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Classic Caucasus

Destination: Caucasus
Easy - nothing more than normal walking while sight-seeing
Moderately Easy - 1-3 hours of physical activity daily
Moderate - 3-5 hours of physical activity daily
Challenging - 5-7 hours of challenging physical activity daily
Extreme - 7+ hours of challenging/extreme physical activity daily
Difficulty
Basic — most of nights in tents or rooms with shared WC, some nights in comfortable rooms.
Standard — most of nights in comfortable rooms, some nights in tents or rooms with shared WC.
Upgraded — all nights in comfortable rooms.
Comfort
Minimum age of the participant of this trip
6 Days
October
Highlights
  • Visit 3 Caucasus regions: Stavropol Krai, Kabardino-Balkaria and Ingushetia
  • Relax in the 3 main resort cities of the Caucasian Mineral Waters
  • See the highest point in Europe - Elbrus
  • Learn how the rocks "cry” in the Chegem Gorge
  • Taste the Caucasus: national dishes of different regions and wines
Tour Overview

If you are looking for a real vacation, which has a diverse nature, centuries-old history, rich culture and, of course, hospitable people, then the Caucasus will give you all this. Visit the busiest cities of the Caucasian Mineral Waters - Pyatigorsk, Zheleznovodsk and Kislovodsk, which can boast of their originality and uniqueness, which have always been considered not only the best, but also the oldest resorts in Russia.

But the Caucasus is not only resorts with mineral springs. The main highlight of the tour will be the great Elbrus - the highest mountain peak in Europe. The best way to enjoy and appreciate its beauty is to go to the Elbrus region and take the lift from the Azau glade, then you will see a delightful picture. The Chegem Gorge with weeping waterfalls should also not be left without your attention. These places, where the pristine nature has been preserved, will conquer every demanding traveler. You will also visit the real monuments of the Middle Ages - the Ingush towers.

Spice up this adventure with tastings and master classes, and get a mixture of unique nature, ancient history and vibrant colors! You will definitely remember such an acquaintance with the Caucasus!

Tour programme
  • Day 1
    Kislovodsk natural outskirts and Honey Waterfalls
    Pyatigorsk
  • Day 2
    Chegem Gorge - the pearl of Kabardino-Balkaria
    Pyatigorsk
  • Day 3
    Excursion to the Elbrus region
    Pyatigorsk
  • Day 4
    Culture and cuisine of the Caucasus
    Pyatigorsk
  • Day 5
    Ancient mysteries of Ingushetia
    Pyatigorsk
  • Day 6
    Excursion around Zheleznovodsk and Cossack culture
    Pyatigorsk
  • 13:00
    Lunch Not included
    Before checking into the hotel, we advise you to have lunch in the city, as there will be no stops for lunch during the excursion in the afternoon.
  • 14:00
    Arrival to Pyatigorsk city and check-in
    Arrival to the city of Pyatigorsk at 14h00. *The nearest airport is Mineralnye Vody located 27 km away. The journey takes about 30 minutes. You can get to the hotel "Intourist" on your own or we can order for you a private transfer. The cost of the transfer is 1 200 rubles / per car.
  • 14:30
    Excursion to Honey Waterfalls
    In the afternoon we go on an excursion around the outskirts of the city of Kislovodsk. First, we make a stop at the Golden Grottoes - blowing caves, where we can make a wish at the Ring-mountain. We go to the Tea House. Then we go to the Alikonovka River: at the junction of the ridges, it forms 5 waterfalls, which are called Medovye (Honey).
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Route
Pyatigorsk
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Intourist, Pyatigorsk
Twin room
  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the hotel's restaurant
  • 10:00
    Excursion to the Chegem Gorge
    The Chegem Gorge is narrow canyons, pure mountain rivers and ancient settlements. And the waterfalls located in its gorge are rightfully considered the pearl of Kabardino-Balkaria and have become one of the most recognizable natural monuments of the Caucasus.
  • 13:00
    Lunch Not included
    Stop for lunch at a cafe near the waterfalls. You can order dishes from the menu - payment on the spot.
  • 14:00
    Visit to Geduko thermal springs
    A worthy end to the day will be swimming in pools with natural thermal water, rich in sulfur, carbon dioxide and bicarbonate gases.
  • 16:00
    Return to Pyatigorsk
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Cascade in the Cheguem Gorge
Route
Pyatigorsk
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Intourist, Pyatigorsk
Twin room
Note

1 h transfer  (62km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the hotel's restuarant
  • 10:00
    Excursion to the Elbrus region
    On this day, you will have a bus tour to the village of Terskol, where the Azau glade is located, from which all climbs to Elbrus begin. You will be able to enjoy the picturesque landscapes of the Elbrus region, climb Mount Cheget with a view of the snow-covered hump of Elbrus and drive along the Baksan Gorge.
  • 13:00
    Lunch in the cafe Not included
  • 18:00
    Return to Pyatigorsk
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight in the hotel
Route
Pyatigorsk
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Intourist, Pyatigorsk
Twin room
Note

