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Pictures of Ay-Petri, Crimea

Ay-Petri is the name of mountain peak directly north of Alupka, as well as the plateau that it is on. It is just one of Crimea's many mountains, but what makes it different is the aerial tram that takes you there from the Black Sea coast at Miskhor all the way to the plateau ridge at 1200 m above sea level. Also, a road winds up the mountain from Yalta, with minibuses traveling to the top every half hour or so. Cyclists and people driving their own cars can also reach the mountain from the north (i.e. Bakhchisaray) when the road is free of snow.

The view from the plateau rim down to Yalta and Alupka is spectacular, and the weather is usually quite a bit windier and cooler than down below. In fact, Ay-Petri is the foggiest, windiest, and wettest location in Crimea, even though it is not the highest (maybe measurements haven't been made on those mountains). There is even a ski area that is popular among locals (see photo below). A couple of lodges or "turbazy" on the rim accommodate backpackers, cyclists, and spelunkers.

There are a lot of attractions at the top of the rim. First of all, you can climb to the top of Ay-Petri mountain in about an hour. There is a large tourist area at the top of the aerial tram with Tatar restaurants and locals' homemade wine. Also offered are tours of nearby caves (the plateau is made of limestone and is full of caves) and horseback riding.

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Ay-Petri from the north side Ay-Petri Plateau can be reached from the north via Bakhchisaray by car or bicycle. The road passes by 'Grand Canyon.' However, no public transportation uses this narrow road.	It's a long but scenic rise of 1200 m to the mountain plateau. Along the way there is a ski area with a few tow lifts that is popular with locals.	Ay-Petri ski area Here is a map of the slopes. Unfortunately, they are fairly far apart and can be inaccessible in bad weather.	I rode my bike up the road to the top of Ay-Petri from the north in early April. A 1000 m climb in altitude over 15 km with almost no automobile traffic
A weary cyclist pushes his bike up the last rise at the end of a long day	Apart from the paved road, there are also a couple roads like this down the mountain to the northwest.	Pigs and chickens graze at a remote forester's station high in the mountains	I had a pleasant descent on my bike through these beech woods.
Wildflowers	Close-up	The beech trees on the north side of the plateau are just beginning to bud.	The author at a rare clearing by the dirt road down the mountain.
Ay-Petri from the south side Looking towards the 1200 m cliffs of the Ay-Petri ("Saint Peter" in Turkish) range	This vertical face is reminiscent of Half-dome in Yosemite. This outcropping is only 600 m high.	Pines dominate these mountain slopes around Yalta. Crimea has innumerable microclimates and micro-ecosystems.	Limestone outcroppings above Alupka
Road to Ay-Petri The top of the road from Yalta. On the right side of the road is the Mountain Rescue Service lodge, where I like to stay.	Village centered around the weather station on the edge of the Ay-Petri plateau	Aside from the weather station, there are a number of Tatar restaurants and a couple dozen tourists in mid-April.	The station's queer weather equipment
Living on the edge at the Ay-Petri meteorological station. Below is Yalta.	Pine-covered crests of the Crimean Mountains above Yalta	Close-up of Yalta's shoreline. Yalta is smaller than you'd think — just around 90 thousand inhabitants.	Looking down the mountain towards the Black Sea, just a few kilometers away as the bird flies. In the upper left is Yalta.
Aerial tram The aerial tram rises from Miskhor (between Alupka and Yalta) to the top of the plateau.	At the top of the aerial tram a whole village has gradually appeared with dozens of identical Tatar restaurants, horse riding services, walking tours, and even a small hotel.	Needles of Ay-Petri mountain viewed from the top of the aerial tram. It takes 40-60 minutes to hike to the summit.	Close-up of the needles of Ay-Petri
Escarpment of Ay-Petri Mt.	Hikers tie scraps of cloth to this metal stand mounted into the rock at the summit of Ay-Petri. Beneath is Simeiz.
Mountain Rescue Service lodge My favorite place to stay up here	There are number of rooms here with different numbers of bunks, as well as an occasional sauna evening.	The lodge has bunks for 20 UAH a night and up. This is the oldest structure on the mountain.	Dog days at the lodge
Ay-Petri Plateau Late April	The same view in early June	The same view in early April	The grassland up here is reminiscent of Wyoming or Montana, with scattered trees and low hills.
A lonely car on the windy plateau	On top of the Ay-Petri plateau in March. This limestone plateau is covered with deep pits and caves	Looking towards the summit of Ay-Petri mountain	The Ay-Petri ski areas are usually open from January through March (read about skiing here).
On the horizon is a remote military base housed in huge white domes. It looks like a bunch of observatories, but it isn't.	The military base up close (it is off-limits to tourists and hikers).	My bike with the military base and impressive clouds in the background	Back on the Ay-Petri plateau, but now in June when the daisies are in bloom
Rocks and flowers	More views of the beautiful plateau	The weather on the high plateaus is extremely unpredictable. Thunderstorms, hail, and near hurricane-force winds are common, as well as periods of torrid heat.	"Start!" written on the road, presumably for a bike race or marathon.
They have been building a major gas pipeline up here on the plateau for many years now.	Birches bowed over by heavy winter snows. By the way, all these trees were planted 40 or 50 years ago. Before that the plateau had been used as pasture land.	Abandoned tires on the plateau	Sunset above the pines high on the plateau

All photos are the original work of Rick DeLong. To learn about purchasing originals, go here. Please contact me at before using my pictures for any purpose.