Across North Caucasus In 8 Days. Culture, Mounts & Local Food (group 4-10 Prs)

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Mineralnye Vody. Kislovodsk Town.

Stop At: Kislovodsk, Kislovodsk, Stavropol Krai, North Caucasian District
Arrival at Mineralnye Vody Airport. Meet and transfer to Kislovodsk, where we will stay at one of hotels in the Town’s Center. This Region named Stavropolye, one of nine Regions of North Caucasus, and this area with a towns Kislovodsk, Mineralnye Vody and Pyatigorsk City named CMW (Caucasus Mineral Water) or in Russian transcription KMV (Kavkazskie Mineralnye Vody). A reason for it is a discovery of healing springs in XVIII century and founding spa hospitals of national importance in XIX century.
And we start in Kislovodsk, the Heart of KMV.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Dacha Shalyapina State Historical and Cultural Museum, Shalyapina St., 1, Kislovodsk 357700 Russia
After lunch, before heading to the famous Kislovodsk National Park, take a look at a couple of interesting places. This is the House-Museum Chaliapin’s Dacha, located in a mansion that the great opera singer Feodor Ivanovich Chaliapin rented for his family.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Museum of Solzhenitsyn, Borodinskiy Ln., 3, Kislovodsk 357700 Russia
Close to it there is Museum of Alexander Solzhenitsyn, which was previously the home of his own aunt, and where he lived for 4 years in a very early childhood, not yet being a great writer of course.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Kislovodsk National Park, Kurortny Blvd., 21, Kislovodsk 357700 Russia
And here we are in the Kislovodsk National Park. We’ll take off by cable car to upper station, admire the views from the view point, walk one of the hiking routes of the park, delight in the Floral Calendar, the Valley of Roses and surrounding freshness and greenery.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Narzannaya Gallery, Kurortny Bulvar, Kislovodsk Russia
Going down from the Park, we find ourselves in the “Heart” of Kislovodsk - the Narzan Gallery, where after testing of healing water, we go for promenade on Kurortny Boulevard.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Kurortny Boulevard, Kislovodsk Russia
Kurortny Boulevard is a better place to meet evening among souvenirs stalls and painters at work. To take a coffee or late dinner in nearest cafe is a good idea.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at one of Kislovodsk's Hotel

Day 2: Pyatigorsk. Way to Ingushetia.

Stop At: Tsvetnik Park, Kirova pr-kt, Pyatigorsk 355501 Russia
After breakfast we leave for Pyatigorsk. We begin our city tour in Tsvetnik Park, probably the most iconic place in the city. Pyatigorsk is replete with the memory of Mikhail Lermontov, a great Russian poet and writer. Beside here there is an interesting museum dedicated to the Russian writer, which must be visited certainly.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Proval Lake, Gagarina Boulevard, Pyatigorsk Russia
On the way to the Great Proval Lake, where a bronze Ostap Bender still collects money in entrance, we will visit a number of interesting places more.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Chateau Erken, Off R288, Chernaya Rechka Russia
After Pyatigorsk we leave the Stavropolye. North Caucasus republics waiting us ahead.
The first stop is Chateau Erken Castle. “Islet of France” in Kabardino-Balkaria. A castle tour, acquaintance with the art of Caucasian winemaking, wine tasting and a real Caucasian lunch.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Armkhi, Ingushetia, Russia, 386430
After tasty and nourishing Caucasian cuisine we drive to Ingushetia, in Armkhi village where we stop in Armkhi Tourist Complex for 2 nights.
There is possibility to make light hiking on territory of complex or take a swimming pool before you go sleep.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Wine tasting and a real Caucasian lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Armkhi Tourist Complex

Day 3: Mountain Ingushetia

Stop At: Egikal Towers Complex, Dzheyrakh Russia
In the morning we go to explore the Mountain Ingushetia, the Land of green mountains and ancient towers with a dramatic history. First, take a ride on Armkhi cable car and then go ahead.
First stop is Egikal Towers Complex. One of the largest of medieval tower settlements.
Then, accompanied by staff of the national park, we continue our acquaintance with tower complexes in front of the background of the magnificent nature of the mountainous part of Ingushetia.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Tkhaba-Yerdy Church, Dzheyrakh Russia
On the way to Tkhaba-Yerdy, we will stop at the picturesque Tsey-Loam Pass, from where, in cloudless weather, Kazbek is clearly visible on a territory of Republic of Georgia.
And in the family cafe on a Pass during lunch we will not only get acquainted with the Ingush national cuisine, but also will do a cooking-class with it.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Tower Complex Vovnushki, Dzheyrakh Russia
Our final point for today is Vovnushki Fortress, the most picturesque tower complex in Ingushetia.
We return to Armkhi in the evening. If desired, you can swim in the pool near hotel.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: During lunch we will not only get acquainted with the Ingush national cuisine, but also will do a cooking-class with it
Accommodation included: Overnight at Armkhi Tourist Complex

