Ultimate Dagestan, Chechnya and Caucasus Unrecognised Countries Tour

Sunday 6th September – Makhachkala, Russia

Morning

• Arrive at your own leisure into Makhachkala. The capital city of Dagestan is well connected with Dubai, Moscow or other cities in Russia, as well as Tashkent, Bishkek or Jeddah.
• Self-transfer to our centrally located hotel.

Afternoon

• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel at 1:00pm to discuss the tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• We’ll head out to explore Makhachkala, Dagestan’s lively Caspian Sea capital, where Soviet-era grit, Islamic culture, and modern Russia collide in a way found nowhere else in the country. It’s the perfect gateway to the Caucasus, offering a first taste of Dagestani hospitality, street life, and the region’s remarkable ethnic diversity.
• We’ll stop by the Central Juma Mosque – One of the largest mosques in Russia, inspired by Istanbul’s Blue Mosque and a striking symbol of Dagestan’s Islamic identity.
• Visit the Dagestan Museum of Fine Arts, home to regional artworks and historical pieces that offer insight into the many ethnic groups that make up this mountainous republic.
• Take a walk along the Caspian Sea Promenade, the waterfront area where locals gather, offering views of the Caspian and a glimpse into everyday life in the city.
• We’ll have dinner downtown but being a Islamic city we’ll have drinks back at the hotel.
• Overnight in Makhachkala.

Monday 7th September – Makhachkala – Derbent

Morning

• After breakfast in our hotel, we will drive south to Derbent, a city with over 2,000 years of history.
• Visit the Naryn-Kala Fortress and walls of Derbent, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, its massive stone walls and towers stretch along the strategic pass between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains, historically defending the city against invading empires.
• Visit the most ancient mosque of Russia, the cemetery of the Arabian warriors, who brought Islam here in the 7th century.

Afternoon

• Lunch in a local Azeri restaurant, the indigenous people of Derbent origin are Azerbaijan.
• Trip Highlight: Explore the legendary Lun-class Ekranoplan, better known as the Caspian Sea Monster. This absurdly oversized Soviet experiment from the 1980s was a ground effect military vehicle designed to skim just above the water at speeds of around 500 km/h while carrying missiles.
• Walk through the atmospheric old town, filled with stone houses, mosques, and narrow alleyways. Derbent feels more Middle Eastern than Russian, and its long history of Persian, Arab, and Caucasian rule makes it one of the most unique stops on the trip.
• For dinner at a local restaurant, we recommend trying dolma or dyushpere, the dagestan version of pelmeni.
• Overnight in Derbent.

Tuesday 8th September – Derbent – Qala-Quraysh – Kubachi

Morning

• Breakfast and we’ll start the day driving to Qala-Quraysh is the ruined mountain fortress and former capital of the Kaytag principality in southern Dagestan, perched dramatically on cliffs. Once a thriving centre of local rule and Islamic culture, today only its walls and a few remnants remain, blending history with stunning natural views.

Afternoon

• In the afternoon we will arrive in Kubachi, the legendary craft village of the Caucasus. For centuries, locals have been making everything from stone carvings and chain mail to sabres, and in the Soviet era they became famous for their goldwork. The villagers belong to a small ethnic group speaking a unique Dargin dialect.
• Overnight in the house of a local goldsmith surrounded by tools, treasures, and stories few outsiders ever hear. Shared bathrooms only separated by genders.

Wednesday 9th September – Balkhar –  Salta –  Sogratl’

Morning

• Breakfast and we’ll begin by driving to Balkhar, a mountain village where centuries-old ceramics traditions are still alive.
• We’ll grab lunch along the way and visit a traditional pottery workshop.
• Locals will show us how they work with the clay and you will have an opportunity to get your hands dirty. The village is home to the ingenious Lak people, whose skills and creativity have been shaping the Caucasus for generations.

