Arriving in the North Caucasus, do not hesitate to go to those places that create its special value. There, where the rarefied air is transparent, the height is dizzying and the glacial peaks beckon with their inaccessibility. One of such places in the Caucasus, of course, is Arkhyz, well-known and beloved by fans of mountain tourism. The route of our trip today is the Moonglade of Arkhyz.
Russian Switzerland
Wooded, dense, pine slopes stretching for many kilometers, snow-capped mountain ranges, sparkling greens of raging rivers and streams, milky depths of glacial lakes, bordering, like a large pearl-blue necklace, the bends of the Caucasus Range - Arkhyz is rightly called Russian Switzerland.
Mild climate, a large number of warm sunny days, low altitude, protection from cold, piercing mountain winds - all this creates that special, unique microcosm that the Arkhyz valley is. Arkhyz, located on the opposite side of Dombay, is strikingly different from the latter.
Despite the fact that both villageslocated in Karachay-Cherkessia, they divide different gorges and have different heights. In the Arkhyz landscapes there is no Dombai severity, which is certainly due to the lower height - you will not find a large number of glacial peaks here.
Construction of the villages of Romantik and Moonglade - the beginning of the construction of the century
And, indeed, Arkhyz is practically in no way inferior to the resorts of Switzerland. The only difference between "their" Switzerland and "our" Arkhyz for a long time consisted only in the absence of a well-developed mountain tourism infrastructure. And at the end of 2013, to the enthusiastic rejoicing of all fans of this tourist Mecca, a major project was launched to build a world-class ski resort. Real Caucasian construction of the century!
First, the ski resort village of Romantik was built, in the very first days of its existence it attracted hundreds of tourists from different cities of Russia, the first cable stations were launched. Then, in Arkhyz, the construction of the first buildings of Moonglade began. In general, the project plans to build several separate ski resorts with their own infrastructure and pistes with a total length of 30 kilometers.
Behind the Romantic, new tourist complexes are already being built with might and main, the mountain chain of the slopes of the valley covers more and more kilometers of cable cars. How to get to the Arkhyz Moonglade will be discussed below.
Arkhyz is the starting point of all routes
The old resort village of Arkhyz, known since Soviet times, is nothingremarkable. A large number of low-rise hotels and small residential buildings, cows, chickens and sheep measuredly walking along the road. The village is interesting primarily because it is from this place that a large number of well-known tourist routes originate, from here numerous mountain trails lead up past the descending bubbling streams and small waterfalls.
From here there are roads to Arkhyz's Lunar Glade, Phiya village and other interesting places. From here, tourists from afar embark on breathtaking adventures along winding paths, risky slopes in order to see more and more new and beautiful places. From here they go on week-long hikes along the Arkhyz Blue Necklace route, well-known among advanced tourists.
In the mountains, as we know, one immutable rule always works - the higher, the more beautiful! Therefore, long-term parking in one place does not make much sense, everything here is created for perpetual motion.
Modern Mountain Chalets
Leaving the old village and climbing a little higher along the new asph alt road, after 10 minutes you find yourself in a modern center built according to all the rules and laws of ski tourism, equipped with everything necessary for winter and not only sports.
And a little further down the road, directly behind the village of Romantik, there is a new rebuilt village of Lunnaya Polyana. Roads leading from Arkhyz connect it with Romantik, Lunnaya Polyana, and other future vacation spots. Unity of architecturalThe ensemble characteristic of all these villages also distinguishes Lunnaya Polyana.
Modern hotel complexes, tourist centers, cafes, canteens, etc. - everything here is designed in a classic Alpine style. Dark brown and soft cream shades are in pleasant harmony with the snow-white slopes in the ski season and stand out beautifully against the backdrop of sprawling fluffy pine hats.
Mild Moonglade climate
The village Lunnaya Polyana got its name from the Moon Valley - the very one along which the Arkhyz River flows. One of several local water arteries flowing into the largest and full-flowing river of the Arkhyz Valley is the Bolshoi Zelenchuk. Sheltered on both sides by high walls of mountains, protected from the wind, Moonglade pleases its visitors with generous sunny days almost all year round. The weather in Arkhyz and Lunnaya Polyana favors a quiet family holiday; the climate, as well as the entire infrastructure of modern villages, is very good for families with children.
Most of all, the most pleasant thought is that Moonglade is not the beginning and not the end of a large project. It will be followed by other tourist complexes with no less romantic names. In the meantime, in anticipation of new ski seasons, let's go up on the Lunar Express to the quiet rattle of the cable car under the light rustle of the wind in the branches past the pine peaks floating somewhere below!
