Megagor camp in Arkhyz. 10 Days of Trekking

The area of our trip is the Western Caucasus. It is here that Arkhyz is located – a real country of high mountains and emerald lakes.
Many of our tourists say that they always dreamed of getting to Arkhyz and staying there longer. This route is designed specifically for you for 10 days. The tour provides our favorite format of rest: during the whole time, the tent camp stands in one place, all walks on lakes and waterfalls are made lightly, without backpacks :)
You may ask, what can we, experienced tourists, surprise Arkhyz?
Arkhyz boasts its mountains with a height of 3000 m, on the very tops of which even in summer there is snow, and on the slopes glaciers adorn. Arkhyz will delight you with its stunning fir forests and waterfalls 70 meters high. And to definitely fall in love with these places, we will show you 12 (!!!) mountain lakes. The lakes are multicolored, in the sun they shimmer with blue, azure and emerald colors. Arkhyz is an amazing place, come check it out for yourself!

Travel dates for 2020 (10 days):
July 19-28
August 16-25

To pass along the tourist routes of this region, citizens of foreign countries (Ukraine, Belarus) need a pass to the border zone, which is issued within 30 working days (43 calendar days). After submitting an application for participation in the trek, we ask each tourist from a foreign country for a copy of the passport for registration of the pass.
For citizens of the Russian Federation, registration of a pass is not required, while driving along the route it is enough to have the original passport.

The route thread: Mineralnye Vody - Alansky settlement, Face of Christ - pos. Arkhyz, Taulu glade - Sofia waterfalls - Lakes beams Orlenok - Cascade of lakes on the Malaya Dukka river - Seven-colored lakes - Sofia lakes - Belorechensky waterfall - Lake of Love - Secret lake - Mineralnye waters.

Day 1

11:00-11:30 (Moscow time) - group gathering at the railway station of Mineralnye Vody (near the main entrance from the city) and at the airport of Mineralnye Vody (near the main entrance).
Transfer by minibus to pos. Arkhyz, to the Taulu glade (about 3-3.5 hours).

Alan's settlement, Face of Christ.
On the way to the mountains we will stop in the village of Nizhny Arkhyz.
Scientists believe that it was here that the ancient state of Alanya existed. Three monumental stone temples have survived to this day: Northern, Middle and Southern. We will go to these temples, walk through the streets of the ancient city, see the old solar calendar and the harsh stone warrior - menhir.
Not far from the temples is another attraction of these places. In 1999, on the slope of the Matsešta ridge, local residents discovered a huge cave painting – the Face of Christ. It was painted with five mineral paints in the IX century. Jesus Christ looks from the cliff at the Alan settlement and the nearest Northern temple.
To come and see the face of Christ, we have to climb 527 steps.
After the tour we will visit the local souvenir market.
Clothing and shoes for walking on the first day: T-shirt, flisk, pants, shoes for walking (we will walk on asphalt and on a flat, unpaved road).
With him in the backpack: cap, raincoat, camera, subpopnik, drinking water.
Duration of the tour: 2 hours.

Transfer by minibus to pos. Arkhyz, to the Taulu glade (about 3-3.5 hours).
After arriving, we set up a tent camp. Around us are mountains, high fir, picturesque Sofia Range, and the Psysh River runs nearby! During the rest, our camp will be located in one place.
The parking lot is at an altitude of 1600 m.
Duration of transition from minibus to parking: 1-2 minutes.

Day 2

Sofia Falls.
Sofia waterfalls are one of the most visited sights of Arkhyz! To get to these places, part of the way we will pass by mountain transport.
On the way, from afar, we will see one of the most picturesque peaks of these places – Mount Sofia. Its top until mid-summer is covered with snow, and on the slopes of the mountain there is a picturesque Sofia glacier. In summer, the glacier melts and beautiful waterfalls form. With huge, snow-white streams, they fall off the mountains. The waterfalls are 70 meters high. Their power and greatness will surely conquer you!
The active part of the route: 5.5 km, the height difference of 2000-2300 m, the duration of the route is 5-6 hours.

