Treasures of Caucasus Detailed description Trip Length: 12 Group: 5-6 Departure: Fixed Period: July - August Trip overview 12 days, 5 republics, 2 territories, 2 seas, 4200 meters above sea level, 1500 km, tens of ancient cultures, hundreds of drinks and dishes, an ocean of emotions and experience that is surely not the entire list of things you should expect during this tour. Once have participated in this trip you could proudly say I ve seen the whole Caucasus and it won t be an exaggeration. During the trip you will visit Naryn-Kala fortress (inscribed on the World Heritage list) built in the VI century AD and the largest Russian Mosque built in the XXI century; you will see the biggest lone dune in Europe and the largest Museum Reserve in the world - Jeyrakh gorge. Moreover the incredible excursion to Dargavs Necropolis (also inscribed on the World Heritage list) or it also known as Dead town awaits you. It is also compared with Valley of the Kings in Egypt. The Caucasus is known to have the densest concentration of mineral waters rich of biological value in so small area. Its waters differ by chemical composition and health improving qualities. The key point of our tour is Mount Elbrus. There is a famous Russian expression about the Caucasus: "If you haven't been on Elbrus, then you haven t seen the Caucasus". That s why to see the Caucasus in all senses we'll head onto the snowy heights of Mount Elbrus at more than 3900 meters above sea level. Our trip will be crowned with Sochi - the former capital of the Olympic Games 2014. We have purposely kept Sochi for "dessert" to give you an opportunity to continue your vacation enjoying the warm water of the Black Sea and the golden sands of Krasnodar Krai. Highlights Tour type Acquaintance with different cultures of the Caucasus The best resorts of Caucasus Visit of 7 Wonders of Caucasus Mount Elbrus ascent Meeting with ancient civilizations The whole Caucasus for one time DISCOVERYNATURE Difficulty Moderately Easy - 1-3 hours of physical activity daily Comfort Upgraded all nights in comfortable rooms. Begining / end of the tour Tour starts: Makhachkala, End of the tour: Sochi Program Day 1 Ancient city Derbent 12:00 Arrival to the airport of Makhachkala 12:15 Transfer to Derbent 14:00 Derbent city-tour
Hotels: Accommodation in the hotel "Alye Parusa", Derbent, Twin room Day 2 Makhachkala - capital of Dagestan 10:00 Culture of the Republic of Dagestan 13:00 Departure to the city of Makhachkala 14:00 Lunch in the restaurant of the fish cuisine 15:00 City tour in the restaurant of the local cuisine Hotels: Accommodation in the hotel Sarykum, Makhachkala, Twin standart Day 3 Barkhan Sarykum and Sulak canyon 10:00 Excursion to the Barkhan Sarykum 11:00 Excursion to the Sulak canyon 12:30 Lunch (picnic) 14:00 Departure to Grozny 17:00 Arrival to Grosny, check-in in the restaurant of the Vainakh cuisine Hotels: Accommodation in the hotel Central city, Grosny, Twin room Day 4 Grozny - Heart of Chechnya 09:00 Breakfast 10:00 City tour 12:30 Lunch 13:00 Departure to the Republic of Ingushetia Hotels: Accommodation in the hotel "Armhi", Ingushetia, Twin room Day 5 Nature and culture of Ingushetia 10:00 Excursion to the Erzi Nature Reserve 13:00 Homemade lunch 15:00 Departure to Vladikavkaz Hotels: Accommodation in the hotel Grand Aleksandrovsky, Vladikavkaz, Double room Day 6 Capital of North Ossetia-Alania 09:00 Breakfast 10:00 Time at leisure in the city
15:00 Departure to the waterfalls 16:00 Visit of Dargavs Necropolis in the hotel Hotels: Accommodation in the hotel Grand Aleksandrovsky, Vladikavkaz, Double room Day 7 Elbrus - the highest mountain of Russia 08:00 Breakfast 09:00 Transfer to Terskol 12:30 Lunch 13:30 Chair lifting to Elbruz Hotels: Accommodation in the hotel Ozon Tcheguet, Terskol, Chambre double Day 8 Elbrus region and departure to Pyatigorsk 10:00 4x4 excursion to the Elbrus region (picnic) (Not included) 17:00 Transfer to Pyatigorsk Hotels: Accommodation in the gotel Bristol, Pyatigorsk, Twin room Day 9 Caucasian Mineral Waters 10:00 Departure to Yessentuki 15:00 Return to Pyatigorsk and city-tour Hotels: Accommodation in the gotel Bristol, Pyatigorsk, Twin room Day 10 Kurdzhips river and old-growth forest 07:00 Breakfast 07:30 Departure by train from Pyatigorsk - Armavir 09:30 Transfer to Maykop 11:30 Excursion to the private museum of the Circassians culture 14:00 Arrival to Kislovodsk 18:00 Russian black banya (sauna) (Not included) Hotels: Accommodation in the hotel Mezmay, Twin room
