The whole Caucasus. Photographer's tour for 8 days

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In this tour we will visit all the republics of the Caucasus. We will start with the beautiful resorts of Kavminvod, and finish in the ancient city of Derbent.

We will climb Elbrus and Dombai, take a walk along the avenue named after him. Let's admire the renovated Grozny, taste the famous mineral waters of Pyatigorsk and Zheleznovodsk. The main highlight of the tour is Dagestan, an unexplored region with amazing nature and ancient culture.

The ancient fortress of Naryn-Kala protected Derbent from the invasion of nomads for a thousand years, there was a "crossroads of civilizations" through which the famous Silk Road passed.

The tour is held from 09/23/2024 - 30.09.2024.

Location

Pyatigorsk

Sightseeing tours

Tour highlights

Pottery Master Class

We will learn the secrets of creating ceramic products of the ancient village of Balkhar

Climbing to the top

From the height of the mountains, we will look at the wonderful land, sung by Vysotsky — the Elbrus region

The Pearl of Balkaria

Let's go to one of the most beautiful and mysterious places on earth — the Blue Lake

Climbing the dune

Let's take a walk along the Sarykum dune, where the famous scenes for the film "White Sun of the Desert" were filmed

A delicious lesson

We will attend a culinary master class on creating a national Dagestan miracle dish

Modern Grozny

We will go up to the observation deck of the Grozny City skyscraper and visit the Mother's Heart Mosque

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival. Pyatigorsk — Zheleznovodsk
Arrival in Pyatigorsk.
Check-in at the hotel (check-in from 14:00), things can be left in the luggage room at the hotel.
We recommend having lunch in advance, as there will be no such opportunity during the tour.
Meeting in the lobby of the hotel with a representative of the company at the Pyatigorsk hotel at 13:30 followed by departure for an excursion.
A tour of Pyatigorsk with a visit to Lermontov places: lake "Failure", Aeolian Harp, Academic Gallery, Lermontov grotto, Lermontov baths, Flower Garden Park, Diana's grotto, Restaurant, Lermontov's duel place.
Excursion to the "green pearl" KMV — Zheleznovodsk.
Return \accommodation at the Pyatigorsk hotel.
Free time.

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Day 2 - Elbrus region
Breakfast (lunch box).
An excursion to the wonderful mountainous region, sung by Vladimir Vysotsky and won the hearts of millions of people — in the Elbrus region.
The road goes along the Baksan Gorge, crossing the Baksan River several times and leads to the foot of Elbrus.
The bus route ends at the village of Terskol in the Azau meadow.
The ascent to Elbrus begins from it.
The tour program includes a visit to Mount Cheget.
Mount Cheget offers a beautiful view of Elbrus and the city of Donguz-Orun.
Lunch at Cheget glade or Azau glade.
Return to the Pyatigorsk hotel.
Free time.

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Day 3 - Upper Balkaria
Breakfast (lunch box).
Departure for an excursion to Upper Balkaria.
A spectacular and diverse tour that combines nature, history and entertainment: mountain gorges and waterfalls, a bottomless lake and ancient towers, and at the end of the day – a pleasant and useful swim in a thermal spring!
Our tour will begin with a visit to the Chegem gorge, which is located 80 km from Pyatigorsk.
The Chegem gorge is a land of natural wealth, where you will walk through a narrow canyon, accompanied by a river with the purest mountain water, and at the end of the way you will find majestic waterfalls headed by "Su-Auzu".
The tour continues to one of the most beautiful and mysterious places on earth — the Blue Lake.
Tourists will be able to admire the views of the Greater Caucasus, from Kazbek in the East to Elbrus in the West.
The final stage of our acquaintance will be a visit to the Aushiger thermal spring, where you can swim in mineral water with a constant temperature of 37C.
Return to Pyatigorsk.
Free time.

