Trekking in the Western Caucasus (Lago-naki plateau)

This route is one of the best options for a first ever mountain hike. It is a great balance of wildness and comfort here. You don't have to carry backpacks, the horses will carry them for you. Some overnight stays will not be in tents, but in houses. You will have two guides and therefore there is always a lot of attention from experienced hikers, as well as delicious varied food and a camp quickly assembled for you.

You will visit the territory of the Western Caucasus protected by UNESCO. It is one of few large mountain areas of Europe that has not experienced significant human impact. There is a rather varied landscape – a plateau covered with wildflowers, green mountains, gorges, rocks and even a glacier.

Krasnodarskiy krai & Adydea
Guide — Dmitry Lemeshev or Mikhail Golubev
Price$1700
Group members 5-8 people

Price$1700

01 In the surroundings of Psenodakh lake. Photo by Dmitry Lemeshev

Stages

Day 1

Arrival to Krasnodar

The guide will meet you at the airport of Krasnodar.

Have rest at the hotel or go to downtown to taste local cuisine and wines.

Night at Hemingway 3* hotel.

Day 2

Krasnodar - Maikop - Mezmai

In the morning we’ll head to Maikop to meet Zamudin Guchev, local ethnographer and master of traditional music and rug weaving. We’ll learn about culture of indigenous people of this land. Then we’ll taste local cuisine at lunch.

After that we’ll go to Mezmai village placed in the wooded foothills. We’ll meet there the Cossack ataman (leader), who participated in many wars and then established a school of traditional crafts.

After this visit we’ll go for Russian steam bath (banya).

Night at Villa Lila 3* hotel.

Cossacks of Mezmai village. Photo by David Andersen

Day 3

Mezmai - caves - Lago-Naki plateau

On this day we’ll go by 4WD higher to mountains. On the way we’ll visit wild caves.

After that we’ll come to the check point of the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve and start our trekking.

We’ll walk a little (till sunset).

Night in tents.

Hike up to the plateau. Photo by Dmitry Lemeshev

Day 4

Walk to Nagoi-Chuk ridge

In the morning we'll go along the blooming Lagonaki plateau to the Psenodakh lake. It will take 2-3 hours of leisurely walking.

After lunch we will go to the completely wild and almost untouched ridge of Nagoy-chuk.

Night in tents at the lake.

Walking on the Lago-naki plateau. Photo by Dmitry Lemeshev

Day 5

Climb Up to Pshekho-su or Oshten mountain

We’ll climb to Pshekho-su (2743 meters) or Oshten (2804 meters) mountain in the morning.

After that we’ll walk down to a cozy secluded place on the altitude of 2380 meters.

Night in tents.

Cliffs of Pshekho-su moutain. Photo by Dmitry Lemeshev

Day 6

Climb the Fisht mountain (2867 meters)

On this day, the most active and experienced part of the group (if the weather is suitable) will climb Mount Fisht (2867 m), the main peak of the region. These people must be ready to walk on the glacier and climb the rocks.

For those who are not ready to climb Fisht, there will be an option to go down along a good path to the “Fisht” camping.

The whole group will gather there after lunch. Have rest and enjoy Russian steam bath.

Overnight at a hotel.

Slopes of Fisht mountain. Photo by Dmitry Lemeshev

Day 7

Walk down to the forests

We'll cross 2 not very high passes - Belorechenskiy (1782 meters) and Cherkesskiy (1836 meters) before lunch.

Then walk down to Babuk aul. It will be a long, more then 1000 meters descend.

Night at lodges.

Walk down through the beech forests of the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve. Photo by Dmitry Lemeshev

Day 8

Sochi

In the morning we'll go by 4WD to Solokh-aul, the place where the most northern tea in the world is planted.

After that we’ll arrive to Sochi. Have rest in a nice hotel. Go out for farewell dinner.

Night at Mercure 4* hotel.

A baloon in Solokhaul

Day 9

Departure