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Multi-day mountain hiking in Sochi it is a great opportunity to walk along the most interesting routes of Krasnaya Polyana and admire the fantastic landscape, from which even the most experienced tourists are breathtaking. A well-developed infrastructure will make your holiday not only memorable, but also comfortable. So, let’s go!
Lakes in the Dzitaku valley formed as a result of avalanches from the steep slopes of the mountains.
The most beautiful views of the Krasnaya Polyana and mountain picks … This is a simple and very popular tourist route of the Caucasian Biosphere reserve, probably the most ideal for a multi-day hike, especially for those who are just beginning hiking. All trails are well trodden and comfortable, also you can rent a tent for the night in Bzerpinskiy karniz and do not have to carry a heavy backpack.
Bzerpinskiy karniz called the gateway to the mountain word of the Caucasus nature reserve: across it, mountain trails lead to the pass Pseashkho, to the lake valley Dzitaku and lake Maloe, then to the camp and the valley of the Kholodnaya river, etc.
One of the most picturesque routes in this direction is tracking to lakes of Dzitaku valley. There are seven lakes of different size on the territory of this valley. This is why the place called Semiozerye (seven lakes). The most significant of the lakes is called Bolshoe, its area is about 20 thousand square meters. Others, hiding behind a small hill, hardly can be called lakes. However, it does not reduce their charm. So, one of the lakes – Dvulikoe-is interesting because of the streams which flow from it, both to the southern and Northern slopes of the Western Caucasus. For a small size transparent blue lakes are called the eyes of the mountains.
It is easy to get to Semiozerye. From Bzerpinskiy Karniz ther is a trail which leads you down through Alpine meadows to the pass Pseashkho. Wonderful views along the way will help to reduce the time of journey.
From the mountain pass Pseashkha the trail goes along Alpine meadows on the left Bank of the river Urushten, and after 3 km of smooth descent it takes you to the lakes of the valley Dzitaku. If you travel during summer, be sure to swim in one of the seven lakes you liked.
After the rest on the lakes we continue our way along the path to the camp Kholodny. After about an hour, the path leads you to the bridge across the Kholodnaya river. Behind the bridge there will picturesque views of subalpine meadows, where the camp “Kholodny” is located.
The Kholodny camp is the ideal place to pitch a tent and enjoy the nature.
Let’s take a closer look at this unique area of Sochi nature. There are many interesting natural attractions: lakes, rocks, caves in the valley of the Cold river. You can admire them all day. At the confluence of the rivers Urushten Kholodnaya there is a shelter of the Caucasian natural reserve called “camp Kholodny”. This is a legendary place – during the great Patriotic war, soldiers of the 20th mountain rifle division defended the approaches to Krasnaya Polyana. In memory of their feat the stele is established.
The camp is very convenient for tourists. A well-equipped path leads to it, the camp has basic amenities: a toilet, a wooden two – storey house, a rental of two-tents. You can also put your tent. Next to it there is a spring water source. The best time to visit the camp – summer and the first half of autumn, when the Alpine zone finally descend meadows and the surrounding nature appears in all its splendor.
The next day you can walk to the glacier. The trail begins behind the bridge over the river Kholodnaya – just go along the river. Gradually, the trail will gain height and will break off near a beautiful roll. If you have the courage, then can go to the glacier itself, where it is cold even on the hottest day.
The length of the walking path from Bzerpinskiy karniz to the camp is 14 km, the same distance it would take to get back. On Bzerpinsky karniz there is a camp where you can stay for the night. The route is designed for three days. It does not require a lot of equipment: everyday clothing, sport shoes, drinking water, sunglasses, headgear. Do not forget to bring a trekking pole, a rain coat. Well, an unforgettable experience is guaranteed.
Lake Kardyvach is famous for its size. The length is more than a kilometer.
About 44 km from Krasnaya Polyana, at the foot of the southern slope of the main Caucasian ridge, surrounded by mountains there is one of the most beautiful lakes of Krasnodar region – lake Kardyvach. This place attracts tourists from all over the world like a magnet.