3 h transfer  (171km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the hotel's restaurant
  • 10:00
    Pyatigorsk city tour
    Pyatigorsk is a real "museum" of the thermal sources. There are more than 30 thermal springs near the Mashuk mountain - a natural monument. The city itself is the most popular Russian health station during more than 2 centuries.
  • 14:00
    Lunch Not included
  • 15:00
    Tasting of Caucasian wines and cognac
    During the tasting, you will not only taste the wine products of the region, but also get acquainted with the history of winemaking and viticulture.
  • 17:00
    Caucasian dance master class
    When recruiting a group of more than 10 people, we will be able to participate in a master class in Caucasian dance: we will not only immerse ourselves in the national color, but we will also be able to learn the movements and techniques ourselves.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
    In the evening, you are waiting for a real immersion in the authentic culture of the Caucasian feast: a hospitable atmosphere and delicious food are guaranteed!
  • Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Route
Pyatigorsk
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Intourist, Pyatigorsk
Twin room
  • 06:00
    Breakfast in the hotel
    Lunch box to go from the hotel
  • 06:10
    Transfer to Ingushetia
  • 11:00
    Excursion to the Jeirakh Gorge
    The Jeirakh Gorge is a unique place that combines not only the natural beauties of mountain landscapes, but also the centuries-old history of human habitation. There are 92 monuments in the gorge, including the famous Ingush towers. During the cable car tour, we will climb to the observation deck with a striking panoramic view.
  • 13:00
    Lunch in the local cafe
  • 16:00
    Master class on making a national dish
    Let's get acquainted with the cuisine of the highlanders, the recipes of which have been kept since the time of their ancestors. The dishes are quite simple, but very tasty!
  • 17:00
    Tour of the tower complexes of Ingushetia
    Ingush towers are unique monuments of medieval Ingush architecture. They date back to the XIII-XVII centuries. Due to the large number of such ancient buildings, Ingushetia is also called the "country of towers".
  • 20:00
    Return to Pyatigorsk
  • Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Targim depression
Route
Pyatigorsk
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Intourist, Pyatigorsk
Twin room
Note

7 h transfer  (457km)

  • 10:00
    Breakfast in the hotel's restuarant
  • 11:00
    Check-out
    *You have the option to leave your luggage at the hotel during day excursions.
  • 13:00
    Lunch Not included
  • 13:30
    Excursion around Zheleznovodsk
    Zheleznovodsk is a small town situated in the saddle between 2 monts Beshtau and Zheleznaya 650 meters above the sea level. This scenic town is also known as a "green pearl".
  • 16:00
    Excursion to the Cossack farmstead
    You will visit the whole complex dedicated to the culture of the Terek Cossacks. In the estate you will get acquainted with the culture, customs, life and cuisine of the Cossacks.
  • 18:00
    Dinner
    A wide dinner in honor of the end of the program with dishes of national Cossack cuisine.
  • 19:00
    End of the program
    *If necessary, we can book an airport transfer / or an extra night in a hotel for you.
Photo of the day
Route
Pyatigorsk
Detailed description
New departures available soon
Price includes
  • Russian-spaking guide
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • Letter of invitation
  • Meals according to the program
  • Russian-speaking guide services
Price does not include
  • Personal expenses and tips
  • Visa fees and travel insurance
  • Airline tickets
  • Nature reserves and parks entrance permissions
  • Bathing in springs
  • Airplane/ train tickets
  • English-speaking guide services
For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
Note

Single supplement - 15 300 rubles (for all 5 overnights in the hotel). Supplement for an English-speaking guide - 63 530 rubles (the cost of the services of an English-speaking guide is divided between all interested participants of the tour. The indicated price shown is for 1 English speaking tourist per group for all trip duration). Entrance fees and environmental tax are not included in the price (about 50 - 350 rubles)

Reviews
No reviews anymore or no reviews at all for this tour. Below reviews for destination:
4.50
4.50
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
2.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Kimberly
From 28 May 2023 to 1 June 2023
Destination: Caucasus
Custom tourMeeting Caucasus
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
This is my first time using Baikal tours for my travels in Russia. I would say I did not regret one single moment booking a tour in the Caucasus. The guides and tours were simply amazing! Although the tours were in Russian, it was a great practice for me to listen and speak in Russian. The tour guides were hospital in ensuring my trip was good and assisted me whenever I could not communicate well with
  Read more
4.83
4.83
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
5.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Eva
From 24 October 2021 to 30 October 2021
Destination: Caucasus
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
My trip with Baikal Nature was amazing, with Pavel as our guide. All the logistics were taken care of and everything ran smoothly. The food was great, and there was always plenty of it. We were given a mix of facts about each place we visited, as well as photography advice and help. I would happily travel with Baikal Nature and Pavel again!!
4.83
4.83
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
4.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Zoran
From 17 October 2021 to 21 October 2021
Destination: Caucasus
Custom tourPhoto tour in Dagestan
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
We have just returned from our fascinating adventure to Dagestan with Pavel and Baikalnature. I cannot recommend visiting this region with Baikalnature highly enough. We feel honoured and privileged to have had such a great guide. Right from our initial inquiries, Olga was very efficient in replying to emails. We could customize tour and Olga was able to tailor it to our own interests and schedule.
  Read more
4.33
4.33
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
4.00
Quality of meals
4.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
4.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Fabienne
From 4 June 2019 to 14 June 2019
Destination: Caucasus
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Le voyage a été un réel plaisir et une très belle organisation si ce n est nôtre premier. Guide , Anna , qui était médiocre : aucune connaissance culturelle de la région, elle n a aucunement assuré les traductions quand nous étions accompagnés de guides locaux et elle ne faisait aucun rassemblement de groupe pour partager les informations ! Enfin elle pouvait même se moquer de notre groupe lorsque
  Read more
4.67
4.67
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
4.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Wendy
From 5 June 2019 to 25 June 2019
Custom tourJourney Across the Russian North Caucasus+Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Our North Caucasus trip was very professionally organised and the tour was excellent with a good balance of attractions, historic and geographical sites. Most impressive was our friendly and highly competent tour manager Anna's attention to detail and ability to tailor the program exactly to our needs - not an easy task with older, experienced people with very exacting demands! Anna also organised
  Read more
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