5 days
Fixed dates
10 people
from 3 years
Basic
Guest house or camp site, Hotel
Russian
Gastronomy, Trekking, Excursion tours
Deep canyons and majestic mountain ranges, ancient towers and ghost villages, the legacy of the Soviet era and the homeland of Hadji Murad... Dagestan is multifaceted and beautiful. During your trip you will see the most important natural and man-made attractions of the region, get acquainted with the local culture, legends and crafts, and, of course, taste the delicious Dagestan cuisine.
We will visit all the most picturesque and interesting locations of Dagestan - everything that you could see in photo collections from this amazing mountainous region.
You will take a speedboat ride along the waters of the Chirkey Reservoir, under which an ancient flooded village is hidden, capture the emerald ribbon of the Sulak Canyon from the best observation deck, walk along the Khunzakh Plateau and look over the edge of the dizzying gorge into which the Tobot Falls rushes with an incessant roar. You will admire how the architectural monuments of antiquity fit into the majestic mountain landscape: the terraces of the ghost village of Gamsutl on beige rocks, the village of Gunib surrounded by mountain slopes, silent towers and citadels against the backdrop of endless skies. Dagestan is a region where the longest tunnel in Russia is located, the deepest canyon in Europe and the oldest city in our country. Epochs intertwine here: on the same day you will see the fantastic-looking unique ekranoplan "Lun" and the fortress of the Seven Brothers and One Sister, built in the 18th century and keeping an incredibly tragic legend. The history of Dagestan, brave warriors, unshakable courage and great achievements will be told by each of the sights that we visit on the trip. What awaits you is not boring retellings of dates and personalities, but a living story about those who from ancient times inhabited this beautiful region, fought for their freedom and happiness. In the narrow streets of the Old Town in Derbent, saturated with oriental flavor, you will be transported back to previous centuries.
You will get in touch with local culture and traditions, you will be able to try on national costumes, try your hand at carpet weaving and cooking national dishes. It will also be very tasty, because it is impossible to imagine a trip to Dagestan without hearty lunches: khinkal, botishal, dolma, the famous apricot porridge with urbech and much more.
*Hotels may be substituted for equivalent ones depending on availability on your tour dates.
The hotel is located within walking distance from the city center, close to the main attractions of Makhachkala and on the second line from the Caspian Sea coast. Decorated in a calm, classic style, there is free Wi-Fi throughout the entire territory, the rooms are equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable stay. The hotel has a restaurant serving European cuisine and karaoke.
An eco-hotel surrounded by mountains, where you will live surrounded by nature: mountain slopes, a stormy river, endless sky and clean air. Calm environment and stylish barnhouses to stay. Each house has its own toilet and shower, comfortable beds, hygiene and cosmetic items, air conditioning, and hairdryer. Responsive staff, delicious local cuisine, teas from mountain herbs will make your stay here unforgettable.
New, beautiful hotel, built in 2022. Just 2 km to the center of Derbent and less than 500 m to the coast. Laconic and ergonomic rooms are decorated in light colors, each of them has air conditioning, hairdryer, refrigerator, iron, TV, tea/coffee station. The front desk is open 24 hours a day. Free Wi-Fi is available on site. The restaurant serves buffet breakfast to all guests.
We meet at Makhachkala airport.
Buy tickets with arrival before 12:00. On the first day you will see the most recognizable and impressive natural attractions of Dagestan. We will visit the largest reservoir in the North Caucasus - Chirkey, and take a speedboat ride along its waters, under which lies the ancient village of Chirkey, flooded during the construction of the reservoir. Then we will go to the Sulak Canyon, which can rightfully be considered the hallmark of the region. This is the deepest canyon in Europe and one of the largest in the world. The sparkling water, surrounded by sheer cliffs and green shores, is an incredible sight to behold from the best vantage point. After lunching on the freshest trout cooked over coals, we head to the hotel.
After breakfast at the hotel we go to the Khunzakh region. This is the birthplace of the legendary Hadji Murad: we will stop on the picturesque Matlas plateau, where a monument to this Avar leader and Leo Tolstoy, who glorified him in his story, is erected. From the plateau there is a dizzying view of the flowering valley: villages scattered in the greenery, grazing herds and mountain ranges in the distance. On this day we will also visit the Gimry Tower - an impressive defensive structure and the site of the death of Imam Shamil. We will dine with national Avar dishes and head to the Khunzakh plateau, located at a high altitude and ending in the deep Tzolotlinsky canyon, from the edge of which the Tobot and Itlya-tlyar rivers fall into the abyss with stormy waterfalls. We will spend the night in an eco-hotel in the mountains.
We continue to get acquainted with the culture and traditions of the indigenous peoples, which are inextricably linked with the harsh, but breathtakingly beautiful local nature. We will visit Gamsutl - a ghost village, “Dagestan Machu Picchu”, which you have seen in absolutely all photo collections from the region. You will see empty houses and terraces, as if grown into the rock, and learn about the history of the village and its legends. After lunch we will head to the village of Gunib. This is an open-air museum where relic birch trees with pink bark grow and the sun shines more than 300 days a year. In addition, the village played a vital role during the Caucasian War; it was almost completely destroyed in the second half of the 19th century, but then rebuilt. We will not only walk around Gunib, but also look into the local Museum of Local Lore, where you can try on ancient national costumes.
We will devote the day to exploring Southern Dagestan. You will visit the ekranoplane "Lun", frozen on the coast of the Caspian Sea: this fragment of Soviet engineering still looks absolutely fantastic. Then we will go to the village of Khuchni, which is surrounded by greenery. Of particular interest here is the picturesque 18-meter-high bridge across the mountain river Khanagchay and the fortress of Seven Brothers and One Sister (XVIII century) towering above the village. The site near the fortress offers magnificent views. We will also visit the Khanaga waterfall in the vicinity of Khuchnya. At lunch at the ethno-complex, you will be able to take part in the preparation of the famous dish Chudu and try your hand at traditional carpet weaving.
Derbent is a city without which it is impossible to imagine a trip to Dagestan. We will spend our last day here, in the oldest city in Russia. You will visit the monumental Persian citadel of Naryn-Kala, the famous Juma Mosque (8th century) and a walk through the Old City, divided into districts - “magals”. Narrow streets, medieval buildings and fascinating stories from the guide will allow you to plunge into the magical atmosphere of ancient Derbent and feel its oriental flavor. We will also visit a souvenir shop where you can buy gifts for loved ones and souvenirs for yourself to remember the trip. We will end our trip with a big feast and tea in an ethno-house, after which we will take you to the airport.
You can go on the tour with a child; we provide discounts for children under 12 years old.
We recommend that you choose flights arriving no later than 12:00 on the first day of the tour. Return flight time is after 18:00.
The tour program includes HB meals.
You pay for your tickets to Makhachkala and back yourself. Also include expenses for souvenirs and gifts. In addition, it is possible to extend your stay in Makhachkala.
Ask questions to the tour coordinator
Tour from an official tour operator from the Rostourism register
