The pearl of the Caucasus. A railway cruise with a visit to North Ossetia in April

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A railway trip to the south of Russia, during which a comfortable train will become a hotel on wheels for you and will bring you to the new republic every morning.

Get acquainted with the iconic places of Grozny and its past, hear a story about Chechen culture and hospitality traditions. Take a walk through the magals and ancient streets of Derbent. Climb Mount Elbrus by the highest cable car in Russia to the Gara-Bashi station, located at an altitude of 3,847 meters. In the ancient village of Ossetia, you will encounter artifacts of past eras, see architectural structures of ancient architecture.

Location

Russia, Moscow

from

US$ 915

Contact the tour coordinator

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

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Tour highlights

Thermal pleasure

After active excursions, we will relax in the warm thermal springs

Alan evening

We are waiting for national dances, charming national music and delicious Caucasian national cuisine

Wine stories of Derbent

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

Itinerary

Day 1 - Goodbye, Moscow!
Self-boarding the tourist train No. 930/929 (car numbers, seats will be indicated in the voucher).
23:28 Departure of the tourist train No. 930/929 from the Kazan railway station in Moscow.

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Day 2 - Rest on the train
Breakfast on the train.
Rest on the train.

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Day 3 - Republic of Adygea
Breakfast on the train.
08:35 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).
Sightseeing tour of the central part of the city.
You will see the Monument "Unity and Harmony", the Cathedral Mosque, the monument "Forever with Russia" and visit the ethnographic exposition of the National Museum of the Republic of Adygea.
Transfer to the panoramic platform of the Azish-Tau ridge, travel information about the history, culture and modern development of Adygea.
A visit to the panoramic site of the Azish-Tau ridge.
Excursion to the Azish cave.
The Big Azish cave is one of the five best caves in Europe.
Visit to the second panoramic site of the Azish-Tau ridge.
Lunch at the cafe.
Transfer to Kamennomostskiy settlement.
Visit to the Khadjokh Gorge natural monument.
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 and towel rental for an additional fee).
Dinner with national dishes (with tasting of Adyghe cheese) and participation of artists of the national dance ensemble.
Transfer to the railway station of Maykop.
21:10 Departure of the tourist train No. 930/929 to Vladikavkaz.

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Day 4 - Republic of North Ossetia-Alania
Breakfast on the train.
10:10 Arrival of the tourist train No. 930/929 at the railway station of Vladikavkaz, meeting with the guide, boarding the bus (the bus number is indicated in the voucher).
Transfer to the Alagir gorge (48 km).
On a trip along the Military Ossetian Road at the entrance to the Alagir Gorge, the attention of all travelers is attracted by an extraordinary sculptural composition - visually it feels as if an elder on a horse jumps out of a sheer cliff and hovers over the road.
This is the Sanctuary and rock monument of Uastyrdzhi, the most revered saint in Ossetia, the patron saint of men, travelers and warriors, one of the main characters of the Ossetian Nart epic.
External inspection of the monument and the sanctuary (20 min).
Moving (41 km) to the Tsey Gorge — the pearl of Ossetia, which has been sacred to Ossetians for many centuries, it is here that the most iconic places of worship and places of power are located.
The entire Tsey Gorge is a state reserve, and the figure of the patron saint of wild animals and nature Afsati at the entrance symbolizes the protection of all who live in this beautiful corner of the Caucasus.
We will take a chairlift to the Skazsky glacier, located at an altitude of 2500 meters above sea level.
From here you can see the wonderful landscapes of the Tsey Gorge: mountain peaks among clouds, alpine meadows, protected forests and mountain rivers (the total estimated time for ascent, inspection and descent is 1:30).
Transfer to the village of Buron.
Lunch in a cafe 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 see artifacts of past eras, get acquainted with the architecture of ancient architecture, learn about the legends and history of other settlements of the Mamison Gorge: Tib, Tli, Kalak, Zgil.
Transfer (102 km) to Vladikavkaz. On the way, a short stop is planned at the obelisk of the Gazdanov brothers (5-10 minutes).
Bus and walking tour of Vladikavkaz.
We invite you to enjoy a magnificent view of the mountains of the Greater Caucasus, learn the history of the Russian-Caucasian War, examine the preserved ancient buildings: the former tobacco factory, the Singer concern, the printing house of the late XIX 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 and the main ritual of the Alan cult — the great prayer feast, which is called Kuvd.
Transfer to Vladikavkaz railway station.
22:00 Departure of the tourist train No. 930/929 to Grozny.

