The village of Dombay is completely unique. An immoderate heap of endless hotels, hotels and shops, sticking on top of each other, as if in an anthill and displacing the last remnant of the relict forest in the Dombay glade, undoubtedly spoiled it. This is not denied by themselves locals. But what is the view of the mountains?! Monsters under 4000 m with eternal glaciers come close and nobly allow themselves to be seen without separation from civilization. Plus the cable car. For people with handicapped Those looking to revere this natural power and breathe in the fresh mountain air, it is hard to imagine a more convenient place.

Dombai glade, pos. Dombay (Zubr with Karach.) Above the village, the Alibek valley extends to the peaks

Dombay village. Ahead is a view of the Amanauz (Evil Mouth) valley, with the summit and tooth of Sufruju, 3781 m and 3600 m (Sufruju - Tiger's Fang)

On the left is Ine Peak (Igla), 3455 m. on the right is Dzhuguturluchat mountain (Pasture of tours), 3921 m. In the middle is the Dzhuguturluchatsky glacier.

River Teberda (Convenient place). clean, big, wide

Cableway from the village. Dombai on the Mussa-Achitara ridge

Views from the cable car. Embodied power and splendor...

For lovers of more active recreation in Dombay there are also all conditions, especially in summer. In winter, there is nothing for a tourist to do here, you can’t really go anywhere, everything is littered with snow. At this time, Dombay is a Mecca for skiers. And the price of housing in this main season soars 10 times. And in the summer - grace. Housing shaft, private traders can find quite a cheap and comfortable haven. In 2013, Koshka and I rented a one-room apartment with all amenities for 700 rubles. per day. Cheaper than in our Mezmay. The main "mattress" routes are full of "elephant" trails, so it's impossible to get lost. Navigating them is easier than a steamed turnip. There are descriptions on the internet. Therefore, it is completely incomprehensible why, under these conditions, resort to the services of conductors, because of an irresistible desire to part with extra money, or what? The only caveat is the need for a border pass. Otherwise, you will have to limit yourself to the cable car and trampling in the very immediate vicinity of the village.

Amanauz valley. Ahead, behind the lake, the Amanauz glacier.

The end face of a glacier, from under which an already formed full-fledged river breaks out in a stormy stream.

Alibek waterfall

Top of the waterfall. To imagine the scale of the phenomenon, it is worth paying attention to the little man standing at the top of the rock, to the right of the water discharge.

The first time I met a real Russian red fly agaric in ... Karachay-Cherkessia.

Alibek glacier. The photo absolutely does not convey the atmosphere and color of the true reality. You have to see it with your own eyes

Turye lake against the backdrop of the Alibek glacier

View from reverse side, against the backdrop of Mount Semyonov-Bashi, 3602 m.

Valley of the river Ptysh. On the right is a long and soft-air waterfall Maiden's braids. The horns of Dombay-Ulgen stick out at the top.

Ptyshsky glacier

Overnight at the Ptyshsky glacier

Blueberry. In August it is full here. Like raspberries

"Valley, wonderful valley ...". Klukhor Gorge. Paradise place. Beautiful river, gorgeous meadows along the coast.

Lake Tuman-Ly Kol, or Trout is located in the Klukhor valley. The water warms up to 20-22 degrees. You can swim and dive more measuredly. Plus it's close to the highway. Therefore, it goes without saying that it is equipped for a picnic.

Baduk lakes, by analogy with Murudzhinsky, are located on the territory of the Teberda Reserve, almost reaching the village. Dombay. But unlike Muruju, these lakes lie lower, in the forest zone. Like our Kardyvach. Their essential advantage is a fairly close location to each other and to the highway: an hour and a half walk. Cool lakes.

On the way along the logs we cross the river Khadzhibey (Prince who visited Mecca on Hajj)

First Baduk Lake

Near a medium-sized and second lake, right on the shore, in a century-old forest, there is a cozy glade with a fireplace. The trees come close to the water. If on high-mountain lakes, where there are only stones and grass around, during the day there is often nowhere to hide from the scorching sun, then there are all the conditions for comfortable rest and overnight stays. Peace, tranquility and harmony reign around. I do not want to leave.

