Big Country Travel: Trips to Russia, Adventure Tours & Vacation Packages

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Sightseeing tour of the regions of the North Caucasus.

We will walk through one of the oldest cities in the world on the shores of the Caspian Sea and visit the lakes of Balkaria. Let's feel the evening romance of Grozny, see a piece of the Asian desert in the heart of the mountainous region — the filming location of the cult movie "White Sun of the Desert" and go to the tower complexes of ancient villages of Ossetia and Ingushetia.

The route is designed with moderate loads in mind to enjoy a vacation in the mountains and will be equally interesting for both beginners and seasoned travelers.

Location

Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Nalchik

Sightseeing tours

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

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Tour highlights

Trekking to Dagestan Machu Picchu

We will climb along the canyon to the Hamsutl ghost village at an altitude of 1700 m

Cable car ride

We will climb Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, to the Mir station

Alan evening

We will visit the ethno-national style show program with dinner and tasting

Boat trip

Let's take a boat trip through the most beautiful reservoir

The beauty of karst lakes

We will see the famous Blue Lakes of Balkaria

The atmosphere of medieval villages

Let's dive into the history of the Caucasus, consider the sanctuaries and ancient artifacts

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival. Sightseeing walking tour of Nalchik
Arrival in Nalchik.
Transportation to the airport and railway station from 08:00 to 14:00 for any flight / train.
Meeting and group transfer to the hotel, accommodation.
16:00 Sightseeing walking tour of Nalchik.
Day 2 - Nalchik – Azau glade – Mount Elbrus — Nalchik
It starts at 08:30.
Program of the day: Baksan gorge — Narzanov glade — Azau glade (2300 m above sea level).
Elbrus is the highest peak in Europe, climbing to the Mir station, 3450 m.
Transfer to Nalchik.
Lunch and dinner are on your own (extra charge).
Arrival in Nalchik, accommodation at the hotel.
Duration: 8-9 hours, 260 km.

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Day 3 - Nalchik — Cherek Gorge — Upper Balkaria — Blue Lakes
It starts at 08:30.
The program of the day: Cherek gorge — Cherek gorge — Upper Balkaria village — Lake Cerik-Kel.
Arrival in Vladikavkaz at 17:00.
Lunch is on your own (extra charge).
19:30-21:30 Alan evening show program in ethno-national style with dinner and tasting on Fridays (extra charge).
Duration: 230 km, 8 hours.

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Day 4 - An exciting trip to Mountainous Ingushetia
There are two program options to choose from (you must select an excursion when booking):
Important: To enter the border area of the Dzheyrakh Gorge, the presence of a Russian passport is mandatory, and foreign citizens need to obtain a pass. The pass is issued by the tourist himself one month before the start of the tour.
An exciting trip to mountainous Ingushetia from Vladikavkaz.
It starts at 09:00.
Program of the day: Jeyrakh gorge — Erzi — Ceyloam pass — ancient Egikal — Targim —Vnushki tower complex — Thaba-Yerdy Temple.
Picnic lunch (extra charge).
Mileage per day: 180 km, duration 8 hours.

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Day 5 - Three gorges: Kurtatinsky — Karmadonskoye — Dargavs
It starts at 08:30.
The program of the day: Karmadon — Dargavs — The City of the dead — The Tower of Kurta and Tag — the village of Tsmiti — the Holy Dormition Alan Monastery.
Picnic lunch (extra charge).
Kurtatinsky gorge — Kadargavansky canyon — Dzivgis fortress.
16:30 Arrival in Vladikavkaz.
Mileage per day: 120 km, duration 8 hours.

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Day 6 - Mountain Digoria: Zadalesk — Makhchesk — Uallagkom
It starts at 08:30.
Program of the day: Digor Gorge — Akhsinta Canyon — Lagty Dzuar Sanctuary — Zadalesk — Museum of the Mother of Makhachkala, Abisalova Tower.
Picnic lunch (extra charge).
Uallagkom: villages of Dunta, Kamunta, Galiat — Fasnal — village of Matsuta.
Return to Vladikavkaz by 19:00.
Mileage per day: 255 km, duration 10 hours.

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Day 7 - Alagir Gorge – Tsei – Mamison
It starts at 08:30.
Program of the day: Sanctuary and rock monument of Uastyrdzhi — Tsey gorge — cable car to Skazsky glacier.
Picnic lunch (extra charge).
Mamison gorge – Lisri village — obelisk to the Gazdanov brothers.
Return to Vladikavkaz by 16:30.
Mileage per day: 220 km, duration 8 hours.

