STAVROPOL, 25 January. /TASS/. The winter resorts of the North Caucasus are familiar to many Russian ski lovers. However, for those who prefer more relaxing holiday there is also something to do here. In winter, local sanatoriums and recreation centers offer, for less money than in the high season, to improve their health, breathe clean mountain air, visit the highlanders and get acquainted with the culture of the peoples of the Caucasus. Read more about holidays in the resorts of the North Caucasus during the off-season in the TASS material.
Lean Treatment
At the ski resorts of the North Caucasus, there is a peak in attendance in winter. According to federal agency in tourism, during the New Year holidays, the record was set by the ski resorts of Karachay-Cherkessia, which is famous for "Arkhyz" and "Dombay", - 120 thousand people were accepted here (an increase of 50% compared to last year), Kabardino-Balkaria with its famous About 60 thousand people visited Elbrus during the holidays. At medical resorts in winter, on the contrary, the season is considered low - according to the Ministry of Tourism and Health Resorts of Stavropol, sanatoriums and hotels in the region in new year holidays were filled by 43.4%. During the New Year holidays, 143 thousand tourists visited the region, in general, Stavropol receives more than 1.4 million people a year.
But low season becomes an advantage for thrifty tourists - during this period, sanatoriums reduce the cost of vouchers. For example, many sanatoriums of the Caucasian Mineralnye Vody introduce special promotions until the end of April - beginning of March: a ticket can cost an average of 10-30% cheaper. There are proposals where the cost of living is almost halved. At the same time, together with savings in winter on local resorts can improve health after long new year holidays or trips to overseas seaside resorts.
“People like to come after the New Year holidays very much,” said Evelina Valuyskaya, spokeswoman for the Kislovodsk company Resort Management, adding that tourists who had previously been on vacation in warm countries. - The difference in climate, time zones. People rest there, but sometimes you need to heal."
Most of the resorts of the North Caucasus are located in places where the sun often shines even in winter, for example, in Teberda, this is in Karachay-Cherkessia. “There are a lot of sunny days here, the area is comfortable for people with lung diseases, the air is cleaner in winter, plus a coniferous forest. All these factors are very beneficial. In the North Caucasus, two territories are engaged in the treatment of bronchopulmonary diseases - Teberda and Kislovodsk, but we have less saturation with various particles in the air than in Kislovodsk, ”said Ali Uzdenov, deputy chief physician of the Teberda sanatorium.
Even an ordinary walk in the resorts of the North Caucasus becomes medical procedure. Terrenkur - a way to combine the useful with the pleasant, one of the oldest is located in the Nalchik resort. “This brand of Nalchik appeared in 1979 and was then the only one in the North Caucasus. Soon the health path became a favorite vacation spot for many. local residents and guests of the city, was called "1000 steps" or "Health path", - reported the Ministry of Resorts and Tourism of Kabardino-Balkaria, recalling that the length of the health path exceeds 2.6 km.
On a visit - in every house The winter Caucasus is also suitable for those who want not only to relax, but also to learn something new - winter allows a leisurely acquaintance with the local culture without queues and summer heat. For example, in Kislovodsk, a tourist can try to book a room where composer Sergei Prokofiev, poets Vladimir Mayakovsky and Sergei Yesenin stayed at different times. It is located in the Narzan sanatorium, and in winter it is more likely that the room will be free.
»This room is still functioning, people stay there, of course, in modern (for that time - TASS note) interiors, but in the same room. In 2017, there was an action - Mayakovsky's poems were read from the balcony of this room, as the poet himself once read poetry. The buildings of many sanatoriums are architectural monuments, they are very interesting, there is where to take pictures," Valuyskaya explained.
Another opportunity is to get acquainted with the traditions and customs of local peoples. It is better to look for national flavor in the guest houses of local residents, who can best tell about the culture of their people. So, in Dagestan in 2017, about 40 guest houses were opened. In Ingushetia for development rural tourism created the Association of Guest Houses in the mountainous part of the republic, now it unites about 10 houses. In each of them live ordinary families who are ready to receive guests.
"There is such a practice that a guest will be received in any house, in general, any resident can take a tour, in the mountainous part of the republic there are more than a thousand objects. But if before we just walked around the village and asked where to stay, now we we help,” said Aina Tyufyakova, a representative of the Association from Ingushetia, adding that hospitality is a tradition of the Ingush people, there are even certain rules on how to receive guests.
