Chuysky tract is the most famous road in Altai region. It’s a road of federal significance P-256 (also known as M-52). Historical Chuysky tract started from the bridge over the Biya River in Biysk town, crosses the territory of all the Altai mountains and finishes at the state borderline between Russia and Mongolia. Its length is 616,7 km. The modern P-256 high way starts in Novosibirsk (since 1961), the length is 962 km. Today the whole road is covered by asphalt.

In 2014, National Geographic magazine included Chuysky tract in the list of the ten most beautiful roads in the world.

On the Chuysky tract there are two passes: Seminsky (583 km of the tract, 1717 m.a.s.l.) and Chike-Taman (659 km of the tract, 1295 m.a.s.l.). On the territory of Novosibirsk region Chuysky tract runs across the plain, gradually rising in Altai region, and passing into the Altai Mountains in the Republic of Altai. Fields are replaced by mixed forests and steppes (Kurai and Chuya steppe). Serpantine route goes along the rivers Katun and Chuya.

Key settlements on the tract: Novosibirsk, Novoaltaisk (turn to Barnaul), Biysk, Maima (turn to Gorno-Altaisk), Ust-Sema (turn to Chemal), Onguday, Chibit, Aktash (turn to Ulagan), Kurai (turn to Aktru valley), Kosh-Agach, Tashanta (Russia’s border gate).

It’s one of the oldest roads in Russia. The record about the road can be found in Chinese chronicle of one thousand’s prescription. And the first records in Russian writing sources are met since 1788, when Russian merchants first reached the Chuya River in Kurai steppe for trading with Mongolia. That time it was just a mountain path, along which you can only ride the horse. When riding the most narrow rocky sections rider walked to the starting point and put a cap on the way to show an opposite caravan to give its way to another one. Otherwise, it was impossible to pass each other. The absence of a paved road (about 250 kilometers from Ongudai to Kosh-Agach) complicated trade and international relations of the Russian Empire in Central Asia. The first road Khabarovka – Kosh-Agach, suitable for carriages, was built at the end of 19^th century. Later, it was improved, but due to the lack of repair works it was in a very bad condition very soon by 1914. That’s why the expedition was sent to the Altai with the aim to make a project of building a new road. However, the work was interrupted by the revolution and the civil war, so the work was resumed again only in the 1920s. Chuysky tract was put into operation in 1935.

Chuysky tract attracts thousands of tourists, drivers, bikers, cyclists, hitchhikers. The most developed tourist zone is focused from Ust-Sema to Chemal, near the village Manzherok, Aya Lake and Turquoise Katun. Fans of ethnographic tourism and untouched nature are invited to the Republic of Altai (Ongudai, Kosh-Agach and Ulagan districts).

On the territory of Novosibirsk Region and Altai Region drivers will not have problems with petrol and repair stations, while the Altai Republic is sparsely populated, and we recommend to solve all problems with car refueling and repairing in advance, to avoid empty tank.

In Biysk town you can visit the museum of Chuysky tract.

See also Karakol valley, Kalbak-Tash

See also all tours going along Chuysky tract