Trekking in North Ossetia. Digoria

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Digoria consists of snow–capped mountain peaks, fragrant alpine meadows, sapphire ribbons of cool rivers and a mirrored lake surface.

The air here is healing, the panoramas are unique, and the people are hospitable. At the entrance to the gorge, travelers are met by the formidable defender of these places – the great Uastyrji, sitting on a steel steed. In summer, Digory meadows and forests give guests a pleasant surprise: they are full to the brim with berries – fragrant strawberries ripen in July, cranberries, raspberries and blueberries in August.

Trekking to Ossetia is unthinkable without the noise of silver waterfalls – their discordant hubbub can be heard from afar, and the rainbow splashes of magical streams will restore cheerfulness and banish fatigue.

Location

Russia, Stavropol Territory, Mineralnye Vody

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

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Tour highlights

Mount Kubus

We will see Bear Mountain, on the top of which grows a pine tree, according to legend, fulfilling the most cherished desires

Karaugom Glacier

Karaugom is huge and formidable, it will chill anyone who dares to approach it

Comfortable trekking

Trekking awaits us in the afternoon, and accommodation in the hotel complex in the evening

Monument to Uastyrdzhi

The most important saint of the Nart epic, the patron saint of brave warriors

Taimasi Waterfalls

The triad of mother-of-pearl ribbons of these famous streams is visible even from afar and amazes with its pristine splendor

Tanacete Glacier

We will get close to the ancient glacier and even have a tea party surrounded by breathtaking views!

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival. Uastyrdzhi Monument – Akhsinta Canyon – Digor Gorge
11:30-12:00 Gathering of the group at the railway station and at the airport in Mineralnye Vody (near the main entrance from the city).
Transfer to Digor gorge (about 4 hours).
The path to the desired goal lies past the statue of St. George, dressed in iron armor and vigilantly watching the road.
This is Uastyrdzhi, the most important saint of the Nart epic, the patron saint of brave warriors.
The next point of the tour route is the Ahsinta Canyon.
The local rocks captivated the stormy and rebellious Urukh River, pinching it in a stone vise – an incredible and exciting sight!
Across the gorge, on an 80-meter elevation, the Devil's Bridge is thrown, under which river breakers roar. Patience – the Digor gorge is very close.
Upon arrival, travelers will find comfortable rooms at the Threshold of Heaven campsite.
Before continuing to explore Digoria's routes, it is necessary to recuperate, take a refreshing shower and have a hearty dinner at a local cafe.
Active part of the tour: 2 km on foot.

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Day 2 - Mount Kubus. Taimasi Waterfalls
It is impossible to relax in North Ossetia and not see the Bear Mountain, otherwise called Kubus.
A pine tree grows on its top, which, according to legend, fulfills the most cherished desires, you just need to stock up on colorful ribbons.
The gentle slopes of Kubus hide another miracle spring, which tourists endow with magical properties.
In general, Kubus is a place of tourist pilgrimage: they even celebrate the New Year there!
Then, going out to the observation deck, travelers will admire the gentle Gebi gorge, the peaks of Aikhva and Laboda, as well as the enchanting Taimasi waterfalls – the triad of mother-of-pearl ribbons of these famous streams is visible even from afar and amazes with its pristine splendor.
The Three sisters, as the participants of the past Digoria tours called Taimazi, have been flowing down from the slopes of the Kharez Gorge for millions of years.
At the end of the day tour, we will go around the world, slowly circumnavigate Kubus, plunging into the wild and dense forest at the foot of the mountain.
The active part of the route: 14.2 km, elevation difference 1740-2340 m, route duration 6-7 hours.

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Day 3 - Trekking to the Karaugom glacier
Karaugom is one of the most famous in Digoria.
It descends from Wilpata through two icefalls.
The area of the glacier is impressive – about 20 square kilometers.
The Karaugom tour starts from the village of Dzinaga and continues under the shade of ancient pine forests.
The eternal song of the Karaugomdon River accompanies the traveler almost the entire way.
The closer we get to the glacier, the more the uniqueness of the landscapes becomes visible – the contrast of vibrant nature and frozen ice blocks is surprising and fascinating.
Karaugom is huge and formidable, it will freeze anyone who dares to approach it.
The active part of the route: 13.8 km, elevation difference 1550-1850 m, route duration 7-8 hours.