Afternoon

• We’ll have lunch and continue our drive to Salta Canyon, one of Dagestan’s natural highlights. From Salta village, we hike through a narrow gorge to reach a hidden underground waterfall, an unexpected and surreal sight.
• In the late afternoon, we’ll arrive at Sogratl’, a remote mountain village surrounded by dramatic peaks.
• Dinner and overnight in a local guest house. Shared bathrooms only separated by genders.

Thursday 10th September – Sogratl’ – Gamsutl – Sogratl’

Morning

• After breakfast, we drive up Mount Ruhtalbeter, stopping high above the legendary abandoned village of Gamsutl’, often called the “Machu Picchu of Dagestan.”
• From here, we hike downhill into Gamsutl’, exploring its deserted stone houses, empty streets, and panoramic views. Abandoned only recently, the village tells a powerful story of depopulation and mountain life.

Afternoon

• After descending to the valley, our vehicle picks us up and returns us to Sogratl’ for lunch and some well-earned rest.
• On the way back, we’ll do a walking tour of Sogratl’, getting a deeper look at traditional Dagestani village life.
• Dinner and overnight  in a local guest house.

Friday 11th September – Sogratl’ – Gimry – Grozny

Morning

• Breakfast and we’ll depart Sogratl’ and travel onwards to Gimry, one of the most historically significant villages in Dagestan. This is the birthplace of Imam Gazi Muhammad and Imam Shamil, leaders of the 19th-century Caucasian resistance against the Russian Empire.
• We’ll have a walking tour of the historical area, discussing the Caucasian War and the role these figures played in shaping regional identity.

Afternoon

• After lunch, we continue west into Chechnya, arriving in Grozny – a city that has risen from the ashes to become one of Russia’s most surreal capitals.
• Group A members: tour concludes on arrival into Grozny
• Group B members: arrive at your own leisure into Grozny. The capital city of Chechnya is connected with Dubai, Istanbul, Antalya, Tashkent or Tehran, also from the Russian cities Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Self-transfer to our centrally located hotel to meet the group.
• We’ll head out for dinner and overnight in Grozny

Saturday 12th September – Grozny, Chechen Republic

Morning

• After breakfast we will start our walking tour in Grozny. The city, which translate to “fearsome”, although nearly all the town was destroyed or seriously damaged during the Chechen Wars, it has since been entirely rebuilt.
• Explore the centre of the city, including the Heart of Chechnya mosque, locally known as the Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Russia.
• We’ll continue to the monument to police officers, the memorial to victims of deportation and the “Alley of Honour”.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a local restaurant.
• We’ll continue our exploration with the Kadyrov Museum, Square of Journalists, Monument to the Dead Journalists, Monument of Nations Friendship, Putin Avenue, Manor House, the National Library of Chechnya, the Theatre and Concert Hall of Chechnya, the Akhmat-arena Stadium and the Mother’s Heart Mosque.
• The capital city of Grozny was completely rebuilt following the war and now looks like a modern metropolis. We take a slow walking tour of the city to get a feel of modern Grozny.
• For dinner, we’ll head to our favourite spot for shashlik. Vegetarian options are available.
• Overnight stay in Grozny.

Sunday 13th September – Grozny

Morning

• Breakfast at our hotel before we set out to discover the natural beauty of Chechnya.
• We’ll head to Argun Valley for a short hike. This is the first region where the Chechen people made their settlements. Around the river, there used to be many farms and houses. Unfortunately after the first and second Chechen War, many residents didn’t return.
• Visit the stunning Nikhaloi waterfall and the suspended iron bridge, 100 metres above the canyon).

Afternoon

• Picnic lunch. We’ll stop at a small store to pick supplies and enjoy the beautiful nature.
• Walk amongst the 42 crypts and the two pillar-shaped altars. Look around the Ushkaloi twin towers, the Phakic medieval castle and the local history museum. Take in the stunning scenery and medieval architecture and the general mysteriousness of the City of the Dead!
• We’ll take the scenic route back to Grozny stopping on the way at various sites of beauty.
• Dinner and overnight in Grozny.