Second Baduk

The second lake against the backdrop of the Devil's Castle, 3300 m.

Third Baduk Lake

Goodbye, Dombay, the fairyland of the Snow Queen's castles, the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen...!

The nature of Dombay

The nature of Dombai is rich and unique. Gorgeous mountain forests covering the slopes. Below, it is mainly a park-type beech with an admixture of hornbeam, ash, maple; above, mighty tall beeches in several girths reign, slender majestic fir, occasionally there is a relic yew more than a thousand years old - the once famous igneous tree with dark noble wood . Above are wet spruce-fir forests with a special Pontic spruce, and on dry granite slopes - forests of pine-fir composition. Even higher - thickets of mountain maples, birches, mountain ash, many shrubs - hazel, honeysuckle, azaleas, barberries, wild roses, euonymus. In the upper floor of the forest zone and in the glades, there are thickets of rhododendrons and junipers, a lot of berries - raspberries, currants, wild gooseberries, blueberries, lingonberries and strawberries.

And in subalpine meadows with grass reaching two meters in height, and short-grass alpine meadows - the realm of flowers. There are many hundreds of them here. Different, completely different from each other. Some species have been known since ancient times and came from afar, others were born and survived only here. There are many "true Caucasians" among plants. Magnificent thickets of Caucasian rhododendron, a creeping shrub with strong glossy leaves and lush large inflorescences, with subtle shades of delicate wet petals. Herbaceous plants are innumerable. The characteristic flower of the highlands - gentian is represented by many variations - from azure blue and ultramarine to pale lilac, pink and white.

Primroses, anemones, bright saffron, bluebells are numerous. Beautiful pale crimson alpine chamomile and mountain asters, crocuses and tulip-like hazel grouse. Many species of saxifrage and succulents adorn the heated rocks. Even the stones in the forest and in the alpine glades seem to be in bloom, colored with a variety of mosses and lichens. The fantastically colorful alpine carpets of Dombay are also one of its main treasures.

This diversity of vegetation, wildlife, glaciers and peaks, the uniqueness of the nature of these places caused the creation in 1936 of the Teberdinsky state reserve, in which the Dombay site has a special, very important place. The reserve conducts a large nature protection and scientific work, extensive experiments are being carried out on the acclimatization of plants and animals new to the region. Experiments have shown, for example, that ginseng takes root and is cultivated quite well here, and sika deer, raccoon dog and Altai squirrel are already acclimatized from animals. Much attention is also paid to the conservation and reproduction of rare species of animals and birds.

In the forest zone of Dombai, wild boars and Caucasian deer, roe deer and lynx, stone and pine martens, squirrels, brown bears and wolves are numerous; chamois, Caucasian black grouse keep at the upper borders of the forest; among the rocks and stone placers there are partridges, mountain turkey - snowcock and a magnificent animal of the upper belt of mountains - the Caucasian tur. Eagles and noisy alpine jackdaws are common here. In the rivers, piercing the tight transparent jets, the beautiful trout swiftly overcomes the rapids, and on the smooth river boulders, here and there, a small white-breasted bird suddenly appears and disappears, fearlessly diving into a stormy stream. This dipper forages at the bottom of wild mountain rivers.

The bright spring sun gives birth to thousands of ringing streams from granular melted snow, the young greenery of the first grasses dresses the slopes awakening from winter sleep, trees bloom, cheerful bird trills sound in the clear blue sky, mountain peaks throw off their snow-white clothes, the spring festival sparkles with colors. Summer brings lush green foliage, thunder of rainbow-colored waterfalls, carpets of flowers, forest rustles, azure sunrises and regal sunsets. The life-giving air spreads with subtle aromas through the gorges, the sun's rays are crushed in the edges of rocks and turquoise blocks of icefalls. Autumn gives birth to a riot of colors and transparency of distances. As if by magic, huge yellowed glades in one night are covered with a continuous soft lilac cover of billions of crocuses, and morning grasses sparkle with sparkles of hoarfrost. Fairy winter forest conquers with the play of sun glare and diamond dust of falling snow caps, the crystal clearness of the graying peaks captivates the eye. Thick silent snowfalls from myriads of large soft flakes are replaced by dazzling sunny days, and untouched snows light up with a scattering of diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and rubies.