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Day 4 - Dombai
Breakfast (lunch box).
Excursion to the famous ski resort of the country — Dombay.
Dombai is a valley bounded by mountains in a circle – a typical mountain circus.
Among them is the highest point of the Western Caucasus – Mount Dombai-Ulgen ("killed bison"), an altitude of 4047 m above sea level.
Cable car ascent to a height of 3000 m.
Lunch at dombayskaya polyana.
Return to the Pyatigorsk hotel.
Free time.

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Day 5 - Grozny — Makhachkala
Breakfast (lunch box).
Room release.
Departure for an excursion to Grozny.
Stop at the Memorial of memory and glory (Ingushetia, Nazran).
A tour of Grozny.
We will go up to the observation deck of the Grozny City skyscraper, visit the Mother's Heart mosque, as well as the Orthodox Church of St. Michael the Archangel.
Lunch.
Transfer to Argun.
Visit to the Mother's Heart Mosque.
Transfer to the Sarykum dune.
Climbing the Dune.
A unique natural landmark that no other corner of the globe can boast of.
Transfer to Makhachkala.
Accommodation at the hotel.
Swimming in the sea (in the warmer months).
Free time.

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Day 6 - Derbent
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure from the hotel for a sightseeing tour of Derbent.
We will visit the ancient citadel of the Naryn-Kala fortress.
Then we will walk through the picturesque streets of Derbent and plunge into the incredible atmosphere of the old city.
A culinary master class on the creation of a national Dagestani miracle dish.
We are going to visit the hospitable locals, in a beautiful cozy house built in an ethnic style.
The atmosphere of Dagestan's national culture and identity, multifaceted exquisite decorations and outfits, furniture and household items of Caucasian families awaits us.
It's time to learn how to cook a real Dagestan dish "miracle".
The friendly hostess will share her secret with us and each participant of the tour will be able to cook a miracle for himself.
Lunch.
A walk through the modern part of Derbent.
Let's take a walk in the greenest part of the city – the park named after the classic of Persian poetry, poet and thinker of the medieval East – Nizami Ganjavi.
Then we will go down to the city embankment of Derbent and walk along the shore of the Caspian Sea.
The tour of the southernmost city of Russia will end with a visit to the local market, where you can buy a variety of gifts and souvenirs from Dagestan.
Transfer to Makhachkala.
Return to the hotel.
Swimming in the sea (in the warmer months).
Free time.

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Day 7 - The Wonders of Dagestan
Breakfast at the hotel.
Room release.
Master class of pottery craft of the ancient village of Dagestan.
We invite you to get acquainted with the amazing keeper of the female Balkharian craft, passed down from generation to generation.
This day has prepared for us a meeting with the natural wonders of Dagestan, which will amaze us with their greatness and beauty.
A late lunch is expected (approximately at 17:00), it is recommended to take a snack with you on the road if desired.
Transfer to the Chirkeyskoye reservoir.
We will visit the observation deck of the Chirkeysky reservoir.
Boating on the Chirkeysky reservoir (for an additional fee and when boats are operating).
Nokyo Cave and suspension bridge over Sulak Canyon.
Every step on the bridge becomes a real adventure, and a pleasant surprise at the other end of the way will be the opportunity to visit a coffee shop located inside the cliff.
Transfer to the GlavRyba ethnocomplex.
Late lunch.
Transfer to Pyatigorsk.
Late return after 02:00.
Departure.

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Day 8 - Departure
Breakfast at the hotel.
Photo session of the tour company's staff in the Flower Garden Park.
Room release (check-out time is 12:00).
Departure.

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

5 nights

Comfort

Midscale
Upscale

The tour provides accommodation in hotels in Pyatigorsk and Makhachkala (it is possible to replace the hotel with a similar one in the Republic of Dagestan).

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

Placement	Cost
1-local standard	120 000

Pyatigorsk

The Pyatigorsk Hotel is located in the city center, 20 meters from the singing fountains. Free Wi-Fi is available on site.

The rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a refrigerator and a flat-screen TV.

The hotel has a restaurant and a bar.

Pyatigorsk Train Station is 1.7 km from Pyatigorsk Hotel, and Mineralnye Vody Airport is 26.5 km away.

