New Year's Eve in Upper Balkaria

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
$886
$753
+ tickets to the starting point of the tour
No need to pay now
Duration
6 Days
5 Nights
Departures
  • Group departures
    • Dates for next season
    • 3 – 8 January, 2026
or
Accommodation
  • Hotel
    5 nights
Comfort
  • Upscale
Difficulty
Moderate
Involves moderate physical activity
Group
From 6 to 18 tourists
Minimum age
8 years old
Group meet at
Stavropol territory, Mineral Waters
Contact the tour coordinator
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.

    1 more photo
  • Day 2 - Ushtulu Gorge, Zerkli-Suu Waterfall
  • Day 3 - Rcyvashki Gorge, Amirkhan-Kala Tower
  • Day 4 - Cherek Gorge, Blue lakes, Aushiger thermal springs
  • Day 5 - Bezengi Gorge, Troll Tongue viewing platform
  • Day 6 - Departure
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

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.

"Altuu" 5 nights

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

Personal equipment you need for the tour
  • 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.

Are plane tickets included in the price of the tour?
Is insurance included in the price of the tour?
Where does the route start and end?
Can the program be changed?
Will there be a mobile connection on the route?

Dates and Prices

  • from
    $753
    3 – 8 Jan, 2026 6 days 5 nights
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    No need to pay now

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.