The Nature of Caucasus

Meeting at the airport.

City tour in Pyatigorsk.

“Parterre” Park. There are a few attractions in the park. The rock crowned with an eagle sculpture has cracks through which volcanic gases wallow up from the earth interior. In the park, you can also try natural healing thermal water attracting thousands of people to Pyatigorsk.

Lake Proval is a tiny shallow lake of beautiful blue color, filled up with the underground springs. Two hundred years ago one could descend to the river from above only; a passage through the rock mass was hacked out much later.  

Ethnic lunch with Cossacks. Cossacks are people inhabiting the Stavropol Territory for hundreds of years. In the past they used to be brave warriors and experts in fancy riding. Their descendants keep the traditions of their ancestors.  

Transfer to the Elbrus region (150 km, about 2,5 hours).

Overnight at the AzauStar Hotel. The hotel is located on the Azau glade, at the foot of Mount Elbrus, at an altitude of 2200 meters above sea level. Rooms are available of the standard, luxury, and suit categories. The area of each room is not less than 20 square meters.

Elbrus is the highest peak of Russia and Europe. It is a sleeping volcano 5,642 meters above sea level.

After breakfast we will arrive in the Azau glade, from there we will take a cable car to Gara-Bashi station, the highest one in Europe located at the height of 3,870 meters.

Optionally, in good weather we can continue our ascent by ratracs on the glacier towards Pastukhov’s Rocks at the height of 4,600 meters, where a magnificent panorama of Elbrus and the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range opens up.  

Lunch in the restaurant of the AzauStar Hotel.

Transfer to Vladikavkaz (240 km, about 4,5 hours).

Stopover at Polyana Narzanov.

Accommodation in the Alexandrovski Hotel 4*. The hotel is located in the historical part of Vladikavkaz, in its city center. The hotel is named after one of the great Russian tsars, Alexander II. There are rooms of standard, de luxe and suite categories. The area of each room is not less than 20 square meters.  

In the evening, you are offered a master class in cooking the national Ossetian pie by the chef of “Kyona” restaurant. “Kyona” is a restaurant in ethnic style. On request, you can dine here at extra charge.

Return to the hotel, overnight. 

Transfer to mountain Ingushetia (32 km, about 40 minutes).

Excursion to the tower complex Egikal. With the outbreak of the Mongol invasion, the route of the Great Silk Road was plotted again, through the mountains. The tower town of Egikal is a witness of those distant times. The people of Ingushetia settled along the valley from this fortress. Ingush people call themselves ‘galgays’- people of towers. The last residents left the tower city at the time of repressions during the Great Patriotic War.

Tsei-Loam Pass. Beautiful view from the observation deck and a short walk.

Lunch in the mountains.

Transfer to Grozny (150 km, about 3 hours).

City tour in the evening Grozny. You will visit the beautiful mosque "Heart of Chechnya" and you will see the city from a bird's-eye view from one of the tall buildings of Grozny City.

Accommodation in the Local Hotel 5 *.

Transfer to Kezenoy-Am (130 km), about 2,5 hours.

Excursion to the ancient village. The fortified city-fortress of Khoy is located two kilometers away from the western gulf of Lake Kezenoy-Am. The best view of the lake and mountains opens up from the fortress side.

Lunch at the lake.

Transfer to the airport of Grozny (130 km, about 2,5 hours).

Gala dinner in a national style. Master class in national dance during dinner.

Accommodation in the Local Hotel 5 *.

Departure