Astrakhan and the Caspian Sea

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:30-09:00 Gathering of the group from the hotels.

09:00 Start of an incredible journey to the Volga River delta. The landscapes of the Astrakhan region and the largest delta of Europe will appear in all their glory before you.

Upon arrival at the recreation center located in the rolling part of the delta, the water tour begins. You will have the opportunity to get to know the nature of the Astrakhan region, see the picturesque landscapes, as well as the inhabitants of the Volga delta.

There are more than 300 species of birds here alone, and more than 100 of them are listed in the Red Books of various levels! The most attentive will be able to see the white-tailed eagle, count the number of heron species and make a wish for splashing fish.

In July and August, the lotus blossom season begins on the Caspian ridges. 

It is at this moment that the delta turns into one of the most unique corners of the world — there is no such water area covered with lotuses anywhere else on the planet, the area of lotus fields reaches 5,000 hectares!

After returning to the recreation center, you will have a set lunch with elements of traditional Astrakhan cuisine. In their free time, a swimming pool and a recreation area are available on the territory of the recreation center.

17:00-18:30 Arrival in Astrakhan. The end of the excursion program. 

Transfer to the hotel. 

Free time.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time at the hotel. 

11:30-12:00 Gathering of the group from the hotels 

12:00 Departure to Astrakhan Biosphere Reserve. The journey takes 1.5-2 hours, taking into account the ferry crossing, but thanks to the interesting travel information from the guide, time flies by unnoticeably. 

Astrakhan Biosphere Reserve is one of the unique corners of nature, where the habitats of rare animals, birds and plants have been preserved untouched by man. A real paradise for scientists, ornithologists and just lovers of nature, silence and harmony. In addition, it is the largest water area for the distribution of lotuses on our planet.

After arriving at the reserve, you will embark on an excursion along the ecological trail "Newfound Delta", the duration of which is 2 hours: 1 hour by boat and 1 hour walking along the trail. 

The route passes through two sections of the trail on wooden platforms and ends at a two-tiered observation deck located near picturesque lotus thickets. 

During a walk through the ecotrope, you will be accompanied by a guide who will tell you about the unique flora and fauna of the Volga Delta and pay attention to its special inhabitants.

As part of the tour, a set lunch is provided on the territory of the reserve. 

18:30-19:00 Arrival in Astrakhan. Transfer to the hotel.

The travel time is approximate, depending on the operation and workload of the ferries!

22:00/22:30 Room release. 

Organized transfer from the hotel to the pick-up point and departure to the Caspian Sea. 

Important! Things that you will not need during the trip can be left in the hotel's luggage room in consultation with the hotel and picked up upon return to Astrakhan.

23:00 Local time, estimated departure time.

Overnight transfer by tourist bus.

Please note that it is Moscow time in the Republic of Dagestan!

06:00/07:00 Arrival in Izberbash. The time is approximate.

Izberbash is located 65 km from Makhachkala, right on the shore of the Caspian Sea. The resort is great for a family vacation: it's quiet, the beaches are spacious, and the sea water is very clean. There is all the necessary infrastructure for vacationers.

For an additional fee, you can have breakfast in the hotel cafe (approximate cost from 300 rubles/person).

Next, free time. 

Check—in time is from 14:00. You can leave your things at the hotel reception, walk to the colorful market nearby and go to the beach to swim and sunbathe on the shores of the Caspian Sea. 

The most visited place of the resort is the Central Beach (citywide). Its length is 3 km and its width is 200 m. 

The coastline is covered with fine sand mixed with seashells, sparse pebbles and water-smoothed fragments of stones. The beach is ideal for families with children. There are places of shallow water, the bottom is flat, without sharp stones.

The beach infrastructure includes changing cabins, shade shelters, showers, sun beds, parking — and continues to develop.

Lunch on your own at the hotel cafe.

15:00, accompanied by a local professional guide, we leave for Derbent. Let's get acquainted with the beautiful ancient city and its rich history.