Monday 14th September – Grozny – Starogladovskaya – Grozny

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• We head first to the National Museum of Chechnya, the main museum in Chechnya. This museum houses fascinating artefacts from Chechen history. We’ll also learn more about the historical struggles of the Chechen people.
• Head on to the beautiful village of Starogladovskaya, where Leo Tolstoy – who was fond of the Caucuses – wrote The Cossacks and Hadji Murat. We’ll visit the Leo Tolstoy Literature and Ethnographic Museum.

Afternoon

• For lunch we have a genuine highlight. We’ll have lunch in a remote village with Cossacks, learning about their cultural heritage while being served traditional dishes and homemade wine!
• We’ll take the scenic drive back to Grozny stopping on the way at various sites of beauty for photographs as well as a few rest stops.
• Dinner and drinks in Grozny.
• Overnight stay in Grozny.

Tuesday 15th September – Grozny – Lake Kezenoy-am – Grozny

Morning

• Early morning start with breakfast.
• We’ll out to Lake Kezenoy-am. We’ll make a stop in the town of Kharachoy and pass through the scenic Andean ridge where we can see classic North-eastern Caucasus mountain scenery.
• Next, we will visit the spectacular Lake Kezenoy-am. This is the deepest lake in the Caucasus Mountains and one of the most beautiful places in the region. We will take our lunch break here as well as offering lots of time for pictures and additional activities.

Afternoon

• Drive to Khoy, the Village of Guards, and wander around the medieval settlement.
• Once again, we take the scenic drive back to Grozny, taking in the natural beauty of the region.
• Dinner at our favourite Chechen restaurant.
• Overnight stay in Grozny.

Wednesday 16th September – Grozny – Lake Galanchozh – Grozny

Morning

• Early morning start with breakfast before we head out.
• Today, we’ll be travelling to the Urus-Martanovsky District. As the journey is mountainous and remote, we’ll be taking 4WD to drive up to the mountains.
• We’ll make plenty of rest stops along the way until we reach Lake Galanchozh. Those brave enough can take a dip in the chill water.

Afternoon

• Picnic lunch at the beautiful lake.
• Next, we’ll visit old medieval settlements with defensive towers. Around the surrounding areas are burial grottos.
• In 1944, Joseph Stalin approved Operation Lentil, where Chechens and Ingush were deported to prison camps in Central Asia. We’ll visit the ruins of Khaibakh village, where around 700 villagers were massacred.
• We’ll take the scenic journey back to Grozny.
• Dinner at a local restaurant. We recommend trying barsh, similar to the Scottish haggis.
• Overnight stay in Grozny.

Thursday 17th September – Grozny – Ingushetia, Republic of Ingushetia – Armkhi

• Early morning start with breakfast before we check out.
• We’ll drive to the Republic of Ingushetia, the scene of some of the fiercest fighting during the war of independence. On our way, we will drive through the spectacular Dzhejrakhsk canyon for some breathtaking views.
• Visit the memorial complex of victims of repression in Ingushetia. This is an extremely interesting complex in true Soviet style. Head to the Magas Towers and drive through the Cey-Loamsk pass (2200m) to the observation platform, taking in more jaw-dropping scenery and medieval buildings scattered in these mountain lands.

Afternoon

• Explore Tkhaba-Yerdy Church and the surroundings. This church dates from the 8th-10th centuries and is one of the oldest Christian churches in Russia. We’ll then head on to the castle complex of Vovnushki, one of the ‘Seven Wonders of Russia’. This castle had defended the residents for centuries until Stalinist deportations emptied the local population.
• As it’s our last night together, we’ll have dinner with the locals in Djeirakh village – serving a selection of meat, salads and homemade chepalgash. As it’s a Sufi community, it’ll be a dry night.
• Overnight stay in Armkhi.

