Karachay-Cherkessia > Excursion tour around the North Caucasus

Excursion tour around the North Caucasus

We offer you for a short period of time to visit several regions of southern Russia, to experience the incredible diversity of cultures, customs and traditions of local peoples, to communicate with the residents of mountain villages and southern cities, and in this way to turn your trip into a real adventure!

You will visit the shores of the two seas, rise up to an altitude of 4000 meters by cableway to the magnificent mount Elbrus, see the ancient monuments of culture and history.

Region: Krasnodar territory, the Republic of Adygea, Stavropol territory, the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, the North Ossetian Republic, Chechnya, Dagestan

Day 1 Train to Maykop, transfer to Armavir

7.34 - departure by train from Sochi to Maykop (extra fee, without a guide)

12.30 - arrival to Maykop.

13.30 - lunch with traditional Russian cuisine

14.30 – sightseeing tour around the city with a visit of the National Museum. Today the National Museum of the Republic of Adygea has unique collections and foundations, all in all about 270 thousand items: sculptures, drawings, fine art of XIX-XX centuries, science, history, ethnographic collections, objects of precious metals and stones, etc.

About 15.30-16.00 - departure to Armavir (about 2 hours on the way).

About 18.00 – short city-tour around the city with a visit of St Nicolas Cathedral

19.00 – Russian dinner.

20.30 - Arrival at the hotel, check-in. Free time, rest.

Day 2 Pyatigorsk, transfer to Elbrus region

Breakfast – lunch box (if you wish a breakfast at the hotel, you’ll need to depart later). Check-out.

7.00 – departure to Elbrus region via Pyatigorsk

About 11.00 – arrival in Pyatigorsk. Excursion around the oldest city of the region of the Caucasian Mineral Waters. You will stroll down the magnificent park Tsvetnik, enjoy the views from Aeolus’s Harp Pavilion and see the famous cave Lake Proval. Pyatigorsk saw many historical events and famous people like Leo Tolstoy, Alexander Pushkin, but the most important without doubt is Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov, who lived here, wrote about this region and died on the duel not far from Mt Mashuk. During the tour you will hear about his life and visit places that are connected with him. By the cable way (extra charge) you’ll ascent Mt Mashuk and see beautiful views of the city.

13.00 - Lunch in a cafe with traditional national cuisine

14.00 - Transfer to Elbrus region (about 3,5 on the way). Arrival in a hotel. Accommodation, dinner on your own.

18.00 – dinner. Free time, rest.

Day 3 Elbrus region

Breakfast at the hotel.

9.00 – departure for the excursion. Today you will get acquainted with the legendary Mount Elbrus from the South side. Elbrus is the highest point of Europe, its height is 5,642 meters above sea level (the Western peak). It is located in the center of the Main Caucasian ridge, stretching from the Caspian to the Black sea for almost thousand kilometers. Elbrus is a dormant volcano; the last eruption occurred about 50 BC. Now Elbrus is a quiet, peaceful mountain, which doesn’t show any volcanic activity.

Transfer to Azau glade, from where you’ll rise on the cableway* on Mt. Elbrus (5642 m) - the highest peak of Europe. During the excursion the guide will tell you interesting facts about the conquest of Mount Elbrus, local people, customs, traditions, resources in the land of the Central Caucasus. Cable way will take you up to the altitude of 3300m ASL (extra fee), and you will be able to enjoy fascinating views of Mt. Elbrus from the observation decks. Elbrus is a dormant volcano, it is the highest point of Russia and Europe. Snowy humps of Mt. Elbrus fascinate and attract with their inaccessibility.

12.00 - Lunch in a cafe with traditional national cuisine. Free time.

15.00 - Descent to the Azau Glade.

18.00 – dinner. Free time, rest.

*Not recommended for persons suffering from cardiovascular diseases

Day 4 Terskol – Nalchik - Vladikavkaz

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out.

8.00 – transfer to Nalchik (about 2,5 h on the way)

About 10.30 – arrival in Nalchik. Sightseeing tour around the city of Nalchik. Nalchik fortress was founded by General Yermolov in 1818. You can take the cable car (extra charge) to the observation deck to the famous restaurant "Sosruko", where you will see the panorama of the city and the resort. You will also walk through the alleys of the resort Park. Nalchik has a rich history, many cultural and natural monuments.

12.00 – lunch with traditional national cuisine

13.00 - departure to Vladikavkaz (about 2,5 h on the way).

17.00 - Arrival in a hotel. Accommodation

18.00 – dinner. Free time, rest.

Day 5 Vladikavkaz – Magas - Grozny

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out.

