Route: Sochi Airport — Gagra
39 km, 50 min + 15-45 min to cross the border

Your tour guide will meet you at Sochi Airport, and from there we’ll head to Abkhazia, a small, fragrant, and blooming republic that is cozily nestled along the coast of the Black Sea. We’ll spend the evening in Gagra, a famous resort town founded before the Russian Revolution of 1917. During the Soviet era, this was a very prestigious vacation spot. Here, we’ll have dinner and experience our first taste of the national cuisine.
The night will be spent in a 3* hotel.

Route: Gagra — Lake Ritsa — Anchkho Pass — Gagra
86 km, 8 hours

Today we will go to Ritsa Relict National Park. We’ll see Lake Ritsa, which sits about 950 meters above sea level within a primordial fir forest. We will also visit Stalin’s dacha which is located along the lake, and then go up to the alpine meadows for horseback riding, a lovely walk through the mountains, and a tasting of locally-made goat cheeses.
We’ll head back to Gagra in the evening and spend another night in a 3* hotel.

Route: Gagra — Pitsunda — Achandara — New Athos — Sukhum Transport: Toyota Voxy minivan or Mercedes Sprinter minibus
115 km, 1.5 hours

Today we’ll travel around coastal Abkhazia to see the landmarks that it inherited from various empires. Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, Russians, and the Soviets — all of them were mere guests in this region. While each empire did leave its mark, none were able to bend this ancient land to their will.

In the morning, we’ll walk around Gagra and Pitsunda. Lunch will be be served at the village of Achandara, and then we’ll drive to New Athos, home to the ruins of the Abkhaz Kingdom’s first capital. There we will see a beautiful monastery founded by monks from the island of Athos in 1864, and one of the world’s largest karst caves.
We’ll end our day’s journey at Sukhum, the capital of Abkhazia, which has managed to preserve the spirit of an old seaport town despite the devastation of the post-war years.

Route: Sukhum — central Sochi
146 km, 3.5 hours + 15-45 minutes for border crossing.

We’ll start the day with a morning stroll around Sukhum, then visit the National Museum and Botanical Garden, before heading back towards Russia.
In the evening, we’ll walk around Sochi and enjoy a sunset dinner next to the Marine Station, one of the city’s most fascinating buildings.

Route: Central Sochi — village of Mezmay
184 km, 3 hrs 15 min by commuter train, 86 km, 1 hr 40 min by minibus

In the morning, we’ll board the high-speed Lastochka commuter train and travel to the town of Khadyzhensk, regionally famous for its beer production. There we’ll switch to a minibus, and a couple of hours later will be at the village of Mezmay, the most out-of-the-way spot in the Krasnodar Region, located near the Lagonaki Plateau (a UNESCO heritage site).

At Mezmay, we’ll trek across the canyon of the Kurdzhips River, with its picturesque waterfalls and boxwood groves that make the area look like a bewitched fairytale forest. In the evening, we’ll get to experience a genuine “black” banya, a traditional bathhouse where stones are heated indoors, emitting smoke which blackens the bath’s interior walls.

After partaking in this ritual, you’ll realize how little you actually know about the real Russian bath, and discover another method of purifying the body of toxins and excessive strain. The ritual will be overseen by professional bathhouse attendants.

Dinner will be served by one of the local families, and we’ll spend the night at a 3* hotel.

Route: Mezmay — Maikop — Zelenchukskaya — Arkhyz
330 km, 5,5 hours by minibus

Today we will visit the household museum of Zamudin Guchev, located in the suburb of Maykop, the capital of Adygea. There we will have the chance to learn about the culture of the Adyghs, the indigenous people of the Western Caucasus’ foothills and steppes. After a long drive through the flatlands, we’ll come to the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia.

From there we’ll go to Stanitsa Zelenchukskaya, a former Cossack village, to see the world’s largest radio telescope, a legacy of Soviet science which still operates to this day. We will also visit one of Russia’s oldest Christian temples, built in ancient Alania during the 10th century.
We’ll spend the night at a 4* hotel.

Route: Arkhyz — Gumbashi Pass — Yessentuki — Pyatigorsk
220 km, 4 hrs

In the morning, we will drive across the Gumbashi Pass towards the Caucasian Mineral Waters group of resorts, part of the Stavropol Region.

Oh, the majestic calm of the Central Caucasus! We’ll spend most of the day strolling around Russia’s first spa resorts that were established as an alternative to Germany’s Baden-Baden and England’s Bath. Wounded officers recuperated here, and the creme de la creme of Russian aristocracy flocked to the spa towns’ promenades.

Even today, Kislovodsk, Yessentuki, and Pyatigorsk are considered Russia’s best spa resorts. The day will conclude with mud baths in a Soviet era spa center. We’ll stay the night at a 4* boutique hotel.

Route: Pyatigorsk — Terskol — Shalushka village — Nalchik
309 km, 5 hrs.