Lake Kardyvach has an ancient history-it was formed more than three thousand years ago as a result of the sharp movement of glaciers. Once the lake was more elongated, but mountain streams eventually contributed to its shallowing and reducing in size. Now it is oval. Along the shore there is a fir-birch forest, and in summer the surroundings of the lake are literally transformed: colorful forget-me-nots, white daisies, numerous flowers of all kinds of colors make this place really beautiful, saturating the air with intoxicating aromas.
A unique feature of the lake is the ability to change color. It is green in spring and blue in autumn. Eight months of the twelve lake is hidden under the ice, in the summer the water temperature barely reaches 12 degrees. Here is a diverse animal world: chamois, bears, mountain tours. The water in the lake is unusually clear, if it is calm, it looks like a huge mirror. The best time to visit is July, August and early September, when the beauty of the lake, located against the gloomy snow-capped mountains, successfully complements the lush vegetation. But in June there is still snow.
The route to lake Kardyvach consists of two parts. From Krasnaya Polyana you need to drive 20 km by jeep to Engelmanova Polyana. There are more than 120 mineral springs! Then begins an 18-kilometer hike along the right Bank of Mzymta (the path takes about 6 hours). Even inexperienced tourists can overcome this distance.
The road to Kardyvach is the best photo tour in Sochi. There are rivers and streams, Alpine flowering meadows, huge firs and native birches and, of course, mountains. From Engelman Polyana the path goes through the forest, and then begins the path that leads directly to the lake. It will appear for you quite unexpectedly-behind the next turn you will see the beautiful surface of the reservoir. Lake Kardyvach is the perfect place to stay here with a tent for at least a day and meet the stunning sunrise in the morning!
From the pass Aishkho you can see the untouched nature of the black sea Caucasus.
Hiking in the mountains of Krasnaya Polyana through the Aishkho pass will appeal to all lovers of outdoor activities. The route is not very difficult and is suitable even for a beginner, but it is better to take at least 4 days to enjoy the unique Caucasian nature.
Aishkho pass is part of the main Caucasus range. At its foot, pine forests grow, above the landscape turns into Alpine meadows. The pristine nature is combined here with the clean mountain air and magnificent scenery. The 60 km long route starts from the Eastern edge of the Caucasus state Biosphere reserve and leads to the black sea coast. Its highest point is the Aishho pass located at an altitude of 2401.5 meters above sea level. The peculiarity of the route is not only untouched by civilization nature, but also the abundance of monuments to the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War. In 1941-1942 active military operations were conducted on the territory of the reserve.
The route originates in Mostovsky district of Krasnodar region from the cordon Chernorechye and rises along the riverbed Malaya Laba to the cordon of the Tretya Rota. Further along the same river the trail goes to the cordon Umpir, where tourists can stay for the night. Here there is a gladelocated among age-old pine trees-giants. From cordon the trail leads through the gorge of the river Malaya Laba, Tsahvoa, and then to the mouth of the Chistaya river.
The valley of the river Malaya Laba is very picturesque. It is surrounded by the peaks of the mountain range Pseashkho and rocky mountains. This is where some of the highest peaks of the Caucasian reserve are concentrated. The next night is expected at the confluence of the rivers Malaya Laba and Chistaya – this place is a house where you can stay for the night or put a tent yourself. Till the main point of travel – the Aishkho pass – is just around 7 km.
When you overcome a steep winding ascent, you will find yourself at the top of the pass, offering stunning views of the Caucasus range. Beyond the horizon, the peaks of the mountains, dressed in snow caps. On both sides of the top, valleys of Mzymta and Pslukh are covered with green forests, and at the foot of the ridge you can see the mountain lakes. Be sure, being here at least once, you will definitely want to come back here again!
Going down the pass you will find yourself in the vicinity of Krasnaya Polyana and from where you can take a bus to Sochi.
To the cordon Chernorechye, where the route begins, you can get there by taking the morning train Sochi-Maikop. Further, to save time, it is better to get to the cordon by taxi, only before that you need to get a pass in Psebay, as the route passes through the territory of the Caucasian state Biosphere reserve. In order to get to the trail that starts directly behind the cordon, you need to go through the territory of the cordon, where the reserve staff will check your documents and a ticket to the reserve. The entrance to the cordon closes at six o’clock in the evening.
