Ru
1 – Everyone can;
10 – Everest climber.
We’ll meet at the city of Mineralnye Vody and go to Pyatigorsk. Upon arrival, we’ll have a short walk through the main attractions. We’ll visit the Tsvetnik Park, a favorite place of the locals, and see the Aeolian Harp — a symbol of the city, a gazebo, from where you can enjoy an impressive panorama of Pyatigorsk.
We’ll have lunch in one of the cafes and continue our way to the village of Cheget, where we will check into a hotel.
In the morning, the cable car will take us to the slopes of Mount Elbrus to enjoy the view of the snow-capped peaks shimmering in the rays of the sun. If the weather is not good enough, instead of Elbrus we will go to the top of Mount Cheget.
Further, we will continue our way to Kislovodsk. Upon arrival in the city, we’ll be transferred by a off-road transport to a magical place — the Bermamyt Plateau, where we’ll watch the sunset. Sheer cliffs, bizarre columns, resembling the scenery from some fantastic movie, and, of course, the majestic Mount Elbrus in the golden glow of the setting sun.
We will spend the night at the hotel in Kislovodsk.
In the morning we’ll take a walk along the cozy streets of Kislovodsk and visit the famous Narzan Gallery to taste the naturally carbonated mineral water. Then through the Gumbashi Pass we will move towards Dombay. On the way we’ll stop at an ancient mountain lake, which is about 10,000 years old. In the village of Dombay we’ll stay for the night at the hotel.
After breakfast on the chair lift we’ll go up to the clouds, to the very top of Mussa-Achitara Mountain. We’ll enjoy the breathtaking views, see a hotel shaped like a flying saucer, and take multiple pictures. Then we’ll have lunch with a panoramic view.
In the afternoon we’ll go trekking in the Teberda Nature Reserve. The minibus will take us to the Alibek mountaineering camp, and from there we’ll walk up the picturesque path to the Alibek Waterfall. This is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Dombay, about 25 meters high. The trail to the waterfall is just as impressive, it offers unforgettable views of snowy peaks, glaciers and colorful alpine meadows.
Those who are not ready for long mountain trekking can stay in the village to rest or walk around.
In the morning we start off to the village of Nizhny Arkhyz. From here, on an off-road vehicle, we’ll go to the valley of the Sofia River, to the legendary Sofia Waterfalls. This place is the visiting card of Arkhyz. Powerful streams of water, originating from the Sofia Glacier, crash from high rocky ledges, showering the travelers with millions of droplets. We’ll walk along the waterfalls and have a picnic with fresh khychins — traditional filled flatbreads — and fragrant mountain tea (for an extra charge).
We’ll spend the night at the hotel in Arkhyz.
Note: In April and May, a trip to the Sofia Waterfalls may be replaced by an excursion to the White Waterfall.
In the morning we’ll go for a walk around Nizhny Arkhyz. We will visit the ancient settlement, where, presumably, the capital of the Alania kingdom was located a thousand years ago. There are several temples and ruins of other buildings, as well as an ancient solar calendar made of stones, that has been preserved here. On the rocks near the settlement we’ll see an image of Christ, the origin of which is still unknown.
We’ll continue our journey along the Main Caucasian Range. We’ll stop at the most picturesque points on the way and in three hours we’ll arrive in Maykop, the capital of Adygea.
Upon arrival, we’ll check into a hotel. Those who wish can walk around Maykop in the evening.
In the morning we’ll go to the Lago-Naki Plateau to take a look at the expanses of Adygea from a bird’s eye view. Then we’ll go down to the underground world — the Big Azish Cave. We’ll watch the unusual forms of stalactites and stalagmites, and admire the fabulous illumination of the halls. We’ll have lunch in a cafe with national cuisine.
Then we’ll return to Maykop, where our journey ends. We’ll arrive in the city around 13:00-15:00.
Meeting of the group at 12:00 at the railway station and at 12:30 at the airport of Mineralnye Vody. You need to arrive before 12:30. We will meet you with a “Strannik” sign at the arrivals hall. Transfer to Pyatigorsk will take about an hour, and then we’ll continue our way to the highlands according to the program.
Note: If you arrive at any other place or much earlier than the rest of the group, you will need to get to the airport by the designated time. We will not be able to pick you up from the hotel or another point along the way, as it violates the safety regulations. If your time of arrival differs from the rest of the group, we can help you book an individual transfer (for an extra charge).
The end of the program is in Maykop on the 7th day of the tour at 14:00–15:00 local time. You’ll need to get to the airport or the railway station by yourself.
If you plan to continue your vacation at the seashore, you can get from Maykop to Sochi by the high-speed train departing at 07:00 in the morning the next day after the end of the tour. The travel time is 5 hours. In this case, you’ll need to purchase a train ticket and book a hotel in Maykop by yourself.
