When trekking in Russia comes up, the Caucasus is what springs to mind — magnificent mountain summits, glaciers, alpine meadows and the clearest of lakes! The region draws visitors from all over the world for its unrepeatable landscape and the variety of its trekking routes. Here we have gathered several of the most popular trekking destinations in the Caucasus: the Elbrus region, route No. 30 over Fisht and Oshten, Lake Kardyvach, Arkhyz, Dombai and Gwandra. These treks suit experienced walkers and people who are only dreaming of trying themselves as a trekker alike.
Trekking in the Elbrus region
The Elbrus region is one of the most popular places for trekking in the Caucasus. It lies at the foot of the highest mountain in Europe — Elbrus (5642 m). The area draws not only climbers set on the summit, but walkers who want to enjoy tremendous views and the atmosphere of these magnificent mountains.
Trekking in the Elbrus region means a variety of routes to suit every level of fitness. Among the popular ones are the trek to Elbrus base camp, the trek to the Azau glacier, the trek to the Devichyi Kosy (Maiden’s Braids) waterfall and the trek up Mount Cheget.
Trekking to Elbrus base camp
The trek to Elbrus base camp is an adventure that lets you feel the sheer power of this great mountain. The route starts in the village of Terskol, from where you can go up to the “Garabashi” station at an altitude of about 3500 metres. Elbrus base camp stands here, and from it tremendous views open out over glaciers and snow-covered summits. This trek calls for no special mountaineering skills, but you should take care – gaining height quickly can bring on an attack of altitude sickness.
You can walk up to base camp or take the cable car, which makes the ascent a good deal easier. At altitude a magnificent view opens over the Caucasus ranges, and that is what makes this trek in the Caucasus so vivid.
Trekking to the Azau glacier
The Azau glacier is one of the most accessible places for trekking in the Elbrus region. This route suits even beginners, as it is relatively easy and calls for no great physical effort. The path runs through picturesque alpine meadows and leads to a glacier whose scale and beauty are striking. The trek to the Azau glacier is a fine chance for anyone who wants to enjoy the landscape of the Caucasus without excessive physical effort.
Trekking to the Devichyi Kosy waterfall
The Devichyi Kosy waterfall is a picturesque natural feature in the Terskol gorge. The trek to the waterfall takes only a few hours, which makes it an ideal option for anyone who wants a short walk and fine views. The route leads through forest paths and alpine meadows, and the views of Elbrus make this trek especially lovely.
Trekking up Mount Cheget
Mount Cheget is one of the most popular places for trekking in the Elbrus region. In summer you can climb here to an altitude of more than 3000 metres, from where breathtaking panoramas open over Elbrus and the surrounding mountains. Going up Cheget calls for no special skills, but good physical preparation is still recommended. Many visitors prefer to take the cable car up to the first stations and then continue on foot. The trek up Cheget is a fine chance to see the Caucasus summits in all their beauty.
Trekking up the Adyl-Su valley
The Adyl-Su valley is one of the most picturesque places in the Elbrus region. Trekking up this valley attracts lovers of wild country and anyone who wants to test themselves on demanding routes. The path runs through forests, rivers and alpine meadows, and the goal is often the Adyl-Su and Shkhelda glaciers. These routes suit experienced walkers, as they call for good physical preparation and the skills to handle mountain equipment.
Trekking route No. 30 over Fisht and Oshten
Route No. 30 is one of the legendary multi-day treks in the Caucasus, crossing the mountains of Fisht and Oshten and leading down to the Black Sea. The route offers a great variety of landscape: alpine meadows, glaciers and subtropical forest. Trekking route No. 30 is a genuine challenge and calls for good physical preparation, as it takes in mountain passes and glaciers.
The route begins on the Lago-Naki plateau — one of the most picturesque places in the Caucasus. Magnificent views open here over the Caucasus ranges and the alpine meadows, which makes the start of the trek particularly impressive. From Lago-Naki the climb to Mount Fisht begins, one of the landmark summits of the Western Caucasus.
Mount Fisht
Mount Fisht (2868 m) is a limestone summit and the key point on route No. 30. The trek up Fisht is demanding but exhilarating, crossing passes and glaciers. The way to the summit calls for good physical preparation and the skills to handle mountain equipment. The Fisht glaciers are among the most magnificent natural formations in the area, and they will certainly leave you with memories you never forget.
Mount Oshten
After Fisht the route continues to Mount Oshten (2804 m), which is another important point on the trek. Oshten is a more accessible summit, but the way up it also calls for a degree of physical preparation. The ascent of Oshten opens magnificent views over the mountains and glaciers of the Caucasus, which makes this route one of the most popular among experienced walkers.
