Dombay mineral water bus. A trip to Dombay: what to do there in the summer
You can buy bus tickets on the following routes:
- Volzhsky - Dombay - Volzhsky,
- Volgograd - Dombay - Volgograd,
- Volzhsky - Dombay,
- Volgograd - Dombay,
- Dombay - Volgograd,
- Dombay - Volzhsky.
Distance to Dombai we travel by tourist-class buses of the brands "Setra", "MAN", "Mercedes", "Neoplan", etc., which will take you to the doors of almost any boarding house of the Dombai ski resort. Individual routes are not excluded either.
Trip to Dombay from Volgograd / Volzhsky will pass through the Rostov Region, Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories, the Karachay-Cherkess Republic and end in the village of Dombay (Sberbank stop).
During bus trip to Dombay, every 4-5 hours along the route, there are technical stops of the bus, during which passengers can use the toilet, buy something on the road at local catering establishments, and just walk in the fresh air. On the way with you an accompanying person who determines the place and time of stay.
Along the route Volzhsky / Volgograd - Dombay - Volgograd / Volzhskyare usually followed by buses for 42-47 seats. Sometimes, to Dombayare carried out flights to comfortable minibuses foreign production for 20 seats. Such minibuses are used for travel to the ski resort for small groups of passengers, or for small organized groups of tourists. All buses / minibuses are equipped with audio-video systems and air conditioning (heater).
HOW TO GET TO DOMBAY BY CAR?
If you have planned a trip from Volgograd to Dombay and back in your own car, then this is the best route to the ski resort.
Distance from Volgograd before Dombai is about 800 kilometers ... The travel time to Dombai from Volgograd and Volzhsky is approximately 9-11 hours, taking into account the average speed limit - 80 km / h. on the M4 “Don” highway, as well as the absence of obstruction on the roads and other unforeseen stops.
Possible route: Volgograd, Elista, Stavropol, Nevinnomysk, Teberda, Dombay. Prepare money in advance to pay for travel around the reserve.
- Heading to Elista. Distance from Volgograd to Elista is approximately 300-320 kilometers. The track leading to Elista has a good enough asphalt surface, but you need to be careful while driving and remember - bumps, holes and other defects are found everywhere!
- Heading to Stavropol ... The route from Elista to Stavropol will take approximately as long as from Volgograd to Elista... On this part of the journey, there will be no problems with power supply or refueling the vehicle's fuel tank.
- Heading to Dombay. Having passed Stavropol we get to the A154 highway, which leads to the ski resort - Dombay. It should be noted that the quality of the asphalt pavement along the route is quite good.
Actually, distance Dombay - Volgogradrelatively small and overcome on own car will not be difficult. Especially if you remember about all the sights and opportunities for a wonderful pastime.
When I set off on the train across the North Caucasus, I assumed, of course, that I would get vivid impressions. But I had no idea how much this region would hook me. How beautiful these mountains, passes, gorges will be ...
And in this article I want to tell you what skiing is. dombay resort in summer.
What does an ordinary person know about Dombai? That it is somewhere in the Caucasus, that avid skiers are trying to get there, that it is beautiful there. We went there with about the same knowledge. And here's what came of it.
Dombay: why it is worth coming here, even if you are not a skier
Usually, when they say the words "unique nature" to me, describing a place, I begin to suspect that it is not so unique.
Well, think for yourself: will it ever occur to anyone in a travel guide to Austria to emphasize the unique nature? I doubt it. For this is illogical, if only because in neighboring Germany and Switzerland it will be very similar. In general, all large mountains are somewhat similar. And the most interesting thing: having visited some of the big mountains, you fall in love with all the others in absentia. Have you noticed?
How to get there
By plane you can fly to the airport in Kavminvody. From the bus station of Mineralnye Vody you can take a bus to Teberda , and from there take a taxi or a bus to Dombai.
But the most pleasant option is, of course, to travel around the Caucasus, as we do in our car. We drove from the direction of Kislovodsk and drove out of the mountains onto the highway just at Cherkessk.
By car from Cherkessk (the capital of Karachay-Cherkessia) you will reach Dombai along the A-155 highway in 2-2.5 hours. And believe me - this will be one of the most beautiful roads in your life!
While we were driving, I involuntarily had associations with the same Swiss landscapes:
These paintings would be called “Alpine pastorals” if the minaret towers and rickety fences were removed. And add the bell towers of Catholic churches, coupled with the high-speed rail and autobahn.
By the way, one of the features of this region is cars without license plates. This is how local horsemen ride. The traffic police officers obviously do not touch them (wai, yes, all the same!), But with the camera that the federals put in and which captures everyone by state number, it is unlikely that it will be possible to agree.
