It seems that nothing can surprise a sophisticated resident of the metropolis. But take it to the mountains and an incredible transformation will happen to the person. And if you leave him there alone, then you can film a domestic version of “The Revenant,” since there are enough wild places in Russia. People really go to the mountains for new sensations, harmony and tranquility, to simply walk along equipped or, on the contrary, wild paths, and admire the scenery. We have collected 7 of the most picturesque and impressive mountain peaks in Russia and the CIS.
Belukha, Altai
The Altai Mountains are popularly called the “Golden Mountains”. The untouched nature of one of the largest nature reserves in Russia has a special magnetism; the highest peak of Altai, Belukha, looks especially impressive.
Here you can find routes of difficulty: both for amateur hikers with a camera and for professional climbers. The first attempts to climb Belukha were made at the end of the last century. The uniqueness of the Altai taiga is the complete absence of mosquitoes, so you can leave the spray at home. The local Katun River is called the “cradle of water tourism.” There are many horse trails along the Altai Mountains. You can also meet paragliders and cyclists here.
The best month for a trip is July, when the weather is clear even high in the mountains. However, it is good to visit Belukha in the fall to admire the yellow-red larch taiga.
Oshten and Fisht, Caucasus
On the southern horizon of Adygea, the Fisht, Oshten and Pshekho-Su mountains lined up like a snow-white ridge. From the peaks there is a charming view of the Black Sea; the lights of Sochi, Maykop and Krasnodar are visible at night. In general, the Fisht-Oshtenovsky mountain cluster with mountain peaks is a sea reef that rose to a height from the depths of the sea.
Mount Fisht – for the residents of Adygea, like Fuji for the Japanese, they are of key importance. Hidden on its slope is the “Soaring Bird” cave, more than 500 meters deep. Another beauty of Mount Fisht is a waterfall about 250–300 meters high, going into an underground abyss, the depth of which has not been measured by anyone.
Mount Oshten, which in translation means “eternal snow”, on the contrary, is more severe and is covered with white caps all year round. There are several programmed trails on the slope. The mountain peaks of Oshten are clearly visible from the village of Maykop on a clear day. There are several programmed tracks on the slope.
Mount Akhun, Sochi
A famous landmark of Sochi and at the same time an observation deck. There is a Ferris wheel and a tower on Mount Ahn; on the way to them you can visit an exhibition of miniatures and a souvenir shop. The tower is the main attraction of the mountain. In its appearance it resembles a medieval one, but in fact it was built in the 30s of the 20th century.
Adler and Sochi are visible from the observation deck in good weather. And in the north there are views of foothill villages, beautiful meadows and the very ridge of the Caucasus Mountains, which stretches along the Black Sea coast.
Kazbek, Georgia
An extinct volcano with a military past, which has long since retired – this is how Kazbek can be characterized. The five-thousander is located in the eastern part of the Central Caucasus, on the border of Russia and Georgia. Kazbek is popular among climbers from all over the world; it attracts with its stunning mountain scenery and easy climbing routes. It offers a view of the entire Caucasus. By the way, the last filming of Sergei Bodrov took place on the territory of Kazbeg.
If you have no plans to conquer the peak, you can always take a walk to the weather station located at an altitude of 3,700 meters. In addition to the mountain landscapes, it is worth visiting the Gergeti Monastery and a real mountain glacier.
Elbrus, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia
The highest point in the European part of Russia is Elbrus, which is also called “The Mountain of a Thousand Mountains.” It was formed about a million years ago and consists of alternating layers of lava, ash and tuff. There are 54 glaciers on Elbrus, which give rise to three rivers, and many picturesque gorges. The height of the mountain is 5642 meters.
And at the end of 2015, the highest cable car in Europe will open on Elbrus. The upper station of the cable car is located at an altitude of 3,847 meters.
On the southern and eastern slopes along the Baksan Gorge there is a well-developed infrastructure for tourists: hotels, guest houses and tourist centers.
Khan Tengri Peak, Kazakhstan
Khan Tengri Peak is credited with being the most beautiful peak not only in Kazakhstan, but in the whole world. The reason is the correct proportions. The top of the peak is an almost perfect pointed pyramid, which turns scarlet along with the entire mountain during sunrise and sunset. Seeing this spectacle is like meeting Raphael’s Venus de Milo emerging from the sea foam. A sight that will remain in the memory for a lifetime.
Lenin Peak, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan
A mountain peak with a Soviet name is located on the Chon-Alai ridge, on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The height of Lenin Peak is 7134 meters above sea level, it is considered the most accessible and popular among mountain climbers in the world. At the same time, it’s not worth climbing one of the three seven-thousanders in Kyrgyzstan without experienced guidance: the harsh polar climate, rarefied atmosphere, deep cracks and the danger of avalanches make climbing to the very top a dangerous activity. But at the foot there are several camps for climbers, where anyone can stay.
The most favorable conditions for viewing Lenin Peak are from July to September.
To find a suitable hotel, use the OneTwoTrip hotel selection site.