Day 11 Aquaintance with Sochi 08:30 Breakfast in the hotel 09:30 Transfer to Tuapse in the city 14:00 Sightseeing tour of Sochi 19:00 Farewell dinner Hotels: Accommodation in the hotel Park Inn Sochi cetre, Sochi, Twin room Day 12 Departure day 09:00 Breakfast 12:00 Check-out (Not included) Departures Start End Basic price per person 31.07.2019 11.08.2019 212500.00 RUB Note The price is given for the group of 5-6 persons. If there are more persons in the group, the price will be lower. The price includes the full board except the breakfast 1st day and lunch and dinner the last day. For some visits foreign tourists need a special permission. We need at least 65 days for preparing this documents. What's included Price includes Accommodation as per itinerary Transport as per itinerary Excursions and visits as per itinerary Transfer from airport / railway station on first day Banya Letter of invitation Railway tickets in 2nd class Administrative registration Reserves and national parks entrance permissions Transfer to airport / railway station on last day English-speaking guide services Meals according to the program Price does not include Personal expenses and tips Visa fees and travel insurance Beverages Airline tickets Checklist & Equipment We recommend you to pack all your stuff in two bags: a small backpack and a large travelling bag. SMALL BACKPACK: will be useful for carrying your personal belongings during the day (camera, film, personal medication, bottled water, etc.) You will also use it as hand luggage during air travel for all your heavy (to lighten the travel bag in the luggage compartment), fragile (camera, etc.) and necessary (toilet bag, etc.) things. BIG TRAVEL BAG or BIG BACKPACK: must contain the rest of your stuff. It will be in the luggage compartment during the flight. It will be transported by vehicles. Recommended checklist
Shorts T-shirts Cap or hat to protect against sun Comfortable walking shoes (like Vibram or similar) Comfortable shoes for city Sunscreen for skin and lips Sunglasses with filter Flask Flip-flops for banya Towel Swimsuit Important travel documents: Passport and visa, original or electronic airplane tickets (with a sets of photocopies kept separately), bank card Meals If you are a vegetarian or have any particular preferences, please let us know, so we could adapt the menu. Laundry Some hotels and inns offer laundry services for a variable sum of money. It is sometimes possible to use laundry services at homestay (when there is running water) for a fee. Visa You need a tourist visa to travel to Russia. It can be issued for a maximum period of 30 days. Your passport has to be valid for at least six months after the expiry date of your visa and to have at least two blank pages. BaikalNature offers visa support and has created "BaikalNature letter of invitation" package. If you buy a BaikalNature tour, this package is absolutely free; when you buy any other BaikalNature service, you will have to pay for this package. For more information please conact your nearest Russian Embassy or Visa Application Center. Money The Russian currency is ruble. In all cities and many large villages of Russia, you can easily withdraw rubles, using a Visa or MasterCard, from ATMs, located in banks, department stores or hotel lobbies, some of them are open 24 hours a day. If you have euros or dollars with you, exchange offices will allow you to change them easily in the cities, seldom in the countryside. However, it can be difficult to exchange traveler's checks, even in cities. Tipping All persons who compose the BaikalNature travel team (guides, drivers, cooks, etc.) are paid a decent wage for their services and do not expect any tips from you. So you have no obligation to leave anything. If you really want to express your satisfaction by leaving a gratuity, and if it is in foreign currency, be aware that torn or glued coins and banknotes cannot be exchanged. Anyway, thank you for your tips, left at your discretion in envelopes. Health No compulsory vaccination. You need to get a health examination before a great trip. Consult your doctor. Get a dental checkup. If you have health problems that could worsen during the trip, make sure you have taken all your medications with you. Provide a first aid kit that includes among other items: aspirin or paracetamol, anti-diarrheal pills, antiseptic, adhesive plaster, sterile pads. If you have individual diseases, make sure you have taken your medications.
Medical Form No particular physical condition is required. Emergency Contact In Western Russia, you can contact BaikalNature by phone: +7 499 705 65 58 Legal Mentions Professional Guarantees: BaikalNature LLC (ООО "БайкалНейче"), United Federal Register of Tour Operators number: RTO 009402. Financial Guarantee: "Gaide insurance company" JSC (АО "Страховая компания Гайде"). Insurance contract N 10383/18-49 from November 8, 2018. Amount of coverage: 500 000 RUB. Legal and actual address: BaikalNature LLC 119А Dekabrskikh Sobyti Str., office 13 664007 Irkutsk Russia Cancellation Options The cancellation options are: Security more than 60 days before departure - 10% of the tour price, 60 to 30 days before departure - 50% of the tour price, less than 30 days before departure - 100% of the tour price. The travelers' security is our primary aim and also the long-term reputation of our travel agency. First-aid kit, adapted for this tour, is available at your guide.