Instead of cows with bells, lean stallions graze along the slopes along the road. It’s customary to be proud and admire horses in the Caucasus! As well as in, in Karachay-Cherkessia there is a subject for pride.
The existence of two separate breeds, Kabardian and Karachai, was officially recognized in 1935 - although in the first volume of the state herd book all Caucasian breeds were united under the general term "mountain". In 1943, after the repressions and deportation of the Karachais to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, all references to this people, including the name of the local horse breed, were cleared. Of course, the Karachai horses themselves continued to exist, but they were recorded as Kabardian. It was only possible to "rehabilitate" the breed as a separate breed in the 1980s, but the controversy still continues.
And we are already approaching Teberda - once the largest anti-tuberculosis resort in the USSR.
Teberda: say yes to nature
The resort is located at an altitude of 1300-1400 meters above sea level, in the picturesque valley of the Teberda river.
It is this resort that will become your transit point if you go to Dombai not by car, but fly by plane to the Caucasian Mineral Waters.
For a resident of large cities, Teberda will seem like a big village. But once it was from her that the tourist boom to these places began. Only then it was not skiers or lovers of trekking in the mountains who were eager to rest here. And people with tuberculosis, which they called "the plague of the 19th century."
The climate of Teberda is characterized by low atmospheric pressure, low humidity and high air ionization (50 times higher than in cities and on the plains). Another point is the special wind regime. The valley receives both fresh air from the surrounding mountains and warm air from the Black Sea. At the same time, thanks to the mountains, biologically active substances, phytoncides produced by plants - relict pines and meadow grasses - are retained in the valley. So this place is one great natural inhaler.
In 1870, in these places, the wife of Captain Kuzovlev, who was the right hand of the head of this whole district, was successfully cured of consumption. To celebrate, the captain built a dacha in these places, where his wife lived happily for another 20 years.
Another lucky man who was helped by the local climate from tuberculosis was Islam Krymshamkhalov, a Karachai artist and public figure. Having settled in Teberda, Krymshamkhalov became one of the main beautifiers of the resort. In 1910, a letter was written to the then governor of the Caucasus, Illarion Ivanovich Vorontsov-Dashkov, and the next year in Teberda, the construction of state-owned dachas, the prototypes of modern boarding houses, began.
In the same year, at the Pirogov Congress of Doctors in Moscow, Teberda was officially recognized mountain climatic resort ... So Teberda became an alternative not only to the Crimean, where domestic asthmatics and tuberculosis patients were traditionally treated, but also to expensive resorts and. Here they are, the origins of import substitution, friends :-)
The first Soviet health resorts appeared here in 1923, and in the 1930s Teberda turned into a privileged resort; large ministries and departments built sanatoriums here.
Even now Teberda has not lost either the status of a federal resort or its main advantages. The nature here is still defiantly beautiful, as we have personally seen. And it is through Teberda, like a hundred years ago, that the only road passes - the former Voenno-Sukhum road, now the federal highway A-155.
It is only 25 kilometers from here to Dombai (20 minutes by car).
And the closer we get to it, the more it seems to me that I am traveling again in the mountains of Switzerland ...
Because that pyramidal peak over there reminds me of the Matterhorn.
And here he is dombay settlement... It is located at 1600 m above sea level. This place is called Dombayskoy Polyana... Three gorges converge here. And accordingly, three rivers merge together - Alibek, Dombay-Ulgen and Amanauz.
The town itself is small. Just a couple of turns - and we are already entering the parking lot at the lower station of the cable car.
Dombay in the summer: what is worth visiting
Mount Dombai-Ulgen is the highest peak of the Western Caucasus (4046 m), which gave the name to the entire region. It is located east of the resort village of Dombay, on the border of Abkhazia and Karachay-Cherkessia.
Dombay has been known in our country as a ski resort since the late 1960s. In our time, in terms of infrastructure, the resort lags behind more modern competitors. But the prices here are more democratic, and the atmosphere is almost homey.
No sooner had we got out of the car than an uncle jumped up to us and, in a friendly way, offered us not to overpay for the ascent on the new cable car, but to ride on the old one, 300 rubles cheaper.
We looked at it ... Maybe it is romantic, of course, but I don't want to risk it. We go to the ticket office of the new cable car.
Prices for a new lift
One climb for 3 stages costs 1050 rubles. Winter ski passes (judging by the price list at the checkout) were as follows: 1 day - 1600 rubles, 2 days - 2840, 3 - 3910 rubles. Very sincere, compared to the prices in Krasnaya Polyana.
