Trekking in the Zei Gorge. Comfort tour with hotel

The place of our rest is the Tsei Gorge, which is located in the Caucasus, in North Ossetia. In these places lies the Alanya National Park.
The Tsei Gorge itself has a very unusual horseshoe shape. Hundreds of skiers who rest here in the winter believe that the Zei horseshoe brings good luck!
We, pedestrian tourists, also have something to admire in these places. Nature gave the Tsei Gorge mountains 3,000 m high, stunning glaciers, alpine meadows and picturesque waterfalls. These places are protected by Mount Monk, which is associated with a curious legend about a mountain tour with golden horns.
During the rest we will live in the alpluger Tsei and every day, lightly, go for walks.

Travel area: Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, Tsei gorge.
Type of rest: Accommodation in a hotel, walking around the gorges lightly.
Cost: 26,300 rubles.

Travel dates for 2020 (7 days):
07-13 June
12-18 July
July 19-25
09-15 August
04-10 October

Route thread: Vladikavkaz, Alagir Gorge, Uastirji Monument, Afsati Monument, Tsei Gorge • cable car, Tale Glacier • Sanctuary River, Shagatsikondon Waterfall • Tsei Glacier • Tourist Peak (Sadonvcek) • Dargavs, Dzivgis Rock Fortress, Alan Holy Assumption Monastery, Karmadon Gorge • Thermal Springs of Biragzang - Vladikaz.

Day 1

12:30 - group gathering at the railway station of Vladikavkaz (near the main entrance from the city). 13:30 – group gathering at the airport of Beslan (near the main entrance).
Transfer by minibus to the resort of Tsei (2.5 hours).

Monument flying on a horse Uastirji, monument to Afsati.
After a meal, we look at two very interesting objects.
In the Alagir gorge we will see one of the most spectacular monuments of Ossetia - flying on a horse Uastirji. He is the patron saint of men, warriors and travelers. A huge, spectacular rider on a steel horse seems to pierce through the rock and fly out onto the road. The weight of this sculpture is 28 tons!! This is the highest equestrian monument in the world!
Further on our way we will meet another deity of Ossetia - a good patron of animals, whose name is Afsati. A huge, stone Afsati sits on a throne and watches his possessions closely. Afsati is accepted to present gifts. To appease him a little, we will also leave him a coin or sweets.
Soon we will come to the camper "Tsei", where we will rest for the next seven days.

Day 2

Glacier Fairy Tale.
Gorge fairy tale is a very cozy and picturesque place. When you stand below, it seems that the gorge hospitably spread its mountain embrace and waits for tourists to brag about its beauty.
Our path to the glacier begins with the Alpine meadows. In addition to the usual flowers, in July, unique orange poppies delight the eye. In August, ripe raspberries and blueberries can be found in these places.
In winter, tourists enjoy skiing here, and in summer tourists climb on foot to a place called the “green hill”. The hill is really completely green and from afar looks very picturesque. This is where winter skiing starts. You and I will go even higher to see the glacier of the fairy tale. It descends smoothly from the Skazsky Pass and seems to freeze on huge, polished rocks. The sharp peaks of the glacier sparkle in the sun and shimmer with blue and emerald colors.
In addition to the glacier, from here we will admire the Peak of the tourist, which is located on the opposite mountain range. We will go to these places in a few days!
The active part of the route: 10.2 km, the height difference of 2400-2840 m, the duration of the route is 6-7 hours.

Day 3

Sanctuary of the River and Shagatsikondon Falls.
During the week of rest in Ossetia, we will gradually get used to the fact that these places have their own, unusual deities. One of them is the River. This is a character of Ossetian mythology, a very revered deity of fertility. Also, the word "River" denotes one of the three, along with Mykalgabyrta and Tarangeloz, the main Ossetian sanctuaries.
The river is male and female. The Women's River is a wooden, carved structure made of logs. The female river is decorated with wooden birds, colorful ribbons, and green moss grows on the roof. And if the women's temple can be seen by everyone, then women can not even approach the men's River.
The male sanctuary stands on a large, open glade and is a wooden hut decorated with carved ornaments. On the shelf of the hut are the horns of animals. Complement all this harsh, masculine landscape amazing mountains around!
Next, we go along the forest trail to the Shagatsikondon waterfall. The path winds through the forest and leads to a picturesque canyon. The forest seems to part, and before us in all its glory appears waterfall. Here we always have a big photo shoot, a break and lunch.
Active part of the route: 7.1 km, height difference 1970-1740-1840-1970 m, route duration 6 hours.

