Light mountain trip to Arkhyz

Exercise, breakfast. 

Access to the Sofia waterfalls and the Sofia Saddle pass, from where you can clearly see the glacier of the same name and admire the formidable peaks of the Main Caucasian Ridge. 

After lunch is a time for relaxation and intellectual entertainment. 

You can play board games (which we will take the precaution to grab) or just enjoy a quiet evening, contemplating the clouds creeping along the slopes. 

The transition is 10 km, the height difference is 700 m up, 700 m down.

From this day on, the connection does not catch.

We start climbing early in the morning, walk along a picturesque gorge, get acquainted with high-altitude lean muscular cows. 

We storm the pass and admire the panorama of the icy lakes. 

Icebergs float in the lakes, there is no vegetation, there is ice and rocks all around. 

We go down to the lakes and have lunch. 

In good weather, we swim, in bad weather, hardly anyone will come up with such an idea.

After lunch, we return to the camp — we need to make it before dark! 

In the evening, a sauna. 

The crossing is 12 km, the height difference is 1000 m up, 1000 m down.

We say goodbye to the beloved valley, load into the UAZ and go to a new parking lot. 

The path is very beautiful: sometimes on the road, and sometimes we go straight down the river, mountains around us, huge glades with juicy grass and flowers, horses and other local inhabitants. 

We arrive at the parking lot and go to watch a powerful waterfall! 

And from there we go further up the river into a picturesque valley! 

On the way: a relict forest, mountain cows, a beautiful stormy river with a snow-white foaming cascade. 

Upstairs: gorgeous view, crystal clear fonts, you can look for mushrooms, if you're lucky, there will be topping for dinner. 

Picnic at altitude, rest, swim and return to the camp. 

As always, a delicious dinner, gatherings around the campfire in the evening. 

The transition is 7 km, the height difference is 400 m up, 400 m down.

The transfer takes about 2 hours.

We are waiting for border control, crossing the river on a suspension bridge, a steep climb and, of course, the most gorgeous landscapes and panoramas! 

Lunch on the shore of a mountain lake and a difficult way back to the camp, you need to get back before dark. 

Alternatively, if desired, you can arrange a vacation on this day — stay in the camp, sunbathe, swim, read and contemplate. 

The transition is 20 km, the height difference is 1200 m up, 1200 m down.

We are returning to a civilization that we have missed a little. 

Immediately after breakfast, we get on familiar SUVs and go to the village of Arkhyz. 

But this is not the time to relax: another active and interesting day is ahead! 

First, rafting 10 km along a stormy river, then we have lunch in a cafe and immediately go on an hour and a half horse ride through the Teberdinsky Nature Reserve. 

Kind horses, quiet meadows, wild forest and another waterfall!

We return to the hotel in the evening.

Rest, share our impressions, sum up, dinner at a cafe.

Today we spend the night in a comfortable hotel with accommodation for 2 people.

For a small fee, you can wash your clothes in the washing machine, and arrange a sauna in the evening. 

Transfer by UAZ 8 km.

We are going to Mineralnye Vody. 

The transfer takes 3-4 hours.