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Another option

Primorskaya

Primorskaya Hotel is located in Makhachkala, 200 meters from Makhachkala Beach. It offers a restaurant, free private parking, a bar and a garden. This 4-star hotel has a 24-hour front desk and room service. Free Wi-Fi is available. Each room has a balcony with sea views.

All rooms have a desk. Each room has a private bathroom with a shower and bathrobes, as well as a flat-screen TV and air conditioning. Some rooms at the Primorskaya Hotel have a seating area. There is also a wardrobe in the rooms.

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Tour conditions

Group

From 10 to 50 tourists

Minimum age

10 years old

Duration

8 days 7 nights

Group meets at

Pyatigorsk

Included in price

accommodation in Pyatigorsk hotel (5 nights) and in the Republic of Dagestan (2 nights);
7 breakfasts, 7 lunches (2-8 days of the tour), 7 dinners (1-7 days of the tour);
cable car to Cheget, all queues, cable car to Elbrus, all queues, environmental collection in the Elbrus region (2nd day of the tour);
swimming in the thermal springs in Auschiger (3rd day of the tour);
cable car in Dombay (4th day of the tour);
visit to the observation deck "Grozny City" (5th day of the tour);
visit to the Sary-Kum dune (5th day of the tour);
participation in a culinary master class on the preparation of the national Dagestan dish chudu (6th day of the tour);
visit to the Naryn-Kala fortress (day 6 of the tour);
visit to the "Maiden Baths" (day 6 of the tour);
participation in the pottery workshop of the ancient village of Balkhar (7th day of the tour);
boating (day 7 of the tour) ;
visit to the cave and the suspension bridge (day 7 of the tour);
sightseeing and transportation services.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Mineralnye Vody / Pyatigorsk and back;
meals not specified in the program;
rent of wireless headphones — 100 rubles/day;
resort fee in the resort towns of Yessentuki, Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk, Zheleznovodsk - 100 rubles/adult/day (to be paid at the hotel upon check-in);
private transfer:
- Mineralnye Vody airport — Pyatigorsk — 1,600 rubles / car in one direction. The journey time is 30-40 minutes.

It's important to know

documents:
- original passport for adults and children over 14 years old;
- original birth certificate for children under 14 years old;
- medical insurance policy;
comfortable clothes for the season + warm clothes for visiting Elbrus and Dombai;
comfortable sports shoes;
raincoat or umbrella;
sunglasses and cream;
swimwear and outfits for photo shoots;
personal first aid kit and insect bites (if necessary);
money for personal purposes.

When visiting the republics of the North Caucasus, do not forget about appearance. When visiting holy places – headdresses, closed shoulders, legs. It is not recommended to bare hands, short skirts, and shorts for men during the warm period.

The following safety rules must be followed on excursions:

Follow generally accepted rules of conduct and personal hygiene.
To observe discipline, strictly follow all the instructions of the guide and the head of the group.
Observe the established and announced schedule of the tour, as well as the time allowed for the inspection of a particular object of visit.
To leave the group only with the permission of the guide and the head of the group.
To purchase and consume food only after agreement with the head of the group.
In spring and summer, conduct a personal visual inspection for the detection of ticks.
Listen carefully to the guide.

Safety precautions at sightseeing sites:

When visiting viewing platforms, do not go beyond the installed fences.
When visiting production facilities, keep a group. Do not approach moving and rotating mechanisms. Protect your eyes from dust. Do not remove anything from the territory of enterprises.
Be careful, protect your eyes from small stone chips and fingers.
It is not allowed to depart from the route (trails, paths), approach electrical wires, unfenced edges of ravines, cliffs, etc.