Day 4

Tsei gorge, Tsei glacier.
In this gorge, everything we see around is picturesque: the bustling Ceidon River, Mount Monk and, of course, the Tsei Glacier itself.
On a sunny day in the gorge you get stunning, panoramic photos. And on a cloudy day, clouds wrap high mountains and swirl around them. On such days, the gorge looks very mysterious, the landscapes here, as if from the film “Avatar”.
The path along the Tsei gorge is very pleasant: the forest path smoothly rises up. Sometimes it leads us to thickets of strawberries and blueberries ;).
After most of the way, we will go to the gazebo. Here the forest parted - and right in front of us open the high mountains, and in the distance shining glacier Tsei. Come closer to the glacier! He's looking up, alive, huge. The glacier seems to breathe, constantly makes noise and lives its own life. From under the glacier flows a very rapid flow of water.
Nearby is the cleanest spring. Here we will stop for lunch and make mountain tea from spring water.
The active part of the route: 9.5 km, the height difference of 1970-2230 m, the duration of the route is 6-7 hours.

Day 5

Tourist Peak.
The previous days we walked through the gorges and admired the mountains and glaciers from below, from the valley. It's time to look at the gorges of Tsei and the Tale from a bird's eye view!
In the morning we go to the nearest village of Upper Tsei and begin our long climb. In the village, we will look at the family towers, and also from afar we will see another sanctuary of the River on the mountainside. On the way in July we collect thyme, in August we eat raspberries :) and climb higher and higher.
On this route, at the very bottom of the gorge, there are often clouds. But as soon as we leave them behind, stunning panoramas immediately open up! Mount Monk, the sparkling glacier Tale, the formidable glacier Tsei and in the distance, on the horizon, the alluring peak of Georgia is the snowy Kazbek.
The active part of the passage along the route: 22.5 km, the height difference of 1970-1710-2877-1710-1970 m, the duration of the route is 8-9 hours.

Day 6

Dargavs, rock fortress Dzivgis, Alansky Holy Dormition Monastery, Karmadon Gorge.
In the morning, we go on an excursion to see two new places with unusual names: the Kurtatinsky and the Karmadon Gorge.
Today is an easy but very pleasant day. On the way, we will stop at the apiary and try local honey, be sure to eat delicious Ossetian pies with cheese, greens, meat! Mmmm =)). And let's try the Ossetian kvass!
In addition to delicacies, along the route we are waiting for the rock town of Dzivgis, the Alan monastery, as well as the Karmadon Gorge, where the Kolka glacier descended in 2002.
Of course, one of the highlights of today’s route is Dargavs! The most unusual, white houses with brown roofs that so attract your attention in photos. Dargavs is the calling card of Ossetia. It is a necropolis, which has about 90 crypts built in the form of pyramids.
Active part of the route: 3 km, the duration of the route is 8-9 hours.

Day 7

Biragzang thermal springs.
In the morning, we leave our beloved Gorge.
On the way, we stop at thermal springs in Upper Biragzang. These sources belong to therapeutic and table mineral waters. Doctors checked the composition of the water and found it useful for health promotion. In addition, here you can relax after the mountains, swim and have a good time.

Transfer by minibus to Vladikavkaz.
15:00-15:30 - Arrival at Beslan airport.
16:00 – arrival at the railway station in Vladikavkaz.

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

• Road crossings along the route by minibus.
• Accommodation at Tsay Alpluger.
• Three meals a day: breakfast (day 2-7) and dinner (day 1-6) in the alplager dining room, lunch - dry rations in the mountains during walks (day 2-6).
• Environmental fees in the North Ossetian State Reserve.
• Thermal spring tickets.
• Rental of group equipment (bonfire equipment, boilers, gas burners, awning, group first aid kit).
• Guide instructor services.

The price does not include:

• Transportation costs to the beginning of the route and back (Vladikavkaz).
• For an additional fee, accommodation in the alpluger "Tsei" in the upper building is possible: more comfortable rooms with amenities and a TV. Accommodation in double rooms only. The number of rooms is limited, it is necessary to book at the time of application.
• Insurance (optional)