Friday 18th September – Ingushetia – Armkhi – Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia–Alania Republic

Morning

• Breakfast at our hotel overlooking the beautiful mountains.
• We’ll check out and head to Vladikavkaz, the capital city of North Ossetia–Alania Republic, arriving at 10:30am.
• Group B members: tour concludes, YPT can arrange additional nights in Vladikavkaz. We are more than happy to provide advice for ongoing flights.
• Group C members: arrive at your own leisure into Vladikavkaz. The largest and capital city of North Ossetia–Alania is well connected with Russia, Dubai and Turkey. Self-transfer to our centrally located hotel, ready for a 10:30am start.
• We’ll visit the site of the Beslan school massacre and pay our respects before we begin the tour. In 2004, during the height of the 2nd Chechen war, a group of terrorists captured the school and took over 1,100 people hostage. After three days and an intense battle with security forces, the school was liberated but over 334 people (including 186 children) died.
• Mukhtarov Mosque. Visit this iconic beautiful mosque set against the dramatic backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains. It was used to serve the Ingush residents of Vladikavkaz before they were expelled from North Ossetia in the 1990s.
• We’ll then check out the enormous Soviet monument to Issa Pliyev on horseback. He was a Soviet general who commanded forces during the battle of Moscow and Stalingrad and also played a vital role in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Afternoon

• We’ll then walk down the picturesque main boulevard of Vladikavkaz set against the mighty Caucasus Mountains. Here we’ll have a traditional Ossetian lunch with Caucasian tea and people watch.
• Visit the Victory Park full of hulking Soviet monuments to the NKVD, Cossacks or WW2 battles. The park also features one of the last surviving statues of Joseph Stalin left in the former USSR. Locals claim Stalin was an Ossetian and he is well thought-of here.
• If dates align, we’ll try and catch a concert at the national university of North Ossetia.
• Dinner at a local restaurant followed by drinks.
• Overnight stay in Vladikavkaz.

Saturday 19th September – Vladikavkaz – Tskhinvali, Republic of South Ossetia

Morning

• Breakfast at our hotel before depart to Tskhinvali, the capital city of the Republic of South Ossetia, often referred to as the State of Alania.
• The drive will take 4 to 5 hours. Along the way, we’ll stop to see the imposing Soviet monument to the Red Army soldier and hero of the Soviet Union Peter Barbashov who sacrificed his life during the brutal fighting for the city of Vladikavkaz in 1942. There are also a selection of original WW2 tanks and weaponry alongside the monument.

Afternoon

• Along the epic mountainous journey, we’ll stop at some Soviet monuments before having lunch at a small village.
• Next, we’ll continue to the famous Roki Tunnel to cut through the Caucasus Mountains before reaching the South Ossetia border. Your guides will take care of all formalities and get you inside.
• Keep an eye out on the road to South Ossetia and you’ll see various artillery guns on standby.
• After arriving in the capital of South Ossetia, we’ll check into our hotel, drop our bags and freshen up before heading out.
• We’ll walk through the main city park and see the “I love Tshkinval” sign before going for dinner at one of the best eating spots in the city. If we’re lucky, we may even see the South Ossetian president who’s a regular here! We’ll order traditional South Ossetian chacha to toast your arrival in one of the hardest to visit breakaway republics on Earth!
• Overnight stay in Tskhinvali

Sunday 20th September – Tskhinvali – South Ossetia Independence Day

Morning

• Early morning start with breakfast at our hotel.
• We’ll begin a city tour of the capital city of South Ossetia. We’ll start at the former Intourist hotel of the Soviet era, still functioning but riddled with bullet holes and rocket blasts.
• We’ll then explore the former train station and the plinth outside that once held a statue of Joseph Stalin. After this, we’ll head down the main street and see the university. Outside is the turret of a Georgian army tank which was destroyed outside the train station before embedding itself in the concrete.
• We’ll take our prime spot to see the Military Parade. Representatives of all other non-recognized states, including the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics, will be in attendance alongside high ranking Russian generals. If we are lucky, South Ossetia will also roll out Grad launchers, tanks and artillery for the parade.

Afternoon

• We’ll then enjoy lunch in the form of food stalls from all regions of South Ossetia at the “South Ossetia Cultural Festival”, accompanied by live traditional music, dance and other performances. The South Ossetian president will be walking around with his delegation.
• To make the most of the celebrations, you’ll have time to enjoy the event at your own pace to mingle with the locals and take photos.
• We’ll meet up as a group in the evening to have dinner and watch the firework display.
• Overnight stay in Tskhinval.