“For example, in the first three days a guest cannot be asked where he came from, why he came, etc. The guest is accommodated in the best room with the best furniture, which, as a rule, family members tried not to enter. If the guest stayed overnight - in the evening, the owner of the house came out and guarded the house so that nothing happened to the guest, otherwise the family would be stigmatized," Tyufyakova said.
Recreation without skiing An important feature of the Caucasian resorts is the compact location of the regions. Arriving, for example, in Kabardino-Balkaria, you can easily go on an excursion to neighboring regions - see the family towers North Ossetia, ancient temples of Karachay-Cherkessia, literary places on the Caucasian Mineralnye Vody.
Also, in any of the republics, a tourist can expand his gastronomic knowledge, in some sanatoriums they even arrange special programs dedicated to national cuisine. “In the sanatorium Chaika during the New Year holidays, for eight days, vacationers were introduced to the national dishes of the region. They were waiting for festive dinners with elements national cuisine. Balkarian, Kabardian, Georgian, Russian cuisines alternated, ”an example was given in the Ministry of Resorts and Tourism of Kabardino-Balkaria.
An interesting and active holiday for tourists in winter is offered by resorts even without ski slopes. So, in the sports and tourist complex "Kezenoy-Am" in Chechnya, you can go ice skating. “Lake Kezenoy-Am is located at an altitude of about 1900 meters, it is equipped with a skating rink. In winter, the lake freezes by 60-70 centimeters, a fence is installed, lifeguards are on duty. Now the lake is already frozen, people come to skate, hockey teams train,” the director explained. hotel complex"Kezenoy-Am" Aset Madaeva.
Good afternoon, dear readers. The beginning of October is in the yard, the time of holidays for the majority of Russians is left behind. In fairness, it should be noted that the vacation of many of our compatriots this year was not entirely successful.
The reason for this was massive problems with tour operators, many of which suspended their activities. This circumstance, as well as the tense political situation around Russia led to a sharp decline (according to some sources up to 30%) of outbound tourism.
As they say, there would be no happiness - but misfortune helped. Rosstat recently reported that the country is experiencing a surge domestic tourism. The Russians, for obvious reasons, began to relax more “at home” than over the hill.
Rest in the Caucasus since the times of the USSR, it has been shrouded in a veil of mysteries and stereotypes. The entire territory of the North Caucasus is strewn with recreational, natural and historical centers: medical health resorts of Stavropol, ski resorts of Sochi and Kabardino-Balkaria, the famous Dombay, the coast of the Black and Caspian Seas, ancient monuments of architecture and modern skyscrapers of Grozny ...
You can go on for a long time. For example, a lot of people come just to breathe in the clean mountain air. I have a friend who makes a special visit every three years just to eat plenty of organic fruits and vegetables.
Recently, more and more often I hear from people that they would be happy to visit the Caucasus, but that's "a little scary." Various arguments are given: there are strict traditions and customs, people wear a veil, a lot of nationalities, wild views of young people, rampant crime, religious fanatics...
These 10 points must be taken into account when planning your vacation in the Caucasus?
I will not pull the cat for the known organs, straight to the point. I confess that I’m already a little tired of answering the same questions on social networks about planning a vacation in the Caucasus: how to dress, what to take with you, what kind of food is there, how Russian girls are treated, whether it is necessary to learn local languages, what is customary to give Caucasians, how to talk to them correctly? And a million more questions.
In this article, I decided to reveal 10 important aspects that must be taken into account if you are planning to spend a long-awaited vacation in one of the corners mountainous region. In general, I am writing an article for myself in order to give it to those who will ask me the above questions. Although, each of you will find something useful here for yourself or write your opinion in the comments and supplement me.
- Familiarize yourself with the traditions and customs of the locals in advance.
It is very important to do this, even in order not to get into a mess like Shurik in the movie "Prisoner of the Caucasus":
Dozens of peoples live in the Caucasus, each of them has its own traditions. Having studied a little of their history and culture, you will immediately get an undeniable advantage over an unprepared person and will be able to win over the local population.
And do not say that there is no time for this or little information. The Internet is simply filled with exhaustive materials about traditions. Do not be lazy, read and learn the basics, so that later it would be easier for you to talk with those who will receive you.
