Arkhyz PRO. Trekking on mountain lakes

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Arkhyz is a godsend for those who want to reboot, emotions, test themselves and, most importantly, enjoy their vacation!

You will visit 10 of the most beautiful lakes of Arkhyz, where you can go on a day trekking.

Location

Stavropol territory, Mineral Waters

from

US$ 544

Contact the tour coordinator

Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)

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Tour highlights

Thermal springs

Relax in the hot pools that this region is so rich in

Hiking to the lakes

Walk to the picturesque places and enjoy the magnificent natural scenery

Checking for durability

You will test yourself on daily trekking routes and climb to a height of 2880 m.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Gathering a group. Transfer to Arkhyz. Thermal springs
11:00-11:30 (Moscow time) Gathering of the Mineralnye Vody group (railway station, airport).
After gathering the group, we go to the village of Arkhyz, and on the way we will visit the thermal springs.
Caucasian mineral waters are known far beyond the borders of our country!
Therefore, we will start our journey through the Caucasus with the hot thermal pools that this region is rich in.
Many people specially go for thermal baths to normalize joints and skin, cardiovascular and nervous systems, and solve problems with digestion and breathing. Well, we'll relax in the hot water and look forward to a week of incredible experiences!
After hot baths, transfer to the village of Arkhyz, check in at a cozy hotel and a sightseeing tour of the village.
Active part: 3 km on foot.
Meals: on your own.

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Day 2 - Trekking to the Orlyonok Lakes
Our first trekking in the framework of the Arkhyz tour is Lake Balki Orlyonok.
The path will pass through the dense forest, then we will cross the noisy waters of the Sofia River, relax under the foaming streams of the waterfall.
After that, we will go out to the alpine meadows, admire the incredible panorama of the Abishira-Akhuba ridge, find out how the name of the Kara-Jash mountain is translated and what is behind this peak and the pass of the same name.
In summer, our path is decorated with glades of phlox and lilies, damask and forget-me-nots, and in autumn crocuses and the amazing play of colors of the autumn forest. It is often possible to meet herds of Alpine cows and yaks.
The first wave of admiration did not have time to pass, as the first lake opens in front of us, surrounded by pine trees and granite placers!
The lake is small, rounded, with the purest water. And what a reflection of that mysterious peak of Kara-Jash is in it! Here we will make a rest stop and a photo shoot.
Going a little further, we will visit another lake.
The landscape around him is completely different. There are no more pines and flowers, but there is an opportunity to climb a little above the lake and take spectacular pictures from a different angle.
Active part: 12.6 km., altitude difference 1600-2380 m., duration 6-7 hours.
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Dinner on your own.
Day 3 - Trekking to the Seven-colored Lake
A mysterious Seven-colored Lake is located on the slopes of the Arkasara Ridge in the upper reaches of the Bolshaya Dukka River.
If you get to the lake in sunny weather, the tourist will be amazed by the play of colors – the color of the lake changes from light blue to dark purple.
And if the weather is cloudy, then there will be no less impressions: the transparent surface of the water changes from light green to dark emerald.
Active part: 13.2 km., altitude difference 1920-2450 m., duration 7-8 hours.
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Dinner on your own.

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Day 4 - Small Dukka Lakes
Today our UAZ will make part of yesterday's journey, but it will bring us to the beginning of the trail to completely different, fabulous Dukka lakes.
And it's not just that we used the term "fabulous" – three lakes "Ruslan", "Lyudmila" and "Fairy Tale of the Caucasus" are waiting for us. Although there are other names on the Internet: "Fish", "Arkasarskoe", but this does not change the beauty that awaits us today.
The ribbon of the Malaya Dukka River fascinates the eye with its bizarre bends, its cascades fall in small waterfalls from granite boulders, creating cozy backwaters – all this looks like a landscape park created by nature itself!
After walking about half the way, we will see the first lake on the rise – the water in it is cold, transparent, delicious!
Here we will make a stop to gain strength before climbing.
After overcoming the 20-minute ascent, we will just want to sit on any stone and silently admire: ahead is a stone circus, inside of which lies a dark blue jewel – the second Dukka lake.
We admire, but we will not sit around, because a fairy tale awaits us – the "Fairy Tale of the Caucasus"!
The "Fairy Tale of the Caucasus" looks like a giant lizard that froze for a moment.
The lake is located at an altitude of 2,450 meters above sea level.
Active part: 11.8 km., altitude difference 1920-2600 m., duration 7-8 hours.
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Dinner on your own.

