At the attractive junction of the Chemal and Katun Rivers, ever-expanding Chemal is heavily touristed in summer but remains a good base for regional explorations and makes a very pleasant day trip from Gorno-Altaisk, 95km further north.
Chemal bus station (22517; ul Pchyolkina 62) is opposite a cute brick church (ul Pchyolkina 69a) with a metal-spired wooden tower. Walk two blocks south past the central shops and a small park, then turn right to find the Altaysky Tsentr (22327; ul Beshpekskaya 6; individual/group R100/300). This comprises three Altai-style wooden ail-huts with pointed metal roofs. One is an Altai library, another celebrates Churos-Gurkin’s ethnographic work, but most interesting is the traditional ‘home’ ail (tent-like dwelling) where septuagenarian curator Alexander Bardin demonstrates Altai crafts, shows how traditional fire-stones work, explains sheepskin nappies and brews talkan Altai tea. It’s well worth the entry fee if your Russian (or Altai/Kazakh/Turkish) is good enough; opening hours vary.
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