- Try to choose clothes that are more modest.
There are several types of mountain tours:
1) Tours with comfortable accommodation at a recreation center or shelter and radial exits to the mountains. Such a mountain vacation is suitable for families with children, people with average physical fitness who want to relax in the mountains, for people with no experience.
2) Hiking and horse riding in the mountains with overnight stays in tents. Such tours are characterized by low cost, the possibility of acquiring a number of services for an additional fee, and camping romance.
3) Climbing ascents. In Russia, there are such peaks as Elbrus and Kazbek in the Caucasus and Mount Belukha in Altai.
A few words about the regions of Russia where active recreation in the mountains is most popular.
Rest in the mountains of the Caucasus
Caucasus - vast Mountain country 2 hours flight from Moscow by plane or 1-1.5 days by train. Here is the most high mountain Europe - Elbrus and a number of five-thousander mountains. Traveling in the Caucasus, you can see a stunning variety of landscapes: dense forests, alpine meadows, glaciers and mountain lakes. In the Caucasus there are Teberdinsky and North Caucasian biosphere reserves. The highlight of the Caucasus - national republics with their traditions and culture. Traveling through the mountains of the Caucasus, you can see the Ingush battle towers of Vovnushki, Ossetian temples, ancient castles and monasteries.Tours to the mountains of Altai
Altai - the most famous mountains Siberia, are located 3 hours by plane from Moscow. It takes 2.5 days to travel by train from Moscow to Altai. Altai mountains occupy huge area and provide amazing opportunities for a variety of active rest Outdoors. In Altai, rafting on mountain rivers, all kinds of trekking and hiking, horse travel. There are programs of jeep tours and bike tours in Altai.Rest in the mountains of the Urals
The Urals are the most accessible mountains for a resident of Moscow, both in terms of airfare and travel budget. The Urals are only 1.5 hours by plane or 1-1.5 days by train. Horse riding tours are the most popular in the Urals. Ural mountains, of course, cannot be compared with the Altai or the Caucasus by the beauty and grandeur of landscapes, but they have their own merits. mountain vacation not expensive in the Urals. And these places are permeated with the atmosphere of Bazhov's fairy tales and the history of Russia. Ermak, Demidov, Bazhov and others famous names are inextricably linked with the Urals.Rest in the mountains of Crimea
Rest on the sea in the Crimea, of course, attracts many. But do not forget that there is also a rest in the mountains of Crimea. There are not as many tourists in the Crimean mountains as there are at sea. At the same time, mountain travel can be easily combined with beach holiday and inspection of ancient monuments, of which there are a great many in the Crimea.Mountain tours to Kamchatka
Traveling to the mountains of Kamchatka is a dream for many, which becomes more and more accessible every year. The reason is cheap flights to Kamchatka, which are becoming more and more. Fire-breathing volcanoes, fumaroles, hot springs - all this is Kamchatka.Choose tours to the mountains of Russia with Adventure Guide!
Summer vacation in the Caucasus is swimming in the warm Black Sea, hiking trips in the mountains and rafting on boats along the stormy mountain rivers. What is there to do in winter? In fact, holidays in the Caucasus in winter are no less good than in summer.
Rest in the Caucasus in winter.
Rest in the mountains of the North Caucasus: ski resorts
The ski resorts of the North Caucasus are famous far beyond the borders of Russia. Most popular resorts- This:
- Dombay;
- Arkhyz;
- Cheget.
Dombay is considered the most expensive ski resort in the Caucasus. Here are the best trails for every taste. There are trails for both beginners and professionals. But Cheget, on the contrary, is the most cheap resort. Here you can find inexpensive hotels and restaurants.
Recently, another one has been actively developed ski resort- Krasnaya Polyana. Thanks to the Olympics in Sochi, there are beautiful ski slopes that even experienced skiers will appreciate.
All the resorts described above offer their visitors a range of additional services: rent ski equipment, skiing lessons, etc.
Winter holidays in the Caucasus mountains: health resorts
At the health resorts of the Caucasus, people are treated with healing mineral waters. These resorts are open all year round. They are located in 4 cities:
- Pyatigorsk;
- Essentuki;
- Zheleznovodsk;
- Kislovodsk.
