The Five Rings of the Caucasus. Autumn Sightseeing Tour

At 06:00 (early breakfast), you will be sent to the Republic of Dagestan, to the Sulak Canyon.

This is the most popular place in Dagestan.

From the observation deck at the top of the mountain in Dubki village, the deepest canyon in Europe will appear in all its glory.

From a bird's-eye view, we will see a thin stream of the Sulak River winding along the bottom of the canyon, giant rocks lying at our feet, and possibly eagles flying nearby.

On board the boat, we will take a short walk around the Chirkeysky reservoir.

Next, we will go to the Nokho cave complex, take a walk along the famous suspension bridge, and those who are particularly brave will jump on the zipline attraction (paying for rides at their own expense).

Lunch will be held at the local restaurant complex Glav Fish on trout farm.

The price of the tour includes: a tour guide, a visit to the observation deck in Dubki village, boating, a visit to the Nokho cave complex, lunch at the local Glav Fish restaurant complex.

Estimated arrival time is 20:00.

Dinner (extra charge).

At 08:30, after breakfast, you will embark on an interesting excursion program to the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic.

Upper Balkaria is a picturesque area with mountains, meadows and lakes, combining the true beauty of pristine nature, the grandeur of mountain peaks and the originality of ancient sights.

The Cherek Gorge is located in the Cherek-Balkarian gorge, where you can see everything: rocks and cliffs, lakes and waterfalls, necropolises and abandoned villages, as well as watchtowers shrouded in legends.

You will also admire the Blue lakes surrounded by mountains and alpine meadows in Babugent village. You will see Lake Cerik-kel, or Blue Lake, famous for the extraordinary color of the water.

Visit the Lower Blue Lake (Tserik-kel), which is a natural monument. The Blue Lakes Complex is a unique natural phenomenon that is located in an incredibly picturesque location. The nature here is admired for its versatility.

After taking memorable photos and admiring the scenery, we will go further to the Cherek gorge, where we can take an exciting walking tour and listen to the guide's stories about the history of this place. Our path will follow the serpentine, up to the tunnel in the Cherek gorge.

Admire the Cherek Canyon. Take a walking route along the dirt road (approximately 300 meters). This is one of the most exciting stages of the tour – it's a walk along the old wheeled road, which is carved right into the sheer cliff.

After the tunnel, the road to the former fortress of Zylgi-Kala begins. A unique fortress leaning against a sheer cliff like some kind of bird's nest. It is from here that a huge ancient defensive system begins, which was built back in the Middle Ages, the Balkarov Tower, Amir Khan, Kurnayat.

Take a walk around the surroundings of Upper Balkaria — Kunnyum village, long abandoned and inhabited only by mountain winds, is located in the gorge of the Cherek River, Kunnyum-El, the Tower of Princes Abayev, a building dating back to the late Middle Ages. (Abai-Kala).

Shkany Aul and the Amirkhanov Tower (Amirkhan-Kala), and other amazing monuments of the past. We will plunge into the times of wars and battles, brave men and traitors, we will hear many stories and legends about the owners of these places.

The price of the tour includes: a tour guide, a visit to the canyon, Blue Lakes, Lunch at the Upper Blue Lakes restaurant.

Estimated arrival time is 19:00.

The dinner is independent.

At 9:00 am after breakfast, you will leave for Grozny, where a sightseeing walking tour will take place. You will see all the "business cards" of the city and learn the history of the most important buildings.

In the program:

• The Church of the Archangel Michael will impress you with this beautiful architectural ensemble in the traditional Russian style with three domes and a bell tower. I will tell you its sometimes tragic story and explain why the temple has never been closed since its consecration, even in Soviet times.;
• Flower Park — you will see more than 500 varieties of trees, including maples, birches and even palm trees. And you can also take funny selfies against the background of topiary figures.;
• Grozny City is a collection of seven high-rise buildings soaring into the sky, ambitiously and boldly proclaiming the great prospects of Chechnya. The high-rise buildings contain residential apartments, swimming pools, shops, restaurants, a hotel and a business center with a helipad on the roof. You will climb to the observation deck of one of the towers of the complex and take a bird's-eye view of the city.;
• The Heart of Chechnya Mosque is the main attraction of Grozny. From a distance, it will remind you of a magnificent flower, but up close it will delight you with the grandeur of architecture. I will tell you in what style the mosque was built and what materials were used for interior and exterior decoration.;
• The central square is a great place to experience the spirit of the city and take photos against the backdrop of the architectural tandem of the mosque and the gigantic complex "Grozny City". A favorite tourist destination;
• The Kadyrov Museum in Grozny is a Memorial complex of Glory named after Akhmat Kadyrov.

14:00 lunch at the Sheikh Palace Restaurant in Grozny

Then transfer to Shali, visit the largest mosque in Europe, the Pride of Muslims. 30,000 people can pray inside the mosque at once. The mosque started operating in 2019. The mosque looks dazzlingly white because it is covered with a special Greek marble imported from the island of Thassos.

The price of the tour includes: a tour guide, lunch at the Sheikh Palace Restaurant, entrance tickets to the Grozny City, entrance tickets to the Kadyrov Museum.

Dinner (extra charge).

At 09:00 after breakfast, you will depart with our guide to the Republic of Ingushetia, Dzheyrakh district.

Our tour will start from the Darial Gorge, we will drive along the famous Georgian Military Road.

