MEGAtur Arkhyz and Dombai. 10 days of trekking

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Special offer! If you make an advance payment of 20-25% before 02/28/2025, you will receive a 10% discount on summer arrivals. The price in the accommodation section is shown without discount. For arrivals from September 07 to November 01, 2025, 15% discount until 02/28/2025.

Dombay and Arkhyz are two magical lands that conquer with their beauty from the first minutes of acquaintance. This trip is a symbiosis of the natural delights of both regions — the ancient glaciers and the gray peaks of Dombay are harmoniously complemented by noisy waterfalls and crystal clear mirrors of the Arkhyz lakes.

The tour includes cable car rides, hiking to loud waterfalls, glacial moraines and wonderful lakes. The guests of the region will stay in comfortable hotels, and travel light, without burdening themselves with extra cargo.

Location

Stavropol territory, Mineral Waters

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

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Tour highlights

Gorgeous views

Go to conquer the mountain heights and breathe fresh air

Magical waterfalls

Discover a completely different world during a hike in the Dombai-Ulgen gorge

Overcoming Yourself

You will go through an exciting trekking and see the huge, snow-white Alibek glacier

A trip on a cable car

Climb Moussa Achitara and spend the day at an altitude of 3,200 meters

Baduk Lakes

Admire the extraordinarily transparent lakes and inhale the invigorating aroma of fir forest

Amazing photo shoots

You will make thousands of shots that will preserve the most memorable moments from your trip to the Caucasus

Itinerary

Day 1 - Gathering a group. Transfer to Dombai. Shoan Temple and Lake Kara-Kel
11:30-12:00 (Moscow time) Gathering of the group at the railway station of Mineralnye Vody (near the main entrance from the city) and at the airport of Mineralnye Vody (near the main entrance).
Transfer by minibus to Dombay village (travel time 4-4.5 hours).
On the way, we will visit the ancient Shoan temple and the exquisite Kara Kel Lake.
The Shoan temple, towering over the village named after the legendary Ossetian poet Kosta Khetagurov and adorning Mount Shoana, appeared here around the 10th century.
The building is dedicated to Uastyrdzhi — George the Victorious.
Outfit for the tour: cap, T-shirt, trousers, sandals.
I have a raincoat, a swimsuit, a towel, a camera, and drinking water in my backpack. There will be an opportunity to swim in the lake, the water temperature is +15...+18C.
Lake Kara-Kel.
The next point of the tour is the echoing Teberdinsky gorge, where the diamond of the local area, Lake Kara—Kel, is safely hidden from idle eyes.
Check into the hotel with the delicious name "Ice Cherry".
In the evening we will take a sightseeing tour of the village.
Active part: 3.5 km, sightseeing sites are located at an altitude of 1030 m (Shoan Temple) and 1340 m (Kara Kel).

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Day 2 - Juchhur Waterfalls
Summer holidays with children in fabulous places will open up a completely different world, because hiking in the Dombay-Ulgen gorge is high alpine meadows, fragrant with flowers in July, multi—voiced birch groves, sweet blueberry bushes and the majestic Dombay-Ulgen peak — the highest mountain in the Western Caucasus.
Our next goal is the Juchur Waterfalls.
In summer, full-flowing waterfalls sparkle luxuriously in the sun, surrounded by a multicolored halo of tiny splashes.
By the end of autumn, the waterfalls gradually fade away, but the deciduous trees surrounding them amaze travelers with their unsurpassed, golden outfit.
Active part: 17.7 km, altitude difference 1730-2200 m, route duration 6-7 hours.

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Day 3 - Alibek Gorge, Alibek waterfall, Turye Lake
So, our main goal in this tour is the Dombay-Arkhyz direction.
This day's hike again includes trekking in the mountains.
The first 5 kilometers of the route will pass through a stunning coniferous forest: you will see century-old firs and firs, which will be replaced by slender birches and aspens a little higher.
Soon we will come to the favorite place of climbers — Alibek alpine camp.
Next, the trail will lead us to a huge clearing, where alpine meadows always bloom in July.
From here we will see for the first time the huge, snow-white Alibek glacier.
Further along the forest path we head to Alibek waterfall.
You will remember this trekking for a long time, because the transparent streams of the waterfall, similar to the braids of Goldilocks, fall from the height of a nine-story building!
Let's relax near the waterfall and make a big stop to take dozens of amazing photos!
Turye Lake, which looks like a turquoise fragment of an ice floe lost by Kai in the halls of the Snow Queen, got its name for a reason.
Attention! We visit Turye Lake only if this route is officially opened by the Teberdinsky National Park, and the huntsman and border guards allow it.
Active part: 8,9 km, elevation difference 1850-2190 m, duration of the tour 6-7 hours.

