A disused mine, a high-mountain cascade and millennia-old rock markings offer very different perspectives on the landscape and history of the Republic of Khakassia. The Tuimsky Collapse formed at the site of an underground mine that closed in 1954; it is about 1.5 kilometres from the village of Tuim. At the edge of the collapse are a viewing platform and a suspension bridge over the depression. Check before your visit whether both facilities are currently open.
Lakes between high mountains and a salt basin
The Ivanovskie Lakes form a cascade of four freshwater lakes. They are fed by glacial meltwater, and small waterfalls connect the individual lakes. The lakes lie in the Kuznetsk Alatau at an altitude of 1,300 metres, in Ordzhonikidzevsky District. They attract hikers in summer and freeriders and snowmobilers in winter. However, the third and fourth lakes are accessible only to well-prepared or experienced tourists.
Salt Lake Shunet lies at an altitude of 390 metres in a narrow mountain hollow, 18 kilometres southeast of the village of Shira and eight kilometres south of Lake Shira. Deposits of therapeutic mud up to one metre thick lie in the centre of the lake. Lake Itkul offers a different kind of waterscape: it is three kilometres from Lake Shira and is a freshwater lake whose exceptionally clear water is often compared with that of Lake Baikal.
The waters of Lake Itkul and the surrounding area are protected as part of the Khakassky Nature Reserve. A visitor centre with exhibitions about wetlands is located on the shore. Visits are possible only by prior arrangement and accompanied by a reserve specialist.
Routes with special visitor requirements
The Tropa Predkov hiking trail near Efremkino in Shirinsky District is 3.5 kilometres long and follows an out-and-back route. A multifunctional visitor centre opened at the trailhead in 2023. There you can get information materials and advice about attractions in Khakassia and the trail; the centre is accessible to people with disabilities. There is also a car park and a toilet.
The Oglakhty mountain range lies on the left bank of the Krasnoyarsk Reservoir. Numerous petroglyphs have been found on its rocky outcrops; several hundred burial mounds and other historical monuments are nearby. The routes in the Oglakhty protected area, including the stairway trail up the mountain, can be visited from May to October. An advance permit is required for entry, and the routes may be visited only with a guide.
The Sunduki mountain range is a natural and historical monument of republican significance in Ordzhonikidzevsky and Shirinsky districts. It features rock carvings and structures for observing the sun and moon and tracking calendar cycles. Researchers believe that in ancient times these structures served as an open-air observatory. The most common route goes around the First Sunduk. Some guides stop to show rock carvings at the Fourth and Fifth Sunduk; check with your guide whether this stop is included.
Archaeology, museums and local cuisine
The Ulug Khurtuyakh Tas menhir is about 4,500 years old and dates from the Okunev culture. The Ulug Khurtuyakh Tas Museum is located at 1 Shosseynaya Street, in the aul of Ankhakov in Askizsky District, on the Abakan–Ak-Dovurak road. A yurt at the museum houses an exhibition about Khakass folk medicine; the yurt belongs to the Im Tom Eco-Ethno Lab. Check current visiting arrangements with the museum in advance.
The Poltakovsky Khaya Khoos open-air museum includes 93 stone stelae with about a thousand depictions, including animal figures and runic inscriptions. Archaeological finds also tell stories of different eras: archaeologists discovered a Neolithic settlement in Proskuryakov Grotto. The finds are up to 24,000 years old; the ochre drawings on the walls are dated to about 4,500 years ago. The Great Salbyk Kurgan is a key part of the Drevnie Kurgany Salbykskoy Stepi open-air complex and dates from the 5th to 4th century BC.
The Kazanovka Museum Reserve is in Askizsky District, 132 kilometres from Abakan and five kilometres from the village of Kazanovka. Offerings include short guided tours of exhibitions in the Khakass aul, with a visit to the White Stone, as well as excursions to rock carvings, burial sites and other locations. Check current availability in advance. For tastings of national cuisine, the menu and order must be discussed or placed several days before the excursion.
Discover more destinations
Kharkov, Tashtypsky District, City of Abakan, Abakan, Sayanogorsk, Shira, Abaza, Zhemchuzhny, Cheryomushki, City of Sayanogorsk
Return to the overarching travel guide: Russia.
