Arkhyz PRO. Trekking on mountain lakes

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Special offer! If you make an advance payment of 20-25% before 03/31/2025, a 5% discount is valid for check-in on August 24-30. The price in the accommodation section is shown without discount.

Arkhyz is a godsend for those who want to reboot, experience emotions, test themselves, and most importantly, enjoy their vacation! You will visit the 10 most beautiful lakes of Arkhyz, where you can go on a day trekking.

Location

Stavropol territory, Mineral Waters

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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 - Arrival. Transfer to Arkhyz. Thermal springs
11:30-12:00 (Moscow time) Gathering of the Mineralnye Vody group (railway station, airport).
After gathering the group, we drive 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 specifically go for thermal baths to normalize their joints and skin, cardiovascular and nervous systems, and solve digestive and respiratory problems. 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 into a cozy hotel and take a sightseeing tour of the village.
Active part: 3 km on foot.

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Day 2 - Trekking to the Orlyonok Lakes
Our first trekking within the framework of the Arkhyz tour is Lake Balki Orlyonok.
The path will pass through a 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 translates and what lies behind this peak and the pass of the same name.
No sooner had the first wave of admiration passed than the first lake opens in front of us, surrounded by pine trees and granite placers!
The lake is small, rounded, with clear water.
Here we will make a stop and a photo shoot.
After walking a little further, we will visit another lake.
Active part: 12.6 km, altitude difference 1600-2380 m, duration 6-7 hours.
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 varies 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.

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Day 4 - Small Dukka Lakes
Today, our UAZ will complete part of yesterday's journey, but it will bring us to the beginning of the trail to completely different, fabulous Dukka lakes.
And we didn't just use the term "fabulous" – we are waiting for three lakes "Ruslan", "Lyudmila" and "Fairy Tale of the Caucasus".
The ribbon of the Malaya Dukka River fascinates the eye with its bizarre curves.
After walking about half the way, we will see the first lake on the rise – the water in it is cold, clear, and delicious!
We will stop here to gain strength before climbing.
After overcoming the 20-minute climb, we will just want to sit on any stone and admire in silence: ahead is a stone circus, inside of which lies a dark blue jewel – the second Dukka lake.
We are admiring, but we will not sit back, because a fairy tale awaits us – "The Tale of the Caucasus"!
The "Tale of the Caucasus" looks like a giant lizard that froze for a moment.
Active part: 11.8 km, altitude difference 1920-2600 m, duration 7-8 hours.

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Day 5 - Sofia lakes, Lake Aimatli-Jagalykel
We have seen the lakes of the Arkasar range, now it's time to explore the lakes of the Sofia range.
We will climb the Irkiz pass, the highest point of our 7-day trekking in Arkhyz (2,880 m).
The pass offers one of the steepest landscapes in Russia – the pointed peaks of the Kel peaks (3150 m) and Mingi-Kel-Bashi peaks (3243 m) and three lakes of completely different colors: 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 lunch stop on the shore of the Great Sofia Lake.
Those who wish can walk around a part of the lake to find the best angle, those who are brave can swim, and those who like bright photos can get a photo inventory from their backpacks and take great pictures.
But the impressions don't end there!
We begin our 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-Dzhagalykel, which means "lake with rugged shores" in Turkic.
Active part: 13.2 km, altitude difference 2000-2880-1890 m, duration 8-9 hours.

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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 Sofia River valley in the direction of the Glacier Farm.
At the confluence of the Gammesh-Chat and Sofia rivers, our upward path begins.
The trail goes through the forest, makes its way through the glades of hogweed and hellebore, passes through the bushes of Caucasian rhododendron and is replaced by alpine meadows, where the smells of mountain herbs are dizzying.
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 Lake Nizhnyaya Comma stands the peak of KCHAO (2,871 m), smooth rocks called "ram's foreheads" and cascades of waterfalls on the Gammesh-Chat River.
After relaxing and having a snack on the shore of the lake, 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, altitude difference 1770-2230 m, duration 6-7 hours.

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Day 7 - Departure
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.
Depending on the weather conditions, the physical condition of the participants and other factors, the route of the hike may be changed.

Difficulty

Involves moderate physical activity

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.

The cost of the tour for 1 person is 56,600 rubles.

If necessary, it is possible to stay in a 1-bed room (for an additional fee) — 12,200 rubles / the entire rest period.

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

The hotel is located in the village of Arkhyz.

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Tour conditions

Group

From 6 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: 2-, 3-bed rooms. Room Amenities;
2 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, cookies, 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;
the surcharge for single occupancy in a hotel room is 12,200 rubles./ the entire rest period;
insurance (optional).

It's important to know

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

$667

13 – 19 Jul 7 days 6 nights

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$667

3 – 9 Aug 7 days 6 nights

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$667

24 – 30 Aug 7 days 6 nights

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Reviews

Y
Yuri

about provider

25 Mar, 2025

The tour was very well organized. The transfers from the airport and railway station to the campsite, as well as from the campsite to the hiking trails, were smooth and convenient. The campsite itself was comfortable, with rooms equipped with showers and TVs. What impressed me the most, however, was the drying room on our floor! The weather in this region changes rapidly, and almost every day, our group got caught in the rain. Drying clothes and shoes while hiking can be a real challenge, back in Altai, after getting soaked in rain and snow, I was never able to fully dry my clothes, as it rained every night, and they only dried once I got home. Here, that problem was completely solved. A special thank you to our guide, Roman, an experienced mountain tour expert, a fascinating and cheerful companion, and undoubtedly a true mountain romantic. He went above and beyond to bring our diverse group together, chatting with everyone during the day and organizing engaging activities in the evenings. He shared captivating stories about his native Krasnoyarsk region, the Sayan Mountains, local customs, and legends, as well as personal anecdotes. Roman carefully selected routes based on the weather and terrain, always prioritizing the safety and well-being of the group. Roma, thank you so much!