Today we will continue exploring architecture of XIX century old Russian SPA-resorts

For lunch we'll go up to mountains to the foot of Elbrus. We'll taste cuisine of Balkar highlanders.

In the evening, we’ll conclude the trip at Nalchik having dinner with Tembulat Kerefov - musician and expert in Kabardian history and culture.

The night in a 3* hotel.

Route: Nalchik — Chikola — Kamunta — Verkhny (Upper) Zgid — Tsey
165 km, 6 hrs

At Nalchik, we’ll conclude our introduction to Adyghe culture by meeting Felix Nakov, a skilled master of the shashka, the Cherkessian blade which was the most effective weapon of the nineteenth century, eventually adopted by the Russian Cavalry who used it to conquer vast swaths of the world, from Siberia to Paris.

Next, we’ll drive to the ancient mountain villages of North Ossetia. We’ll ride off-roads to get across a high-elevation pass, and by evening will find ourselves in the Tsey Gorge, the sacred valley of the Ossetians.
We’ll stay at a 3* hotel.

Route: Tsey — Dzhery Dzuar — Tskhinval — Tir Monastery — Tsey
215 km, 5 hrs

Today we’ll travel to South Ossetia — a partially recognized republic which resisted Georgian aggression from 1991 to 2008, before finally being recognized as an independent state by four UN member states — Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Nauru. Its military history, however, is far from the only reason for visiting this small country. Here we’ll find the most interesting mix of Georgian and Ossetian culture, as well as a distinctive folk faith, a syncretism of Christian Orthodoxy and pre-Christian Ossetian traditions.
We will also visit the Ossetians’ most esteemed sacred place, Dzhery Dzuar, and afterwards stroll through the streets of the republic’s capital, Tskhinval, accompanied by a veteran of the independence war, concluding the walk with a traditional Ossetian feast.
In the late evening we’ll be back at Tsey, where we’ll spend the night in a 3* hotel.

Route: Tsey — Zintsar — Ursdon — Dagom — Verkhny (Upper) Fiagdon — Midagrabin Waterfalls — Dargavs — Vladikavkaz
120 km, 4 hrs

We’ll drive through various mountain roads across almost all of historical Ossetia to see its best-known landmarks: the Rekom Sanctuary, Ursdon rock fortresses, Midagrabin Waterfalls, and the Dead City of Dargavs.
We’ll spend the night in a 4* hotel in Vladikavkaz.

Many call this city the St. Petersburg of the Caucasus. For years Vladikavkaz was one of the region’s most important cultural and commercial centers, and in many ways it remains one to this day. The streets of the Old City are adorned with late 19th and early 20th century houses that were built by Russian army officers and merchants.
Walking along the city’s central street, Prospekt Mira (Avenue of Peace), one gets a sense of the quiet pace of provincial life. All around you’ll find inviting cafes, and cheerful locals who never seem to be in a hurry.
From the city’s central streets, there are also breath-taking views of snow-covered mountain peaks.
We’ll spend the whole day slowly exploring the city, learning to make famous Ossetian pies, and enjoying traditional Ossetian dances.
In the evening, we’ll meet with Taymuraz Berozty, a young multi-instrumentalist who is rekindling the musical traditions of his land.

Route: Vladikavkaz — Dzheyrakh — Armkhi — Lyazhgi — Armkhi
45 km, 1 hr

The first half of the day is free time, and afterwards we’ll go to the market to buy fresh vegetables and fruit for a picnic, and drive to the mountains of Ingushetia.
The Ingush people refer to themselves as Galgay, which roughly translates to “branches of the towers.” We’ll visit several medieval villages to see for ourselves the origins of this name. It seems that the Caucasian culture of tower building was born and reached its pinnacle right here, in these valleys.

For dinner we are invited to the house of an Ingush family. This is our chance to have a delicious dinner and to learn from the hosts about their unique life in the mountain valley.

Route: Armkhi — Vovnushki — Urus-Martan — Grozny
170 km, 5 hrs

We’ll spend the morning exploring the most interesting Ingush defense towers, and then drive to the flatlands of Chechnya, to visit a private open-air museum, Dondi Yurt. We’ll have lunch with the museum’s creator and take a tour of the exhibit.

In the evening, we’ll go to the capital of Chechnya, Grozny, and see the skyscrapers of the newly renovated city.
Tonight we stay in a 5* hotel.

Route: Grozny — Argun — Kharachoy — Kezenoy-am
111 km, 2.5 hrs

We’ll explore the city in the morning, visiting the Heart of Chechnya mosque, and the museum of the republic’s first president, Akhmad Kadyrov, followed by lunch in a restaurant that specializes in the national cuisine.

Afterwards, we’ll drive to the mountains, to Lake Kezenoy-am, the largest body of water in the mountains of the North Caucasus.
We’ll stay at a 3* hotel.