Uniforms should be Hiking: light but thick trousers, long-sleeved shirt, trekking shoes, as you will come across rocky roads. Will be useful trekking poles with which the steep paths will be much easier to go.
And finally, let’s get acquainted with two of the natural attractions of Sochi, which should be visited: Lago-Naki and Fisht-Oshten massif.
Countless lakes, streams and rivers, flowing in the caves, hided under the mountain layer of Lago-Naki.
Lago-Naki is a mountain range located mostly in Adygei and partly in the Apsheron district of Krasnodar region. Geographically, Lago Naki is a plateau in the Western Caucasus, covered with stunning Alpine meadows. Meadows give this place a unique identity. Many people compare the landscapes of Lago Naki with the beautiful landscapes of the Western Alps. Outwardly, the mountain plateau looks like an elevated large plain covered with stone placers and Alpine meadows.
On the southern part of the Lago-Naki there are mountains Fisht, Pshekha-Su, Oshten, forming the Fisht – Oshten massif. Almost the entire territory of the plateau is included in the protected zone of the Caucasian state Biosphere reserve. Lago-Naki is also known for a huge number of underground grottoes. Here is the deepest cave in Russia the system of “Belaya Zvezdochka” “Krestik”, “Turist”, it reaches a depth of 640 meters and a length of approximately 15 km. Majestic stone halls decorated with stalactites, underground lakes and waterfalls. These most beautiful plateau caves are available for tourists to visit.
Compare to many natural objects, the beauty of which can be truly appreciated only in spring or summer, the Lago Naki is beautiful in winter. The cold season allows you to look at the mountain landscapes differently. In winter, travelers come here to visit the caves, to see the picturesque waterfalls. Recently, Lago-Naki actively develops skiing. On the plateau there are camp sites, hotels.
You can get to Lago-Naki from Sochi or Maikop. You need to drive the resort village Khadjok – where we start Hiking along the valley of the river Malaya Belaya to the mountains. Spend the night on the banks of the river and the next day after we got the tickets in Caucasian biosphere reserve, we go to plateau of Lago-Naki with a beautiful view of the mountain Oshten and Psichi-su. From here the trail goes to lake Psenodah and mountain Oshten. We pass through the Abadzesh pass to the river Tsitsa, where we stay for the night.
The name of one of the mountains Fisht-Oshten pass is Fisht. The same name is given to the arena in Sochi and the opening and closing ceremony of the Olympic games 2014 took place in this arena.
Next day is the ascent to the mountain Oshten through the Fisht-Oshten pass. From the dizzying height of this mountain we admire the mountain landscapes of the Caucasus, the Armenian ridge. Mountain Fisht is worthy to mention it separately. Local historians call Fisht the island of seven wonders. One of the wonders is the Pshekhskiy waterfall. And on Fisht located the lowest glacier in the Caucasus, coral island and the river, suddenly disappearing, then appearing on the surface. This mountain is worth to spend all day on it.
By the evening we go down to the camp for the night which is located by the lake Psenodah. The next day we climb to the lowest peak – Pshekho-Su. It is lower than the mountains Fisht and Oshten, but no less beautiful than they are. In the evening we go down to the camp and on the fourth day of our trip we go to the camp site under Fisht, where you can spend the night. Then we go down to the sea, to the valley of the Shahe river, enjoying the pure mountain air. Overnight can be arranged in the camp “Kholodniy rodnik”.
The final point of our route is the resort village Soloh-Aul, located on the side of the Shahe river at an altitude of about 660 meters above the sea. On the banks of the river Shahe we do the last night stop.
This trekking route is one of the most convenient to travel to Lago-Naki and Fisht-Oshten massif. It does not require special training from tourists but allows you to see the beauty and power of The Caucasus mountains. The hike takes 5-6 days.
The described routes are located on the territory of the Caucasian state biosphere reserve and for most trips you will need to make passes-from the reserve (it is done on the spot) and from the border guards (this is better to take care in advance). Also remember that you need to walk in the reserve only on the permitted routes, the list of which includes those that we told you about.
