The colors of autumn. Railway cruise with a visit to North Ossetia

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We will feel the bright colors of autumn on a seven-day railway trip to the south of Russia, during which a comfortable train will become a hotel on wheels for us and will bring us to a new city every morning.

Let's take a walk through the magals and ancient streets of Derbent. We will get acquainted with the iconic places of Grozny and its past, hear a story about Chechen culture and hospitality traditions.

In the ancient village of Ossetia, we will encounter artifacts from past eras and see architectural structures of ancient architecture. We will climb Mount Elbrus by the highest cable car in Russia to the Gara-Bashi station, located at an altitude of 3,847 meters.

Location

Russia, Moscow

from

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

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Tour highlights

Swimming in thermal pools

Relax in the warm springs after a busy day of sightseeing

Alan evening

Amazing dances, charming music and delicious Caucasian cuisine are waiting for us

Wine tasting

Let's find out the history of the origin of viticulture in Derbent and try a couple of wines

The history of ancient Derbent

Let's get acquainted with the ruins of the Khan's Palace, one of the largest architectural complexes

Up on the cable car

We will take a chairlift to the Skazsky glacier

Mosques in Chechnya

We will visit one of the largest Muslim temples in Russia and around the world

Itinerary

Day 1 - Goodbye, Moscow!
Self-boarding the tourist train No. 930/929 (car numbers, seats will be indicated in the voucher).
11:00 Departure of the tourist train No. 930/929 from the Kazan railway station in Moscow.

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Day 2 - Republic of Adygea
Breakfast on the train.
12:50 Arrival of the tourist train No. 930/929 at the railway station of Maykop, meeting with the guide, boarding the bus (the bus number is indicated in the voucher).
Transfer to the panoramic platform of the Azish-Tau ridge, travel information about the history, culture and modern development of Adygea.
Visit to the panoramic site of the Azish-Tau ridge.
Excursion to the Azish cave.
Bolshaya Azishskaya Cave is one of the top five caves in Europe.
Visit to the Khadzhokhskaya Gorge natural monument.
Thousands of years ago, the Belaya River created unique stone bridges in the Khadjokh gorge.
It is here that the most picturesque places open to the eye and the main part of the viewing platforms is concentrated.
Free time for independent walks, visits to cafes and souvenir market.
Transfer to the thermal pools.
Along the way, you will learn about the customs, everyday life, and culinary traditions of the Adygs.
Bathing in thermal pools (bathing accessories, towel rental for an additional fee).
Dinner with national dishes (with tasting of Adyghe cheese) and participation of artists of the national dance ensemble.
There will also be an opportunity to purchase cheese, honey and works by craftsmen of folk art crafts.
Transfer to Maikop railway station.
21:10 Departure of the tourist train No. 930/929 to Vladikavkaz.

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Day 3 - Republic of North Ossetia-Alania
Breakfast on the train.
10:10 a.m. Arrival of tourist train No. 930/929 at Vladikavkaz railway station, meeting with a guide, boarding a bus (bus number is indicated on the voucher).
Transfer to the Alagir gorge (48 km).
Moving along the military-Ossetian road in the Alagir gorge, to the right along the way, attention is attracted by an extraordinary sculptural composition — the Sanctuary and the rock monument of Uastyrdzhi.
Sightseeing of the monument and sanctuary (20 min).
Transfer (41 km) to the Tseiskoe Gorge— the pearl of Ossetia.
The entire Tsey Gorge is a state nature reserve, and the figure of the patron saint Afsati at the entrance symbolizes protection for everyone living in this beautiful corner of the Caucasus.
We will take a chairlift to the Skazsky glacier, 2500 meters above sea level.
The total estimated time for ascent, inspection and descent is 1:30.
Transfer to lunch at a cafe in the village of Buron.
Lunch with dishes of national cuisine.
Moving to the Mamison gorge is one of the most remote and inaccessible corners of Ossetia.
In the ancient village of Lisri, we will encounter artifacts from past eras, and see architectural structures of ancient architecture.
Transfer (102 km) to Vladikavkaz.
On the way, stop at the Gazdanov brothers obelisk (5-10 min).
Bus and walking tour of Vladikavkaz.
We invite you to enjoy a magnificent view of the mountains of the Greater Caucasus and touch the history of the Russian-Caucasian war, consider the preserved old buildings: the former tobacco factory, the Singer concern, the printing house of the late 19th century, the houses of engineer Boehme and merchant Oganov, stroll along Mira Avenue and the embankment of the proud Terek.
Free time for independent walks, visits to cafes and souvenir market.
"Alan Evening" is a dinner and a show program in the ethno-national style.
Acquaintance with the traditional Ossetian feast, the main ritual of the Alan cult: the great prayer feast – KUVD.
Transfer to Vladikavkaz railway station.
22:00 Departure of the tourist train No. 930/929 to Grozny.