The rise starts from the 1590 mark, which is already quite a lot. The first stage of the cable car - up to a mark of 2277 meters - is a gondola, i.e. 8-seater closed booths. And the view from them to the valley opens like this:
At 2277 meters, you can walk a little, take pictures and gather courage if you are afraid of heights - there will be a chair lift further.
If you love hand-made souvenirs, then great shopping is also waiting for you here:
Yes, and before boarding the wheelchair, it is worthwhile to warm up - the temperature upstairs will be 10 degrees lower than in the valley. So take your last chance.
We pass to the chair. Of course, there are no waiting lines for boarding.
We rise higher and higher. So a snowball appeared on the track. You can't see the snow cannons, which means it's a natural product, as they say.
As I learned later, after returning from Dombai, the artificial snowmaking system had already been purchased and will appear on the ski slopes of the Dombai resort in December 2018, by the beginning of the new winter season.
In the meantime, we admire the natural beauties. The landscapes are simply breathtaking! How can this be conveyed in words?
True, the sight of people traveling in the opposite chairs is a little alarming - they are wrapped in clothes, like the Germans near Moscow:
But after Elbrus, which met us with a blizzard, we are no longer afraid.
Why is it worth taking the cable car in the summer
Dombai glade and the surrounding mountains are legendary places. For climbers, Dombay is generally a cult place. It was with them, the climbers, that the development of the region began in the pre-war years. The skiers came later. But it is for them that money is now being invested in the infrastructure of the region.
Although it is the old recognizable views that remain the hallmark of Dombai. Like, for example, that hotel in the form of a "flying saucer":
In this regard, local guides will definitely tell you the legend of how the aliens once landed on this place, and they liked it so much that they changed their minds to fly away and parked their "ship" here forever ... Well, looking at the panoramas of these mountains, willingly believe it.
Along the way, I note for myself that tracks on Dombai not difficult: rather wide and not too steep on the slope.
We are approaching 3035 meters above sea level. It's cool here, of course, and warm things save you. You can go another 200 m higher in a chairlift. But for now we decide to look around here.
First, let's go to capture an excellent view of Mount Belalakaya:
If you, like us, have seen many mountain resorts during your tourist century, and in your archive there are 100,500 photos with mountain views, then this inscription will remind you exactly where you enjoyed panoramas of snow-capped peaks.
There are unpretentious cafes here, where skiers seem to dine.
Tourists with pretensions will definitely not be enthusiastic about visiting such "authentic" establishments. I'm not even talking about the toilet, which hangs over the abyss (note - the cost of a visit is 30 rubles):
There are also about a dozen different souvenir stalls here - what if, for complete happiness, you urgently need that cute hat with ears?
But this is understandable, everything is as it should be. Where there are tourists, there are souvenirs.
But what this guy was doing at the ski resort with two guns in his arms - we still didn't understand:
We pass it forward and wait for the next chair. We decided not to climb another 200 meters: everything was sunk in a cloud, visibility was zero, and we did not smile at all to freeze on the chair.
On the way down, a piercing wind blows in the face. But we still manage to make a couple more beautiful shots:
Below we are overtaken by a feeling of hunger, and in search of food we go to the other side of the river, across the bridge:
How much does it cost to eat at Dombai
On the other side of the river we find stalls and a couple of cafes standing in a plump.
The prices for food in Dombai in summer and winter are almost the same and depend on the level of the institution. Our favorite khychins cost from 100 rubles in a cafe, from 130-200 rubles in a restaurant. The main fillings are meat, potatoes, cottage cheese or soft cheese with herbs. But you can't guess with them: they can serve small ones, where the cat cried to fillings, or, on the contrary, they can bring such that one can eat up with this snack.
The main dishes include: river and lake trout (from 250 rubles per serving, usually one big fish), the same cost is mountainous and Karachai-style meat. A teapot of mountain tea with honey or jam - from 150 rubles. Lagman and shurpa usually from 150 rubles per serving. In general, you can eat in a cafe from 500 rubles for two.
What to see in the vicinity of Dombai
And we begin to desperately regret that we did not take another couple of days to visit Dombai ...
Some attractions are accessible by our car - roads are paved to them. However, the bus cannot travel along the mountain roads, so there are no large groups of tourists at these sites. Some of them, as we were told, will have to walk on foot along the picturesque mountain trails.
In general, summer holidays in Dombai can turn out to be very, very diverse, there is no shortage of excursions and entertainment.