8.00 - Meeting with an English-speaking guide. Depart for a sightseeing auto-walking tour of Vladikavkaz. You will get acquainted with the historical centre of the city, walk along the embankment of the Terek River. You’ll also visit the Sunni mosque, Armenian and Ossetian (the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary) churches. Then you’ll see the Central Park of K. Khetagurov, Mira Avenue, the Square of Freedom, the Shtyba Square and a great number of interesting monuments of the city. The bus will pass through the main streets and squares. You will also have a walk around the Memorial of Glory.

9.00 – transfer to Magas (short city-tour)

12.00 – lunch with traditional national cuisine

13.00 - Transfer to Grozny via the capital of Ingushetia Republic the Memorial of Memory and Glory of Ingushetia, where you’ll learn many interesting facts about the life of Ingush people. Continue your way to Grozny.

16.30 - “The new Grozny” city tour which will show you that the city has changed a lot since the end of the second Chechen War - now it is absolutely safe and calm. You will visit the center of modern art, see the mosque "Heart of Chechnya" (the largest mosque in Russia and Europe), walk along the quay and learn about the history of Grozny. You will enjoy the panoramic view of Grozny from the 33rd floor of Grozny City hotel. Departure to Argun to see the famous mosque of Aimani Kadyrova.

18.00 – dinner. Free time, rest.

About 20.00 - Check in at the hotel.

Day 6 Grozny - Derbent

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out.

09.00 - Departure to Derbent (about 7-7,5 h on the way). On the way - excursion to Sulak canyon, one of the deepest in the world. The canyon stretches on the entire 53 kilometers, and its depth reaches up to 1920 meters. It is 120 meters deeper than the famous Grand canyon. Sulak canyon - one of the most popular natural sights of Dagestan, which is visited annually by thousands of tourists.

13.00 – lunch in a cafe in Atly-Boyun, not far from Makhachkala.

16.00 - Arrival in the city. Lunch. Hotel check-in.

17.00 – short sightseeing walking tour to get acquainted with the city Dinner. Free time, rest.

About 19.30 - Dinner. Free time, rest.

Day 7 Derbent

Breakfast at the hotel.

09.00 - Departure for the excursion around Derbent – one of the oldest cities of Russia.

Every street, every corner of the city carries a piece of history (and the history is really very long – it counts thousands of years!) Only after visiting it yourself, you can truly appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of this small, but very colorful city. When you reach Derbent, you will feel the grandeur of this ancient city, which is still an important administrative center. You will inspect the citadel “Naryn-Kala” (2500 years old), which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage.

Derbent is one of the most ancient cities not only of the Caucasus, but also of all Russia. In the Bronze Age, there was just a small settlement; later, it got city fortifications and turned into one of the largest and developed medieval cities of the East, real ‘Caucasian Gates’. Under the protection of powerful city walls the ancient mosques, temples and synagogues, magnificent medieval baths and impressing khan palaces still remain there. From the ramparts you can see the endless horizon of the Caspian Sea and imagine yourself at the place of a guard walking down it thousands of years ago.

13.00 - Lunch in one of the local restaurants in the Old city

The city tour will continue in the House & Museum of Bestuzhev-Marlinsky, you will inspect the Mosque Dzhuma and a synagogue. You will also see the Armenian Church, the building of which houses a museum of applied arts of Dagestan people.

Return to the hotel, rest.

18.00 - Dinner

Day 8 Derbent – Makhachkala.

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out

10.00 - Visit of the Museum of Kubachi. Hundreds of exhibits from the collection of the well-known master are presented there. These are plates from different eras and textures, national facilities, pre-revolutionary jewelry, outfits, fireplace from the interior of a traditional house of the highlanders.

11.00 - Transfer to Makhachkala (about 2-2,5 h on the way). Departure for a city-tour of Makhachkala. During the tour you will be able to see the Central Avenue in honor of Rasul Gamzatov, Avar and Russian drama theatres.

13.30 – lunch.

14.30 – continue your excursion. You will walk through the Rodopsky Boulevard, along the shore of the Caspian sea, enjoying the sea breeze, visit the Central square of Makhachkala, and the Central market of the city. The program also includes a visit to the Grand Dzhuma mosque.

Transfer to the hotel. Check-in

18.00 - Dinner at the restaurant in the city. Free time. Rest

Day 9 Departure

04.00 - Transfer to the airport (about 30 minutes on the way). Departure with the flight at 06.10

Extra-fee for single accommodation

The price includes: transport services on the route, including transfer to the airport, twin accommodation at the chosen hotels, English guide’s services, meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), entrance tickets to the national parks, museums, eco-fees; single accommodation, alimentation and all entry tickets for the accompanying, accommodation and alimentation for the driver and the guide (when necessary), tickets to the cableway on Elbrus, ticket to the viewing point in Grozny-City

Not included: ticket for the train Sochi-Maykop, optional excursions (as the Olympic park tour), tickets to the cableway on Mashuk (around 400 RUR p/p), additional services at the places of accommodation, alcoholic beverages, luggage delivery, insurance against accidents