People have been coming here to drink healing water for several centuries. Bored in these resorts does not happen. Tourists are surrounded by stunning nature: mountains, waterfalls, forests. In addition, the specific Caucasian flavor with its shops, bazaars, restaurants and hospitable locals deserves special attention.
In general, visiting local restaurants turns into a separate adventure. Caucasian cuisine is very tasty. Be sure to try khinkali, khachapuri, pilaf, shorpa, mamalyga on vacation. Those with a sweet tooth in the Caucasus will surely like Armenian halva and baklava.
And finally, tourists vacationing in sanatoriums and boarding houses can book all kinds of excursions, depending on the season and weather. Trips to local attractions, covered with legends, are very exciting.
However, in winter you can stop at seaside resorts. Of course, you won’t be able to swim, but you can walk along the embankment, breathe healing sea air rest your mind and body. In recent years, sea holidays by the sea at Christmas and New Year is gaining popularity, so you need to book hotels and boarding houses in advance. As you can see, the Caucasus is beautiful at any time of the year!
North Caucasus- land of unforgettable impressions, ideal for relaxation. Sea, beautiful landscapes, Mountain peaks, the cleanest transparent rivers, azure lakes, mineral waters, sights of local peoples - all this makes the rest interesting and you want to come back here again and again.
In contact with
Rest in the North Caucasus
To tourist pearls Caucasus can be attributed to:
- , Anapa and Sochi - resort cities in Krasnodar Territory on Black Sea coast the North Caucasus with a mild climate and many interesting excursions;
- comfortable boarding houses of Lazarsky and Divnomorsky sandy beaches for family holidays;
- Essentuki, Zheleznovodsk and Pyatigorsk with their hot springs and drinking springs with healing properties;
- Elbrus region, Krasnaya Polyana and Dombai with opportunities for outdoor activities - mountain walks, rafting on mountain rivers.
Rest in the North Caucasus is diverse and suitable for any tourist
If you decide to relax on the seashore - choose Adler or Anapa. Here you can spend your time bathing and getting a beautiful bronze tan. For lovers of extreme recreation, there is a banana ride for lovers of swimming and parachuting if you want to admire the city and the sea from a bird's eye view.
Thanks to the preparation of cities for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi and its environs, many interesting places for excursions and walks.
The Olympic Park is one of the most important facilities built in preparation for the 2014 Olympics. This is a huge complex of buildings, including several stadiums and ice palaces. All the greatness of these structures is difficult to convey in words. Walking through the park and seeing all its sights will take you all day. You can rent bicycles and electric bikes and ride through the park with a breeze.
For lovers of extreme recreation, Sochi Park was built in the Olympic Park. This huge park attractions, for a walk on which and visiting all the attractions in this park, you can spend the whole day. But it's not just a park attractions:
- fountains;
- ponds;
- the village of Baba Yaga;
- candy house
and other interesting things will bring you back to childhood.
From Adler and Sochi you can book an excursion to Abkhazia and enjoy the nature of the mountains of the North Caucasus. You can buy a ticket for tour bus and take a quiet walk near waterfalls, caves and monasteries. Or choose the so-called jeeping - a walk in open jeeps along mountain roads.
The most popular destination is the excursion to the lake Ritsa. This lake is surrounded by mountains on all sides and is located at an altitude of almost a thousand meters above sea level. The beauty of this lake and the nature around is breathtaking! The peculiarity of jeeping to Lake Ritsa is that it is not easy to drive to the lake by car. You visit many waterfalls and lakes, apiaries and tunnels on the way to Ritsa.
The road to Lake Ritsa passes through the Stone Bag or the Yupshar Canyon. The road passes through a rocky crevice more than two hundred meters high. Due to the height of the rocks and a very narrow gap, only a narrow strip of sky is visible from the canyon and it gives the impression of being inside a stone bag.
Behind Yupsharsky canyon there is a tunnel in the mountain. This is amazing - how much resources and effort were spent to build this tunnel! Immediately behind it are the waterfalls of Men's and Maiden's Tears. Each waterfall has its own legend. A trip along the edge of a mountain road over an abyss will take your breath away and add adrenaline to your vacation. And also a trip to Lake Ritsa includes a visit to the largest waterfall in Gegsky. Next to this waterfall you will feel like a bug.