Note: We kindly ask you not to purchase the tickets until the manager sends you a confirmation and guarantees that the tour will take place.
Meeting of the group at 12:00 at the railway station and at 12:30 at the airport of Mineralnye Vody.
We recommend booking tickets for the flights arriving before 12:30.
The end of the program is in Maykop on the 7th day of the tour at 14:00–15:00 local time. You’ll need to get to Krasnodar by bus or by taxi.
From Maykop, you can also get to Sochi, Adler or Tuapse by the high-speed train, which leaves every day early in the morning. In this case, you will need to spend the night in Maykop, buy a train ticket and leave the next day after the end of the tour. Travel time to Tuapse is 3 hours, to Sochi — 5 hours, to Adler — 6 hours.
During the trip we will travel by a comfortable Mercedes minibus. You should be prepared for elevation changes and serpentine roads. We recommend bringing pills for motion sickness.
Transfers to the difficult terrains will be carried out by UAZ or other all-terrain vehicle.
The whole route is about 1,300 km long.
We’ll stay in hotels in double rooms with private facilities: Adygea (1 night) — Arkhyz (1 night) — Dombay (2 nights) — Kislovodsk (1 night) — Prielbrusye (1 nights).
In remote mountain villages there might be rooms with shared facilities.
Single accommodation is available at extra cost. Ask the manager for the details.
Note: The price of the trip is based on double accommodation. If you are traveling alone, we will try to find a roommate for you from the tourists of our group, but we cannot guarantee this. Usually there is a roommate, but if there is not, you will need to pay extra for single accommodation.
If you need a single room and don't want to stay with anybody, specify this in the comments to your application.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
The average daytime temperature in the lowlands is +10…+25 °C, and in the highlands it can decrease to +3 °C. Night frosts are possible.
The weather in the mountains is changeable — you can observe all the seasons within one day. You should be ready for the rain.
This tour is suitable for anyone who is not afraid of heights (2,000–3,000 m above sea level).
Children are allowed to participate from the age of 7 and only if accompanied by their parents.
The Karachay-Cherkess Republic is located in a border area. For all foreign citizens, including citizens of the CIS, a pass is required. The issue of the pass takes at least 45 days.
The checklist #74 will help you prepare for this trip.
Caucasian cuisine includes a variety of spicy and baked dishes, and a lot of dairy products.
All the breakfasts in the hotels are included in the price of the tour. Lunches and dinners in the cafes are at additional cost. On the active part of the route the participants buy and carry the snacks by themselves.
Since this is a group tour, the food is the same for all participants. Unfortunately, we cannot prepare an individual meal for you. If you have an intolerance or allergy to any of the products, please notify the manager in advance. We will pass this information on to the guide or accommodations. However, we kindly ask you to follow up on this matter during the trip. If you have strict dietary restrictions, we recommend bringing suitable food with you or buy it on the spot.
Note: For cooking, we use boiled water from streams, springs and other water sources that we meet on the way. We also use these natural sources to replenish the drinking water supplies. If this option is not suitable for you, you can bring water disinfectants with you or boil the water before each hike.
This program can be combined with the “Best of the Caucasus (Part 2)” tour that includes the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania, the Republic of Ingushetia, the Chechen Republic, and the Republic of Dagestan. The programs complement each other perfectly and allow you to see the whole Caucasus in 14 days.
I am very satisfied with the entire program and the routes. For my first trip and introduction to the Caucasus, it was perfect. The food was varied and delicious. The transportation was very comfortable and convenient. Our driver, Andrey Nikolaevich, drove us carefully and safely. I felt great, warm, cozy, and well-fed in the hotels and at the locations where they were situated! Traveling with Evgeny was very interesting, informative, calm, and filled with humor!
The impressions from the trip are incredibly vivid, and I can confidently say that the vacation was a success! This was my first trip of this kind, and I am absolutely thrilled with everything I experienced, saw, and heard! During this week of travel, I received so many bright emotions, impressions, and new knowledge! Thank you to every organizer at Strannik!
-eng1.jpg)
We’ve implemented years of our experience into this linear route from Mineralnye Vody to Maykop, that covers four mountainous regions of the Caucasus and the resort towns of the Stavropol Krai. In just 7 days, we will enjoy the breathtaking panoramas of Dombay, Arkhyz, Adygea, and Mount Elbrus, as well as get acquainted with the history of these places and taste national dishes.
This is not another boring bus tour! The program includes a lot of active walks in nature with the views of impressive waterfalls and mountain peaks, and fascinating visits to the ancient archaeological sites. A comfortable and modern minibus with an experienced driver will transfer us to all the most interesting places, while comfortable rooms of hotels and guest houses will provide us with a good rest after long outdoor walks.
You can continue this journey through the Caucasus by joining the “Best of the Caucasus (Part 2)” tour. The programs complement each other perfectly and allow you to see the whole Caucasus in one vacation.