If earlier Russian tourists chose a quiet and a little lazy holiday in warm countries, now more and more people prefer leisure and unity with nature.

Dombai is perfect for such characteristics. This is beautiful place in Karachay-Cherkessia in the Teberda basin in the North Caucasus. Dombai combines picturesque nature, ski resort and adventure. You can go to Dombay at any time of the year. But experienced travelers prefer to go there during the cold season.

What to see in Dombai in winter? We will tell in this article.

A little about winter Dombay

Winter in Dombai is mild and cozy: there are no severe frosts - the temperature is from 0 to -2 degrees, there is a dense layer of snow all around - 2-2.5 meters. Snow splendor is preserved from December to March.

Despite the favor of the cold season, some attractions of Dombai become inaccessible in winter. In frost, you can not climb the glacier or go to the waterfalls. But at the same time, the ski season begins, which compensates for all this.

Ski holidays in Dombay

The ski season in Dombay lasts from December to March. Some manage to ride until April, but according to reviews, at this time the snow is already stale, heavy and sticky. February and March are considered the most favorable.

And here best places for skiing vary depending on the level. Of all the trails for beginners, those that are located on the southwestern slopes of Mount Mussa-Achitara are suitable. The route is calm, without steep drops. "Red" and "black" slopes for experienced skiers are located below the slope.

In addition to slopes of various steepness and complexity, on Mount Mussa-Achitara you can enjoy stunning views of the Teberda valley and. And also delicious food - next to each of the five lifts there are cafes, bars and kebabs with local food. Interestingly, the higher you climb, the cheaper the food will be.

Dombay nature and hiking

In winter, it is best to go to Dombay for those who are fond of skiing. But if you love nature and hiking and you have the opportunity to go to Dombay in the cold season, then you should not refuse. Of course, snow and slight frosts make many hiking trails inaccessible, but there are still places to walk.

Conventionally, winter tracks can be divided into those that are simpler and those that are heavier. If you are not confident in your abilities, then go to the already mentioned Mount Mussa-Achitara - you can get there with the help of a lift.

If you don’t mind walking a little, then go to the Dombay-Ulgen gorge. The road is simple and short, and its first section can be overcome by chairlift. cable car. Once in place, you can ride horses, get into the Reserve and walk through the coniferous forest to Russkaya Polyana. At the final point, a panoramic view of the Musa-Achitara ridge and the Main Caucasian Range opens.

For even more vivid impressions from winter beauty and spectacular photos, go to the Gonachkhir gorge. A small steep climb, a leisurely walk and from the gorge you will get to Tumanly-Kel lake.

Are you ready for the challenge? Visit Devil's Mill Canyon. It is called the most interesting winter route. The passage to the canyon lies through the Teberdinsky State Natural Biosphere Reserve. Entrance there is paid, but the amount is rather symbolic - about 100 rubles.

Once inside, you will walk along a marked trail along the Amanauz River. You will be accompanied by snow bridges over the river, frozen mountain streams, stone scree and beautiful views of Dombay.

Mandatory program: what to see in Dombay?

What to see in Dombay in winter? Of course, panoramic views of Teberda, Elbrus and the Main Caucasian Range. To a real coniferous forest with frosty and clean air. To the frozen wonders of nature. On easy mountain roads and bewitching narrow paths.

Any place on Dombai will be fine. The main thing is to be there.

The first thing you think about when remembering Dombai- This ski vacation. For some reason, in the minds of people, this region is presented exclusively winter place recreation. In fact, when the snows melt, the most interesting seems to be just beginning. Do you remember what spring is? Rebirth time. Time for a new life. So on Dombay everything wakes up by mid-April, everything is seething and sparkling with the inexhaustible energy of life. The hiking season begins in May. And believe me, you will have something to look at. The unique climate of the area and its unusual relief provide an interesting combination of flora and fauna and give rise to the most beautiful places for our eyes.