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Day 4 - Galdaridon Waterfall (Pearl Waterfall)
Today, tourists will find Digoria without backpacks – the tour route is easy, simple and does not require special equipment and physical training.
Galdoridon Waterfall is the pearl of the tour, a five-stage stream 35 meters high, located on the river of the same name.
To reach it, you will have to walk through a blooming meadow – there is a lot of fragrant ivan tea growing here.
Then the path will lead the traveler into the cool, forest shade and only then the noisy Galdoridon will open to the eyes of admiring tourists.
But the tour is not completed: on the way there will be another stream – Buravidon.
It is noticeable from a distance, because it is quite high: the jets flowing down from the Sugan ridge are reflected by hundreds of multicolored sparks in sunny weather.
On this day, our exciting trekking tour to Digoria ends with a hike to the Bayradi waterfall.
This waterfall is sometimes called by the name of the river that feeds it – Hurakomidon, and sometimes it is called Noisy.
Bayradi helps the river ribbon to leave the embrace of the Sugan ridge, plunging from a 20-meter cliff into the rocky mouth of the canyon.
The active part of the route: 14.1 km, elevation difference 1740-2160 m, route duration 6-7 hours.

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Day 5 - Tanacete Glacier
A hike through North Ossetia to the Tana-tsete glacier is planned for today.
The tour route starts from the glade of the same name (remember how in the fairy tale: "you'll go to the right ...").
Passing the cyclopean stone, the roads split: one of them leads to the green, curly Kubus, and the second, accompanied by the Tanadon River, goes straight to the Tana-tsete glacier.
This time the tour involves maximum proximity: unlike Karaugom, we will get close to the ancient glacier and even have a tea party surrounded by breathtaking views!
Tana Tsete is located between two Digora peaks, Laboda and Taymasi.
In summer, especially at the end of June and July, the local meadows are decked out: forget-me-nots, pink mountaineers, and orange poppies look at travelers from everywhere.
Against the background of a colorful natural flower bed, framed by wooded mountains and snowy peaks, the glacier looks so unreal and unusual that it is almost impossible to look away from it.
The active part of the route: 16.2 km, elevation difference 1740-2330 m, route duration 7 hours.

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Day 6 - Ancient villages of Digoria. Fregat Tower, fortress of the Sedanov brothers
Off–road tours of the mountains of North Ossetia are a comfortable and exciting pastime.
This way you can see more and get less tired, which is why jeep tours to Digoria are incredibly popular.
The frigate tower and ancient Ossetian villages are the goal of the current tour route.
The building, which from a distance looks like a majestic stone sailboat, was built in the 14th and 16th centuries.
The inescapable charm of the past centuries reigns within its walls – it is a wonderful place to recharge your batteries and dream.
Also today on the tour we will see how the mysterious ancestral tower of the Sedanovs stands on an impregnable rock.
Tourists will have to puzzle over how warriors got into the fortress during the Middle Ages.
The Museum of Nana Zadaleski's mother, Nana's cave.
The active part of the route: 12.2 km, elevation difference 1560-1670 m, route duration 5-6 hours.

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Day 7 - Departure
After breakfast, we set off on our way back.
Transfer by minibus to Mineralnye Vody.
12:30-13:30 Arrival in Mineralnye Vody (airport, bus station, railway station), departure home.
Depending on the weather conditions, the physical condition of the participants and other factors, the route of the hike may be changed.

Difficulty

Involves moderate physical activity

Tour organizer's comments

The route is trekking and provides for walking through mountainous (rugged) terrain. This type of outdoor activity involves daily climbing and dropping heights (ascents and descents).

The route passes through forest trails, dirt roads, alpine meadows, large and small stones. The routes will have an altitude difference of 300 to 600 m per day. For two days of the route, the altitude difference will be 100-200 m.

Climbing up 300-600 m is about like climbing 100-200 floors.

The route runs at an altitude of: 1740-2400 m .

The length of the route: 72.5 km .

Accommodation

Camp Site

6 nights

Comfort

Basic+

The tour includes accommodation in the hotel complex "Threshold of Heaven".

The cost of the tour for 1 person with basic accommodation is 58,800 rubles/person.

The surcharge for 1-bed accommodation in a hotel room is 11,000 rubles / the entire rest period.