Kezenoy-am — Ansalta — Rakhata — Botlikh — Gunib
190 km, 7 hrs

In the morning, we’ll take the off-road vehicles across an easy pass to find ourselves in the mountains of Dagestan. Today we’ll visit an ancient watermill, where locals make urbech — a Dagestani delicacy made from flax seeds or apricot pits, followed by a visit to a local manufacturing facility for burkas, traditional felt cloaks.

Next, we’ll visit Akhulgo, the place of the bloodiest battle of the 19th century Caucasian war. We’ll also stop by the workshop of an Untsukul craftsman, who will introduce us to the unique craft of intricate woodwork.

At the end of the day, we’ll find ourselves in the village of Gunib, which gained its fame through one of the most significant events of 19th century Russian history, the surrender of Imam Shamil to the Russian imperial army. In 1834, Imam Shamil headed the mountain dwellers’ fight for the establishment of Sharia law and independence from the Russian Empire. The result of this uprising was the establishment of theocracy in the region, which survived for 25 years. In 1859, Shamil’s last battle took place at the village of Gunib.
We’ll spend the night in a 3* hotel.

Route: Gunib — Chokh — Sogratl — Gamsutl — Gunib
70 km, 2.5 hrs

In the morning, we’ll drive to the village of Chokh famous for its unique 19th century architecture. Afterwards, we’ll go to Sogratl, an ancient village which once had a reputation for its scientists and magnificent madrasah, a Quar’anic school. To this day, Sogratl’s village school is unique — many of its graduates continue their education at Russia’s best universities. We’ll visit the school, and talk to the students and teachers.

If the group is physically ready, we’ll hike to the Dagestani Machu Picchu, the deserted village of Gamsutl. It offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and traditional Avar architecture. If the hike is not possible, we’ll have more time to explore the Andalal villages.

We’ll drive back to Gunib to spend the night in the same 3* hotel, so everyone can use the laundromat and rest.

Route: Gunib — Balkhar — Kubachi
120 km, 5 hrs

In the morning, we’ll bid farewell to the hospitable Avar people and drive higher into the mountains. On the way, we can visit the unique underground waterfall near the village of Salta. Take an extra pair of shoes, as the trail to the waterfalls will have us walking ankle deep in water. Granted, if the hot weather persists for too long, the waterfall may dry out, but we’ll hope for the best.

By lunchtime, we’ll be in the village of Balkhar, known for its ancient ceramics production which is preserved to this day. In addition to lunch, we’ll have a short pottery workshop, so everyone will get their hands dirty! This village is home to the Lak people who are famous for their ingenuity.

In the late afternoon, we’ll arrive to Kubachi, which is best known for its craftsmen. In the old days, they made stone carvings, chain mail, and sabres, and in the Soviet era the village gained fame for its goldsmiths. Kubachi residents are a small ethnic group that speaks a dialect of the Dargin language.
We’ll spend the night in the house of a local goldsmith.

Route: Kubachi — Derbent
115 km, 3 hrs

In the morning, we’ll visit Qala-Quraysh — a deserted village, which in the Middle Ages served as the capital of the Kaytag ustmystvo (kingdom). According to legend, this state was ruled by the arabs from the Quraysh tribe, to which Prophet Mohammed also belonged. In the village one can still find a mosque and a 12th century mausoleum. Many consider Qala-Quraysh a sacred place. We’ll have lunch at Derbent, one of Russia’s southernmost and oldest cities.

The last few days were filled with diverse experiences and off-road traveling, so after lunch it’s time for some rest. Happily, our 3* hotel is just 50m from the beach!

Today we’ll stroll around the narrow old streets, see the Naryn-Kala medieval fortress (UNESCO world heritage site), Russia’s oldest mosque, ancient bathhouses, and the Kyrhlyar cemetery, which, as legend has it, is the burial site for forty Sahabah, the companions of the Prophet.

People of different faiths peacefully coexist at Derbent. Shia and Sunni muslims pray in the same mosque, which neighbors an Armenian temple, a Christian Orthodox church, and a synagogue. We’ll make sure to visit all of these places and speak to the local residents, so that you can see for yourself that, regardless of their nationality, the residents of Derbent are a special tribe with its own unique culture.
We’ll spend another night in our beachside 3* hotel.

Route: Derbent — Makhachkala
130 km, 2.5 hrs

In the morning, we’ll drive to Makhachkala — directly to Second Marketplace, which resembles an entire city located inside the city. There you’ll find all the bounty of the Dagestani land: aged sheep cheeses, alpine herbs, honey and urbech, dried meat from the mountains, fresh fish from the Caspian Sea, and even black caviar (sold on the sly).

For lunch we’ll go to an authentic Dagestani restaurant. There, we’ll learn to make khinkal, local dumplings, chudu pies and other dishes. Afterwards, we’ll visit the Museum of Traditional Dagestani Art and stroll through city streets peppered with antique and craft stores.
In the evening, we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner and a good night’s sleep in a 4* hotel.

We’ll drive to the airport in the morning.