The descent to the Black Sea
Once the mountain section is behind you, the trek continues downwards, to the Black Sea. The landscape changes as you descend: alpine meadows give way to subtropical forest and the climate grows warmer. Passing through such different natural zones is what makes trekking route No. 30 so interesting. The end point of the route is the Black Sea coast, where you can enjoy a well-earned rest on the beach.
Trekking to Lake Kardyvach
Lake Kardyvach is one of the most picturesque high-mountain lakes of the Caucasus, at an altitude of 1838 metres above sea level. The trek to Lake Kardyvach is a route of moderate difficulty that calls for good physical preparation, as it involves crossing passes and sleeping in tents.
The route starts in the upper reaches of the Mzymta river and passes through picturesque meadows, forests and passes. The walk takes several days, and the higher you go the more breathtaking the views become. Lake Kardyvach itself is a true pearl of the Caucasus; its crystal-clear water and emerald shades are what make the place so popular. The trek to Lake Kardyvach is a chance to see one of the most beautiful places in the Caucasus and to enjoy the solitude of wild country.
Trekking in Arkhyz
Arkhyz is one of the most popular places for trekking in the Caucasus. The region is known for its high-mountain lakes, its waterfalls and its picturesque alpine meadows. Trekking in Arkhyz offers a variety of routes, both for those who want to set sporting records and for those who want to spend a few relaxed days out in the landscape.
The walk to the Semitsvetnoe and Beloe lakes
One of the most popular routes in Arkhyz is the trek to the Semitsvetnoe and Beloe lakes. This route suits beginners and calls for no serious physical preparation. The path runs through alpine meadows and leads to high-mountain lakes whose vivid beauty is striking. The Semitsvetnoe and Beloe lakes are ringed by magnificent mountains, and their waters sparkle in different shades depending on the time of day and the angle of the sun. That is what makes trekking to these lakes in the Caucasus so picturesque and so popular. The walk here suits anyone who wants to enjoy the landscape without excessive physical effort, and it is an ideal option for those new to trekking.
The walk to the Sofia waterfalls
Another famous route in Arkhyz is the trek to the Sofia waterfalls. This walk is one of the most beautiful in the region and suits beginners and more experienced walkers alike. The waterfalls, dropping hundreds of metres from the Sofia glacier, leave an indelible impression. The way to them runs through flowering alpine meadows and forest, which makes this trek in the Caucasus unforgettable. The Sofia waterfalls are one of the key natural sights of Arkhyz, and a visit is worth including in the itinerary of any walking trip in the Caucasus.
Multi-day treks in Arkhyz
For experienced walkers Arkhyz offers longer and more demanding treks, such as the walks over the Sofia pass or to the high-mountain lakes that lie at greater altitudes. These routes can take several days and call for good physical preparation and the equipment to sleep in tents. Trekking in Arkhyz is not only a chance to enjoy the landscape but a chance to test yourself in high mountain country.
Trekking in Dombai
Dombai is one of the best-known trekking centres in the Caucasus, drawing visitors with its magnificent ridges, its glaciers and its remarkable landscape. Trekking around Dombai takes in both day walks and multi-day routes, which suit walkers at very different levels of preparation.
The walk to Lake Turye
One of the most popular routes in Dombai is the trek to Lake Turye. This route is of moderate difficulty and calls for no particular preparation, but on the way to the lake walkers can enjoy tremendous views of the ridges and glaciers. Lake Turye is a high-mountain lake on an alpine plateau. Its clear water and the magnificent mountains around it make this one of the most beautiful walks in the region.
The walk over the Alibek pass
For more experienced walkers Dombai offers harder routes, such as the walk over the Alibek pass. This trek calls for good physical preparation and the skills to handle mountain equipment, as the pass lies at a considerable altitude. The reward for the effort, though, is breathtaking views of alpine meadows, glaciers and mountain ridges. The Alibek pass is a classic trekking route in the Caucasus, and its beauty and its difficulty are what draw experienced walkers to it.
The walk to the Dombai glacier
The Dombai glacier is one of the main sights of the region, and the trek to it is a chance to test yourself in high mountain country. The way to the glacier runs through alpine meadows and forest, which makes it varied and interesting. The trek to the glacier is a walk for experienced people, as the route calls for good physical preparation, but the impressive views of the glacier and the summits around it justify every bit of the effort.
Trekking in Gwandra
Gwandra is a mountain massif that is also known for its demanding trekking routes. The region draws people who are looking for solitude and are ready to test themselves in wild country. Trekking in Gwandra often takes in routes to glaciers and passes that call for good physical preparation and experience of mountain walking.