Day 4: Mountain Ingushetia - North Ossetia

Stop At: Memorial of Memory and Glory, Pamyati Alley, Nazran Russia
Today we are leaving Ingushetia, but before leaving this region of green mountains and towers, we visit the Memorial of Memory and Glory of Ingushetia in Nazran. Monuments symbolizing historical events that took place in Ingushetia are collected here.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Statue Saint George Is Coming Out Off The Rock, Alagir Canyon, Alagir Russia
Further we go to the next large location of our Caucasian trip - North Ossetia. We go along the Transcaucasian Highway (or Transkam) which crosses the Greater Caucasus Range to the Tsei Gorge. On the way we stop at the sanctuary of St. George (Uastardzhi) breaking out of the cliff, and listen to interesting stories from our guide.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Verkhniy Tsey, Verkhniy Tsey, Alagirsky District, Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, North Caucasian District
And here we are. We are lifting with cableway over the Tsey Gorge with spectacular views of the Skazsky Glacier.
On the way back we will take a short walk to the sanctuary of Recom, a very important place in the culture and religion of the Ossetian people and find out what kind of rite this is when the boy was left alone in the sanctuary for the night.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Digorskoye Gorge, Kussu Russia
Afternoon we leave for Digoria Gorge, where we will live in a tourist complex with the beautiful name “Threshold of Heaven”.
For supper an Ossetian pie cooking class will waiting for us. Overnight at “Threshold of Heaven”
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch in local cafe with Ossetian cuisine (pies and khychiny)
• Dinner: For dinner an Ossetian pie cooking class and grilled river trout will waiting for us
Accommodation included: Overnight at “Threshold of Heaven” Tourist complex

Day 5: North Ossetia. Gorge trekking

Stop At: Digora, Digora, Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, North Caucasian District
After breakfast we hike to Cascade Waterfalls. Take a swimsuit and towel with yourself! Those who wish go further, continue trekking with a guide to the observation spot overlooking the gorge.
Today we have a lot of free time and everyone can spend it as you please: go for a swim in the pool, go fishing, take a jeep or horse ride (an additional option), go to collect healing herbs with accompany a specialist.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Dinner: Grill Party. For someone eggplant, for someone meat, for someone eggplant with meat.
Accommodation included: Overnight at “Threshold of Heaven” Tourist complex

Day 6: North Ossetia - Elbrus Mount

Stop At: Elbrus, Elbrus, Baksan Valley, Kabardino-Balkar Republic, North Caucasian District
Now we’re going to the next location, to Kabardino-Balkaria, more precisely to the foot of Mount Elbrus. We have lunch in a cafe at the Azau Glade near Elbrus Cable Car lower station.
And after lunch we rising by cable car to the highest station "Gara-Bashi", an altitude of 3780 above sea level. We admire the views of the Caucasian Ridge and Elbrus while drinking mulled wine.
After Elbrus descending, we leave for the Cheget Glade to a our hotel (30 min driving).
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Dinner: Dinner with delicious Caucasian Pilaf and tea with mountain herbs.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Cheget Glade.

Day 7: Elbrus Region

Stop At: Mount Cheget, Cheget Valley Russia
Begin your day with a walk in Cheget Glade along the shore of a mountain river and lift with a cable car up to the view point. Are you ready for a light hike on the slope of the Cheget Mount? You will be rewarded with a gorgeous view of Elbrus, if the sky is clear. It is possible to organize a paraglider flight with an instructor.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Terskol, Terskol, Elbrussky District, Kabardino-Balkar Republic, North Caucasian District
During lunch at Cheget Glade in Terskol village, visit the souvenir market to buy pinecone jam as a keepsake.
In the afternoon we will go on an exciting jeep tour through the forests and surroundings. We will feel all the delights of off-roads, and we will be marveled with the opening views.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner: In the final evening we will have a Caucasian barbecue dinner cooked on the open fire.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Cheget Glade.

Day 8: Transfer to airport

Pass By: Mineralnye Vody, Mineralnye Vody, Mineralovodsky District, Stavropol Krai, North Caucasian District
Final day of the trip. Check out from the hotel and transfer to Mineralnye Vody Airport or Pyatigorsk Railway station .
And we will be glad to see everyone again in our travels around Russia and throughout the World with a TRAVEL123 team!

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.