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Day 4 - Cable car to the horizon of Moussa Achitara
The slopes of Moussa Achitara are literally strewn with masts of rope and chairlifts, which, however, does not spoil the appearance of the formidable mountain at all: given its enormous size, the technical achievements of civilization are absolutely not striking.
But you can take a cable car to any desired point — this day's hike is dedicated to skating, contemplation and gastronomic pleasures.
An excursion to the Moussa Achitara horizon will give tourists unprecedented impressions - from a height of 3,200 meters, the entire Dombay, its gorges and tracts, the Main Caucasian Ridge, and even the double—headed Elbrus are perfectly visible on a sunny day.
A light hike is planned today — at the top you can take photos with wild animals, have a hearty and delicious meal (there are many cafes of several national cuisines), and also buy souvenirs.
On the slopes of Mussa Achitara stands a unique building, once donated to the USSR by the President of Finland, the Plate Hotel.
Active part: 4 km, cable car ascent from 1600 m to 3200 m, duration: 5-6 hours.

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Day 5 - Baduk Lakes
On the fifth day of the tour, you will visit the Baduk Lakes.
The summer tour from June to August will bring travelers a lot of positive moments: panoramas of incredible mountain views, the invigorating aroma of fir forest, a thick fern carpet and the opportunity to taste delicious berries — blueberries and lingonberries.
Hiking to the Baduk lakes in autumn is a special pleasure.: There are many deciduous trees growing here, which, with the arrival of October, dress up in gilt and amber, moss gently springs underfoot, and anticipation of the coming winter is in the air.
All three lakes are quite cold and unusually clear.
They change color depending on the weather, the color of the sky, the forest setting reflected in the clear waters, and many other factors.
These places are covered with legends, which you will definitely learn about while hiking, sipping mountain tea and listening to bird trills.
Active part: 8.7 km on foot, altitude difference 1400-1980 m, duration 5-6 hours.

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Day 6 - The Alan settlement. Transfer to Arkhyz
Check-out from the hotel in Dombay village, transfer to the village. Arkhyz (travel time 3 hours).
On the way, an excursion to the Alan hillfort, the Face of Christ.
Today we will go from Dombay to Arkhyz by car.
But this does not mean at all that the sixth day of the tour will be devoted exclusively to moving — along the way we will make an amazing excursion: we will visit the ancient Alan settlement – Nizhne-Arkhyz settlement.
A trip to the ancient sundial of the Alan settlement will give you unforgettable impressions and charge you with positive energy, because the astronomical circle is considered one of the local places of power.
The journey will take about three hours.
Also, as part of an excursion to the mountain retreat of the ancient Alans, we will see the highest face of Jesus Christ on a stone wall.
Duration of the tour: 1.5-2 hours. Walking distance 3 km.
In the evening, we will arrive in the village of Arkhyz, check into a cozy hotel and take a sightseeing tour of the resort town.

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Day 7 - Cascade of lakes on the Malaya Dukka River
The seventh day of the tour will reveal incredibly beautiful places — the Dukka Lakes.
The path to the lake necklace, located on the Malaya Dukka River, passes through alpine meadows, where honey elderberries, delicate lavender forget-me-nots, colorful watersheds and frivolous anemones are fragrant in summer.
On the way to the lakes, you can enjoy the sweetest blueberries and delicious cranberries.
Active part: 11.8 km on foot, altitude difference 1920-2600 m, duration 7-8 hours.

