Multiactive from Arkhyz to Dombay

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Arkhyz is one of the most picturesque corners of the Western Caucasus. Alpine meadows, snow-capped peaks, rushing rivers and stormy waterfalls will not leave anyone indifferent. But the real jewel of Arkhyz is the alpine lakes, which are distinguished by their rare beauty (there are more than 60 of them). Our route allows you to get acquainted with a number of lakes of the Sofia range. The Sofia Glacier will also leave an unforgettable impression, from under which waterfalls descend from a height of 120 m.

Dombai is a protected part of the Caucasus, where nature turned out to be stronger than civilization. Pine forests, rivers and lakes with crystal clear water, melodious waterfalls and inaccessible mountain peaks — all this is hidden from the gaze of a traveler who is used to choosing familiar trails and visiting popular tourist places.

Location

G. Mineralnye Vody

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

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Tour highlights

Thermal springs

Relax and unwind after a long trip in the pools with warm water

Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Let's see how scientists observe the movement of the heavenly bodies

The amazing nature of the Caucasus

We will walk through the picturesque canyons and climb to the high-altitude waterfalls and lakes

Active leisure

Let's go on exciting adventures and explore the mountain trails

Flying on a cable car

We will take a cable car to the top of Moussa Achitara, which offers a view of the entire Caucasian ridge, Mount Elbrus and Kazbek

Itinerary

Day 1 - Transfer to Arkhyz resort, thermal springs
Your journey begins in Mineral Waters.
Attention: if you arrive before the start of the tour or stay after the program, we recommend accommodation in Pyatigorsk (you can specify more detailed information when booking).
Arrival at the airport or at the railway station in Mineralnye Vody before 12:00. Group gathering.
12:30 Group transfer to Arkhyz without a guide.
Stop for lunch (on your own).
On the way, you will visit the Pearl of the Caucasus thermal complex, consisting of 8 pools with hydromassage installations. The water in the pools is of different temperatures: from + 25 to +41 degrees. The complex has changing rooms, showers, hammam, sauna, cafe. The complex has a shop where you can buy disposable slippers, towels, swimsuits.
An additional fee is an entrance ticket from 550 rubles per person (cash payment on site).
Accommodation in a hotel in the village of Arkhyz.
Dinner (on your own).

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Day 2 - Dukka Lakes are the pearls of Karachay-Cherkessia
Breakfast at the hotel.
Meeting with the guide at the hotel. Drop-off on cross-country transport to the beginning of the route.
Dukka Lakes is one of the most famous routes of Arkhyz. We will visit three beautiful and popular lakes of the Malaya Dukka River basin.
Trekking begins with a trip along a gentle pleasant path that leads to the bend of the Malaya Dukka River. Then the trail begins to climb steeper, but soon it smooths out again.
We will stop for a rest by a fast stream that flows surrounded by Alpine colors. But you should not relax, because the most difficult section is ahead – a steep climb to the lower lake Rybka.
Don't be lazy and go up to the second lake, Arkasarskoye. Despite the fact that there is less than a hundred meters of difference between the two lakes, they look completely different: the upper lake is more severe surrounded by mountain peaks.
Lunch (dry ration).
If you still have the strength, you can return by another way, through the third lake, which is called the "Fairy Tale of the Caucasus".
Return to the hotel.
Dinner (on your own).
Duration: 5-6 hours
Height difference: 500 meters
It can be replaced by trekking to the Lunar Lake.

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Day 3 - Sofia Gorge. Ak-Aira Waterfall
Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby, briefing.
Drop-off by cross-country transport to the upper reaches of the Sofia Gorge at an altitude of 2,000 m above sea level. This is the introductory part of the program, because jipping along the bed of a mountain river is worthy of a separate excursion.
Next, we propose two radial outputs, both of approximately the same complexity and duration.
The first part of the route is a visit to the famous Sofia waterfalls, which are already visible from the road. To approach them, we will climb a good trail about 300 m. This group of waterfalls originates in the Sofia Eastern Glacier, which retreats with considerable speed, exposing smoothed rocks – "sheep's foreheads" and opening up new branches of waterfalls to us.
Lunch (dry ration).
After lunch, we will visit the Ak-Aira waterfalls, which are less well-known and not visible from the road. There is also a good trail leading up to them, with a similar climb. The highest waterfall originates on the Sofia Zapadny glacier, and a cascade of smaller waterfalls – on the Solovyov glacier, which flows down from the top of Nadezhda.
Return to the hotel.
Dinner is on your own.
Duration: 5-6 hours
Height difference: 300 meters