Let's take a walk through the magals, ancient atmospheric streets.

We will climb to the Naryn-Kala fortress (entrance ticket for an additional fee starting from 200 rubles/person).

The citadel still impresses with its scale and the special atmosphere of the past. 

During the tour, you will learn about the history of the construction of this famous defensive complex in the 5th-6th centuries by the Iranian kings from the Sassanid dynasty, which is the hallmark of Derbent. 

You will get acquainted with the unique water supply system of the fortress and the city, the ruins of the Khan's Palace, one of the largest architectural complexes of the citadel, built in the second half of the XVIII century (1768) by the imperious ruler of the Eastern Caucasus, Fet—Alikhan Kubinsky, with underground prisons and the Khan's bathhouse.

And in the evening you will enjoy a bright water show in the Nizami Ganjavi Park. The largest multimedia fountain in Russia is located here, which releases more than 2 thousand jets of water up to 30 meters high into the sky! 

We return to Izberbash. Rest. 

Dinner on your own.

Independent breakfast in the hotel cafe. 

Free day. 

You can choose to spend it in Izberbash by the Caspian Sea (on a well-maintained Central Beach) or go on an excursion to Gunib for an additional fee.

This mountain settlement is called an open-air museum. Gunib admires architecture, history, culture and nature itself — the road runs along the majestic Caucasus Mountains and forests. 

Stunning landscapes will open to you from the observation platforms — the Gunibsky plateau, etc. 

Along the way, the guide will tell you about the culture and traditions of these places. There are more than 300 historical, cultural and architectural monuments in the Gunibsky district, covering the period of history from 10,000 BC to the 20th century. 

You will see the Saltinskaya Gorge and waterfall, Tsarskaya Polyana, the famous Gunib Fortress, and the White Cranes memorial complex.

The cost of the tour is 3,000 rubles.

The duration, along with the road, is about 7 hours.

Lunch for an additional fee is 850 rubles.

The Gunib tour must be booked in advance and will take place with a group of 10 people or more (paid upon arrival).

Independent breakfast at the hotel. Room release, things are placed on the bus.

Take a snack with you on the road. There will be a late lunch on the program.

08:00 Departure to Sulak Canyon (1.5 hours on the road).

Sulak Canyon tour. This is one of the most striking and fascinating natural attractions of Dagestan. The canyon stretches for tens of kilometers north of the Gimri range, where the Sulak River originates. 

Scientists and tourists reasonably compare it with the famous Grand Canyon of Colorado. Significantly inferior to it in length, the Sulak Canyon is slightly deeper than the Colorado Canyon and certainly no less picturesque. 

Boating optional — Chirkeyskoye reservoir / Sulak River (for an additional fee — from 1,500 rubles).

We are going to the Yantarnoye Trout farm. A unique innovative fish farming enterprise is located on the banks of the Sulak River near Kizilyurt. It is a real oasis with parks, houses, gazebos for recreation, ethnozones and aviaries with animals.

Late lunch (for an additional fee, starting from 850 rubles).

Visit to the Nokho complex, which unites three caves (entrance ticket for an additional fee — from 700 rubles). One is located on the left bank of the Sulak River and two on the right. 

The total length of the labyrinths is several hundred meters. The caves are connected by a suspension bridge, which is equipped 60 meters above the water. 

There are viewing platforms on both sides of the bridge where you can take a photo as a souvenir. The main extreme entertainment of the complex is a 250-meter high-speed descent through the gorge on a steel rope.

18:00/19:00 Gathering of the group and departure to Astrakhan. 

It is also possible to arrange a transfer to the airport of Makhachkala for an additional fee (the approximate cost of the transfer is from 2500 rubles, the journey to the airport is 1.5 hours). 

Overnight transfer by tourist bus to Astrakhan. 

04:00-06:00 Early arrival in Astrakhan. 

Self-service transfer to the airport or railway station. 

The time in the program is approximate!