun. Buddhist lectures, discussions and meditations, as well as celebrations, take place there. This is a different cultural focus from an exhibition of crafts: here, the emphasis is on Buddhist themes and events. If you plan to visit the centre, ask in advance about the specific date and opportunities to attend.
The artists at the Golovan family exhibition hall also lead excursions. Their topics include the history of Askat and Altai legends. Both local history and stories from Altai are therefore among the cultural interests you can explore in Askat. If you would like to plan one of these excursions, confirm the date in advance.
The Blue Lakes nearby
The Blue Lakes are in Chemal District of the Altai Republic, five kilometres from the village of Askat. They can be reached by car via the Chemal Highway through Askat; the route follows the left bank of the Katun. The lakes are therefore a nearby destination, not another place within Askat. At the end of August, the Katun’s water level falls, leaving three separate lakes in hollows. If you want to see the lakes in this particular configuration, check the water level before setting out.
Which focus suits your trip?
When choosing a holiday apartment, thinking about the focus you want for your trip is a good place to start. Art and crafts, the Buddhist Centre and the excursions offer different cultural points of interest in the village. Hiking and horse-riding trails make the valley a destination for outdoor activities; the Blue Lakes are a separate nearby attraction. If you are mainly planning cultural activities, bear in mind that you may need to arrange dates for events and excursions. If you are interested in the lakes, seasonal water levels are a practical factor to consider.
Discover more destinations: Biysk, Ust-Koksa, Smolenskoye, Souzga, Shebalino, Chemal, Basargino, S. Manzherok
See the regional travel overview: Altai Region.