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Day 8 - Grozny Sightseeing Tour
08:30 Transfer to Grozny (1 hour 40 min, 120 km).
10:30 Sightseeing tour in Grozny: Grozny City – Flower Park – Heart of Chechnya Mosque – Archangel Michael Temple – Prospect M. Esambayeva Walk of Fame (2.5-3 hours).
14:00 Lunch (extra charge).
15:00 Transfer from Grozny to Izberbash, Dagestan (3 hours, 220 km).
Arrival is estimated at 18:30.
Hotel accommodation in Izberbash or Makhachkala.

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Day 9 - Gamsutl — Chokh — Karadakh gorge / waterfall Tobot – Matlas — Khunzakh – Karadakh gorge
The program includes 9 days on tour dates: from 02.04 to 01.10.2025.
Gamsutl – Chokh – Karadakh gorge.
Breakfast at 07:00.
The program of the day starts at 07:30: transfer to Gunibsky district — Gamsutl ghost village – panorama of the mountainous village of Chokh – Karadakh gorge.
Lunch (extra charge).
Transfer and accommodation to the hotel, Izberbash/Makhachkala.
Mileage: 330 km, duration: 10 hours.
The program includes 9 days on tour dates: from 08.10 to 22.10.2025.
Izberbash — waterfall Tobot – Matlas — Khunzakh – Karadakh gorge — Izberbash.
Breakfast at 07:00.
The program of the day starts at 07:30.
Program of the day: Tobot Waterfall — Stone Bowl – Matlas plateau – Khunzakh village – Karadakh gorge.
Lunch (extra charge).
Transfer and accommodation in a hotel in Izberbash/ Makhachkala.
The order of excursions on the 9th and 10th days of the program may vary.
Mileage: 335 km, duration: 9 hours.

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Day 10 - Lun — Derbent Ekranoplane
Breakfast at 07:30.
The program of the day starts at 08:00: transfer to South Dagestan — Lun ekranoplan — sightseeing tour of Derbent: Dagh fortress wall-Bars, Juma mosque, walk through the magals of the old city — Naryn-Kala citadel — visit the market — buy souvenirs.
Lunch (extra charge).
Transfer and accommodation to the hotel, Izberbash/Kaspiysk/Makhachkala.
The order of excursions on the 9th and 10th days of the program may vary.
Mileage per day: 190 km, duration 9 hours.

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Day 11 - Sulak canyon, Oaks — trout farming. Departure
Breakfast is 07:00.
Start of the day's program at 07:30: transfer to Sarykum dune – Sulak Canyon — observation deck with views of Sulak Canyon — Chirkey reservoir — boat ride through the reservoir (optional, additional charge) — Nokho cave complex (optional, additional charge) — trout farming.
Lunch (extra charge).
15:00 Group transfer to Makhachkala airport for evening flights, later at 19:00.
Mileage per day: 280 km, duration 9 hours.

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Tour organizer's comments

The ascent to Gamsutl involves a drop-off by car and a walking route. In the parking lot, local residents provide drop-off services on mountain transport (UAZ, Niva). You can drive by car for about 1.5 km, and at this moment the steepest part of the climb is overcome. The cost of the service is 100-200 rubles /person in one direction. From the car stop, the path to the end of the route will be 1.8 km, the height difference is 1450-1670 m.

Accommodation

Hotel

8 nights

Comfort

Midscale
Upscale

The tour includes accommodation in hotels along the way.

The cost of the tour per room, depending on the accommodation, RUB.:

Placement	Room category	Price validity period	Dbl 2-local	Twin 2-local	Single 1-local	Triple 3-local	DBL+CH 2bz+1reb
Russia 4* — Kadgaron Hotel 3* — Ocean 3*	standard	02.04.2025-24.06.2025	148820	148820	95200	211750	201320
		25.06.2025-26.08.2025	155820	155820	100800	221550	211120
		27.08.2025-02.11.2025	148820	148820	95200	211750	201320
Russia 4* — Planeta Lux 3* Hotel— Ocean 3*	standard	02.04.2025-24.06.2025	153720	153720	95550	221200	209720
		25.06.2025-26.08.2025	160720	160720	101150	231000	219520
		27.08.2025-02.11.2025	153720	153720	95550	221200	209720
Azimut 4* — Vladikavkaz 4* Hotel (comfort) — Ocean 3*	standard	02.04.2025-24.06.2025	172480	172480	124180	249340	232820
		25.06.2025-26.08.2025	179480	179480	129780	259140	242620
		27.08.2025-02.11.2025	172480	172480	124180	249340	232820

Twin — double room (has two separate beds).

