Sochi, Crimea, Anapa, Gelendzhik – the south of Russia is rich in picturesque natural attractions. Together with TASS we have prepared a selection of locations where you can take a memorable photo.
1. Krasnaya Polyana in Sochi
© Valery Matytsin/TASS
The Sochi resort is famous for its mountain trails. There are about 20 of them in Krasnaya Polyana – for every taste and any complexity. On different routes you can see lakes, waterfalls, forests, views from mountain peaks and the ruins of an ancient fortress. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the hiking conditions in advance and find out where the eco-trail will lead.
This can be done on the resort’s website, where there is information about the cost of completing the route independently or with a guide. The highest point of Krasnaya Polyana is the Black Pyramid peak at an altitude of 2375 meters above sea level. For comparison: the maximum depth of the Black Sea is 2210 meters.
Ascent to the mountains by cable car is available in summer; in winter, the entire territory of Krasnaya Polyana turns into a ski resort. If weather conditions worsen, you must return to the cable car station; in the evening, walking along the routes is prohibited.
How to get there
The easiest way is by plane to Sochi. An air ticket from Moscow will cost 5,000 rubles* per person round trip. Then you can get to the resort in about an hour by a comfortable Lastochka (one-way ticket about 400 rubles*) or by taxi (about 2000 rubles*).
Where to stay in Krasnaya Polyana
We have selected several options for you:
Bridge Mountain Krasnaya Polyana – from 2900 rubles* per night per person;
Hills Polyana Hotel – from 6300 rubles* per night per person;
“Panorama “by Mercure Krasnaya Polyana” – from 4760 rubles* per night per person.
2. Kadykovsky quarry, Balaklava
© Olesya Melnikova/TASS
The quarry is famous for its lake: if you look at it from a certain point, the shape of the reservoir resembles a heart.
This is pure coincidence – initially there was no talk of the quarry as a tourist attraction. Previously, limestone was mined here, but in 2007 the work stopped and groundwater filled the quarry space. The lake is interesting for its location – even its surface is 14 meters below sea level, which is rare for Crimea.
The blue color of water is not the result of chemical impurities, but a natural optical effect. The lake is deep and turns turquoise in bright light. It is called differently – Quarry or Heart Lake. When visiting the Kadykovsky quarry, keep in mind that you cannot go close to the edges – there is a danger of a collapse. The attraction is interesting primarily because it provides the opportunity to take a spectacular photograph. Swimming in the lake is prohibited, and the water is hardly suitable for this – it comes from underground sources and its temperature does not rise above +10–14 °C even in the hot summer.
How to get there
A flight from Moscow to Simferopol will cost 5,100 rubles* per person round trip. You will spend about two hours on the way. To visit all the attractions of Crimea, we recommend renting a car directly at the airport. Rental prices on OneTwoTrip start from 2,700 rubles* per day. The road to Sevastopol by car will take about one and a half hours. You can also get there by train or bus (about three hours).
The quarry is located about an hour’s drive from the city center. It is easy to get there by public transport. So, several minibuses and buses depart from Sevastopol (from the city center and from the 5th kilometer of the Balaklava highway), You need to get off at the stop “11th kilometer of the Balaklava highway”.
Where to stay in Sevastopol
We have selected several options for you:
“Dionysus” – from 3800 rubles* per night per person;
Dakkar Hotel – from 5600 rubles* per night per person;
Hotel “Admiral” — from 8300 rubles* per night per person.
3. “Swallow’s Nest” in Crimea
© Vladimir Smirnov/TASS
The castle was built on a 40-meter steep cliff on Cape Ai-Todor and was designed in a medieval style by the Moscow modernist architect Leonid Sherwood. Due to the small size of the construction site, a building 12 meters high fits on a foundation 10 meters wide and 20 meters long.
After a strong earthquake in 1927, the building fell into disrepair; it was closed for almost 40 years – the unique architecture of the castle required a special approach to restoration. Later, a restaurant operated on the territory, and in 2015, “Swallow’s Nest” was classified as a cultural heritage site of federal significance. Now it is called the calling card of Crimea and one of the most recognizable architectural monuments of the region.
The object is available for tourists, now guests of the “Swallow’s Nest” can take pictures on the castle balcony. There is a fee to visit; current prices and opening hours should be checked on the website.
How to get there
Take a plane to Simferopol. An air ticket from Moscow will cost 5,100 rubles* per person round trip. Renting a car at the airport will cost you about 2,700 rubles* per day. By car you can get from the center of Yalta in about 20-30 minutes. If you can’t rent a car, you can also get there by public transport. For example, on bus No. 132.
Where to stay in Yalta
We have selected several options for you:
Eco Hotel “Levant” – from 5100 rubles* per night per person;
Hotel “Oreanda Premier” – from 7600 rubles* per night per person;
Yalta-Intourist – from 9700 rubles* per night per person.
4. Descent “400 steps” in Anapa
The 400-step descent to the sea is located at the foot of Bald Mountain, which is considered the beginning of the Great Caucasus Mountains.
Because of the location on the seashore, a staircase appeared leading to a secluded pebble beach. Walking up 400 steps in a row can be challenging, so benches are placed along the way. Nevertheless, conquering such a height is justified – from the top there is a picturesque view of the coast, it seems that there is no descent, and the sea is very close – just stretch out your hand.
How to get there
You can fly from Moscow to Anapa in about two hours and 3,000 rubles* per person there and back. From the city center you can reach the “400 steps” descent by car in about 20 minutes. In addition, you can also get there by minibus No. 114 – the stop is located 1.1 km from the attraction.
Where to stay in Anapa
We have selected several options for you
“Albatross” – from 2000 rubles* per night per person;
Grand Hotel Valentina – from 6200 rubles* per night per person;
Alean Family Resort & SPA Riviera – from 8500 rubles* per night per person.
5. Rock Sail in Gelendzhik
The height of the rock is about 30 meters, and the width is only a meter. It is interesting because it is located somewhat far from the rock massif on the Black Sea coast and is a natural monument.
More than three-quarters of the Sail stands in the sea and is washed by the waves. The reasons for this location are considered to be the advance of the sea onto the land and erosion, which destroyed the rock. The name refers to the unusual shape of this natural monument, which can be compared to a stretched sail.
There is a hole in the rock at a height of about 2.5 meters, and it is not known for certain how exactly it appeared there. A common explanation relates to damage from artillery shelling during the Caucasian War. But there is also an opinion that even numerous shells could not make such a hole in the rock. There is also a legend that the Greek titan Prometheus was chained to the Sail.
How to get there
A plane ticket from Moscow will cost 4,000 rubles* per person round trip. Rock Sail is located approximately 45 minutes drive from the center of Gelendzhik, you can get there by bus No. 108.
Where to stay in Gelendzhik
Black Sea – from 2700 rubles* per night per person;
Hotel “Dynasty” – from 4700 rubles* per night per person;
Lermont Hotel – from 6500 rubles* per night per person.
Main photo: © Sergey Malgavko/TASS
*Prices valid at time of publication
