Parks — Zabaykalsky

In Alkhanay National Park, forested mountains of dense conifers rise above the steppe. There are many mineral springs—some are drinkable, others form natural baths where tourists bathe; the water is cold and invigorating even in summer. The park has four hiking routes from 2 to 92 kilometres: "Stone Fence" (2 km) passes several picturesque stone formations; "Small Goroo" (10 km) is a pilgrimage route around the massif with several mineral springs and viewpoints along the way; "Summit" (16 km) is a radial route to the park's highest point, Mount Alkhanay (1,662 metres); and the "Great Pilgrims' Trail" (92 km) is a difficult, self‑sufficient route that takes at least a week. Many natural sights and tracks are described at idilesom.com. You can hire a guide by emailing [email protected] or calling 8 (30256) 2 16 21. A permit is required to visit the park and can be bought at the checkpoint; a permit for one person costs 200 rubles for the entire stay. Best time to visit is May–September. The park is open in winter but trails are not cleared and the mineral baths freeze. Bring cash for park services—phone and internet coverage is poor. Accommodation: book a cottage (500–1,000 rubles per person) or a tent camp (about 200 rubles per place) on the park website or by phone at 8 (30256) 2 16 21. How to get there: take the Chita–Duldurga bus. Tickets cost 1,100–1,300 rubles, travel time 4–5 hours; tickets can be bought online at tutu.ru or at the bus station. Six buses run daily. From Duldurga you can take a taxi to the park (25 kilometres to the checkpoint) or hitch a ride with locals.

Kodar National Park contains about 20 glaciers, dozens of mountain lakes, cascades of waterfalls and alpine meadows. The highest point of the Kodar range is peak BAM (3 073 metres). Main attractions include uranium mines, the Marble Gorge, the Medvezhy (Bear) Pass and several lakes: Sleeping Beauty, Uglovoye and Alyonushka (on the territory of the Chara Sands). Tourist routes usually start from the settlement of Novaya Chara, home to just over four thousand people. Hiking alone and without experience is not recommended: routes are dangerous, the taiga is truly wild with sharp temperature swings and sudden weather changes. Bears, foxes, wolves, lynx, wolverines and snow sheep inhabit the park. If you go hiking here, notify the Emergency Ministry (MChS) and the Novaya Chara administration of your group composition and planned route. The best time to visit Kodar and the Chara Sands is mid‑summer, when hot weather sets in (around +25 °C) with minimal rain — then camping overnight and staying in huts during a trek usually presents no problems. Various travel companies run trips in Kodar: “Territory of Adventures”, Siberian Hike, “Sila Territory”. Depending on duration, such tours cost 50 000–110 000 rubles. How to get there: you can fly from Chita to Novaya Chara (flights run every other day). A one‑way ticket costs from about 15 000 rubles per person with baggage; flight time is 1.5–2 hours. Another option is by train with a transfer: first Chita–Skovorodino (along the Trans‑Siberian, about 20 hours), then Skovorodino–Novaya Chara (along the BAM, about 12–13 hours) — the total cost is almost the same as flying: about 12 000–15 000 rubles.

One of the most unusual wooden buildings in the city. The bay window still has its original coloured glass.

The city's main park, though not very large. It has rides, children's playgrounds and fountains; in winter an ice rink is flooded. At the entrance there's an exhibition of military equipment from the 1930s–1940s. The park was founded in the late 19th century but fell into neglect in the 1990s. During the most recent renovation in 2010 the park was restored to its original appearance.

"Tuzhi" is an open‑air nature art park created by the artist Dashi Namdakov in his native village of Ukurik. Dashi is one of Siberia's best‑known sculptors and jewellers; his works can be seen in Kyzyl (capital of Tuva) and London. From 2022 to 2025 about 20 large art objects were installed in the park: a suspension bridge over the river at the entrance, the sculpture "Arrow of Genghis Khan", stone menhirs, a golden yurt pavilion and more. New works by Namdakov and other artists are added every year. The park has revitalised Ukurik: residents gained jobs, the village's infrastructure developed—roads and a bridge were built—and tourists arrived. You can stay overnight in the park: the external buildings look like rural cottages but inside they have stylish, modern finishes. Cottages cost 10,000–14,000 rubles per night, capacity three people. There are also hotel rooms for 7,000 rubles. How to get there: public transport is difficult. The settlement of Mogzon is 20 kilometres from the park; an electric train runs from Chita to Mogzon twice a day, the trip takes almost three hours and a ticket costs 400 rubles. From Mogzon you'll need to take a taxi onward.