2-,3-bed rooms "Standard" in the II building, room amenities (shower, toilet), towels are provided. Wi-Fi in the building. The refrigerator is on the floor. There is no kettle. The hotel has billiards, a swimming pool, a sauna, a sports complex (these services are available for an additional fee).

The complex is located in the Digor gorge, in one of the most picturesque places of the Republic of North Ossetia — Alania, which is popularly called "Bayty Tsakht".

Tourists also gave the plateau, flooded with sunlight and hidden from the outside world by steep mountains, its name — "Sunny Glade".

The "Threshold of Heaven" is a clean and quiet place. Here you will not be disturbed by the lights and music of discos, there are no random people here, and nature is not spoiled by vulgar crumpled plastic bottles.

It is good to relax with your family here when you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and breathe really clean air, the taste of which is forgotten in the city over time.

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Tour conditions

Group

From 6 to 18 tourists

Minimum age

8 years old

Duration

7 days 6 nights

Group meets at

Russia, Stavropol Territory, Mineralnye Vody

Included in price

road crossings along the route;
moving along the route by mountain transport;
accommodation in the hotel complex "Threshold of Heaven";
3 meals a day:
- ready-made breakfasts (day 2-7) and dinners (day 1-6) are served at the hotel according to a set menu (the menu is not individual);
- lunch (day 2-6) in the form of dry rations in the mountains (sausage, cheese, tea, cookies, chocolate, sweets);
group equipment rental: boilers, gas burners (for making tea for lunch in the mountains from June to August), a group first aid kit;
the services of an instructor-guide.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Mineralnye Vody and back;
Meals: lunch during the transfer on day 1;
if necessary, an additional payment for 1-bed accommodation in a hotel room is 11,000 rubles/ the entire rest period.;
insurance (optional).

It's important to know

The list of equipment for tours from April 20 to May 20 and from October 25 to November 15:

The air temperature during this period:

early morning and evening +1...+5C;
in the afternoon +7...+13C.

If the winter was snowy, in May we will still walk on snow in the gorges. At the end of October, the first snow may already fall in the gorges. In this case, you should have insulated trekking shoes.

Check with the instructor for up-to-date information about the weather in Digoria and the presence of snow in the gorges a week before the tour.

We draw your attention to the rules of choosing clothes for the trip: in the Caucasus, you can wear trousers and T-shirts. Shorts and T-shirts should not be taken for a trip to the Caucasus.

Hat, gloves;
Jacket. The air temperature in the gorges in the early morning and evening is +1...+5C, in the afternoon +7...+13C.;
Fleece. We recommend taking 2 fleeces: one for walking on the route (it gets a hiking smell quickly enough), the second clean and fresh fleece for walking in the hotel;
T-shirt;
Thermal underwear;
Buff. Protects the neck from burning, can be used as a headdress or scarf;
Warm running trousers;
Lingerie;
Socks;
Trekking shoes up to the ankle and above;
Flip-flops (for walking in a hotel);
Swimsuit;
For girls on request: a dress for a photo shoot on the background of mountains;
Waterproof clothing or raincoat from the middle of the thigh and below;
Trekking poles. Sticks significantly reduce the load on the knees. Physically strong and healthy tourists are recommended to have sticks with them. Tourists who have problems with knees, joints and overweight must have trekking poles.
If necessary, the club provides trekking poles for rent;
Child's passport / birth certificate;
To obtain a pass to the border zone, you must have with you a black and white copy of the second page of the passport and the registration page. There is no place to make a copy in Digoria. It is impossible to issue a pass without a photocopy of the passport, as a result, the participant will not be able to visit the Karaugom gorge;
Camera/video camera and charger. In several gorges along the route that enter the border zone, it is forbidden to use a quadcopter for filming;
Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, razor);
Hairbrush;
Sunglasses;
Thermos flask (volume 0.75-1 l);
Toilet paper (useful during the day, on the route);
Mug, spoon, plate. In the mountains, tourists drink tea from a mug that comes with a thermos or take a separate mug. The plate is useful to put sliced and small foods (vegetables, cheese, olives, etc.) into it during lunch. The mug and plate should be non-breakable;
Wet wipes;
Thread, needle;
Backpack for walking (volume 25-35 liters). The backpack contains the tourist's personal belongings (fleece, raincoat, thermos, etc.), as well as public food for lunch, which is issued by the instructor (the weight of the products is 400-600 grams);
Podpopnik;
Shoe Dryers;
Sunscreen, hygienic lipstick;
Headlamp (for trips in September, October). The daylight hours become shorter in autumn, so sometimes a flashlight can be useful on the route in the evening;
Cash;
Individual first aid kit. Required: elastic bandage, Band-Aid.