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Day 4 - Trekking on the Pastukhov rocks. The Observatory
Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby, briefing.
We will travel part of the route by cross-country transport along the Bolshoy Zelenchuk River gorge and climb the serpentine to an altitude of 2070 meters above sea level. Next, we will have a simple, but very specific trekking to the Pastukhov rocks. The 700 m elevation difference, beautiful views and the possibility of climbing in one day are the main advantages of the route, which make it accessible to all physically prepared people. It does not require the use of special equipment.
Lunch (dry ration).
After lunch, visit the observatory.
Arkhyz has a unique observatory, the largest in Russia, for observing deep space. It was formed in the second half of the 1960s and is located at the foot of Mount Pastukhova (Karachay-Cherkessia).
The observatory is a grandiose structure, its main dome is visible for several kilometers from the road to Arkhyz. Our path will pass along a 10 km long mountain serpentine that connects Nizhny Arkhyz with a scientific site on Pastukhova Mountain.
The main object of attention is the large azimuth telescope, which is the largest optical telescope in all of Eurasia and the second in the world after the KECK Telescope (USA).
Return to the hotel.
Dinner (on your own).
Duration: 5-6 hours.
Height difference: 700 meters.
Day 5 - Nizhne-Arkhyz settlement. Transfer to Dombay
Breakfast at the hotel. Free time at the resort.
On the way, you will have a fascinating excursion and a two-hour walk through the Nizhne-Arkhyz settlement, on the territory of which Christian churches built before the baptism of Rus have been preserved to this day. You will also have the opportunity to ascend to the Face of Christ, a monumental icon painted on a rock in the 10th century.
Transfer to Dombai without a guide.
Lunch on your own.
18:00 Estimated time of arrival in Dombay.
Accommodation at the hotel.
Dinner on your own.
Day 6 - Trekking to the Russian glade and the Chuchkhur waterfalls
Breakfast at the hotel.
09:00 Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby, briefing.
The main companions of today's trip will be coniferous forests, subalpine meadows, and the purest mountain springs. The Russian Glade offers a view of the majestic mountains covered with snow and ice.
Dombai's popularity among skiers began at this point: the first fans of this sport rode only in the Russian Glade, as the remnants of the former ski lifts remind. Later, the development of the slopes of Moussa Achitara began.
The path through the Dombai-Ulgen gorge, through a high-altitude meadow among mountain ranges, to the Chuchhur waterfalls: they consist of three cascades that fall to the ground from a height of 12 m. You will hear the song of the raging elements and taste the real glacial water.
Lunch (dry ration).
Return to the hotel.
Dinner (on your own).
Duration: 5 hours.
Height difference: 500 meters.

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Day 7 - Trekking in Alibek gorge or Ptysh gorge*
Option 1:
Breakfast at the hotel according to your reservation.
Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby, briefing.
Transfer to Alibek gorge, hiking and trekking. You will see the Alibek waterfall, as well as the glacier of the same name (passage to the glacier is limited – the possibility of approaching the glacier will be known only in fact, on the day of the program, since the decision is made by the border authorities and the management of the National Park) and go out to the shore of Turi Lake (2,200 m).
You will see a panorama of the Main Caucasian Ridge with the peaks of Erzog, Belala-Kaya and Sulakhat.
If you are lucky, you will also see local tours: they go out to the water when they do not feel danger; this is the fact that gave the lake its modern name.
Lunch (dry ration).
Duration: 6-7 hours.
Height difference: 300 meters.
Option 2 (alternative route):
Trekking in the Ptysh gorge.
The Ptysh glacier is the third largest among the numerous glaciers of the Teberdinsky Reserve. Its area is 6.2 thousand square meters. Every year, the glacier retreats by 12.5-13 meters. The ice tongue is surrounded by the slopes of the peaks Dzhuguturluchat (3921 m), Ptysh (3688 m) and Dombai-Ulgen (4046 m).
The road to the glacier initially repeats the hiking route along the Dombai-Ulgen gorge, but this should not upset you at all, because you will again be able to enjoy the views of the alpine meadows and the main mountain peaks of Dombai. The valley is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the vicinity of Dombay. After crossing the river, we enter the Ptysh gorge, which is also rich in beautiful Alpine meadows with rare species of flowers. It is here that unique pink rhododendrons grow.
Lunch is dry. rations.
A walk to the Ptysh waterfalls or, as they are also called, the waterfalls "Maiden braids", where several streams fall from a height of about 15 meters. The most violent and full-flowing streams occur in spring and summer, during the active melting of the glacier. In autumn, the waterfall practically freezes, leaving only a few modest, thin streams.
Mountain tours are frequent visitors here – a rare kind of rock goats.
Return to the hotel.
Dinner (on your own).
Duration: 5-6 hours.
Elevation difference: 1300 meters.

