Of course, the resorts of the Krasnodar Territory attract vacationers mainly with the warm Black Sea. But tourists do not live by the beach alone. I would like to see something else. The sea, however beautiful it may be, does not provide food for thought. And now, on the fifth day of vacation, many inquisitive tourists start to have a thought in their heads: why not go somewhere on an excursion? What sights of the Caucasus (except Kazbek and Elbrus) are there in the region?
Travel Bureau of Sochi and other seaside resorts offer a wide range of excursions. There are trips for several hours and even for a couple of days. In this article, we will tell you where you can go on your own. Or sign up for a guided tour. And what do the reviews of tourists say about those sights of the Caucasus that are on everyone's lips? Is their popularity justified or is it all PR? Let's figure it out.
Vorontsovskiecaves
This attraction is located very close to Sochi, and therefore has long been mastered by local guides. Each travel agency at the resort recruits a group for a trip to the Vorontsov caves. The sightseeing bus is the fastest and surest way to get to the Prometheus grotto, the main entrance to the intricate labyrinth that stretches underground for more than eleven kilometers. But then you will have to pay 350 rubles for an adult and 150 for a child. You can get to this Caucasian attraction on your own.
The Vorontsov caves are located in the Khostinsky district, and a regular bus goes to the village. But then you will need to walk 7 km to the grotto. All tourists are impressed by the beauty and grandeur of the mysterious underworld. True, the tourist route covers only a small, four hundred meters, piece of these extended caves. Tourists visit the Music Hall. The caves reflect the history of the Earth. Their walls are composed of sedimentary deposits of the ancient Tethys Ocean. At the dawn of mankind in the grottoes were the sites of primitive tribes. Tourists are advised to take sweaters on the tour, because underground all year round there is one temperature - only +12 oС.
Tambukan Lake
Now you know what to see while relaxing in Sochi. But the Caucasus region is large, and each part of it has its own sights. If you have chosen the he alth resorts of Pyatigorsk as your place of rest, then you can go to Lake Tambukan. This, if you believe the reviews, is a mystical place. Its name, translated from Kabardian, means shelterTambia” (the ancient ancestor was buried near the lake). This body of water is drainless and s alty. Scientists are still arguing about the origin of the lake. It is said to be the remnant of an ancient ocean.
Whether it's true or not, Tambukan Lake makes an indelible impression on tourists. Even in sunny, clear and calm weather, it looks gloomy and dark. At the bottom of a perfectly oval water body there are tons of therapeutic mud. It is from Tambukan that all he alth resorts in Pyatigorsk draw healing brine.
Ancient temples of Karachay-Cherkessia
In addition to the amazing nature, the Caucasus is also famous for its man-made sights. After all, this region has long been inhabited by people. Many reviews advise visiting the region's ancient churches. The Sentinsky temple is located in the village of Nizhnyaya Tiberda, which is 18 km from the city of Karachaevsk. The church was erected at the beginning of the 10th century on a spur of a mountain range near the river. Frescoes of the eleventh century are still visible on the walls of the temple. Nearby is a stone mausoleum of the same era, intended for the burial of the clergy.
In the immediate vicinity is located the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior, which has neither historical nor cultural value. But what else you need to visit in Karachay-Cherkessia is the Shoaninsky temple. It was built in the same era and in a similar architectural style as Sentinskaya church. The temple is located seven kilometers from Karachaevsk.
Hiking trips
Many travel agencies offer vacationers to go tomulti-day trips through the mountains and valleys. They can be either on foot or by bus. The most popular route for tourists is from Kislovodsk to Dombay. In one trip you can see both historical and natural sights of the Caucasus. The route also passes through the Sentinskaya church described above. This temple is one of the five oldest on the territory of the Russian Federation. Not far from the Teberda-Dombai highway, the Shumka river crosses the road. Its name is very apt. A small tributary of the Teberda seethes like boiling water.
The route of the hike approaches the place where the river, foaming like champagne, falls from a height of twelve meters. The Shumka waterfall is especially beautiful in spring and early summer, when the snowfields melt.
Dargav necropolis
Some sights of the Caucasus can only be visited by people with strong nerves. Not far from the village of Dargavs (North Ossetia) is the real "City of the Dead". It has about a hundred semi-underground and towering crypts, which date back to the 9th-18th centuries. These family tombs are very interesting. They reflect the life of the ancient Ossetians - after all, the dead were buried in full dress and, moreover, many household items were placed in the grave.
Despite the fact that there is no sea nearby, the coffin was made in the shape of a boat. Legends say that during the Great Plague (1347), infected families came here to die so as not to infect their neighbors. Due to the special microclimate, the bodies did not rot, but were mummified. This can be verifiedpersonally, having paid an entrance ticket of one hundred rubles. The necropolis is taken under the protection of UNESCO. You can get to it on your own, by regular bus "Vladikavkaz - Dzhimar".
Jeyrakh Gorge
It is located in Ingushetia. This gorge combines the natural and cultural attractions of the Caucasus. Here are the ancient settlements of Targim, Khamkhi, Egikal, the ancient Christian temple of the seventh century Tkhaba-Erdy, the castles of Vovnushki and Erzi. All these interesting places and natural beauties are located in the Dzheyraysko-Assinsky Museum-Reserve. It is almost the largest in Russia.
In order not to get lost, reviews advise hiring a guide. Although there are information boards everywhere, a professional story will make the tour more interesting.
Dune Sarykum
The sights of the Caucasus sometimes not only delight, but also surprise. Isn't it interesting to meet such a desert formation near the snow-capped mountains? Sarykum is a single dune. In addition, it is the largest in Europe. Its area is three times the size of the state of Monaco, and its height reaches 260 meters (approximately like a fifty-story skyscraper). The dune consists of very fine golden sand. On a summer day, it heats up to +60 °C. Scientists are at a loss as to where such a mountain of sand came from in the Caucasus.
This miracle of nature is located in Dagestan, not far from the Kumtorkala ridge and in close proximity to the village of Korkmaskaly. From Makhachkalaregular buses go to this village.