The Daryal Gorge is a grandiose natural fault in the Lateral Ridge of the Greater Caucasus mountain system, along the bottom of which the river The Terek River. Its length is 12 km. The Daryal Gorge is a grandiose natural fault in the Lateral Ridge of the Greater Caucasus mountain system, along the bottom of which the river The Terek River. Its length is 12 km. The first historically recorded name of the fortification "Daryal" (Dar-i-Alan) is translated from Persian as "Alan Gate". Beyond them lay the possessions of the Iranian-speaking nomadic tribes of Scytho—Sarmatian origin, the Alans.

Next, we will move to the Dzheyrakh gorge, the historical center and the oldest part of the Republic of Ingushetia, where the main historical monuments have been preserved. There are numerous climbing routes and trails for tourists along the gorge.

You will see the subsistence farming of local residents, who, like a hundred years ago, harvest hay for the winter, cook cheese and honor centuries-old traditions. We will visit the main monuments of the Dzheyrakh gorge.

You will see the ancient family tower of the Tsurovs, who still live next to it, as well as the ancient city of Targim, the village of Egikal and the Vnushki tower complex on steep cliffs. The guide will tell you why such towers were built and what they symbolized. You will also visit the temple of Thaba-yerdy, built in the 8th century.

In addition, you will find natural attractions such as the picturesque Lyazhginsky waterfall (we will walk along the eco—trail to the waterfall, the eco-trail is 3 km away. Optional) and the breathtaking Tsei Loam Pass.

Lunch will take place in a beautiful location at an altitude of 2,100 m above sea level in the restaurant "Tsei Loam".

The price of the tour includes: a tour guide, entrance to the ecozone, lunch at the Tsei Loam Restaurant.

You will return to the hotel in the evening.

Dinner (extra charge).

Additionally: "A quartermaster with an Ossetian accent" (every Thursday from 19:00 to 21:30).

A unique apartment complex has been prepared especially for you, which you can visit at will as part of the tourist program for an additional fee (cost – 800 rubles/person). A ticket can be purchased on the spot).

"Kvartirnik with an Ossetian Accent" is a wonderful evening in an authentic place of Vladikavkaz, where folk artists, musicians, cultural figures, historians, artists and poets will be waiting for you.

You will immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Ossetian culture to the sounds of guitar, piano and other instruments, including national ones.

In the cafe itself, for an additional fee, you can have a snack, order a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.

Venue: Vladikavkaz, Mayakovsky St., 20, "Cafe of Poets" (lower hall). The cafe is located in the city center within walking distance from almost all hotels.

At 09:00 after breakfast, you will embark with our guide on an exciting tour of the Kurtatinsky gorge.

To this day, ancient Ossetian villages with family, military, residential and signal towers, cave fortifications and ancient religious buildings have been preserved here.

We will visit Kadargavan Canyon, a unique place where you can see how for hundreds of years a mountain river eroded the soft limestones of a rocky ridge, and a huge boulder that fell from the top of the mountain became a natural bridge across the canyon.

The medieval rock fortress Dzivgis fortress has been known since the invasion of Tamerlane in the XV century.

We will visit the Alan Holy Dormition Monastery, which is the highest Orthodox monastery in Russia, located at an altitude of 1300 meters.

Here you can climb the "ladder of absolution", enjoy the silence and solitude of the monastery, as well as see an exact replica of the ancient Alan temples.

13:30 National lunch at the Valley of the Sun restaurant.

Then transfer to the Dargava basin.

"Ossetian Valley of the Pharaohs" — The Dargava necropolis is popularly compared to the Egyptian "Valley of the Pharaohs".

A whole "city" of more than 90 crypt structures of original shape in the form of white stone towers-houses with unusual roofs scattered along the picturesque mountain slopes.

The peace of the "Ossetian Valley of the Pharaohs" is guarded by majestic Watchtowers of the XVI-XVII centuries.

On the way, we will see the famous Ossetian letter "A" Art object, the Kurta and Tag Towers, other family towers, ancient terraces reclaimed from the mountains for planting agricultural crops.

Then transfer to the Genaldon gorge, which is one of the narrowest and most beautiful gorges in Ossetia.

17:30 Arrival in Vladikavkaz, transfer to the hotels (time for changing clothes).

18:40 Transfer to the Kavkaz Hall Restaurant.

19:00 You will arrive at the Kavkaz Hall restaurant in Vladikavkaz, where the "Alan Evening" will take place (the restaurant can be replaced with an equivalent one in case of unforeseen circumstances), an ethno-gastronomic show, a cozy national feast (alcohol included), the national cuisine of North Ossetia, famous Ossetian pies, a performance of folk vocalinstrumental groups of the Republic of North Ossetia — Alania, performance of the national Ensemble "Mamison", national Presenter (toastmaster), master class in the national Ossetian dance "Simd".

The price of the tour includes: A tour guide, lunch at the Valley of the Sun restaurant (the restaurant can be replaced with an equivalent one depending on unforeseen circumstances), a visit to the Dargava Necropolis open-air Museum, and the Alan Evening.

Arrival at the hotel around 23:00.

Check-out from the hotel at 12:00.

Then you can spend time at your own discretion, stroll through the streets of the old town, buy souvenirs in the shops of the city, order Ossetian pies, etc.

Transfer to the airport/ railway station is additionally charged when booking the tour and/or booking a taxi.