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Day 8 - Trekking to the Baduk lakes
Breakfast at the hotel according to your reservation.
Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby, briefing. Transfer to the beginning of the route.
Crossing the Teberda River on a suspension bridge.
A marked trail (also called the "royal road") will take you through thickets of fir and deciduous trees. The path is not easy, but every traveler is able to overcome it. Upon its completion, at the top of the mountain, you will be able to feel like a "king" or "queen" who conquered the wild mountain spaces.
Next, you will visit one of the Baduk lakes (there are three in total; they descend in cascades and are formed by the Baduk River) — the first, the smallest: its diameter is 80 m, and the depth does not exceed 5 m. The lakes cascade uphill: the second is 260 m higher, and its diameter is 200 m. But the largest lake is the third: its area is 3.5 hectares, and the depth reaches 9 m. The purity of the lake and its size contribute to the fauna: trout are found in its waters.
Lunch (dry ration) on the lake shore, during which you will hear legends related to the lakes.
Return to the hotel.
In the evening, a joint meeting at dinner, during which you will share your impressions of traveling by Dombay.
Duration: 5-6 hours.
Height difference: 600 meters.
Day 9 - Moussa Achitara Mountain and Devil's Mill Canyon
Breakfast at the hotel according to your reservation.
Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby, briefing.
Ascent to Moussa Achitara mountain (3,000 m) by cable car (with an additional fee for the ticket). From this height, there is a magnificent view of the Dombai peaks, sparkling glaciers, stormy rivers and ringing waterfalls. And if you are lucky with the weather, you will see the two-headed giant Elbrus among the mountain peaks.
Lunch at the resort (on your own).
In the afternoon, you will have a walk to the Devil's Mill Canyon.
The path starts from the Amanauz River, the main river flowing through the territory of Dombayskaya Polyana. Above the village, the riverbed narrows and begins to look like a deep canyon: once upon a time, water forced its way through high granite cliffs. In one place, a whirlpool was even formed, which the locals call the "Devil's Mill".
Return to the hotel.
Dinner (on your own).
Duration: 6-7 hours.
Height difference: 600-1350 meters.

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Day 10 - End of the program
Breakfast at the hotel. Rooms are available until 12:00.
Free time at the resort.
14:00 Transfer to the airport for flights departing after 19:00.

Difficulty

Does not require specific skills, but one must be in good health

Tour organizer's comments

The tour is suitable for active tourists under 65 years of age with good physical fitness, who have no contraindications to active activities in the mountains.

Accommodation

Hotel

9 nights

Comfort

Premium

The tour includes accommodation:

in a 4* hotel or a similar level in Arkhyz village (4 nights with breakfast);
in a 3* hotel or a similar level in Dombai village (5 nights with breakfast);

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

Placement

Double room*

Single room

Additional place

Vertical SKI&SPA Resort 4* (Arkhyz village)

"Gold Star" 3* (P. Dombai)

83500

110000

81000

*When choosing a double room, tell the manager which room is required: with two single beds or one double bed.

Featuring free WiFi throughout the property, Vertical Hotel is located in Arkhyz Village. It offers rooms with mountain views and ski storage.

Each room has a wardrobe, and some also have a kitchenette with a microwave. The rooms at the Vertical Hotel are equipped with a TV and a hairdryer.

The Barit Restaurant serves European and Caucasian cuisine. The hotel has a spa complex with a phyto-barrel and a hot tub.

Ski equipment rental is available at the property, as the surrounding area is ideal for skiing. There is also a children's playground.

Dombay is 42 km from the Vertical Hotel.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 15 tourists

Minimum age

10 years old

Duration

10 days 9 nights

Group meets at

G. Mineralnye Vody

Included in price

group transfers "airport or railway station Mineralnye Vody – Arkhyz — airport or railway station Mineralnye Vody";
transportation and sightseeing services along the route;
mountain guide services;
Accommodation: 4 nights in Arkhyz and 5 nights in Dombay;
access to the hotel's spa during opening hours (Arkhyz);
meals according to the tour program: 9 breakfasts at the hotel, 6 lunches (dry rations);
entrance tickets to sightseeing sites.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Mineralnye Vody and back;
invitation for foreign citizens – 1500 rubles/person.;
cable car in Arkhyz – from 700 rubles;
cable car in Dombay – from 2000 rubles;
meals not included in the tour program;
additional services in hotels (sauna, sauna, billiards, etc.);
additional excursions;
alcoholic beverages;
rent of personal travel equipment;
accident insurance;
rafting, horseback riding.

It's important to know

windproof jacket;
trekking trousers;
trekking boots;
thermal underwear;
jacket (fleece);
gloves and a hat for climbing the cable car;
backpack (volume up to 30 liters);
rain cover (raincoat) for body and backpack;
sunglasses and cream (SPF50);
individual first aid kit;
polyurethane foam "seat";
thermos;
tracking sticks.