The list of equipment for tours from May 21 to October 25:

Hat, gloves;
Cap / panama hat;
Jacket. The air temperature in the early morning and late evening is +8...+12C.;
Fleece. We recommend taking 2 fleeces: one for walking on the route (it gets a hiking smell quickly enough), the second clean and fresh fleece for walking in the hotel;
T-shirt;
Lightweight long sleeve shirt. The shirt will protect your arms and neck from burning;
Buff. Protects the neck from burning, can be used as a headdress;
Running trousers;
Lingerie;
Socks;
Trekking shoes up to the ankle and above;
Flip-flops (for walking in a hotel);
Swimsuit;
For girls on request: a dress for a photo shoot on the background of mountains;
Waterproof clothing or raincoat from the middle of the thigh and below;
Trekking poles. Sticks significantly reduce the load on the knees. Physically strong and healthy tourists are recommended to have sticks with them. Tourists who have problems with knees, joints and overweight must have trekking poles;
If necessary, the club provides trekking poles for rent;
Child's passport / birth certificate;
To get a pass to the border zone, you must have a copy of the second page of the passport and the registration page with you. There is no place to make a copy in Digoria. It is impossible to issue a pass without a photocopy of the passport, as a result, the tourist will not be able to visit the Karaugom gorge;
Camera/video camera and charger. In several gorges along the route that enter the border zone, it is forbidden to use a quadcopter for filming;
Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, razor);
Hairbrush;
Sunglasses;
0.5L plastic bottle (for drinking water on the route);
Toilet paper (useful during the day, on the route);
Mug, spoon, plate. During lunch in the mountains, the instructor makes tea, tourists take mugs with them. The plate is useful to put chopped and small products (vegetables, cheese, olives, etc.) into it during lunch. The mug and plate should be non-breakable;
Wet wipes;
Thread, needle;
Backpack for walking (volume 20-25 liters). The backpack contains the tourist's personal belongings (fleece, raincoat, water bottle, etc.), as well as public food for lunch, which is issued by the instructor (the weight of the products is 400-600 grams);
Podpopnik;
Shoe Dryers;
Sunscreen, hygienic lipstick;
Cash;
Individual first aid kit. Required: elastic bandage, Band-Aid.

Dates and Prices

$688

27 Apr – 3 May 7 days 6 nights

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$688

4 – 10 May 7 days 6 nights

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$688

25 – 31 May 7 days 6 nights

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$688

15 – 21 Jun 7 days 6 nights

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$688

6 – 12 Jul 7 days 6 nights

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$688

13 – 19 Jul 7 days 6 nights

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$688

27 Jul – 2 Aug 7 days 6 nights

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$688

10 – 16 Aug 7 days 6 nights

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$688

17 – 23 Aug 7 days 6 nights

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$688

14 – 20 Sep 7 days 6 nights

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$688

28 Sep – 4 Oct 7 days 6 nights

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Reviews

Y
Yuri

about provider

25 Mar, 2025

The tour was very well organized. The transfers from the airport and railway station to the campsite, as well as from the campsite to the hiking trails, were smooth and convenient. The campsite itself was comfortable, with rooms equipped with showers and TVs. What impressed me the most, however, was the drying room on our floor! The weather in this region changes rapidly, and almost every day, our group got caught in the rain. Drying clothes and shoes while hiking can be a real challenge, back in Altai, after getting soaked in rain and snow, I was never able to fully dry my clothes, as it rained every night, and they only dried once I got home. Here, that problem was completely solved. A special thank you to our guide, Roman, an experienced mountain tour expert, a fascinating and cheerful companion, and undoubtedly a true mountain romantic. He went above and beyond to bring our diverse group together, chatting with everyone during the day and organizing engaging activities in the evenings. He shared captivating stories about his native Krasnoyarsk region, the Sayan Mountains, local customs, and legends, as well as personal anecdotes. Roman carefully selected routes based on the weather and terrain, always prioritizing the safety and well-being of the group. Roma, thank you so much!