Day 3

The Lakes of the Eagle Beam.
Sofia Range boasts many picturesque lakes. Today we go to these places to admire the lakes of Orlyonok.
RusHydro has improved this route, along the way we will meet signs, places of rest. At the very beginning of the route, you can measure your height and compare it with the growth of a bear, bison or wild boar. The whole route is divided into stop-stations, which have pleasant names: “Sunny”, “Forest”, “Maple Grove”, “Alpine meadows”.
After passing all these stops, we will go to a huge clearing, over which the dark mountain Kara-Jash rises spectacularly. Now we have only to climb a small hill - and we are on target! Right in front of us is the first Lake Orlyonok, surrounded by a coniferous forest. The water in the lake is completely transparent and warm enough, you can swim.
A half-hour walk from the first lake, there is another Lake Orlyonok. In sunny weather, the water in it shimmers with blue and emerald colors, very spectacular!
The active part of the route: 12.6 km, the height difference of 1600-2380 m, the duration of the route is 6-7 hours.

Day 4

Cascade of lakes on the Malaya Dukka River.
Lakes Malaya Dukka - one of the most favorite walks of our tourists and instructors! Along the route we will see three large lakes, completely different from each other. Tourists call the first lake “Fish”, the second lake – Arksasar, and the third – “Fairy Tale of the Caucasus”.
On the way to the lakes in July we will admire the blooming alpine meadows, in August we will feast on blueberries and lingonberries :)
It is difficult to describe in words the beauty of these mountain lakes, you just need to see them! The water in the lakes is clean and so transparent that the bottom is visible at a great depth. The color of lakes often varies depending on the lighting: they can be emerald, dark green or bright blue. The lakes often reflect clouds and small snowballs, which until mid-July still lie on the slopes of the mountains.
Active part of the route: 11.8 km, height difference 1920-2600 m, route duration 7-8 hours.

Day 5

The seven-colored lake.
In the morning we go by mountain transport up to the mountains. We go to the places where the mountain river Big Dukka runs. The river flows from the Seven Colored Lake, to which we have to walk today!
The path through the valley is very simple, pleasant, climbing is almost not felt. Along the way, there are many magnificent observation decks. Only at the very end of the way will climb to the lake on the stones. Proper trekking shoes - the key to your comfort in the mountains, do not forget!
A little higher, we will finally see the lake! It's so big, it's alluring. It lies in the mountains and reflects the clouds. In sunny weather, the surface of the lake shimmers with blue and emerald colors. The water is so clear that you can see the rocks on the bottom and huge fragments of rocks, which smoothly go into the blue abyss.
In this beautiful place we will have lunch and go back.
The active part of the route: 13.2 km, the height difference of 1920-2450 m, the duration of the route is 7-8 hours.

Day 6

Sophia lakes.
The most desirable excursion in Arkhyz is a walk to the Sofia lakes! Arkhyz is impossible to imagine without these lakes. Huge, picturesque, colorful, so transparent and alluring! With ice caps in early July, decorated with mountain flowers and surrounded by mountains. These lakes are the dream of a tourist and photographer. And we'll definitely go there!
The path to the lakes lies along the valley of the Ak-Ayra River. Here small waterfalls break off from the walls of the gorge and bright flowers please the eye along the whole way. We have to climb up the gorge, and the reward will be an unsurpassed view from the pass to the colorful Sofia lakes.
A huge plus of walking around the Caucasus is that here runs the cleanest, incredibly tasty water that can be drunk from any mountain river and lake. It is in this water that we always make tea in the mountains. Near the Sophia lakes, our instructor will feed you a delicious lunch, after which we will begin the descent down to Lake Aimatly.
The active part of the route: 12.3 km, the elevation difference 2000-2890-1890 m, the duration of the route 8-9 hours.

