Anex Tour noted that it is committed to long-term cooperation with the Altai Krai. "Today, we have all the prerequisites for developing the tourism industry in Altai: government support, the interest of commercial organizations in promoting Russian "The region's attractiveness, the popularity of its resorts among tourists, and its rich natural resources all contribute to its promising future," the tour operator's press service reported.
How much does it cost and how to get there?
Anex Tour announced that tours to Altai will be offered on scheduled flights with Ural Airlines, S7, and Aeroflot. The company is also prepared to offer tourists ground handling services without the need for a flight. "If there is stable demand for this product, we are prepared to consider charter flights in the future," Anex Tour noted.
The company emphasized that prices for package tours to Altai will be more competitive than those for independent bookings.
According to Alena Gromova, Domestic Market Director at tour operator Coral Travel, the cheapest tour to Altai costs 32,000 rubles per person, excluding airfare. "This is a seven-day rafting tour along the Middle Katun River. Tours that involve rafting on the Katun River are the cheapest, as tourists camp along the route," she explained.
As Janis Dzenis, PR Director of the search engine Aviasales, told Interfax-Tourism, the average price for a flight from Moscow to Gorno-Altaysk (Altai Republic) in 2018 was 33,600 rubles. Direct flights from Moscow and Novosibirsk are offered only by S7 Airlines, while Yamal Airlines operates direct flights from Krasnoyarsk and Chelyabinsk. Aeroflot, S7 Airlines, and Ural Airlines operate daily flights from Moscow to Barnaul (Altai Krai).
According to him, demand for air tickets to the Altai Krai in the first five months of this year remained at the same level as last year.
What does Altai offer?
Both companies noted that the Altai region's tourism infrastructure is well-developed. "The Altai region has numerous recreation centers, sanatoriums, hotels, and children's health camps. There are also ample food outlets and shops," Anex Tour reported.
According to A. Gromova, there are fewer hotels in the Altai Krai than tourist centers and sanatoriums. "The most famous and visited hotels by tourists are Belovodye, Tsentralnaya, Barnaulskaya, Kolos, and Zmeinogorsk. Meanwhile, the extensive rail and road network covers all the main tourist areas: Biysk, Belokurikha, Zmeinogorsk, Yarovoe, and Zavyalovo," she said.
Rafting, hiking and Belokurikha
According to A. Gromova, tourism in the region primarily consists of hiking and horseback riding, as well as rafting on mountain rivers. "Altai boasts many beautiful natural sites: hundreds of lakes, Denisova Cave, cliffs, rivers, nature reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries. To promote tourism, the "Small Golden Ring of Altai" and "Great Golden Ring of Altai" routes have been developed, and special recreation areas have been created, such as "Biryuzovaya Katun," offering opportunities for active and wellness recreation," she said.
Anex Tour's press service noted that the region has developed spa treatments, extreme tourism, and horseback riding. "We plan to send tourists on excursions to mountain valleys, offering views of incredible lakes and untouched nature," Anex Tour explained.
Both companies emphasized that Altai tours are ideal for wellness trips. "The region is famous for the Belokurikha resort, which offers spa treatments using radon mineral waters and beneficial mud. Thousands of tourists come here annually for their wellness," Coral Travel reported.
Source: tourism.interfax.ru