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Day 8 - Sofia Lakes
Sofia Lakes are distinguished by an amazing palette of colors, ranging from milky blue to dark sapphire.
The places here are primitive, mysterious and wild: arrogant mountain peaks and caravans of boiling white clouds reign around.
The lake District is safely hidden behind the Irkiz pass.
After overcoming it, the traveler will see an amazing panorama: to the horizon, where the sharpest eye can reach, there is an impenetrable wall of mountain guards, covered with dense greenery, huge boulders and ice caps.
After visiting the Sofia Lakes, we will descend to Lake Aimatli, surrounded by blooming Alpine meadows.
Active part: 12.3 km on foot, altitude difference 2000-2890-1890 m, duration 8-9 hours.

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Day 9 - Sofia Waterfalls
Sofia Waterfalls is the next goal of our tour.
A reliable mountain UAZ will take the group to the Glacier Farm, a natural site surrounded by pearl streams, frozen moraines and rock giants.
From here, the hike turns into a walking tour to Mount Sofia and a colorful glacier, against which magnificent waterfalls roar.
On the way to the amazing streams, tourists can see the contrast of dormant age-old rocks and vibrant greenery of water meadows: silhouettes of phantasmagoric creatures frozen in stone can be seen around.
Active part: 5.5 km on foot, altitude difference 2000-2300 m, duration 5-6 hours.

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Day 10 - Departure
In the morning we have breakfast and set off on our way back.
Transfer by minibus to Mineralnye Vody.
12:30-13:30 arrival at the railway station and the airport of Mineralnye Vody, departure home.
Depending on the weather conditions, the physical condition of the participants and other factors, the route of the hike may be changed.

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Difficulty

Involves moderate physical activity

Tour organizer's comments

The route runs at an altitude of 1500-2800 m., we climb by cable car to an altitude of 3012 m.

Route length: 75.4 km.

Trekking through gorges light, hotel accommodation.

Accommodation

Hotel

9 nights

Comfort

Basic+
Midscale

The tour includes accommodation in the village. Arkhyz and Dombai.

The cost of the tour for 1 person is 78,000 rubles.

The surcharge for single occupancy in a hotel room is 18,000 rubles./ the entire rest period.

"Favorite"

2-,3-bed standard rooms. Room amenities, TV, Wi-Fi, towels are provided.

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.

Another option

"Forget-me-not"

2-,3-bed standard rooms. Room amenities, TV, Wi-Fi, towels are provided.

The guest house "Guest House Forget-me-not" is located in Arkhyz. This guest house is 1 km from the city center. Near the guest house there is the Karcha—You Rock, the Arkhyz Ski Resort and the Sofia Lakes.

The shared kitchen is equipped for self-catering. If you are traveling by car, you will be able to park in the free parking lot. Parking is organized especially for car travelers. Additionally, skiing is available for skiers and snowboarders.

Tour conditions

Group

From 6 to 18 tourists

Minimum age

6 years old

Duration

10 days 9 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 of Dombay in the Dombay Ice Cherry hotel or a hotel of a similar class: 2-, 3-bed rooms;
accommodation in the village Arkhyz in the hotel "Favorit", "Forget-me-not" or a hotel of a similar class: 2-, 3-bed rooms;
2 meals a day:
- ready-made breakfasts (day 2-10) are served at the hotel according to a set menu (not individual);
- lunch (day 2-3, 5, 7-9) in the form of dry rations in the mountains (sausage, cheese, tea, cookies, chocolate, sweets);
environmental fees in the Teberdinsky National Park: entrance tickets to the Alibek gorge, Dombai-Ulgen gorge, Baduk River gorge;
entrance tickets to the Alan settlement;
group equipment rental: boilers, gas burners (for making tea for lunch in the mountains in June-August), a group first aid kit;
the services of an instructor-guide.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Mineralnye Vody and back;
Meals: lunch (day 1, 4, 6), dinners;
the surcharge for 1-bed accommodation in a hotel room is 18,000 rubles/ the entire rest period;
insurance (optional).

It's important to know

We draw your attention to the rules of choosing clothes for a trip: it is impossible to go to the Caucasus in 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 ankle-length 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;
trekking poles. 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 food for lunch, which is 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);
cash;
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

$920

17 – 26 Jul 10 days 9 nights

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$920

3 – 12 Aug 10 days 9 nights

No seats left
$920

4 – 13 Sep 10 days 9 nights

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$920

2 – 11 Oct 10 days 9 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!