Monday 21st September – Tskhinvali

Morning

• Breakfast at our hotel before we head out to explore South Ossetia.
• We’ll start by walking in the old town of Tskhinval. This is a harrowing experience as it has been left the same since it was obliterated in a Grad rocket strike in 2008. Some people still live here despite many buildings being in ruins. There is a former synagogue here and only one Jewish person left living in the city.
• Next, we’ll drive out to the Highway of death monument, a sobering ring of burnt out cars which were part of a refugee column fleeing the capital. Many were slaughtered in a rocket strike on the column and the memorial stands as testament to the war crime.
• We’ll drive along the lonely mountain road to Leningor, the second biggest city in the republic and inhabited by Georgians. On the way, we’ll be passing through stunning scenery and war torn ghost towns.
• We’ll stop at 8th century fortified churches on the way with stunning views of the Caucasus Mountains.
• In Leningor, we’ll see the local museum, medieval monuments, Soviet WW2 memorial and monuments to Pushkin. Here it’s possible to buy Georgian wine, brandy and bizarrely, even magnets saying ‘I love Georgia’.

Afternoon

• We’ll enjoy a traditional Georgian lunch in Leningor before returning to the capital.
• A genuine tour highlight, we’ll visit the vineyard of a former field commander and sample some wine. You’ll have the opportunity to hear stories and ask the commander questions (a rare and exclusive opportunity).
• Journey back to Tskhinval, on arrival we’ll head straight out for dinner and drinks to celebrate our epic journey.
• Overnight in Tskhinval.

Tuesday 22nd September – Tskhinvali – Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic – Mineralniye Vody, Stavropol Krai – Pyatigorsk 

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• We’ll have a free morning to explore the capital and pick up souvenirs.

Afternoon

• Picnic lunch during our journey to Nalchik, the capital city of Kabardino-Balkaria. Along the border South Ossetian – Russian, your guides will assist with immigration formalities.
• On arrival we’ll have a city tour of Nalchik before meeting Felix Nakov, a skilled master of the shashka, a North-Caucasian sabre.
• Group C members: tour concludes, on the arrival to Mineralniye Vody, YPT can arrange additional nights in Mineralniye Vody. We are more than happy to provide advice for ongoing flights.
• Group D members: arrive at your own leisure into Mineralniye Vody, located in the federal subject of Stavropol Krai, is well connected with flights from Dubai, Istanbul and Russia. Self-transfer to our centrally located hotel in Pyatigorsk.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel at 6:00pm to discuss the tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• Dinner and drinks at a local restaurant to welcome new group members.
• Overnight stay in Pyatigorsk.

Wednesday 23rd September – Pyatigorsk – Dombai, Karachay-Cherkessia Republic

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• We’ll begin the morning by exploring Pyatigorsk, which translate to “five mountains” and is famous for its mineral springs. You’ll see the famous spot where Mikhail Lermontov duelled with Nikolai Martynov and was shot.
• Explore Lenin square, war memorials, and appreciate the beautiful architecture including Lazarevsky Church. A few buildings from the Russian empire have remained despite the destructions caused by the Nazi occupation.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a local restaurant which serves delicious locally made dishes.
• Before we depart Pyatigorsk, we’ll get an epic group photo by the Lenin station.
• We’ll take the mountainous scenic route to Prikumskoye village and stop at our favourite winery. Here, you’ll get the opportunity to make – and taste! -wine and hear the interesting story of how the vineyard came to be.
• Once we’re ready, we’ll continue towards the Abkhazian border to Dombai, we’ll have breaks for rest stops and photo opportunities.
• On arrival to Dombai, a popular Russian resort town in Karachay-Cherkessia we’ll check in to our hotel and head straight out for dinner.
• Overnight stay in Dombai.

