Trekking to Lake Kardyvach

Lake Kardyvach, located in the Caucasus Reserve, is the second largest but most beautiful lake in the region. Its water surface area is 103,000 m2 and its maximum depth reaches 17 meters. Located at an altitude of 1837 meters above sea level, the lake is on the border of forest and subalpine zones. Lake Kardyvach is a flowing lake from which the Mzymta River, one of the largest rivers in the Sochi Black Sea region, flows. There are no fish in the lake, although in 1935-1937 attempts were made to repopulate it with trout. However, the fish released into the lake went downstream behind the Izumrudny waterfall, which proved to be an insurmountable obstacle even for fast trout. Lake Kardyvach is surrounded by high mountain ranges of about 3000 meters. The best view of Lake Kardyvach opens in the early morning from the eastern shore at the mouth of the Upper Mzymta River, when its blue surface reflects the rocky crest of Mount Agepsta with its large glaciers.

Summer and early fall are the best time to visit Lake Kardyvach and its surroundings, when the snow has completely melted in the alpine zone and the mountain lakes are free of ice. At this time of the year, a beautiful golden autumn begins in the mountains, and Lake Kardyvach, surrounded by colorful trees, becomes a real work of art. Traveling to Lake Kardyvach and its surroundings on foot can take from three to five days. It is recommended to plan 4-5 days to visit all the interesting sights of the Kardyvach mountain junction, including lakes Verkhny Kardyvach, Sineokoe and Utaenye, as well as Mt Kutekheku and Mt Loyub. The route to Lake Kardyvach is not technically difficult and is accessible to most travelers. In late September and early October (the best time to visit the lake), frosts are possible at night, so warm clothing for the evening and morning is necessary.

Remember that a border pass is required to visit Lake Kardyvach and the upper reaches of the Mzymta River, as these areas are part of the border control zone. We can help you to obtain a pass in advance, which can take about a month. Your passport data will be required.

Route: Krasnaya Polyana settlement – Estosadok settlement – Engelmanovy Polyany – Lake Kardyvach – Lake Verkhny Kardyvach – Lake Utayonnye – Lake Sineokoye – reserve cordon – Esto-Sadok settlement – Krasnaya Polyana settlement.

Day 1. 8:00 meeting with the instructor at the railway station of Krasnaya Polyana village. Transfer by off-road vehicle along the mountain road to the reserve cordon (Engelmanskaya glade). On the way we stop at the border guard service, pass registration and check of documents. The total travel time will take no more than 2 hours. At Engelman glade we organize breakfast, get acquainted, distribute public equipment and proceed to the hiking part of the route. The trail is marked and does not bear any complexity, it leads to the first parking place near Lake Kardyvach. We put the base camp near the Lagerny brook. Dinner and instructing the group. Overnight stay at the lake in tents.
The route length is 17 km, altitude gain 600m.
Day 2. Rise at 7:30. Breakfast at 8:00, departure at 8:30. Today we will walk to the Upper Kardyvach lake. It’s a radial walk, so we’ll take with us assault backpacks, thermoses with tea, lunch and snacks. Our way lies up the valley of the Mzymta river, the road is not difficult, the path leads us along the lake Kardyvach, on the way we will look at the disappearing lake Sredny Kardyvach. We’ll have lunch and after that we’ll go up lightly to the north of the lake, from these places we’ll have amazing views of the valley. If time and condition of the group allow, we can climb to Loyub (2939m). We return to the base camp by the same way. Dinner. Overnight stay at the lake in tents.
Length of the route is 11 km, 600m climb and 600m descent
Day 3. Rise at 7:30. Breakfast at 8:00, leaving at 8:30. Today we will walk to the hidden lakes. This is a radial exit, so we will take with us assault backpacks, thermoses with tea, lunch and snacks. Our way to the lakes coincides a bit with the route of the previous day, from the lake V.Kardyvach the trail takes us to the right, gaining altitude quite sharply. We will go to a kind of saddle (step) where the lakes are hidden. We take a walk, have a photo session, have lunch and descend the same way we came. Dinner. Overnight stay at the lake in tents.
The route length is 8 km, 700 m of altitude gain, 700 m of altitude drop.
Day 4. Rise at 7:30. Breakfast at 8:00, departure at 8:30. Lake Sineokoe and Kardyvach pass (2457m) are waiting for us. The way out is also radial, so we’ll take with us assault backpacks, thermoses with tea, lunch and snacks.  The way starts from the mouth of Sineozerny brook. We will pass through the fir forest and through the curvilinear forest we will come to the alpine meadows.  We’ll pass some rocky outcrops and we’ll find ourselves at Lake Sineokoe, the lake is shaped like number 8. From the lake our way goes to the rocky outcrop, from it we can see amazing views of the Sineozernaya river valley, Kardyvach lake and Loyub peak. We have a photo session, have lunch and then climb to the Kardyvach pass, from it we have a view of the Inspi Lake and the whole Imereti mountain junction. We return to the base camp by the same way. Dinner. Overnight stay at the lake in tents.
The length of the route is 8,5 km, climbing 920m, descending 920m.
Day 5. The last day of our stay at Kardyvach lake, we pack up the camp and go down to the cordon of the Caucasus reserve at Engelmanov glade along the familiar path. Transfer by off-road vehicle to the railway station of Krasnaya Polyana settlement.
The length of the route is 17km, 600m drop in altitude.

• Guides.
• Accommodation in tents. Number of nights according to the program.
• Transfer railway station Krasnaya Polyana-Engelmanskaya Polyana-Krasnaya Polyana.
• Three meals a day during the whole program. Dinner on the first day, breakfast on the last day.
• All necessary permits and registrations.
• Group equipment (satellite navigator, first aid kit, tents, public kitchen utensils)

• Not included in the price of trekking to Lake KardyvachaSingle occupancy.
• Personal equipment.
• Road own region-Krasnaya Polyana- own region
• Any deviations from the program.
• Any costs associated with changes in the program

Documents:

• Passport
• Plane/train tickets
• Medical insurance

Personal equipment:

• Backpack 50-60l.
• Assault backpack 15-20l.
• Sleeping bag, comfort temperature from 0C to -7C
• Karemat
• Trekking poles.
• Trekking boots
• Replacement shoes for walking around the camp (trekking sandals or sneakers).
• Waterproof layer – Jacket+pants
• Fleece suit for sleeping
• Thermal underwear top+bottom
• Down jacket or down vest
• Non-warm gloves
• Bandana, buff, cap, hat of your choice
• Fleece hat
• Warm socks for sleeping
• Trekking socks

Miscellaneous:

• Diode flashlight on the head + spare batteries
• Sunglasses sunglasses protection factor not lower than 3
• Thermos – 1 liter.
• Sunscreen, hygienic lipstick
• Personal first aid kit
• Elastic bandage and/or support bandage
• CLMN