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Day 5 - Sofia lakes, Lake Aimatli-Jagalykel
We have seen the lakes of the Arkasarsky range, now it's time to explore the lakes of the Sofia range. And we will start with the highlight of the Caucasus and Arkhyz – Sofia lakes!
We will climb the Irkiz pass, the highest point of our 7-day trekking in Arkhyz (2880 m).
One of the steepest landscapes of Russia opens from the pass – the pointed peaks of the peaks of Kel (3150 m) and Mingi-Kel-Bashi (3243 m) and three lakes completely different in color: Bolshoe Sofiyskoye Lake, Maloe Sofiyskoye Lake and the third, which has no name.
By the way, the name Mingi-Kel-Bashi translates from Turkic as "mountain of a thousand lakes".
We will make a big stop for lunch on the shore of the Big Sofia Lake.
Those who wish can walk around a part of the lake to find the best angle, brave ones can swim, and fans of bright photos can get a photo kit from their backpacks and take great pictures.
But the impressions do not end there!
We begin the descent to our retroauto and along the way, first from a height, and then from the shore, we will admire the lake with an unusual name for us – Aimatli-Jagalykel, which means "lake with rugged shores" in Turkic.
Active part: 13.2 km., altitude difference 2000-2880-1890 m., duration 8-9 hours.
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Dinner on your own.

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Day 6 - Lakes of the Sofia range – Lake Nizhnyaya Comma
Today, our way on the UAZ lies along the already familiar valley of the Sofia River in the direction of the Glacier Farm.
At the confluence of the Gammesh-Chat and Sofia rivers, our way up begins.
The trail goes through the forest, makes its way through the glades of hogweed and hellebore, passes through the bushes of the Caucasian rhododendron and is replaced by Alpine meadows, where the smells of mountain herbs turn your head.
The ascent will take only 2-3 hours – and here they are, the cool, clear waters of a mountain lake!
Above the cozy valley with the Lower Comma Lake stands the peak of KCHAO (2,871 m), smooth rocks called "sheep's foreheads" and cascades of a waterfall on the Gammesh-Chat River.
After relaxing and having a snack on the lake shore, you can walk to the waterfall or climb a little higher to look at the lake from a height – its unusual shape is visible only from afar. And it really resembles a comma!
Active part: 9.5 km., elevation difference 1770-2230 m., duration 6-7 hours.
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Dinner on your own.

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Day 7 - Departure from Arkhyz
In the morning we say goodbye to Arkhyz.
The fastest ones will still have time to go to the Arkhyz souvenir market for jam, honey, mountain tea and warm mittens made of natural sheep's wool!
Transfer to Mineralnye Vody.
12:30-13:30 – arrival in Mineralnye Vody (airport, railway station), departure home.
Meals: breakfast.
Depending on the weather conditions, the physical condition of the participants and other factors, the route of the hike may be changed.

Difficulty

Low physical intensity for amateurs and non-experienced travelers

Tour organizer's comments

The route is trekking and provides for walking through mountainous (rugged) terrain. This type of active recreation involves daily climbing and dropping heights (ascents and descents).

The route passes through forest trails, dirt roads, alpine meadows, large and small stones. The routes will have an altitude difference of 400 to 600 m per day, in one day the altitude difference will be 880 m.

Climbing up 400-600 m. is about like climbing 130-200 floors.

Route length: 58.2 km.

Trekking through the gorges light, hotel accommodation.

Accommodation

Hotel

6 nights

Comfort

Midscale

The tour includes accommodation in the village. Arkhyz.

If necessary, it is possible to stay in a single room (for an additional fee) - 11,000 rubles. for the entire holiday period..

A possible placement option is listed below. It is possible to replace the hotel with a similar class.