To visit the thermal complex:

swimsuit;
rubber slippers;
towel.

Every tourist must have an identity document with him — a passport, for children — a birth certificate.

The age limit for tour participants is at least 10 years old and at least 65 years old. If the age of the tourist exceeds 65 years, the decision on his participation in the tour program is made on the basis of questionnaires. When booking a tour, we ask you to reflect information about your health and physical fitness as accurately as possible in the questionnaire.

Participants are required to be in good physical shape and have no medical contraindications to physical exertion (cardiovascular diseases, etc.).

The main diseases for which it is not recommended to go to the mountains:

Individual intolerance to lack of oxygen, angina pectoris of functional class III-IV, hypertension of the 3rd art., chronic renal failure, acute stages of somatic diseases (myocardial infarction, acute cerebrovascular accident, hypertensive crisis, asthmatic status in bronchial asthma, etc.), cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary diseases, stage of exacerbation of chronic inflammatory processes, acute infectious diseases.

In the mountains at an altitude of 3,500 meters, the air is more rarefied, there is less oxygen in it. Therefore, some tourists experience symptoms of “high-altitude (mountain) diseases”: weakness, lethargy, palpitations, light dizziness, insomnia, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, etc. These symptoms can occur at an altitude of 3,500 meters above sea level. In case of a complication, lowering the height can help relieve the symptoms.

Mountain sickness does not occur in children more often than in adults, but it is much more difficult to diagnose it, since not all children can adequately explain what worries them. Any malaise should be mistaken for altitude sickness and measures should be taken until the real source of the poor condition is found.

Pregnant women can tolerate heights up to 2500 meters above sea level. But still, they should not participate in climbing the mountain, since excessive physical exertion can provoke a miscarriage, and there is also a risk of an accident.

Elderly people can tolerate altitude sickness without additional complications, but they may be more difficult to tolerate physical exertion. The tourist is fully responsible for intentionally hiding information from the organizers about diseases that can lead to irreversible consequences. We have no right to control your health status. Therefore, we are not responsible for the incidents that occurred as a result of your body's reaction to the altitude difference and oxygen starvation that occurred in the mountains.

You have purchased a ticket and know that the mountains are a place of increased danger to the health and life of urban residents trapped in the natural environment. In the mountains, the weather changes very often. There are thunderstorms, strong winds, low and high temperatures, rock and ice collapses, mudflows. A person is affected by the difference in heights, temperatures, increased ultraviolet activity of the sun and other factors.

It is necessary to protect yourself from the sun. Remember that the mountains have high levels of solar radiation. You can get a burn even on a cloudy day. The eyes must be protected with sunglasses with a protection level of at least 3. It is mandatory to apply daily sunscreen with maximum protection factor to all exposed areas of the body (hands, face, ears) before going on the route.
Do not allow overheating or hypothermia. You should be dressed according to the current weather and temperature conditions.
When going out on a route, even on a sunny day, be sure to take a raincoat with you. The weather in the mountains can change dramatically.
Take care of your feet! Take measures in advance against corns: take only comfortable, worn shoes for tracking; before going on the route, as a preventive measure, stick a patch on all problem areas in advance. Use special trekking boots with a durable sole and ankle support to minimize the risk of injury when walking on rough terrain.
Be careful among the thickets of hogweed (when its leaves get wet from dew, this plant becomes extremely poisonous. You may get a chemical burn that takes a long time and painfully passes). You need to have closed clothes, long sleeves, pants so as not to get burned, this will also save you from sunburn.
Inform the guide-instructor in a timely manner about the deviations of your well-being from normal. Have a personal first aid kit with you, tailored to your individual needs.
Alcohol consumption is not recommended during the trip, and the use of narcotic and psychotropic substances is also prohibited. This can lead to a sharp deterioration of your well-being in high-altitude conditions, disruption of the acclimatization process and other adverse consequences. In case of violation of this rule, the responsibility for the consequences lies with the tourist.
Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly. Do not eat meat dishes that have not been subjected to thermal treatment. If you eat in a restaurant, keep in mind that national cuisine can be spicy, fatty and unsuitable for your stomach. Do not eat mushrooms, berries and other plants.
With extreme caution, buy alcoholic beverages that are not factory-made (homemade wine) from private individuals, as they may be of poor quality and harmful to health. We ask you to observe moderation in drinking alcohol.
Do not go unaccompanied for walks, picnics or to visit unfamiliar people.

Dates and Prices

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

from
$834

14 – 23 Jul, 2025 10 days 9 nights

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from
$834

15 – 24 Sep, 2025 10 days 9 nights

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No need to pay now