During the bus tour:

Tourists are obliged to carefully handle the available equipment of the bus cabin.
Boarding the bus is carried out only at the command of the head, to the places indicated by the head.
Hand luggage of tourists is located in a specially designated place (under the seat, on the top shelf, etc.). It is forbidden to place bags or other things of tourists in the aisles. For security reasons, the passage must be free.
Before starting the bus, the tourist undertakes to fasten his seat belts and not unbutton them until the bus stops completely or the permission of the accompanying person (guide).
It is forbidden to get up from your seats and walk around the cabin while the bus is moving.
It is forbidden to open windows without the driver's permission.
It is forbidden to distract drivers while driving. All your questions will be solved by the guide or the senior of the group.
It is forbidden to expose any body parts, as well as to throw garbage into the open windows of the bus.
It is forbidden to drink any drinks and eat while the bus is moving.
In case of signs of motion sickness or nausea, it is necessary to immediately inform the accompanying person or the guide.
During the bus stop, do not get up from your seats until the bus stops completely and the group leader gives a special order. You can get off the bus only after the guide and the group leader.
When leaving your seat during parking, the back of the chair must be returned to its original position.
When exiting the bus, you should not crowd, get out carefully one person at a time.
The exit from the bus is through the front door. After getting off the bus, do not disperse, gather at the specified place and follow the instructions of the guide (accompanying person).
When returning to the bus, it is necessary to occupy the seats where you were sitting before exiting it.
You get on a clean bus. You have to get out of a clean bus. In this regard, it is forbidden to leave garbage on the bus, gnaw seeds, leave empty bottles, wrappers, fruit peels.
They don't smoke on buses.
During emergency braking, it is necessary to rest your feet and hands on the seat in front of you.
In case of an accident, follow the instructions of the driver and the team leader clearly.

During a walking tour:

While driving along the street, it is necessary to walk in a compact group without disturbing other pedestrians.
The roadway of the street must be crossed only in accordance with the traffic regulations established for these places and at the command of the group leader or tour guide.

General precautions:

Handbags and purses should be held tightly in your hands, not on your shoulder.
It is advisable to keep the passport separate from the money.
Do not leave valuables, handbags, photo and video equipment in plain sight.
Do not leave things unattended while visiting sightseeing sites.
Use hats and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun.
If you feel unwell, you must immediately inform the group leader or the tour guide.
Pay attention to the health status and behavior of the tour participants, immediately inform the group leader or the guide about the first signs of ill health or absence of the tour participant.
If you are behind the group, contact the group leader or another participant of the event immediately. If you cannot get in touch, contact a government agency: a museum, the police, or the nearest educational institution.

Reviews

E
Elena

about provider

14 May, 2025

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The guides were excellent at organizing the excursions and always gave us enough time to explore the sights and markets at our own pace. Everyone was friendly, and the buses were very comfortable.
K
Kira

about provider

13 May, 2025

Hello, I went on the "Caucasian Mosaic" tour and really enjoyed the experience. I was especially impressed by Mount Elbrus, Dombay, Kislovodsk, and the Honey Waterfalls. We even had time to visit an alpaca farm, which I absolutely loved. The guides shared fascinating insights about the sites and included personal stories, which made the trip engaging and far from boring. We stayed at the Intourist Hotel — it was comfortable and met all our needs. The only downside was the early mornings every day. While I understand it's necessary to beat the crowds at popular attractions, I think the itinerary would benefit from at least one day with a more relaxed start to let everyone catch up on rest. The combination of early wake-ups and late returns makes it hard to get enough sleep. The buses were modern and well-equipped, and pick-ups were always punctual. The guides offered great suggestions for how to spend our free time, and there was plenty of opportunity to shop and try local cuisine. Overall, we were very happy with the trip. The tour was well-planned, covered a wide range of destinations, and gave us a rich and complete impression of the Caucasus. Thank you!
E
Ekaterina

about provider

8 Apr, 2025

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The tour was excellently organized, from the booking process all the way through the 5 days of travel. The guides were fantastic. Even though we sometimes traveled along the same roads, the information they shared was always fresh and engaging, never repetitive.

The whole Caucasus. Photographer's tour for 8 days

Location

Tour highlights

Itinerary

Accommodation

Tour conditions

Included in price

Paid extra

It's important to know

Reviews

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