On these pages, I invite you to mentally walk with me along one of the most popular routes and enjoy some nature.

Alibek. The popularity of this place is explained, first of all, by the fact that you can visit it at any time of the year and in any weather. In addition, the route is not difficult at all. Are we going?

We will spend the first four kilometers of the way among the mighty firs and firs. It is not surprising. We are with you so far in the first climatic zone - moderately warm. Some coniferous beauties in the Alibek gorge reach a height of 45-50 m. But in Arkhyz you can also meet 60-meter trees.

In fact, Dombay forests are quite diverse. Where it is driest, the slopes of the mountains are decorated with pine trees. In the southern environs, they are diluted with oaks, aspens, maples and birches. Fans of indoor plants have probably already fallen in love with the azalea. Its wild version can be found in these forests. Do you know what a yellow rhododendron looks like? Exactly. It is bright yellow. And in addition to its sunny color, it has an intoxicating smell. You will certainly feel it if you get there in the spring. The uniqueness of this plant is also in the fact that it has been growing on earth for more than 3 million years. Just imagine, the first human beings admired these flowers. And now we have.

There are other centenarians in these forests. On floodplain areas there are yew groves. Some trees are up to 4000 years old.

There is even something to eat here. Fruit forests consist of wild apple, pear, cherry plum, sweet cherry and blackthorn. In the clearings there are bushes of hazel and honeysuckle. There are gooseberries, barberries, currants and of course raspberries - a favorite snack for a brown bear. By the way, yes. These terrible beasts are found here. But they behave quite peacefully. They feed mainly on berries, herbs and nuts. In early spring, the corpses of animals killed in avalanches are searched for.

But wolves and lynxes, also living in these places, are no longer so kind. They gladly absorb mountain goats, wild boars, chamois, and tours. Well, if you are not lucky, then they eat black grouse and mouse-like rodents.

There are other predators here: foxes, jackals, forest cats, stone martens. Sometimes raccoon dogs come in.

An interesting fact is that even special, acclimatized Altai squirrels are found in Dombai. Just do not confuse them with fluffy creatures that bear the funny name of a dormouse. They also live in trees and settle in hollows, but have rounded ears without perky tassels at the ends.

And the forest, however, ends. The exit is already visible. A few more words about mushrooms, and we will go further. And how not to say? The forests are extensive and there is a sea of ​​mushrooms: morels, mushrooms, champignons. Under the trees and shrubs, you can find boletus boletus and podobovki. Will delight white, russula and chanterelles. But there is a wonderful miracle here, Dombai. The pride of the Caucasian forest is a coral mushroom. Imagine a handsome man up to half a meter in diameter. I found one of these, and fed the whole detachment. They say it's really delicious. But besides that, he is also handsome. Composed of small plates, it resembles a flower.

Cereals dominate the meadows: motley fescue, reed grass. And if in spring the valleys are full of yellow bathing suit and blue gentians, then in June they are covered with the even white color of the tufted anemone. From mid-summer until autumn, they are again covered by a riot of shades, changing quite quickly. Either a pink mountaineer blooms, or a lilac-violet initial letter, which is replaced by an orange carpet of volodushki.

The higher the mountains, the lower the grass. However, the harsh climate does not affect the picturesque alpine meadows. True, the colors reach a special richness only by the middle of summer. The whitish blue of the snows is replaced by a blue carpet of Bieberstein bluebells. When it gets warmer, Ruprecht's yellow primrose takes over. Mountain violet is diverse in its shades. But let's not forget that the Alpine belt is primarily scree and rocks. Herbs with a powerful root system, such as a dense curtain, take root here. It looks like pads with closely pressed stems. She is not afraid of frost and winds.