The walk to the Gwandra glacier
The Gwandra glacier is one of the key places for trekking in the region. The route is of moderate difficulty but calls for a degree of preparation, as the way runs through alpine meadows and high mountain paths. The trek to the Gwandra glacier is a chance to see one of the wildest and most solitary natural areas of the Caucasus, which is what draws people looking for real adventure.
The walk over the Gwandra pass
For more experienced walkers there are routes in Gwandra over the Gwandra pass, which offer breathtaking views of the surrounding massifs and glaciers. This trek suits walkers with good physical preparation, as the route runs at considerable altitude and calls for the skills to handle mountaineering equipment. The reward for the effort will be the tremendous views of the Caucasus ranges and glaciers that open from the pass.
Trekking in the Caucasus offers an enormous variety of routes for walkers at every level of preparation. The Elbrus region, route No. 30 over Fisht and Oshten, Lake Kardyvach, Arkhyz, Dombai and Gwandra are areas that draw beginners and experienced walkers looking for real adventure alike. Each of these routes has its own character and its own beauty, but all of them offer remarkable views of Caucasus summits, glaciers, alpine meadows and crystal-clear lakes. Trekking in the Caucasus is not simply physical activity; it is a chance to take in the grandeur of the mountains and to test yourself in wild country. Whether you choose the easy routes in Arkhyz or Dombai, the demanding walks over the Fisht and Oshten passes, or multi-day routes in the Elbrus region, you will come away with memories of trekking in one of the most beautiful regions in the world!
What our customers say
“How I ended up trekking in the Elbrus region: my husband had dreamed of a climb for years, I was not ready for a test like that, mentally or physically, but we wanted to spend the holiday together. So we settled it: my husband would go for the climb and I would stay for the trek. For us it turned out to be the perfect solution – for most of the time, on the acclimatisation walks, we walked together: to Devichyi Kosy, up Cheget. Then the group left for the mountain and I stayed to do day treks. We met again 4 days later – happy and delighted! So many impressions! For one thing, this was a first for me: I had always spent my holidays by the sea before, and now I have realised where the real reset happens – here, in the mountains! It really is like meditation: you walk uphill, your head is light, free of thoughts, and you come back in the evening tired and happy! Thank you to my guide Dima, tactful, attentive, patient with all my questions, and believe me, there were plenty! And Caucasian cooking – that is something else! So good!!! All in all, the review may be a bit disjointed, but it comes from the heart! I really am delighted with a holiday like that! Thank you to the organisers – everything was clear and simple!” — Alla, St Petersburg
“Dombai is a true pearl of the Caucasus! Incredible! Gorges, mountain summits, snow-covered peaks, meadows and wild flowers! The stops by the mountain lakes were a particular pleasure: you pour the tea, take out a Snickers and the world seems to stop for a second. Such a pleasure! Thank you to your team for the flawless organisation and the professionalism, which meant we could simply enjoy the landscape and the beauty around us rather than think about practicalities. One nice surprise was that our guide Oksana is a talented photographer, so we came home from the tour with a pile of lovely photos! All in all, we liked everything and we are ready to do it again! And perhaps we will even take on Elbrus! “ — Igor, Kazan
“The tour of the Elbrus region turned out to be a real discovery! My friend and I were planning the usual seaside holiday, but at the last moment we decided to break the habit and try something new! You know what, we loved it! We thought it would be a week of suffering, that we would be dead on our feet with exhaustion – in fact it was delightful: moderately hard trekking, where at the end of the day you feel a pleasant tiredness in your legs and a ravenous appetite. The landscape here astonishes you with its contrasts — snowy summits, green meadows and crystal-clear mountain lakes. Going up to altitude let us feel the real power of the Caucasus, but thanks to your organisation and preparation even the hardest sections came more easily than I expected. Our guide Dima is a great professional: he encourages you where you need it, picks up the pace where you need it, and most importantly, with him we felt safe.” — Marina, Yekaterinburg
“Everything was spot on! From meeting the group at the station to the organisation of every small detail at dinner! And the landscape! You have to see it! Unreal scenery! Olesya, our guide, such a small, delicate but strong woman, had the whole group sorted out in no time! And a separate Belarusian thank you for the salo! I like it when there are no delays and no hitches, and this was exactly that kind of tour. My wife and I were there, and the company turned out to be excellent – people of different ages and different lives, but with a shared interest, so the warm evenings together really were warm. It was the perfect trip for body and soul!” — Alexander, Minsk