Review of a tourist about visiting this waterfall:
and now, the waterfall is getting closer and you begin to understand that a person is a grain of sand compared to the power of mother nature
While relaxing in the Caucasus mountains and traveling along mountain roads, it takes your breath away not only from fear, but also from the beauty that surrounds you. Green mountain cliffs, peaks reaching into the sky and obscuring the sun, sparkling blue Lakes- you will never forget this.
There is a ski resort not far from Adler. Here you can visit the cable car and enjoy a bird's eye view of the plains, hills and mountains. Do not forget to bring warm clothes with you - the difference between the bottom terrace and top point cable car can reach ten degrees. The cost of lifting depends on the number and height of lifts. In summer, you can visit three lines of the main cable car and two chairlifts. The most high point rise - Rosa Peak - height 2320 meters above sea level - will give you a stunning view of the snowy peaks of the mountains surrounding it and the plains, on which you will see herds of sheep.
Fans of walking in the park and getting acquainted with the rich fauna should visit the Riviera Park in Sochi. It is huge, on its territory there are a huge number of different plants, statues, a dolphinarium, an oceanarium, rides and many other entertainments. A visit to this park will take a whole day and you may not even have time to get acquainted with all its sights and features.
Where else can you go to relax in the North Caucasus?
For lovers of relaxation in the mountains of the North Caucasus, avid tourists are advised to visit Kabardino-Balkaria. Here is the city of Tyrnyauz - the most high city in Russia. It is located in the Elbrus region - the main resort area of the republic. It is on the way to, and many climbers dream of conquering this mountain.
In the North Caucasus, you can relax in the All-Russian health resort - Kislovodsk - mineral springs, many sanatoriums and historical sites make this city attractive to tourists. One of the main attractions of Kislovodsk is, of course, the narzan gallery. This, one might say, is a symbol of Kislovodsk. In the narzan gallery you can try several types mineral water. A plus is the unique architectural structure of the building - made of limestone, with galleries, baths and a pavilion above the well. The buildings are over a hundred years old. This is a federal monument.
Kislovodsk - and health and fun and inexpensive.
In Kislovodsk there is another cable car of the Caucasus. The route is more than 1,500 meters long and passes through the Kurortny Park, whose area is almost 1 thousand hectares. Many different shrubs and trees were brought to the Kislovodsk park. Among them were exotic species. If you decide to take a walk in the park, be sure to visit the Air Temple. Locals say that it is here that the most healthy air in the entire resort is. Max Height lifting a cabin on the Kislovodsk cable car 250 meters above the ground.
Ingushetia
If you are interested in getting acquainted with the historical sights of the North Caucasus, turn your eyes towards Ingushetia. In the Dzheirakh region, you can visit many interesting objects: a temple, tower complexes and fortresses, which seem to have been erected on a rock with the help of a miracle. Tower complexes are one of the main attractions Dzheyrakhsky district. In ancient times, every family considered it their duty to build a tower.
But not every family had the means to do so. There are several types of towers - residential, combat and crypts. Residential towers reach a height of 10 meters, combat towers up to 20. During the construction of such towers, many nuances were taken into account. For example, its construction should not have taken more than a year. If the family did not meet this deadline, the tower was dismantled or it remained abandoned. During the Stalinist repressions, during the eviction of the people, such towers were destroyed so that the inhabitants had nowhere to return. But many of them survived and amaze their descendants.
Reserve
Numerous tourists from all over Russia are attracted by 85 thousand hectares of a protected area on the northern slope Caucasian mountains striking variety of plant and animal species. Here you can meet the Caucasian morning with huge saber-shaped horns, a huge bison, which was hardly preserved due to mass extermination. Wild boars, wolves, roe deer bears, Caucasian deer - all these animals can be found in this reserve.
There are more than 30 narzan springs on the territory of this reserve - if you didn’t manage to visit Kislovodsk, here you will compensate for this. All rivers flowing through the territory of the reserve originate from glaciers on the tops of the Great Caucasian Range. Here is a well-known village Dombay. In winter it is a wonderful ski resort, and in summer you can enjoy the pure mountain air filled with the aroma of local flowers.
In addition to getting to know the local flora and fauna, you can ski or climb to the top of Elbrus - if your preparation allows.
Rest in the North Caucasus is useful and stunning! Sea, mountains, skiing, nature - everyone will find something to their liking. Numerous reviews of tourists will help you find the best vacation option. And everyone wants to come back here!