Few animals are able to adapt to such harsh conditions. These are mainly hoofed mammals: tours, chamois, red deer and, of course, bison. After all, the very name "" is translated as "bison". There is even such a mountain Dombay-Yolgen (killed bison).

scary time civil war 1917-1924 for these powerful animals proved fatal. Of the 500 individuals living in these places, by the twenty-fourth year, only 10 remained. The last bison was killed by some poacher in 1928. It would seem that everything. To some extent, it is. Currently, about 2000 individuals live in the Caucasus. These are the descendants of bison once brought there from Askania-Nova.
The stone goat has large curved horns and special soft horn pads on the hooves. The dexterity with which these large animals (up to 150 kg) move along almost sheer cliffs is amazing. They can graze both at the very limits of the forest, and at the eternal snows.

Chamois. Her grace is sung in verse. From a distance, the silhouettes look really beautiful. Although in essence it is an ordinary goat with thin and not very long horns. In winter it is dark brown, turning red in summer. Is it hard for you to imagine what it looks like? Drive to and visit the Teberdinsky nature reserve. Outside its borders, chamois are practically not found.

Along the streams, along the banks of which the grass turns green, you can meet a female Caucasian red deer with a cub. The most beautiful and touching animal. Suffice it to recall the cartoon about the deer "Bambi". But adult males are not so defenseless. Their huge branched horns are a formidable weapon in the fight against enemies.

Let us mentally return to the clearing of Uzun-Tala left by us. In addition to the waterfall, the silhouette of Mount Sulakhat is perfectly visible from it. It resembles the profile of a girl lying on her back. The people made up a legend about this mountain:
The beautiful Sulakhat was born in a hardworking tribe of Alans. And this tribe was happy. The sun gave them a lot of heat. It filled rye and barley with its light. The meadows were green, and beautiful chamois roamed over them. But happiness does not last forever. Sadness came to these places too. Where the Alibek glacier lies impregnably, a passage was formed, along which prickly winds began to rush into the valley. The harvest was destroyed, the fields thinned out and people began to die. Sadness came to Sulakhat with the winds. But it didn’t sadden her that she was chilling without a piece of bread in her father’s house, while her lover fought the winds in. And the fact that she saw the tribesmen left without shelter and food. One day, hugging her father, saying goodbye, mentally, with her beloved and friends, she went to the glacier. Having prayed to the good spirits, she lay down along the ridge, blocking the way for the winds with her body.

Yes, the highlanders are a brave people. And who else could survive among the stormy rivers and overhanging glaciers? But let's finish our journey with you. After passing through the alpine camp "Alibek" we will find ourselves in the meadow of the same name. What colorful flowers can wait for us here, we already know. An indescribable view of the glacier opens from the hillock. This place is kind of a fork. Walking less than a kilometer in one direction, you can get to the waterfall.

Have you ever seen an ugly natural waterfall? It seems that these do not happen. Each of them is unique. Each has its own "face" and its own "character". Chuchkhursky waterfall is talkative, Alibeksky is mighty. In appearance, like a light cape, Ptyshsky breaks down from a decent height.

If you still have some time and energy left, we will take a walk to the Alibek glacier and Lake Turiem. Our road will run along the river. By the way, they are also enough. The main river Teberda, formed by the confluence of the river. Amanauz and Gonachkhir. In addition to these, the water artery of the region is fed by the river. Muhu, Small and Big Khatipara, Khadzhibey, Jamaga, Shumka, Ullu-Muruju, Gedez. An impressive list, isn't it? Teberda herself flows into the familiar river. Kuban.

Along the way, we will be able to see the Dzhalovchat glacier (alkaline crevice). It is named so for the lick salt found in these places, which is very attractive for tours. Ours called the glacier bilingual because it descends into the valley as if bifurcating.

We will walk past the thickets of Caucasian rhododendron mixed with undersized birches and maples. We will admire the Alibek gorge. A little lift and voila. A beautiful gem framed by rocks is Lake Turye.

There are three types of lakes on the territory of the reserve. Turie, along with Kara-Kel and Tumanly-Kel, belongs to the so-called moraine. They form in natural dams left by the glacier.

