New Year's Eve in Upper Balkaria

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Our vacation destination is the Caucasus, Kabardino-Balkaria. During the trip, we will visit two beautiful winter gorges at once: Cherek and Bezengi. The program of the New Year's tour will be very intense: we will see the Chateau-Erken castle, visit the snowy gorges of Ushtulu and Rcyvashki, take pictures of ancient towers, look at the bottom of the Cherek gorge, and admire the beauty of Blue lakes, swim in thermal springs and see the real Caucasian Troll Language.

Location

Stavropol territory, Mineral Waters

from

Early
booking

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

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Tour highlights

Rest in the thermal baths

The Aushiger springs are a wonderful place where you can just swim during the New Year holidays.

Mineral water sources

In the gorge we will see and taste the delicious narzan, which shoots straight out of the ground.

Landscapes like on the National Geographic channel

Snow-covered gorges, blue lakes, stormy rivers and powerful waterfalls await us.

Picnics in the mountains

We will arrange a rest stop in a colorful clearing surrounded by spectacular mountains: Soukhkauzkaya, Likoran and Kaya-Arty.

Active leisure

A simple and beautiful route that is perfect for beginners.

Unusual towers of Upper Balkaria

We will see the stone fortress of Amirkhan-Kala, which at first glance looks completely impregnable.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival. Chateau-Erken Castle
12:00-12:30 (Moscow time) Gathering of the group at the railway station and at the airport of Mineralnye Vody.
Having gathered together, we are going to Upper Balkaria!
On the way, on the first day of the tour, we will visit the real Chateau-Erken castle.
Looking at this castle, you can decide that you are not in the Caucasus, but somewhere in Europe.
Chateau-Erken was built in 2010 by Tembulat Erkenov, a recognized winemaker in Russia and Europe.
The place here is very picturesque: there is a pond near the castle, along the banks of which sprawling willows grow.
By the way, this is one of the rarest castles in Russia, which stands in the middle of the lake.
We'll walk along the lake shore and look at the castle from the outside.
We don't go inside the castle.
In the evening we will arrive in the village of Verkhnyaya Balkaria, where we will live throughout the tour.
The active part of the New Year's tour to Upper Balkaria: 2 km on foot.

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Day 2 - Ushtulu Gorge, Zerkli-Suu Waterfall
New Year's Eve is always about snow and Christmas trees!
Today we are going to the gorge, where the most winter and New Year mood reigns.
The Ushtulu Gorge is located closer to the Main Caucasian Ridge, which means that the mountains here are high, there is a lot of snow, and the scenery is like on the National Geographic channel!
In the gorge we will see and taste the delicious narzan, which shoots straight out of the ground.
And even in winter it does not freeze.
And then we'll go for a walk along the gorge.
During the tour, we will enjoy the coniferous forests and new landscapes that will open up to us in the depths of the Ushtulu gorge.
We will also visit the Zerkli-Suu waterfall today!
The waterfall has several steps, and its height from the beginning to the end is about 100 meters.
Can you imagine how beautiful it is?
In winter, the waterfall freezes almost completely and turns into a huge, very spectacular icefall.
The active part of the New Year's tour to Upper Balkaria: 10.4 km on foot, altitude difference within 300 m, trekking duration 5-6 hours.

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Day 3 - Rcyvashki Gorge, Amirkhan-Kala Tower
This New Year's Day, let's go to the gorge, where there is much less snow.
There will be a more familiar forest path under your feet.
Along the way, we will admire the small Rcyvashki waterfall and the mighty, stunningly beautiful Mehtygen!
Mehtygen is the main peak of Upper Balkaria, which immediately attracts our gaze with its stunning mountain crown!
Going a little deeper into the gorge, we will see how several more spectacular mountains visually rise above the valley: Soukhkauzkaya, Likoran and Kaya-Arty.
Choosing the most convenient clearing, we will arrange lunch and rest on it.
Also today we will see one of the most unusual towers of Upper Balkaria — the fortress of Amirkhan-Kala.
The fortress is built on stone and at first glance looks completely impregnable!
The active part of the New Year's tour to Upper Balkaria: 12 km on foot, altitude difference 1160-1700 m, trekking duration 6-7 hours.

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Day 4 - Cherek Gorge, Blue lakes, Aushiger thermal springs
We have already seen gorges, mountains, a real castle and an ancient fortress.
It's time to diversify our New Year's tour with a visit to the gorge and lakes!
We will make our first stop near the Cherek gorge.
The gorge is a very narrow place in the gorge, where the mountains rise rapidly 200-300 meters above you.
And below, in the depths, runs the purest mountain river Cherek.
The next stop on the tour will be near the Blue Lakes.
We'll see three reservoirs!
We will take a walk near each of them and choose for ourselves which lake is the most beautiful.
By the way, this is where the local souvenir market is located: you can buy Caucasian souvenirs, tea, jam or beautiful New Year's magnets.
Then we'll go swimming in real thermal springs!
As it often happens, a long time ago people searched for oil in these places, but they found hot springs.
And since then, people have been coming here to enjoy swimming in the outdoor pools.
The water here is healing, it cures many ailments.
And besides, the Auschiger springs are a great place where you can just swim during the New Year holidays and relax.
The active part of the New Year's tour to Upper Balkaria: 5 km on foot.

