- Crimea parks
- Eco-paths of the Crimean reserves
- Hiking in the mountains
- On a note
The nature of the Crimean peninsula is fertile and unique: in a relatively small area, you can see a variety of natural landscapes, from beaches to alpine meadows. There are two different sea coasts - Black Sea and Azov, with different beaches and different temperatures and salinity.
Crimea has endless vineyards and lavender fields, mysterious cave cities and monasteries lost in the mountains, fortresses, amazing rock formations, lakes, waterfalls and even its own Grand Canyon. All this makes Crimea one of the most suitable areas for backpackers.
The settlements are connected by good footpaths, and for the most part they are also suitable for cycling routes. There are more than ten wildlife sanctuaries, reserves and national parks, there are very small ones - like, for example, Cape Martyan, and there are also very large ones.
Crimea parks
If you just want to arrange a walk for the whole day or for two or three hours, then you should visit one of the famous Crimean parks near Yalta.
- Nikitsky Botanical Garden is the most famous botanical garden, on the territory of which there are several park zones. You can walk along the coast, where there are palm alleys and attractions for children, you can walk around the Upper Park with an arboretum, or you can walk along the largest continuously blooming rose garden in Crimea.
- Massandra is a huge park in Yalta, a masterpiece of landscape design of the 19th century, laid out under Count Vorontsov. The second director of the Nikitsky Botanical Garden, Gartvis, helped to design it, so there is the same rich exotic vegetation and many rare species.
- Alupka is another Vorontsov park, laid out around the grandiose palace. Occupies more than 40 hectares, includes several ponds, waterfalls, fountains, garden buildings and pavilions.
Eco-paths of the Crimean reserves
The Karadag mountain range is the most beautiful in Crimea. This is a frozen volcano, however, it erupted for the last time in time immemorial. Now these territories are considered a nature reserve. The starting point of the route is the Karadag Museum, and it runs along the ridge through the pass at an altitude of 360 m above sea level: the Crimean mountains are not high, but picturesque. On the way, you can see all the famous sights of these places: the Golden Arch in the coastal water, and the Ivan-Robber rock, and the Gyaur-Bakh gorge. The route ends in the famous village of Koktebel, a favorite place of the Russian and Soviet creative intelligentsia. If you still have strength, you can also see the main attraction of Koktebel - M. Voloshin's house-museum. The length of the route is 7 km.
The smallest Crimean nature reserve is a small Cape Martyan and several meters of coastal waters. On its territory, there are thickets of relict juniper, which have been growing here for at least 700 years, there are wild forest orchids, mountain foxes and martens live, there is a specially fenced area where snakes live. The eco route includes a tour of the historical site - the ruins of the Turkish fortress Ruskofil-Kale. The length of the route is 6 km.
The Botkin trail is the most famous of the eco-trails in the vicinity of Yalta. It passes through a forest of mountain pine and past waterfalls on the Yauzlar River: there are two large waterfalls and several cascades. The trail leads through the Upper Yauzlar waterfall, and then to the top of Stavri-Kaya, "Cross Mountain", on which a cross is installed, and from which a beautiful view of the surroundings of Yalta opens. The length of the route is 4, 6 km.
The Golitsyn trail leads through the Novy Svet nature reserve and bears the name of the leading Russian winemaker of the 19th century, Lev Golitsyn, the very one in whose honor the line of Crimean sparkling wines is now produced. The road starts right from the beach in Novy Svet and goes along the Karaul-Oba mountain range. The trail is marked, but in some places it is quite steep, but it offers views of the sea. One of the objects, for example, is the Taurus Staircase, a staircase leading up from the gorge, carved right into the rock. Climbing it is not easy. The trail ends at Cape Kapchik and Golitsyn's grotto. This is a large beautiful cave, where in the Middle Ages there was a monastery, and under Golitsyn - a wine cellar. The length of the route is 5 km.
Hiking in the mountains
Green's trail is the most romantic Crimean trail, fanned by the name of the writer Alexander Green. It leads from the village of Stary Krym to Koktebel - once A. Grin used to visit his friend M. Voloshin. The path begins from the Saint Panteleimon spring in the Old Crimea, leads through several military monuments and the remains of a Roman road. The equipped tourist camp Armutluk will be met approximately in the middle of the way. The highest point of this trail, a mountain pass, is located at an altitude of 410 m above sea level, and on the way to it you will meet forests, forest-steppe, and steppe, and even a small mountain lake. The trail is considered "ecological", but be careful - until it is marked and equipped. The length of the route is 20 km.
The Lespi-Balaklava route is a simple mountain route, passing at an altitude of 1200 m above sea level. Its main point is the low "bird rock", Kush-Kai. Once upon a time, whole flocks of bustards gathered here, but now they are almost completely exterminated. But in the spring, wild peonies grow on the slopes of the mountain, and the mountain itself is a reef formation and was once at the bottom of the ocean. On the way, you can go to Cape Aya, which overlooks the Laspiskaya Bay. The route ends in Balaklava. The length of the route is 21 km.
22nd All-Union route - the most popular multi-day route of the Soviet Crimea runs from Bakhchisarai to Yalta. Usually its passage takes about a week, and along the way there are many attractions that can lengthen the path: the cave cities of Kachi-Kalyon and Mangup-Kale, the Grand Canyon, the Ai-Petri plateau, the Uchan-su waterfall. The last part of the route is the marked Taraktash ecological trail leading to Yalta. The route is very old, the campsites for overnight stays are well-known and equipped - many generations of tourists have stayed on them. The length of the route is 80 km.
From Rybachy to Angarsk Pass - another multi-day tour of the mountains: you can go through it all, or you can go through one section. It includes a visit to the two most famous peaks of the mountain Crimea: South Demerdzhi, and North Demerdzhi, Dzhurla waterfall, mountain lake Khun. The route is also well-known and civilized - along the way there are many springs where you can get water, and parking lots for comfortable overnight stays. The path does not pass through the territory of reserves, it is purely tourist: you do not need any permits, you can burn fires and put up tents everywhere. The length of the route is 95 km.
On a note
The recommendations are standard: it is better to go to the mountains in comfortable shoes and layered clothing. The weather can change several times during the day, the sun in Crimea is southern and with a cold wind it can be angry, it is better to take care of sunscreens. There are usually many springs on the routes, but it is necessary to have a supply of water with you.
Cellular communication, as usual in the mountains, is present around highways and large settlements, and far from civilization, it is not guaranteed. Not everywhere you can pay with a card, even many museums and ticket offices at the entrance to eco-trails accept payment only in cash.
There are no mosquitoes in the Crimea in the mountains, but there are quite a few on the coast and around the water bodies. There are poisonous centipedes and karakurt - be sure to check your shoes while hiking! Ticks also come across, so it is a must to have repellents with you.