In the highlands, where glaciers either advance or retreat, bowls form in the solid surface, which are also filled with water. Such lakes are called cirque. They are distinguished by special purity and depth. These include about. Klukhor, Muruja, Khadzhibey, Azgek, etc.

The dammed Baduk lakes belong to the third type. They were formed as a result of a collapse that occurred about two hundred years ago.

We have very little left: to climb the snowfield and overcome the madder (accumulation of rock fragments). And so, our journey was crowned with victory. We can contemplate the largest and lowest located glacier in the Western Caucasus - Alibek.

Every year it retreats 1-1.5 m upwards. Here is another danger. The thawing surface is often slippery. And all because of global warming. Slowly but surely the glaciers are disappearing. Over the past hundred years, their area has decreased by almost 20 square kilometers.

Of course, we will not save the glaciers. But we can take care of the rest of nature. Just something you need to be careful and attentive during the trips. In order not to turn out like with bison in 1928, let's take care of the rare gifts of the planet Earth, one of which is Dombai, located in the vicinity of the Teberdinsky Reserve.

Dombay is located in the middle between the Black Sea coast and Elbrus. In both directions in a straight line about 65 kilometers. Perhaps this influenced the fact that Dombay is especially beautiful in summer. For three weeks I waited for a clear sunny day, so that the trip to the mountains would not be overshadowed by fogs and that all the peaks with which the Dombai glade is rich would be open. I managed to see the mountains of Dombay in all its glory!

Resort Dombay

At 9 am we crossed the border of the Teberdinsky Reserve. After 20 minutes, we reached the village of Dombay, from where we had to climb. From here from the village there is a stunning view of the beautiful Belala Kaya (3861m.) - one of my favorite photos))

Hotels and Hotels

Most resort hotels are open all year round. There are hotels in Dombay in summer, winter, spring and autumn for every taste and budget.

In general, Dombay has more than a hundred accommodation options. You can see them on our map.

Best hotels of Dombay

Budget hotels in Dombay

A large selection of apartments, cottages and apartments in Dombay glade can be found using the form below.

Not everyone knows, but in Russia, tour operators began to sell tours to Dombay. You can buy a tour on the following sites:

Amanauz - a river in Dombai

To get to the cable car, you need to cross the bridge. Here, through the rows of coniferous giants, the river Amanauz carries its waters.

Amanauz is a real mountain river. This turbulent molasses is the source of the Teberda River. By the way, Amanauz means “evil mouth” in translation.

From the other side of the bridge, a stunning view of Sofrudzha (3781m.) And the hotel "Crystal" in the village of Dombay opens.

Dombay cable cars

There is a developed multi-level cable car system on Dombay, we used the one that was called new. The network of cable cars in Dombay allows you to climb to the top of Mount Mussa-Achitara. In summer, the old and new lines of the cable car operate. Looking ahead, it should be clarified that the system is 4-level, i.e. with two transfers. Upon arrival in Dombay, we were at an altitude of 1590 meters, from here we had to climb Mount Mussa-Achitara with a height of about 3163 meters. On weekends in summer, Dombay is visited by a very large number of tourists and excursions. Getting to the lift as a savage in the morning is problematic.

Old pendulum cable car. On it you can climb only to the 2nd level.

Our ascent to the second level took place in a trailer that can be described as made in some kind of Swiss-futuristic style, in comparison with the native trailers of the Soviet period.

However, now, such booths can be seen in many places. They run in and out.

The Dombay cable car scheme is as follows.

Climbing to the top of Dombai

It was not even 10 o'clock in the morning when I was already at the second level - an altitude of 2277 above sea level.

From here in the rays rising sun the whole village of Dombai and the Alibek gorge are perfectly visible, a view of Ertsog (3683m.) And Dzhalovchat (3884m.) opens up.

The Ine peak and the Dzhuguturluchat massif (3921m.) are perfectly visible - in translation meaning "mountain over the gorge of tours".

Glacier on the crest of Mount Dzhuguturluchat.

Here we spend no more than 10 minutes and continue to climb further on open 6-seater seats. At the same time, we cross the old lifts from the top, also open, but 2-seater type.