The Favorit Guest House is conveniently located in the center of the village of Arkhyz, in Karachay-Cherkessia.

The bright rooms are equipped with amenities for a pleasant stay. It offers Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV, personal hygiene products, and a set of towels. The private bathroom is equipped with a shower.

The shared kitchen with a dining area is equipped with necessary furniture and household appliances, there is a barbecue in the courtyard. There are a large number of cafes nearby.

The well-maintained territory is equipped with gazebos for relaxation, a terrace and a parking lot. The nearest airport is Mineralnye Vody Airport, 162.8 km away, and Cherkessk Train Station is 93.4 km away.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 18 tourists

Minimum age

12 years old

Duration

7 days 6 nights

Group meets at

Stavropol territory, Mineral Waters

Included in price

road crossings along the route;
passes along the route by mountain transport (UAZ);
accommodation in the village Arkhyz in the hotel: double and triple rooms. Room Amenities;
two meals a day: ready-made breakfasts (day 2-7) are served at the hotel according to a set menu (the menu is not individual!). Lunch (day 2-6) in the form of dry rations in the mountains (sausage, cheese, tea, biscuits, chocolate, sweets);
group equipment rental: boilers, gas burners (for making tea for lunch in the mountains from June to August);
group first aid kit;
entrance tickets to the thermal springs;
the services of an instructor-guide.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Mineralnye Vody and back;
Meals: lunch during the move on the 1st day, dinners;
surcharge for single occupancy in a hotel room;
insurance (optional).

It's important to know

The list of equipment for tours from June 01 to September 20:

Air temperature: early morning and late evening +8...+12C, in the afternoon +18...+25C (sunny day), +12...+16C (cloudy day). We draw your attention to the rules of choosing clothes for the trip: in the Caucasus, you can wear trousers and T-shirts. Shorts and T-shirts should not be taken for a trip to the Caucasus.

a cap or a panama hat;
jacket. The air temperature in the early morning and late evening is +8...+12C;
fleece. In autumn, we recommend taking 2 fleeces: one for the route (it gets a hiking smell quickly enough), the second clean and fresh fleece for the hotel;
T-shirt;
lightweight long sleeve shirt. The shirt will protect your arms and neck from burning;
Buff. Protects the neck from burning, can be used as a headdress;
running trousers;
lingerie;
socks;
trekking shoes up to the ankle and above;
flip-flops (for the hotel);
swimsuit;
for girls on request: a dress for a photo shoot on the background of mountains;
waterproof clothing or raincoat;
tracking sticks. Sticks significantly reduce the load on the knees. Physically strong and healthy tourists are recommended to have sticks with them. Tourists who have problems with knees, joints and overweight must have trekking poles. If necessary, the club provides trekking poles for rent;
passport/birth certificate of the child. It is mandatory to have the original documents (not a copy).
camera/video camera and charger;
toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, razor);
hairbrush;
sunglasses. For people with hypersensitivity of the eyes to sunlight, we recommend having glasses with an ultraviolet (UV) filter;
0.5 l plastic bottle (for drinking water on the route);
toilet paper (useful during the day, on the route);
mug, spoon, knife. At lunch in the mountains, the instructor makes tea, tourists take mugs with them. It is necessary to have a non-breaking mug (plastic or iron);
wet wipes;
thread, needle;
backpack for walking (volume 20-25 liters). The backpack contains the tourist's personal belongings (fleece, raincoat, water bottle, etc.), as well as public products for lunch, which are issued by the instructor (the weight of the products is 400-600 gr.);
podpopnik;
shoe dryers;
sunscreen, hygienic lipstick;
individual first aid kit. Required: elastic bandage, patch;
gloves (it may be cold on high-altitude routes);
hat (for trips in September, October);
thermos flask volume 0.5-0.75 liters. (for trips in September, October);
flashlight (for trips in September, October). The daylight hours become shorter in autumn, so sometimes a flashlight can be useful on the route in the evening.

Dates and Prices

US$ 544

14 – 20 Jul 7 days 6 nights

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US$ 544

4 – 10 Aug 7 days 6 nights

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US$ 544

25 – 31 Aug 7 days 6 nights

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