Day 7

Day.
To get some rest from physical activity, a day is planned on this day.
You can play volleyball, lie in a hammock, go pick berries.
You can spend the day more actively! Near the camp is the rental of quad bikes and mountain bikes. You can also ride horses or try rafting on a mountain river.

The cost of entertainment in the mountains:

• Rent a mountain bike (1 hour): 200 rubles.
• horseback riding (1.5 hours): 500-600 rubles per person
• rafting (2-2.5 hours, alloy 7 km): 900-1000 rubles per person
• Walk on an ATV (1 hour): 2500 rubles. from an ATV, on which 2 tourists sit.

Day 8

Belorechensky waterfall.
From the slope of the Gabulu ridge runs the full-flowing White River. Almost descending into the valley, the river falls into a narrow canyon, from where it breaks out with a white, foamy waterfall. In this place there is always an incredible noise and rainbows hang above the water!
The way to the waterfall on the White River is on a flat road, climbing is practically not felt. Only at the end of the route there is a slight climb. But it will be a very beautiful part of the way: we will pass through the fir forest and go to the observation decks near the river. The banks of the river are decorated with bright, green moss. Going a little higher, we go to the waterfall.
The active part of the route: 18.1 km, the height difference of 1600-1670 m, the duration of the route is 6-7 hours.

Day 9

Lake of Love.
Nature gave the mountains of Arkhyz a magnificent lake in the shape of a heart, which tourists call the Lake of Love.
The way to the lake is not easy, but it is worth it! First we will walk along a flat, forest road, and then we will climb the coniferous forest. Gradually, the forest is parting, and we go out into the zone of alpine meadows. Bright flowers always please the eye, mushrooms hide in the grass, and at the end of summer in these places you can eat blueberries and lingonberries.
Going to the pass Arkhyz saddle, we will enjoy two things at once: a difficult climb is completed and right in front of us there is a magnificent view from a bird's eye view of the village of Arkhyz. Around, as long as there are eyes, there are mountain ranges.
We have a little bit to go, and we are on target! Lake of Love always amazes tourists with its perfect shape and emerald color of the water. At this place we make lunch and rest.
The active part of the passage along the route: 18.2 km, the height difference of 1470-2350 m, the duration of the route is 9-10 hours.

Day 10

A secret lake.
Today will be an easy walk to the Secret Lake. The path winds through the coniferous forest along the Sofia ridge and sometimes goes to the rivers Sofia and Psysh.
At the end of the route we will arrive at a small forest lake.
Near the lake, tourists put a wooden bench for a photo shoot :). Here we rest, have lunch and come back.
The active part of the route: 8.2 km, the height difference of 1580-1610 m, the duration of the route is 4 hours.

14:30 – transfer by minibus to Mineralnye Vody.
17:30-18:00 – Arrival at the railway station and the airport of Mineralnye Vody, departure home.

Depending on the weather conditions, the physical condition of the participants and other factors, the route of the hike may be changed.

 

• Travel by minibus along the route
• Mountain transport to three gorges
• Accommodation in a paid tourist parking lot.
• The parking lot has an equipped toilet, hot shower, bath, electricity constantly, it is possible to charge mobile phones and batteries. Parking photo album.
• Conductor-instructor services
• Three meals a day.
• Rental of group equipment (bonfire equipment, boilers, awning, gas burners, group first aid kit)

The price does not include:

• Transportation costs to the beginning of the route and back (Mineralnye Vody).
• Personal equipment (tent, backpack, sleeping bag, karemat). If necessary, our club will provide rental tourist equipment.
• Insurance (optional)
• Additional entertainment in the mountains:
  - mountain bike rental (1 hour): 150-200 rubles.
  - horseback riding (1.5 hours): 500 rubles per person
  - rafting (2-2.5 hours, alloy 7 km): 900-1000 rubles per person
  - walk on an ATV (1 hour): 2500 rubles. from an ATV, on which 2 tourists sit.