What to choose for a trip – Altai or Karelia?

Choosing between Altai and Karelia is not just choosing a point on the map, but choosing the format of an adventure. Both regions are currently experiencing a tourism boom, but the recreation they offer differs as much as the noise of a mountain river differs from the silence of northern lakes. To ensure your vacation doesn't turn into a series of unmet expectations, we've prepared a detailed guide to the country's two most popular destinations.

It's best to plan your trip in advance, especially regarding logistics. For example, you can buy tickets to Gorno-Altaysk on Kupi.com to immediately find yourself surrounded by majestic peaks, or book tickets to Petrozavodsk on Kupi.com if you want to start your acquaintance with Karelia from the embankment of Lake Onega.

Prices

Karelia: The region is traditionally considered more budget-friendly. Its proximity to major cities allows for even weekend trips. The main expenses are accommodation in cottages and boat trips. Renting a boat for the Ladoga skerries will cost an average of 5,000 – 10,000 rubles per group. In general, Karelia forgives spontaneity: you can always find a nice guesthouse at a reasonable price here, if you don't tie yourself to holidays.

Altai: Saving money here is harder. The main expense is transport. Altai is vast, and all the most interesting places are beyond the Chike-Taman Pass, which ordinary cars struggle to reach. You will need either an SUV rental (from 10,000 rubles per day) or payment for individual tours in specially equipped vehicles. Prices for quality accommodation during peak season (July) can be shocking, and a flight from the central part of the country often consumes half the budget.

Service

Karelia: The service here is more “polished” and straightforward. You'll find many modern resorts with panoramic windows, Scandinavian design, and stable Wi-Fi. Karelia has long learned to host guests: excursion routes like Ruskeala Park are thought out to the smallest detail – with illuminated paths, clear navigation, and coffee shops at every turn.

Altai: A land of contrasts. On one side of the scale are world-class luxury hotels, on the other – authentic tourist bases where the only amenities are mountain views and an outdoor toilet. Service in Altai is often called “wild”: everything here relies on personal arrangements with local guides. Be prepared that for your money, you'll be offered not highly trained staff, but sincere care and campfire stories that you can't buy for any millions.

Cuisine

Karelia: This is a paradise for fish and northern berry lovers. Be sure to try lohikeitto (creamy salmon soup) and kalitki – open rye pies with potatoes or berries. Here, cloudberries, lingonberries, and blueberries are revered: they are added to meat sauces, made into fruit drinks, and fantastic jams.

Altai: Nomadic culture reigns supreme here. The main dishes are meat (lamb, maral venison) and dairy products. Try kocho (a rich meat soup with pearl barley), Altai cheese kurut, and tea with talkan (roasted barley), salt, and butter. This is hearty, simple, and very high-calorie food that perfectly restores strength after a long hike.

Weather and Insects

Karelia: The climate here is mild, but very humid. Summer is rarely hot (average +20 °C), and rains can start and stop five times a day. The main downside is midges and mosquitoes. In June and July, there can be an indecently large number of them in the forests, so it's not advisable to go outside without powerful repellents and head nets.

Altai: The weather in Altai is unpredictable: during the day you might get sunburned at +30 °C, and at night you'll bundle up in a down jacket as the temperature drops to +5 °C. The air here is dry, making it very easy to breathe. As for insects, the main danger in Altai is ticks, especially in May and June. There are significantly fewer mosquitoes in the mountains than in Karelian forests, but annoying midges can bother you on high-altitude plateaus.

Souvenirs

From Karelia:

• Products made from Karelian birch (caskets, jewelry) – they are incredibly expensive, but very beautiful.

• Cosmetics based on shungite.

• Karelian balm and cloudberry jam.

• Smoked trout (best bought directly from farms before departure).

From Altai:

• Honey – Altai mountain polyfloral honey is considered one of the best in the world.

• Products made from pine nuts: oil, cake, halva, and even “pine nut coffee”.

• Products from maral antlers (dietary supplements, creams) for health and longevity.

• Herbal teas and the famous mumiyo.

What to choose?

If you seek aesthetics, comfortable forest walks, tranquility by the water, and proximity to civilization – your path leads to Karelia. This is an ideal place for family vacations and short trips.

However, if you crave scale, are ready to overcome difficulties for cosmic views, dream of horseback riding, and want to feel the true power of the mountains – book your tickets to Altai. This journey will change your perception of nature once and for all.

Whichever region you choose, remember: the main thing is not the number of stars a hotel has, but your readiness to be amazed. Have a pleasant journey!