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Day 4 - Chechen Republic
Breakfast on the train.
09:30 Arrival of the tourist train No. 930/929 at the railway station of Grozny, meeting with the guide, boarding the bus (the bus number is indicated in the voucher).
Transfer to the Nihaloy waterfalls and the Argun Gorge.
Visit to the Nihaloy Waterfalls sports and tourist complex.
A walk to the waterfalls.
Transfer to Shali.
Visit to the Muslim Pride Mosque.
The mosque looks dazzlingly white because it is covered with a special Greek marble imported from the island of Thassos, and the amazing finishing stone has the ability to reflect light.
Transfer to Grozny.
Lunch at a cafe in the city.
Sightseeing tour of the city with a visit to the memorial complex of Glory named after Akhmat Kadyrov, the central mosque "Heart of Chechnya", the complex of skyscrapers "Grozny City" and an observation deck on the 29th floor, the Flower Park, the Orthodox Church of St. Michael the Archangel.
Dinner at a cafe in the city.
Free time in the city center.
An alternative to free time is visiting the Light and Music Fountains during the operation of this facility (from 20:30 to 21:30).
Transfer to Grozny railway station.
23:30 Departure of the tourist train No. 930/929 to Makhachkala (boarding the train at 21:00).

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Day 5 - Republic of Dagestan
Breakfast on the train.
07:29 Arrival of tourist train No. 930/929 at Derbent railway station.
07:30 Meeting with the guide, boarding the bus (the bus number is indicated on the voucher).
Transfer to the Lun ekranoplane with an external inspection, the guide's story about the legendary ekranoplane, a brilliant invention of Soviet engineering.
Excursion to the Naryn-Kala Citadel Museum-Reserve.
Guided tour of Magala, ancient streets of Derbent.
You will see the Juma Mosque, the house where the exiled writer Bestuzhev-Marlinsky lived, the ancient shopping square lined with shell stones, and take a look at the Maiden Baths (the museum of culture and everyday life of ancient Derbent).
Cognac factory tour.
During the tour, you will learn the history of the combine, as well as the history of the origin of viticulture in ancient Derbent.
Get acquainted with full—cycle production - from growing grapes, processing them to bottling finished products.
In the program:
visit to the museum of the plant;
guided tour of the plant;
a story about full-cycle production;
guided tour of the winery;
visit to the storage of aged elite cognac spirits in barrels;
tasting of 3 samples of wines ("Derbent zolotoe", "Merlot", "Chardonnay"), 3 samples of cognac ("Staraya fortress", "Derbent 5 stars", "KVVK" Kaspiy"), 1 sample of calvados "Derbentsky".
Lunch with elements of national dishes.
Transfer to the oriental market.
Free time for independent walks, visits to cafes and souvenir market.
Transfer to the railway station.
19:01 Departure of the tourist train No. 930/929 to Nalchik.
Attention! The age limit for a tour of the cognac factory is 16+. Persons under the age of 16 are not allowed to enter the territory of the cognac factory. At this time, the children are in the tasting room (without tasting) with a representative of the company, where they will be offered board games.

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Day 6 - Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
Breakfast on the train.
07:00 Arrival of tourist train No. 930/929 at Nalchik railway station, meeting with a guide, boarding a bus (bus number is indicated on the voucher).
Transfer to the Azau glade along the Baksan gorge of the Elbrus region.
Climb Mount Elbrus by the highest cable car in Russia to the Gara-Bashi station, located at an altitude of 3,847 meters.
Attention! Being at high altitudes can cause oxygen starvation, changes in cardiovascular pressure, and other acute conditions. People suffering from cardiovascular diseases, as well as children under 3 years of age, are not recommended to climb the cable car. It is prohibited to climb the cable car under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Free time for independent walks, visiting cafes and buying souvenirs.
Transfer to Nalchik.
A late lunch, during which you will be able to taste dishes of national cuisine, get acquainted with the way of life, cuisine and customs of the Balkarian people, and enjoy the performances of national musical and dance groups.
Transfer to Nalchik railway station via the central street of the city — ave. Lenin Street with a short sightseeing tour of the city.
17:50 Departure of the tourist train No. 930/929 to Moscow.

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Day 7 - On the way. Moscow
Breakfast on the train.
Rest on the train.
23:50 Arrival of the tourist train No. 930/929 at the Kazansky railway station in Moscow.

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Train

6 nights

Comfort

Midscale
Upscale

The tour provides accommodation in a comfortable carriage.