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Day 5 - 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 along the Argun gorge.
Visit to the tourist complex "Nihaloy waterfalls".
Nihaloy waterfalls — a cascade of twelve waterfalls, the smallest of which has a height of 2 meters, the highest — 32 meters, got their name because of their proximity to the village of Nihaloy.
A walk to the waterfalls.
Transfer to Shali.
Visit to the Prophet Muhammad Muslim Pride Mosque in the city of Shali, the youngest and largest of the largest mosques in the Chechen Republic.
Transfer to Grozny.
Lunch at a cafe in the city.
Sightseeing tour of the city with a visit to the Akhmat Kadyrov Memorial Complex of Glory, the Central Mosque "Heart of Chechnya", the Complex of skyscrapers "Grozny City" and an observation deck on the 29th floor, a Flower Park, the Orthodox Church of Michael the Archangel.
Dinner in a cafe in the city.
Free time in the city center.
An alternative to free time is to visit the Light and Music Fountain during the operation of this facility (from 20:30 to 21:30).
Transfer to the railway station of Grozny.
23:30 Departure of tourist train No. 930/929 to Makhachkala (boarding the train at 21:00).

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Day 6 - Republic of Dagestan
Breakfast on the train.
07:29 Arrival of the tourist train No. 930/929 at the railway station of Derbent.
08:00 Meeting with the guide, boarding the bus (the bus number is indicated in 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.
You will get acquainted with the history of the construction of the Derbent stone defensive complex by the Iranian kings from the Sassanid dynasty in the V-VI centuries AD.
You will learn about the unique water supply system of the fortress and the city, see the ruins of the Khan's Palace with underground prisons and the Khan's bathhouse — one of the largest architectural complexes of the Citadel.
A tour of the magals — the ancient districts of Derbent.
Winding labyrinthine streets, an ancient fortress, a charming atmosphere — all this awaits you on the tour.
You will see buildings of different eras forming a unique urban pattern, a Juma mosque, the house where the exiled writer Bestuzhev-Marlinsky lived, an ancient shopping square lined with shell stones, and look into the Maiden Baths - the Museum of Culture and Everyday Life of Ancient Derbent, as well as learn the history of Derbent from the foundation to the present day, details of local traditions and peculiarities of everyday life.
An excursion to the Derbent Cognac Factory, during which you will learn the history of the origin of viticulture in ancient Derbent, visit the storage of aged elite cognac spirits in barrels, get acquainted with the production of a full cycle — from growing grapes and processing them to bottling finished products and even be able to taste 3 types of wines ("Derbent golden", "Merlot", "Chardonnay"), 3 types of cognac ("Old Fortress", "Derbent 5 stars", "KVVK" "Caspian") and 1 type of calvados ("Derbent").
Lunch with elements of national dishes.
Transfer to the oriental market.
Free time for independent walks, visits to cafes and souvenir market.
19:01 Departure of the tourist train No. 930/929 to Nalchik.

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Day 7 - Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
Breakfast on the train.
07:00 Arrival of the tourist train No. 930/929 at the railway station of Nalchik, meeting with the guide, boarding the bus (the bus number is indicated in the voucher).
Transfer to the Azau clearing 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.
The third stage of the cable car on Elbrus from Mir Station to Gara-Bashi Station is included in the Russian Book of Records as the highest cable car in the country and has no analogues in height not only in Russia but also in Europe.
Attention! It is not recommended for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, as well as children under 3 years of age 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 can taste dishes of national cuisine, get acquainted with the way of life, cuisine and customs of the Balkarian people and enjoy performances by national musical and dance groups.
Transfer to Nalchik railway station via the central street of the city — Lenin Avenue with a short sightseeing tour.
17:50 Departure of the tourist train No. 930/929 to Moscow.

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Day 8 - 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.
The time in the program is indicated approximately.
The schedule of the train (tourist program) may change.

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Difficulty

For any person

Accommodation

Train

7 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	89 000	118 290	198 600	135 260	232 500
For children from 0 to 9 years old inclusive (with a seat)	87 850	117 200	-	135 260	-
For children from 0 to 4 years old inclusive (without a seat)	44 000	44 000	-	44 000**	-

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

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

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

up to 50 tourists

Duration

8 days 7 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.

Dates and Prices

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

from US$ 915

6 – 13 Jul 8 days 7 nights

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from US$ 915

20 – 27 Jul 8 days 7 nights

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from US$ 915

10 – 17 Aug 8 days 7 nights

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from US$ 915

17 – 24 Aug 8 days 7 nights

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from US$ 915

7 – 14 Sep 8 days 7 nights

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from US$ 915

21 – 28 Sep 8 days 7 nights

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from US$ 1 038

25 Apr – 2 May, 2025 8 days 7 nights

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Meal schedule according to the tour program
1 day. Moscow	Not included
Day 2. On the way	Breakfast
Day 3. Republic of Adygea	Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4. North Ossetia	Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5. Grozny, Chechen Republic	Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6. Republic of Dagestan	Breakfast and lunch
Day 7. Kabardino-Balkaria	Breakfast and lunch
Day 8. On the way	Breakfast