17 students visited AltSU under the student tourism program this year
The youth and student tourism program allow travelling around Russia, staying at the campuses of the universities of the participating cities. Altai State University welcomed 17 people this year, including a large delegation from Buryatia. Another 15 guests are expected to visit in the near future.
Master student of St. Petersburg State University Ioanna Chernova in July visited the base of educational practices of Altai State University "Chemal". She shared her impressions.
– Why did you decide to travel around Altai?
– Altai is quite a popular place, the Internet is replete with photographs of picturesque places of Altai Krai that you want to see with your own eyes. This year I decided to use the full potential of the student tourism program and travel to places that I have long wanted to visit. Altai has become one of such places.
– What sights of Altai did you visit, were they affordable within the student budget?
– On the way to Chemal, I visited the Gorno-Altai Museum, it exceeded my expectations. After settling into the base, I visited the Geyser Lake, but I was more impressed by the Karakol Lakes. You walk along the path through the stones with the thought “How far can I go?”, but the wait is worth it. It is an incredible feeling when you can drink water from a melting glacier... I also visited the Valley of Spirits, excursions to which are often combined with an excursion deep into the Chemalsky tract. Karakol lakes, the Valley of Spirits and the observation deck on the Katun sunk into my soul. The costs of excursions were different, around two thousand roubles, but if you come by car or hitchhike, you can save a lot.
– What did you like the most and what left the most vivid impression during your stay in Altai and at the base?
– These are horses that walk with bells on their necks, these bells constantly rang softly both in the morning, when I left the base, and in the evening, when I returned, and when I went to bed. Sometimes you could hear horses neighing. It's amazing: you open the window, and horses are grazing there. Also, unforgettable for me was the fabulous, black, high starry sky – in St. Petersburg it is often overcast and you will not see such bright stars and the movement of satellites. I remember the evenings by the fire, the river, on the banks of which there is a base, and a local cat.
– What advice would you give to other students planning to visit Altai, in particular, to the Chemal base as part of student tourism?
– For students who are just planning a trip to Altai, I advise to take a power bank and some cutlery. Take a swimsuit to swim and sunbathe. And also, correctly calculate your budget, for example, an average lunch in the Chemal base area will cost about 400-600 rubles. You need to think over your food, trips to the store. I also advise to build your route within the boundaries of the Chemalsky tract – there is something to see there. For example, there is a waterfall, Araktai bridge, Patmos island, and many other interesting places.
Also, a few small life hacks: if you leave the base, take chargers with you, it is possible to charge your phones while you have lunch. You can also put your phone on airplane mode overnight to conserve battery power. Take a book with you so that you have something to do in the evening. Be sure to take warm clothes and a raincoat, as the weather is very changeable and it gets cool in the evenings, even if it was hot during the day.
– You also came to Barnaul under the student tourism program, what did you like about the city?
– Most of the time I spent at work, so I could not enjoy the city to the fullest, but I managed to visit its historical part. Barnaul is a pleasant city, which is great to walk around, I really liked the atmosphere. But the mosquitoes really surprised me, I didn’t see them at Chemal. I liked the equipment in "Univer-city".
– What are your plans for the future, have you planned a new trip?
– This year I am finishing my master's degree, so I decided to use this summer to the maximum: I have already visited the Far East, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, and also Altai.
– Would you like to return to Altai again?
– Yes, I'm sure I'll come again. Next time I want to plan a trip along the Chuya Highway and take my friends with me.