• 1 day trip
• Bus-trip
• Karachaevo-Cherkessia
• North Caucasus
• Russia
• Еxcursions

Departure from Nalchik at 06:00 in the morning from city center.

Dombay or Dombay glade is a very picturesque place in the south of Karachay-Cherkessia Republic. This village lies at an altitude of 1590 meters — in a valley surrounded by snowy peaks of the Main Caucasian Range. This is not only a ski resort, but also a great vacation spot in any season. The beauty of nature combined with the power of the elements, the riot of colors of nature — yellow-red-green foliage, dark mountains with white sharp peaks and all this is covered with forests on the slopes. And the whiteness of waterfalls falling from a height, and yellow-green gorges in which you feel that there is such a power of nature around, against which a person is just something small. The aroma of fresh air directly burns the lungs to a cough, as if in reproach to city life. A special sacrament is mountain lakes untouched by civilization … transparent blue and cold. When you get to Dombay, you realize how quiet everything is, and most importantly majestic and monumental. Beautiful picturesque nature, the purest mountain air, frozen mountain rivers, friendly and very hospitable locals, and of course the magnificent, mighty, huge and legendary Caucasus Mountains.

Dombay belongs to the all-season tourist complex: from December to April, ideal conditions are created for active skiing on the slopes, May — August is the time for hiking, early autumn is the “velvet” season, and only October and November are the calm season. Of course, the winter season is most popular with dashing riders and beginners in skiing. The weather on the slopes at this time is quite comfortable: during the day the average temperature is about -5 degrees.

In the area of ​​Dombai, the Main Caucasian Range is so close to the Black Sea that on clear days, from many peaks, the sea expanse can be seen behind the green slopes of Abkhazia. The mountains frame the Dombai glade with a solid wall. In the east it is Buu-Yolgen (translated killed deer), in the south-east — Dombay-Yolgen, the highest peak of the Western Caucasus (4048 m), and Ptysh. In the south — Dzhuguturlu-Chat (Rookery of Turs goats), in the south-west and west — Amanauz-Bashi, a huge rocky Belalakaya pyramid, as if floating in the sky, curved like scimitar, Sofrudzhu tooth, striking with its regularity Ine (Needle) peak, in the east proud Ercog and Sulakhat.

The end points of the gorges Semenov-Bashi and Moussa-Achitara are the most popular «horizons». From the highest point of Moussa, you can see the entire Western Caucasus. It is visible from the snowy trapeze of Gvandra in the east to the black saw of Kara-Kaya in the west.

Mount Mussa-Achitara (Dombay) — cable car, peak height Mussa-Achitara 3012 meters. Its name is translated into Russian as «Moussa’s cry». There is even a sad legend about it.

Once Moussa stole a large herd and without difficulty drove it along the gentle slopes of the mountain to the very top. The joy of gain had already taken possession of him, but suddenly he saw that on the other side the mountain was rocky and had no descent, and then Moussa fell to the ground and wept.

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Dombay glade

After a short stop and memorable photos at the lake, we go further to the Dombay glade, where we will spend the whole day. On the glade it will be possible to climb on the cable car.

Ski lifts of Dombay are a net of cable cars that allow you to climb to a maximum height of 3168 m above sea level. Today, the old line of chairlifts and the new modern ski lift complex are in operation.

Dombay is not just a popular ski resort in Russia, but also a unique nature reserve visited by tourists from all over the world. The developed infrastructure of the tourist site allows to visit thousands of guests a year. In the winter season, Dombay is attractive for skiers, in the summer it is a tourist and mountaineering center. People come here not only to relax, but also to train and compete.

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Moussa-Achitara cable-cars

The main reason why the peak is actively visited is the cable car, which allows you to climb from 1577 meters (the height of the lower station in the village) to 3012 (the upper station) in 20 minutes. From here you can take a 4-seat chairlift almost to the top. In addition, there is a ski resort in winter.

The cable car from the village rises to the very top of Moussa-Achitara. In clear weather, even Elbrus is visible from it. And as you rise, a picturesque panorama of the Dombay glade opens — Dombay-Ulgen, Ine peak, Sofruju tooth, Belalakaya, Semenov-Bashi and other peaks of the Main and other ridges. Views of the glaciers, especially Dzhuguturlyuchatsky and Alibeksky, open up from here.
From the 3rd and 4th lines it is good to admire the views of the Dzhuguturlyuchat waterfall, which originates from the glacier of the same name.

From a height of 3012 meters, you can see a view of the opposite side of the ridge — the valley of the Gonachkhir River and the peaks that cover Arkhyz.

There are other attractions on Moussa-Achitara :
• The inscription «I love Dombay» against the backdrop of the Main Caucasian Range.
• Hotel «Plate». Appeared on the slope in 1979 as a test sample. Operates only during the winter season. Since 2017, Plate has been raised to a height of 2500 due to the construction of a new cable car line.
• Numerous cafes and souvenir shops.

Drive back to Nalchik

After a day full of emotions and pleasant memories, we set off for Nalchik.

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