Trekking Tours in Crimea
*Plus a mountain bike tour
The treks presented here are organized by Kirill Yasko, an experienced mountain guide living in Kyiv. He speaks English, German, Russian, and Ukrainian and has led a large number of hiking groups in the mountains of Ukraine, including several groups of foreigners.
Treks are typically 7 days long. Participants will need to arrange travel to Simferopol themselves (train is most convenient), where they will be picked up at the train station and taken into the mountains. In the trek itineraries below, each day's hiking mileage is indicated in parentheses.
Kirill is very flexible in planning tours and can accommodate participants' wishes by modifying itineraries and routes. Don't hesitate to contact him if you would like to visit areas not covered by these treks or follow a different route or level of intensity.
Cost of tours
Payment is at the end of each tour. Prices are indicated in each trek description below. You will see that they are very reasonable, as they include all meals, transfers, and guide services. For the bike tour, a car escort is also included in the cost. Prices can change depending on changes made to itineraries and any additional services or activities participants choose to add to the tour.
Meals, equipment, conditions, etc.
All hikes are intended for normal people in good condition without special training. Average walking time per day is 6 hours. Participants live in tents and are expected to bring all necessary gear with them. However, equipment rental can be arranged if given prior notice. Meals are cooked on a fire. Food for three meals a day is included in the cost of each tour. Tour members carry their own belongings, carry water, and are expected to help gather firewood and tend the fire. Conveniences such as toilets and showers will be nonexistent. When you order a tour Kirill will take into account your preferences for routes, food, and service. You may go alone, with family (including children), or with friends. You can also take pets along. The usual group size is 6 to 15 people.
Schedule of Crimea Treks for 2010
Kirill now organizes treks around Crimea beginning almost every week starting in early April and ending in late October. The journeys described below are just a sampling of the wide variety of routes offered. Write to Kirill using the form at bottom for more information.
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Valley of the Ghosts 
A hike through some of the most mysterious mountains of Crimea.
Itinerary:
| Day 1 |
Arrival in Simferopol. Transfer to Perevalnoe village. Ascent to Chatyr-Dag Plateau. Visit equipped caves — Marble Cave and Emine-Bair-Hosar. |
| Day 2 |
Climb Mt. Eklizi-Burun. Descent to Kutuzov Lake. |
| Day 3 |
Angarskyy Pass, Funa fortress. |
| Day 4 |
Ascent to South Demerdzhi through Valley of the Ghosts. |
| Day 5 |
Dzhurla and Dzhur-Dzhur waterfalls. Haphal Gorge. |
| Day 6 |
Tyrke plateau. Karabi plateau. |
| Day 7 |
Descent to Black Sea at Rybachye village. Return to Simferopol. |
Price: 220 Euros
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Cave Towns
A hike through the ancient cave settlements of Crimea's hilly inland with a descent to the coast.
Itinerary:
| Day 1 |
Arrival in Simferopol. Transfer to Bahchisaray. Tour of Bahchisaray Palace and Uspensky Monastery. Chufut-Kale cave town. Camp by Beshik-Tau Mt. (10 km) |
| Day 2 |
Tepe-Kermen cave town. Visit Kyz-Kermen ruins. Descent into the Kacha River valley. Kachi-Kalyon Monastery. Camp by the river. (14 km) |
| Day 3 |
Hike through Crimean oak forest to the Chelter-Koba Monastery. Belbek River crossing. Syuiren Fortress. (16 km) |
| Day 4 |
Climb to Mangup-Kale plateau. Mangup cave town, capital of the Feodoro princedom. Camp next to the ruins of the city walls. (12 km) |
| Day 5 |
Descent to Adim-Chokrak Valley. Shuldan cave monastery. Eski-Kermen cave town. (12 km) |
| Day 6 |
Descent to the coast near Inkerman. Kalamita tower. Arrival in Balaklava. Camp by the sea cost next to the Golden Beach. (15 km) |
| Day 7 |
Chembalo fortress. Tour of underground submarine factory. Transfer to Sevastopol. (5 km) |
Price: 220 Euros
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Canyons of Crimea
A classic hike through Crimea's picturesque canyons and mountains.