Thursday 24th September – Dombai – Karachayevsk – Arkhyz

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel before we check out.
• We’ll spend the morning exploring Dombai’s Soviet heritage before taking the cable car to Musa-Achitara Mountain. Here, you’ll get to see a hotel which resembles a Flying Saucer, an iconic gift from the Finnish president to Alexei Kosyginin.
• The journey continues to Karachayevsk, a beautiful town surrounded by the Caucasus Mountains. We’ll make a stop at the Monument to the Defenders of the Caucasus Passes during the Great Patriotic War.

Afternoon

• Lunch along the journey at a local café.
• On arrival to Karachayevsk, we’ll have walking tour. Not many foreign tourists visit this small town so it’s a great chance to interact with the locals.
• We’ll see RATAN-600, the world’s largest individual radio telescope by diameter. It’s not clear if it was used for military purposes during the Soviet era.
• We’ll continue to Arkhyz, locally known as Nizhny-Arkhyz. This was the medieval capital of Alania until it was destroyed by the Mongol Empire.
• Once we arrive, we’ll check into our hotel and head straight for dinner. For those inclined, we’ll head out for a few drinks in the local establishment.
• Overnight stay in Arkhyz.

Friday 25th September Arkhyz – Maykop, Adygea Republic

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• The space race between the United States and Soviet Union brought major advancements in science. We’ll visit SAO RAS (Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Science), which was build in 1966. The complex has a series of optical and radio telescopes.
• We’ll visit ancient churches built in the 10th century and explore rural villages.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a remote café while enjoying the beautiful views.
• We’ll continue on our scenic journey to Maykop, the capital city of the Republic of Adygea. We’ll make rest stops along the way and stop at scenic spots.
• On arrival to Adygea, we’ll meet Zamudin Guchev, an expert in Circassian music, culture and history.
• Evening walking tour of capital city. We’ll pass by the Grand Mosque, Holy Trinity Orthodox cathedral and we’ll get a traditional YPT-style group photo with Lenin.
• For dinner, we’ll head to a restaurant and have a few drinks.
• Overnight stay in Maykop.

Saturday 26th September – Maykop – Sochi, Krasnodar Krai

• Group E members: arrive at your own leisure into Sochi. The largest resort city in Russia is well connected with the Moscow, Dubai, Istanbul and the Caucuses. Self-transfer to our centrally located hotel.
• Group D members: on arrival to Sochi at 12:00pm by train and check into the hotel.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel at 12:30pm to discuss the tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a local restaurant, we recommend trying khinkali, a popular Georgian dish.
• We’ll being our tour Sochi, the largest resort city in Russia and has hosted the Winter Olympics in 2004 and FIFA World Cup in 2008 which saw major growth to the coastal city. Ochi still boats many historic Soviet monuments, architecture and mosaics and we’ll spend the afternoon discovering them.
• We’ll head out for dinner in the city, and for those inclined, a few refreshments at a local establishment.
• Overnight stay in Sochi.

Sunday 27th September – Sochi – Adler – Gagra (Abkhazia) – Pitsunda

Morning

• Early morning start with breakfast before we check out.
• Group D members: end of tour, YPT can arrange additional nights in Sochi. We are more than happy to provide advice for ongoing flights and trains.
• Early morning start with breakfast before we check out.
• Our morning begins at 8:30am. We’ll meet our local guide for an introduction on Abkhazia and a remainder of the guidelines we must follow during our time in the partially recognised Republic of Abkhazia.
• We’ll head towards Adler, a microdistrict which serves as border town between Russia and Abkhazia. It also hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics.
• Once we reach the border, we’ll disembark our vehicle for passport control, before we head into Abkhazia. Your guides will assist you with border formalities.

Afternoon

• Lunch at Gagra. During the imperial and soviet eras, this was a popular spa retreat due to its subtropical climate.
• Gagra has beautiful architecture, but we’ll turn our focus towards visiting abandoned derelict Soviet era buildings. Gagra experienced fiacre fighting during the war which ultimately led to the expulsion and genocide of Georgians in the region.
• Lake Ritsa. The beautiful lake is surrounded by mountain forest. It’s a perfect place to take a swim. Hidden deep within the forest is Joseph Stalin’s dacha which was used in the summer, and that we will visit.
• We’ll continue to Pitsunda, a resort town which was frequented by Khrushchev and senior officials of the Communist Party. We’ll make rest stops along the way.
• On arrival, we’ll check into our hotels and freshen up before heading out for dinner.
• Overnight stay in Pitsunda.