Double (DBL) — a double room (one double bed).

Single — single room.

Triple — for triple accommodation, hotels/campsites along the route provide DBL/TWN + extras. a bed or sofa, or three separate beds (depending on the hotel's facilities).

DBL+CH — room for two adults and a child, from 7 to 12 years old inclusive.

The Ocean Hotel is located on the seashore in Izberbash, 100 meters from the city beach. There is also a bar and a terrace on site. It offers a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and free Wi-Fi in all areas. Room service is available. Guests can book family rooms.

All rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a wardrobe, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a refrigerator, a kettle and a hairdryer. There is also a shower. All rooms at the hotel have a seating area.

You can play table tennis at the Okean Hotel.

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Tour conditions

Group

From 5 to 40 tourists

Minimum age

7 years old

Duration

11 days 10 nights

Group meets at

Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Nalchik

Included in price

group transfers from Nalchik Airport and railway station to hotels on the first day of the tour for all flights/trains upon arrival before 14:00;
group transfer to the airport and railway station of Makhachkala upon departure on the final day of the tour for flights/trains later than 19:00;
accommodation in hotels according to the Nalchik tour program/Vladikavkaz/Izberbasha with breakfast;
guided tours with professional guides and qualified drivers;
entrance tickets to the objects of visits according to the program of excursions, environmental fees of nature reserves.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Nalchik and back from Makhachkala;
meals not specified in the program;
the ticket for the chairlift in the Tseysky gorge is 800 rubles.;
cable car ticket to Elbrus region: Azau station — Mir station - 2,300 rub.;
meals along the tour route: picnic lunch or lunch are paid on site;
the resort fee or tax is paid independently upon check-in at the hotel;
excursions, entertainment, and entrance tickets to facilities not included in the tour program:
- boat trip to the reservoir (optional) — 600 rub.;
- visit to the Nokhyo cave complex (optional) — 700 rub.;
individual transfers from/to the airport and railway station, as well as any individual transportation service.

Book in advance, the number of seats is limited:

Alan evening show program in ethno-national style with dinner and tasting:
- adult — 2,400 rubles.;
- child under 18 years of age — 2,000 rubles.;
- children's menu, up to 8 years old — 800 rubles.

It's important to know

Travel clothes should be, first of all, comfortable. Please take with you what you usually wear for hiking and recreation. When planning a visit to protected areas and mountain gorges, sneakers with durable and non-slippery soles are best suited.

Regardless of the predicted weather conditions, it is necessary to take several warm clothes, several pairs of replacement shoes, and rain clothes on the trip; they will be useful in case of a cold snap.

Sun hats, cream, sunglasses. Sunglasses are a must-have attribute in the mountains regardless when you travel in winter or summer. Clothing that covers the shoulders and arms during the daytime hours of active sun.

When visiting shrines, you will need appropriate clothing. In the mosque, women need to wear clothes that will cover the whole body, only the face and hands remain open, trousers are also not allowed. It is enough for men to wear trousers and a shirt with sleeves to visit the mosque.

Dates and Prices

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2 – 12 Apr 11 days 10 nights

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9 – 19 Apr 11 days 10 nights

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16 – 26 Apr 11 days 10 nights

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23 Apr – 3 May 11 days 10 nights

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30 Apr – 10 May 11 days 10 nights

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7 – 17 May 11 days 10 nights

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14 – 24 May 11 days 10 nights

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21 – 31 May 11 days 10 nights

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28 May – 7 Jun 11 days 10 nights

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4 – 14 Jun 11 days 10 nights

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11 – 21 Jun 11 days 10 nights

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18 – 28 Jun 11 days 10 nights

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25 Jun – 5 Jul 11 days 10 nights

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2 – 12 Jul 11 days 10 nights

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9 – 19 Jul 11 days 10 nights

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16 – 26 Jul 11 days 10 nights

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23 Jul – 2 Aug 11 days 10 nights

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6 – 16 Aug 11 days 10 nights

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13 – 23 Aug 11 days 10 nights

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20 – 30 Aug 11 days 10 nights

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27 Aug – 6 Sep 11 days 10 nights

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3 – 13 Sep 11 days 10 nights

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10 – 20 Sep 11 days 10 nights

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17 – 27 Sep 11 days 10 nights

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24 Sep – 4 Oct 11 days 10 nights

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1 – 11 Oct 11 days 10 nights

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8 – 18 Oct 11 days 10 nights

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15 – 25 Oct 11 days 10 nights

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22 Oct – 1 Nov 11 days 10 nights

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Your meeting with the Caucasus