A few minutes and we are on the third level. This level is the most equipped, there are various cafes and antennas.

The most interesting of the cafes - "3012" (apparently by the height of the location) looks like a stylized fortress of the Caucasian peoples.

On the way back, I dined here with trout for 200 rubles, I could not deny myself a little pleasure on such a beautiful day.

After lunch, I wandered for some more time, took a few photos, some of which for some reason very much remind me of Central Asia - Afghanistan-Pakistan, although I have never been there)))

Here the mountains move away, they become not so close, but now their entire huge array appears before their eyes - the Dombai glade. From here it becomes perfectly visible hiding in the Dombay-Ulgen gorge in translation, the killed bison - the highest of the mountains of the Western Caucasus - 4046 meters and its entire gorge. By the way, the very word "dombai" in translation from the Karachai language means "bison". Once there were herds of these animals.

The Amanauz massif (3757 m) is visible - in the photo on the right.

Glacier Dzhuguturluchat, Amanauz and Sufruju.

Semyonov-Bashi rises in all its glory (3608 m) and the border of eternal ice begins.

By the way, from the third level there is a stunning view of the entire Teberda Gorge, from where we arrived.

We had 3 hours of time - so much and so little to enjoy this beauty, plus we spent another hour on the descent.

Mountains of Dombay. Dombay glade from the top of Mussa-Achitara

But the climb is not over, further up, to the very top of Moussa-Achitara, another cable car leads. At the time of my stay there, the road had not yet been put into operation. They built it, but according to the old Russian tradition, she refused to work, and no one could understand why. In general, experts were expected from Switzerland, where this miracle of technology was produced.

Well, it’s not even the wilds of Mount Beshtau and not even Zhelezka, I thought and decided that I would climb, anyway !!

The climb went pretty fast. 10-15 minutes and I was already on top of Moussa-Achitara main mountain Dombay. The height was already over 3 kilometers. From here the whole valley of the Dombay mountains opened - Dombay glade.

Dombai glade is a place in the upper reaches of the Teberda river that unites several mountain gorges. The connection of the gorges Dombay-Ulgen, Amanauz, Alibek and Gonachkhir - form a circus, the mountainous territory of which is united under the name Dombay glade or simply Dombay.

Gorge Dombay-Ulgen

Far left - Amanauz - Sofruju - Belalakaya - Ertsog + Jalovchat - Far right.

Massif Dzhuguturluchat.

Alibek Gorge

Gorge Amanauz

Semyonov Bashi and the top of Mount Bolshaya Marka.

Teberda Gorge

You take a few steps and in front of your feet Teberda begins at the confluence of the Amanauz and Gonachkhir rivers.

A view of the Teberdinsky gorge opens.

Gonachkhir Gorge

You look to the east and the Gonachkhir gorge with the Main caucasian ridge on the other side.

The gorge is topped like a crown with the snow-white cap of Elbrus.

Mount Moussa-Achitara

Here, on the top, from where you can see all the mountains of Dombai, I spent almost an hour. I hung out in a chair of a non-working cable car, dined on a backfill, almost dangling my legs from a cliff at an altitude of more than 3 kilometers, burned out in the bright mountain sun and got incredible pleasure from the unforgettable views that the Dombay glade gives.

By the way, Moussa-Achitara is also known as Musat-Cheri.

Dombay glade contains an uncountable number of mountains, massifs and peaks. I tried to highlight at least the main, most pronounced peaks.

Summer Dombay on video

On our video Dombay in the summer. Climbing to the top of Mount Mussa-Achitara and the mountains of Dombay glade.

Dombai in summer. Descent down

Descending from the top was harder, because my way down ran through the remains of a snow cap, and the remaining snow looked more like heavily crushed melted ice. Sneakers are completely unsuitable shoes for crossing such a snowy tongue, even if it is a dozen meters wide.

Those who visited Dombai in summer, at the top at the foot of the glacier, can see how the Bieberstein bells grow.