Itinerary:
| Day 1 |
Arrival in Simferopol. Transfer to Sevastopol. City overview. Transfer to Morozovka village. Camp by the Black River. (5 km) |
| Day 2 |
River crossing. Chernorechenskiy Canyon. Hike upstream through the canyon floor. Camp in the canyon. (6 km) |
| Day 3 |
Leaving the canyon. Baidar valley crossing. Visit Skelska Cave. (16 km) |
| Day 4 |
Ascent to Uzundzha canyon. Hike through beech forest to the Teаhouse camp. (15 km) |
| Day 5 |
Descent to Silver Waterfall. Camp by the entrance to Crimea's Grand Canyon. (12 km) |
| Day 6 |
Hike through the Grand Canyon. Tthe Bath of Youth. Climb to the northern edge of Ay-Petri Plateau. (15 km) |
| Day 7 |
Ay-Petri Plateau crossing. Descent to the Uchan-Su waterfall through Taraktash Gorge. Transfer to Yalta. Return to Simferopol. (12 km) |
Price: 220 Euros
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Above the Sea
A hike along the rim of Crimea's highest mountains with the Black Sea ever in view below.
Itinerary:
| Day 1 |
Arrival in Simferopol. Transfer to Angarskiy Pass. Climb upper plateau of Chatyrdag. Rest at the top of Eklizi-Burun Mt. Descent to Saurgan Meadow. (5 km) |
| Day 2 |
Cross the Safun-Uzen River valley. Ascent to Babugan Plateau. Camp next to forbidden deer-forest. (10 km) |
| Day 3 |
Hike along edge of Babugan Plateau. Roman-Kosh Mt. (highest in Crimea at 1545 m). Gurzuf Pass and Arbour of the Winds. Camp at treeline. (12 km) |
| Day 4 |
Hike along plateau above Yalta. Taraktash Gorge. (12 km) |
| Day 5 |
Ascent to the Ay-Petri Mt. Visit oriental bazaar. Tour of Three Eye Cave. Descent to Besh-Tekne Hollow. (12 km) |
| Day 6 |
Walk through the Guerrilla Forest. Climb old Roman road to Shaytan-Merdven Pass. (15 km) |
| Day 7 |
Hiking along Foros mountain ridge. Tour of Foros church. Baidarskiy Pass. Descent to Laspi Bay. Rest at the seashore. Transfer to Sevastopol. (40 km) |
Price: 220 Euros
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Crimea Mountain Bike Tour
Cave Towns and South Shore of Crimea. A non-technical mountain bike tour around some of southwest Crimea's most interesting sights.
Itinerary:
| Day 1 |
Arrival in Simferopol. Transfer to Crimean Observatory. Lunch. Briefing, safety equipment. Uphill and downhill training. Bike trip in vicinity of observatory. Dinner. Tour of observatory and telescope viewing. Camp. (8km) |
| Day 2 |
Breakfast. Trip across Sel-Buhra to Tepe-Kermen cave town. Visit Kyz-Kermen cave town. Set up camp. Dinner. (18km) |
| Day 3 |
Breakfast. Transfer to Bakhchisaray. Tour of Bahchisaray Palace and Uspenskiy Monastery. Journey to the Kacha River valley and Tash-Air — an ancient campground with rock paintings (4000 B.C.). Set up camp. Dinner. (25 km) |
| Day 4 |
Breakfast. Journey to the Belbek valley. Lunch. Ride to Khodzhi-Sala village. Rest at lake. Climb to Mangup-Kale plateau. Visit the capital of Feodoro princedom — Mangup cave town. Set up camp near the ruins of the city walls. Dinner. (35 km) |
| Day 5 |
Breakfast. Passage to Ternovka village. Cave monastery Shuldan and Cholter-Marmara lookout. Passage to Black River. Visit 16th century fortress. Lunch. Black River Canyon. Swimming in lake. Set up camp near the river. Dinner. (35 km) |
| Day 6 |
Breakfast. Passage to Morozovka village. Lunch. Journey to Cape Aya. Descent to the Black Sea. Set up camp by the shore. Dinner. (30 km) |
| Day 7 |
Breakfast. Pass above Golden Beach to Chembalo fortress. Descent into Balaklava. Lunch. Transfer to Sevastopol. End of tour. (6km) |
Price:
290 Euros (with bike rental)
250 Euros (without bike rental)
book now |
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Inquiry and Trek reservation Form
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