The cost of the tour for 1 person, depending on the accommodation, RUB.:

Category	4-seater compartment	sv	sv 1-bed accommodation	Luxury	Luxury 1-bed accommodation
For adults	89 100	127 300	209 500	174 200	299 500
For children from 0 to 9 years old inclusive (with a seat)	88 100	126 300	-	174 200	-
For children from 0 to 4 years old inclusive (without a seat)	45 000	45 000	-	45 000*	-

The purchase of one additional seat in a four—seater compartment is on request.

*cost for 1 child under 9 years old when staying with 2 adults.

The seating in the compartment is mixed (female and male seats together).

The tourist train includes comfortable luxury, CB, compartment and second-class carriages.

SUITE 6 compartment	1 upper shelf + 1 lower (unfolds, it turns out the analogy of a bed in size slightly less than 2 bedrooms), bathrobes + slippers, 1 medium + 1 large towel. Personal amenities in the form of a WC with a sink. A soft corner sofa, there is a TV (you can use a USB stick or disks). There are only 12 people in the carriage
SUITE 5 compartments	1 upper shelf + 1 lower (unfolds, it turns out the analogy of a bed in size slightly less than 2 bedrooms), bathrobes + slippers, 1 medium + 1 large towel. Personal amenities in the form of 1 shower +WC with sink. A soft corner sofa, there is a TV (you can use a USB stick or disks). There are only 10 people in the carriage.
sv	2 lower shelves, 1 medium towel for 1 person, mini travel kit (toothbrush + toothpaste, slippers, refreshing napkin). Amenities per carriage. The maximum number of people in a carriage is 18
COMPARTMENT	2 lower and 2 upper shelves. Amenities per carriage. Mini travel kit (toothbrush+ toothpaste, slippers, refreshing napkin). The maximum number of people in a carriage is 36
Reserved seat	9 open-type compartments, 9 side seats. The maximum number of people in the car is 54 seats
The general Ruskeala Express	The train is stylized for the beginning of the 20th century. The train is pulling - a real steam locomotive. There are 6 seats in each compartment. The train has a restaurant car and a photo compartment.

Tour conditions

Group

From 12 to 50 tourists

Duration

7 days 6 nights

Group meets at

Russia, Moscow

Included in price

railway travel in a carriage of the selected type along the route;
transportation and excursion services according to the program;
entrance tickets to tourist sites according to the program;
meals according to the program (for more information, see the "Important to know" section);
escort services throughout the route.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Moscow and back;
personal expenses;
additional meals on the train;
purchase of one additional seat in a four-seater compartment.

It's important to know

In the summer, take with you a change of shoes, swimsuits, a towel for swimming in the sea in Derbent.

It is impossible to know in advance whether passengers can board and disembark at non-fixed stops, upon arrival at which the tour service is provided (there may be parking on the train, but boarding/disembarking may not be allowed. There are various reasons for this. For example, the length of the platform does not allow, the train is on the sidings, and there is basically no platform.). The tour operator is not responsible for boarding and disembarking passengers when the train stops without sightseeing services.
Tourists can join the tourist route on any part of it, where there is a train parking with an excursion day service. But without recalculating the cost of the tour in terms of railway transportation. Since a cruise train ticket is issued from the start point of the tour to the end point of the tour, there will be no recalculation of the cost of railway travel in this case. For sightseeing days when tourists will not be present on excursions, we will recalculate the cost.
In a 4-seater compartment for two people, top+bottom accommodation is provided. Placement on the two lower shelves is possible only in a 2-seater compartment or a ST.
The purchase of the fourth seat in the compartment is optional, accommodation with check-in is possible.
Tours on the territory of the Russian Federation do not imply the presence of a notarized consent from one of the parents / legal representative for the child's trip accompanied by a third party. However, we recommend a handwritten consent from one of the parents / legal representatives to make a decision if medical care is needed for the child + a copy of the first page and the page with the registration of the parent / legal representative giving the handwritten consent.
Smoking is prohibited on the train (both electronic and plain cigarettes; a fine of 1,500 to 2,500 rubles). You can smoke in the train parking lots, if possible, get off the train in smoking areas specially designated on the platforms.
The tour operator issues railway tickets at a tariff without carrying animals (for group railway transportation of tourists, this tariff is not possible for registration). In addition, it is not allowed to enter the tour bus with animals (there may be allergies in the group). Pets are also not allowed to enter the museums.

Dates and Prices

The tour dates are not confirmed yet. Please, for clarification

from
$1,050

1 – 7 Nov 7 days 6 nights

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Reviews

M
Marina

about provider

5 Mar, 2025

Great team! Well done! Thank you all!

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Meal schedule according to the tour program
1 day. Moscow	Not included
Day 2. Republic of Adygea	Breakfast, dinner
Day 3. Republic of North Ossetia-Alania	Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4. Grozny, Chechen Republic	Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5. Republic of Dagestan	Breakfast and lunch
Day 6. Kabardino-Balkaria	Breakfast and lunch
Day 7. On the way	Breakfast