Monday 28th September – Pitsunda – Sukhumi

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel before we check out.
• Walking tour of Pitsunda, a popular destination during the Soviet era. Unfortunately, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, many resorts and buildings fell into disrepair. You’ll have the opportunity to explore some earie abandoned resorts. A perfect morning for Urbex lovers!

Afternoon

• We’ll continue to Sukhumi. Along the scenic journey, we’ll stop at a local village for lunch. It’s also a great place to purchase homemade wine and interact with the local community.
• New Athos Cave, often referred to as “Bottomless Pit”. This cave was explored in 1961. Due to its natural beauty and sheer size, it became a tourist attraction in the Soviet era featuring its own underground railway.
• Next, we’ll go for a hike up to Iverian Mountain and visit Anakopia Fortress. The strategic location was used by Leon I of Abkhazia against Islamist expansion. Nowadays the fortress is a popular place due to its impressive views.
• We’ll continue to Sukhumi, stopping along the scenic journey for rest stops and photo opportunities.
• On arrival to the capital of Abkhazia, we’ll check in to our hotel before heading out for dinner and drinks.
• Overnight stay in Sukhumi.

Tuesday 29th September – Sukhumi – Tkvarcheli – Sukhumi

Morning

• Leisurely morning start with breakfast at the hotel.
• We’ll head to the former coal capital, Tkvarcheli. The ghost town thrived during the Soviet era, however many inhabitants fled during the war and only a population of 35 remains.
• You’ll have the morning to explore abandoned apartments, factories and official buildings. A genuine tour highlight and a perfect opportunity to get eerie pictures.

Afternoon

• We’ll stop at a small café and grab some coffee and a light lunch.
• We continue to explore the region and visit more ghost towns. If we’re lucky, we’ll meet the very few residents and learn about the tragic events which took place here.
• We’ll take the scenic route back to Sukhumi taking rest stops along the way.
• On arrival, we’ll have some time to relax and freshen up before heading out for dinner and drinks.
• Overnight stay in Sukhumi.

Wednesday 30th September – Sukhumi – Abkhazia Independence Day

Morning

• Early morning start with breakfast at the hotel before we experience Abkhazia Independence Day in full.
• We’ll head towards the Memorial Complex to see the president of Abkhazia and important dignitaries and veterans lay flowers for the victims of the war. This will be followed by a ceremony with the Armed Forces of Abkhazia. Veterans and family members will pay their respects before the military parade. You’ll also see Russian Federation soldiers of the 7th Military Base joining the parade.

Afternoon

• Lunch will be at the many food stalls in Freedom Square. It’s also a great opportunity to interact with the friendly locals and veterans.
• Once we’re ready, we’ll explore Sukhumi, visiting important sites along our walking tour. You’ll have the opportunity to purchase souvenirs including flags, pins and Soviet relics.
• We’ll head back to the centre to catch the concert and see war re-enactments. You’ll also have the opportunity to experience the celebrations at your own pace and capture awesome pictures.
• For dinner, we’ll head to the restaurant for traditional Abkhazian food and a few drinks to celebrate our final night together.
• We’ll watch the evening fireworks before heading to the hotel. For those wishing to enjoy the nightlife in the capital, your guide can recommend a few places.
• Overnight stay in Sukhumi.

Thursday 1st October – Sukhumi – Sochi, Krasnodar Krai

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• We’ll depart Sukhumi and journey back to Sochi. Your guides will assist with Abkhazian and Russian border formalities.
• Once we arrive to Sochi at 1:30pm, the tour concludes. YPT can arrange additional nights in Sochi and are more than happy to provide advice for ongoing flights or trains.