The place where the rivers begin, if you look closely at the photo below, you can see a thin stream)))

Snow lies on the peaks all year round as if edging Dombai. In summer, the glaciers melt, from Mussa-Achitara there is an excellent view of the Dzhuguturluchatsky waterfall. He is certainly not the only one. Dombai is rich in waterfalls in summer, but not all of them are easily accessible.

On the left is Zub Sofruju, on the right is BelalaKaya.

I spent almost half an hour at the second level. I did not manage to find one of the symbols of Dombai - a hotel in the form of a flying saucer. But my search was successful. The "flying saucer" Dombai was presented by the President of Finland Urho Kekkonen. The opening took place in 1979. The hotel accommodates up to 8 people.

For the search, I was rewarded with herbs from alpine meadows. Dombay in the summer is not only mountains, it is also nature of stunning beauty!

How to get to Dombay

Dombay glade is a mountainous area in the Caucasus. There is no airport here railway. Nevertheless, getting to Dombai is not difficult. By the way, entry to the territory of the Teberdinsky Reserve is paid.

How to get to Dombai from Moscow

The fastest way to get to Dombai from Moscow is by plane. The nearest airport to Dombay is located in the city of Mineralnye Vody. About a dozen flights of different airlines fly from Moscow to Mineralnye Vody every day at any time of the day. The flight time will be 2 hours.

How to get from Mineralnye Vody to Dombay

Mineralnye Vody is a little more than 200 kilometers from Dombai. If you drive your own transport, that is, there are 2 roads, through Cherkessk or through. The road through the pass is more picturesque if you are not afraid of mountain serpentines.

As an option, you can rent a car, spend the night in Dombai, and the next day visit Arkhyz, adjacent to the Dombai glade. You can even go to Elbrus or to. In addition to Dombai in the summer in the Caucasus, there are a lot of places that you can visit on your own. Rent a car affordable prices can be on the website.

You can get to Dombay by train, through Nevinnomyssk. From Nevinnomyssk, and Cherkessk, Pyatigorsk and Mineralnye Vody, you can get to Dombai by regular bus from the bus station. Of the minuses, the bus goes to Teberda, where you need to make a transfer. You can view flights and purchase tickets.

You can take a taxi to get around. You can order a taxi to the airport on the website or by clicking on the form below. You will be met with a sign and taken to the doorstep.

At the resorts of Mineralnye Vody, you can also purchase a one-day excursion. Departure almost every day at 6 am, the price is about 1200 rubles per person. Individual excursions can be found.

How to get to Dombay by train

As I already wrote, getting to Dombay by train will not work. By train, you can first get to mineral waters, and even better to the Nevinnomysskaya station. From Nevinnomyssk by train you can get to the closest to the Dombai glade railway station in the city of Cherkessk.

Dombay or Elbrus? Where is the best place to go

To choose where it is better to go to Dombay or Elbrus, you first need to understand why? I must say right away that if possible, it is better to go there and there. Better than mountains can only be mountains. If this is not possible, let's consider several options to choose Elbrus or Dombay.

If we talk about skiing, then the Dombay glade is more compact, it is more convenient to get to the tracks, but the tracks themselves lose to Elbrus. However, we will not stop on vacation in the winter, since the article is about Dombay in the summer.

If this is your first time in the Caucasus and you can spend only 1 day on a trip, then feel free to choose the direction that is closer to you in distance. If the distance is about the same, then I would recommend choosing Elbrus. However, it is not only the most high mountain Europe, but also the highest mountain in Russia. Elbrus is not in vain considered the pearl of the Caucasus. On the cable car you can get to the very glacier, and there, if you wish and in good weather, take a snowmobile to shelter 11. You will not be able to see Dombai in the summer and visit the glacier. You can catch last year's snowfield, but this is far from a glacier.

If you are planning a trip to Dombay or Elbrus for several days, then it is better to choose Dombay. The infrastructure there is more compact, the service in hotels is slightly higher. The mountains are a little more picturesque and closer than in the Elbrus region. Dombai glade, and indeed the whole of Teberda, is considered a place where the air is useful for people with lung diseases. Here people were even cured of consumption. But on Elbrus there is not so much greenery.