5 days
Fixed dates
10 people
from 7 years
Basic
Hotel
Russian
Gastronomy, Excursion tours
Dagestan is a land of poetic tales, great achievements and gifted masters. On this journey, you will learn how the destinies of famous writers and artists are connected with Dagestan, what the most beautiful myths of the mountainous country tell about, and what secrets are kept by local craftsmen. And all this is against the backdrop of fantastic landscapes.
This tour is a unique combination of a thoughtful excursion program to the most beautiful locations of Dagestan with interactive entertainment and master classes.
In just a few days you will have time to collect an incredible collection of impressions. You will walk along the streets of bright, atmospheric Makhachkala, and through the ancient quarters of peaceful Derbent, visit the magnificent Sulak Canyon, the view of which will take your breath away, go down into the underground labyrinths of the Nokhyo caves, take a boat ride on the waters of the Chirkey Reservoir and visit the amazing village of Gunib. Beautiful landscapes, ancient cities and villages are just part of the unique atmosphere of Dagestan.
The region is inextricably linked with centuries-old traditions and is inhabited by unsurpassed craftsmen, so you will find fascinating master classes on Balkhar ceramics, Untskul wood carving, carpet weaving and the creation of national dishes. You will also hear the exciting stories of these lands, legends of courage, wars and love, learn about the connection of Dagestan with Alexandre Dumas, Konstantin Aivazovsky and other great cultural figures. Before your eyes, like a skillful mosaic, a complete image of the Land of Mountains will emerge, where the destinies of generations are closely intertwined, where majestic fortresses rise in the mountains and ancient villages are hidden.
*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.
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.
The group meets at the airport in Makhachkala until 13:00. The famous Caucasian hospitality is inseparable from the delicious local cuisine, so first of all we will go for lunch with national dishes. After a hearty feast, we will set off to explore Makhachkala, a colorful and lively city where modernity and history are closely intertwined. We will definitely visit the Juma Mosque, the central religious building of the city, built in the traditional Ottoman style. For a greater immersion in Dagestan culture, in the afternoon we will attend a master class, where you will be introduced to unique ceramics from the village of Balkhar and will reveal the secrets of painting that masters have passed down from generation to generation for many centuries in a row.
Let's go to the mountains to fully enjoy the fascinating Dagestan landscapes! You will see the ancient Gimry Tower, rising menacingly, surrounded by harsh rocks, and drive through the longest road tunnel in our country. Then we will visit Untsukul craftsmen who create amazingly beautiful wood products - dishes, jewelry and utensils, decorated with elegant patterns. You will take part in a master class and learn how wood is chosen for these masterpieces and how designs are applied to them using the finest metal incisions. After the master class, we will head to the Irganay reservoir, where we will enjoy the peaceful views and have lunch with Avar cuisine. The last location for today is the village of Gunib, where you will walk through the natural park, visit the Museum of Local Lore and learn the history of the famous Imam Shamil and the Caucasian War.
It is impossible to visit Dagestan and not see the legendary Sulak Canyon - a real miracle of nature, where a narrow emerald ribbon of a river winds along the bottom of a picturesque gorge. You will look around the deepest canyon in Europe from the best observation deck and take incredible photos. You will also visit the Chirkey reservoir, formed as a result of the construction of a hydroelectric power station. Under its waters lies a flooded village, and the landscapes simultaneously excite and give a feeling of harmony. After lunching on the freshest trout, baked until crisp, or aromatic shish kebab, we will go to the Nokhyo cave complex. Here you can walk across the suspension bridge, 60 meters above the river, and take a walk through the mysterious underground labyrinths. Please note: the tour of the caves is paid separately.
We will spend the last active day of the tour in Derbent, the oldest city in Russia. First we will visit the monumental Naryn-Kala fortress, which was built in the 6th century. and to this day serves as a monument to the courage of the Caucasian people. You will also find a fascinating walk through the narrow ancient streets of the city, where an incredible atmosphere reigns and there are many perfectly preserved architectural monuments. We will definitely make a stop at the majestic Juma Mosque, which is one of the five most ancient mosques in the whole world. And in the afternoon we will go for an immersive Dagestan meal, after which you will take part in a gastronomic master class and a carpet making master class. At the end, you will enjoy a promenade along the embankment and a visit to the beautiful multimedia fountain, the largest in the country.
After breakfast at the hotel, you will have free time, which you can spend as you wish - for example, go to the Derbent beach and relax after full of travel experiences. We will then arrange transfer to the airport. See you again!
Children from 7 years old can participate in the program. For young travelers under 12 years old there are discounts.
We recommend choosing a flight with arrival no later than 13.00. If you arrive the day before, let us know - we will book an additional night at a hotel in Makhachkala.
Breakfast at the hotel and lunch indicated in the program. Dinners are on your own.
Additionally (and optionally) you can pay for entrance tickets to the cave complex (500 rubles/person), a boat trip along the Chirkey reservoir (300 rubles), and entrance to the Museum of Nature in Gunib (100 rubles). Also, all tourists are required to take out travel insurance, its cost is from 500 rubles.
Ask questions to the tour coordinator
Tour from an official tour operator from the Rostourism register