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Day 5 - Bezengi Gorge, Troll Tongue viewing platform
Are you ready to see another stunningly spectacular location on our New Year's tour?
Then let's go to the neighboring Bezengi gorge!
Let's climb closer to the sky to get to the Troll Tongue observation deck.
It is a long stone that impressively overhangs the valley.
Of course, here we will take dozens of amazing New Year's photos!
Let's look at the mountains around us from the Troll's Tongue.
In clear weather, we will see the Bezengian wall with a refined Dome top on the horizon.
The mountains around are always covered with snow at this time of the year.
In some places, snow lies on the mountains, as if on flat shelves, which is why there is a slight resemblance to the famous snow strips on the great Kailash Mountain.
The active part of the New Year's tour to Upper Balkaria: 5 km on foot, elevation difference 1700-1750-1330 m, trekking duration 5-6 hours.

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Day 6 - Departure
In the morning we leave the hospitable Upper Balkaria.
12:30-13:30 Arrival in Mineralnye Vody (airport, railway station), departure home.

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Difficulty

Involves moderate physical activity

Tour organizer's comments

The route runs at an altitude of 1100-2200 m.

Route length: 36 km.

Difficulty level of the route: moderate (50% of the route), medium (50% of the route).

The route is trekking and involves walking through mountainous (rough) terrain. This type of outdoor activity involves daily climbing and dropping heights (ascents and descents). The route follows forest trails, dirt roads, snow trails, and fresh snow. The routes will have an altitude difference of 200 to 500 m per day. Climbing 200-500 m is about the same as climbing 60-160 floors.

Accommodation

Hotel

5 nights

Comfort

Upscale

The tour includes accommodation in the Altuu Hotel or a hotel of the same class.

The surcharge for 1-bed accommodation in a hotel room is 14,000 rubles.

2-bed room. If it is necessary to accommodate three people in one room, the owners of the hotel add a modern cot. Room amenities. There is a private parking for cars in the courtyard of the hotel. There is a cozy cafe on site where you will enjoy spending time.

Address: 175 Taulueva str., Upper Balkaria, Cherekskiy district, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic.

Tour conditions

Group

From 6 to 18 tourists

Minimum age

8 years old

Duration

6 days 5 nights

Group meets at

Stavropol territory, Mineral Waters

Included in price

road crossings along the route;
cross-country transportation along the route;
accommodation in the village of Verkhnyaya Balkaria in the Altuu hotel or a hotel of the same class. 2-, 3-bed rooms. Room facilities;
2 meals a day. Ready-made breakfasts (day 2-6) are served at the hotel according to a set menu (the menu is not individual). Lunch (day 2, 3) in the form of dry rations in the mountains (sausage, cheese, tea, biscuits, chocolate, sweets);
environmental fees in the Kabardino-Balkarian Nature Reserve;
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 (day 1, 4, 5), dinners. The cost of lunch / dinner in a cafe starts from 600 rubles.;
the surcharge for 1-bed accommodation in a hotel room is 14,000 rubles/ the entire rest period;
insurance (optional).

It's important to know

jacket. The air temperature in different gorges along the route can be in the range of -7, -10...+12C;
fleece;
hat, gloves;
running trousers;
T-shirt;
lingerie;
tights, socks;
flashlights (gaiters, gaiters, shoe covers). They are useful as protection from dirt or snow.;
warm, waterproof walking shoes. The route runs on asphalt, along a trampled snow trail, through fresh snow;
trekking poles. Sticks significantly reduce the load on the knees; physically strong and healthy tourists are recommended to have sticks with them.;
If necessary, the club provides trekking poles for rent.;
The second-in-command;
swimsuit, towel (for bathing in thermal springs);
flip flops;
child's passport / birth certificate;
camera / video camera;
toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, razor);
hairbrush;
sunglasses are required. On clear days, glasses protect the eyes from the sun's rays, which can burn the outer layers of the eye, and snow reflects up to 80% of the sun's rays. When sunlight reflects off snow, it becomes very bright and is accompanied by an intense glare that makes it difficult to look at.
waterproof clothing or raincoat from the middle of the thigh and below;
thread, needle;
a backpack for walking (20-25 liters). The backpack contains the tourist's personal belongings (thermos, water bottle, etc.), as well as public food for lunch, which is provided by the instructor (the weight of the products is 400-600 grams);
toilet paper (useful during the day during walks;
a thermos is required (volume 0.75-1 liter per person). In a thermos, each guest takes tea for a walk;
mug, spoon;
shoe dryers. On walks, we walk along snowy paths, by the evening the shoes become wet, they need to be dried.;
sunscreen, lipstick;
individual first aid kit.

Trekking poles are a must for guests who have problems with their knees, joints, and excess weight.

Dates and Prices

from
$753

3 – 8 Jan, 2026 6 days 5 nights

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Reviews

E
Elena

about provider

8 Jul, 2025

5 more photos

The tour was exceptionally well organized! Thank you for that! A special thanks to Karina for the engaging walks, fascinating stories, and for making sure there was never a dull moment!!!
D
Damira

about provider

19 Jun, 2025

The accommodation was warm and cozy, with a shower and toilet in every room The instructor was absolutely outstanding — special thanks for the fun games ❤️ The route was perfect, with something new to experience every day.
AI
Andrey Ivlev

about provider

17 Jun, 2025

6 more photos

The welcome, overall organization, instructor’s work, and daily support were all excellent. Some items on the packing list were unnecessary, but that’s just a minor detail. Overall, a great experience.