Prices for some activities: ATV rental - about 2000 rubles; horseback riding - from 1000 rubles per person; fishing - from 500 rubles
There is one nuance: many natural beauties of the Teberda Biosphere Reserve, in addition, the border with Abkhazia is located nearby. Therefore, the scheme here is the same as in Krasnaya Polyana: if you go on these routes, you will have to issue a pass to the border zone. Previously, it had to be done in advance (2-3 days) in Cherkessk, but now you can get it directly from the forester on the route. But you need to have your passport with you and fill out a form. This is done for free.
But the trails in the reserve are paid. The cost of the pass is 100-150 rubles. Agree, it's not much if all these lakes and waterfalls are really as beautiful as in the photos in travel brochures.
Where to stay in Dombai
There are quite a few guest houses and hotels in Dombai. All of them differ from each other in the level of accommodation, the quality of the services provided. However, all Dombai hotels are famous for their Caucasian hospitality and homeliness. The price level in the summer and winter months is of course different.
In the off-season, a double standard can be found from 1300 rubles, in winter the cost of rooms in most hotels starts from 2000 rubles. Modest apartments cost from 2 thousand rubles, a higher level - from 4 thousand. As a rule, prices go up by the New Year.
In Dombai, we rested in the off-season (May 2018) and, choosing options for ourselves, looked at the following hotels:
- Chateau Leopard
- Hotel National
- Crystal Hotel
- Meridian
- Andersen Hotel
- Hotel Gonachkhir
If you need something simpler, you can ask the price of these options:
- Hotel Sokol
- Dombai's crown
- Star
- Altair-Dombay
- Sky Hotel
- Hotel Stella
If you do not want to independently organize your vacation in Dombai, then you can buy a ready-made tour.
All hands on deck!
In general, if you plan your vacation in Dombai not during the ski season (and here it lasts from December to April), get ready for dizzying mountain trails and incredible adventures. And take at least a week to your vacation!
Because now, after returning from this region, I have already made a whole list of why I want to return there. If you are also a supporter of outdoor activities, then these places will also capture you ...
I look forward to your comments and questions.
See you on the blog!
Distance from Moscow to Dombai - 1,615 km along the shortest path. Direct, direct access to the ski resort is possible only by car. You need to fly through the third city - Minvody or Stavropol. You can also get there by train with a change at one of the stations of the North Caucasian Railway.
As for the tourist bus from Moscow to Dombay, here you need to look at the proposals of specific companies. For example, in 2018 tours to Dombay and Elbrus region were offered by the tour operator Ankor.
From Moscow to Dombay by car
There are several route options. The first one is along the Don highway M4 through Rostov-on-Don. In this case, the distance from Moscow to Dombai by car will be 1,615 km. Drive about 20 hours.
The second option is through Volgograd. This is 1,760 km of track and a day's drive.
In the first case, on the way along the highway there will be toll sections and some difficulties. It is especially problematic to travel during the summer months when working people flock south to spend their vacations by the sea. You can read more about the route along the Don highway in this tip.
In the second case, the disadvantages are the increase in mileage and some difficulties when overtaking on a two-lane road.
We offer a detailed description of the route with travel time:
Description of the route Moscow - Dombay
The length of the route between Moscow and Dombay: 1,770 km
Estimated travel time: 1d 4h 12m show route description
Rent a Car
A rented car is an alternative to own transport. A car can be rented for the entire stay. Below is the Rentalcars search form for the main offers from rental offices.
Car rental search
Find a travel companion
Most likely, on the Moscow - Dombay route, you will find a fellow traveler who is ready to take a couple of passengers on board. To see who offers rides and at what time, go to Blablacar.ru. This is the largest community of fellow travelers. You need to register on the site, indicating, among other things, your contact information.
Find fellow travelers on BlaBlaCar
Airplane Moscow - Dombay
The Dombay village is located in the very center of the main Caucasian ridge, so it is clear that there is no airport here. The closest airport complexes to the ski resort are located in Mineralnye Vody (210 km) and in Stavropol (230 km). Let's take a closer look at how to get from Moscow to Dombai by plane.
Through Mineralnye Vody
Fare to Nevinnomyssk: in reserved seat - 2 300-2 900 rubles, in a compartment - from 2 770-3 820 rubles, in NE - from 7,000 rubles.
Price run for tickets to Minvod: in reserved seat - 2 420-2 900 rubles, in a compartment from 2 760-4 020 rubles, in NE from 7 880 rubles.
Buy a train ticket
You can buy a boarding pass at the ticket offices of railway stations, as well as on the Russian Railways website. You will need to register a personal account on the site.
If you do not have time or desire to register, then the easiest option is to use the services of a ticket sales service. The search form is shown below. You can get your boarding pass at the ticket office of the station, but trains on the Moscow - Dombay route have electronic registration, so you don't need to print anything.
According to passengers' reviews, purchasing tickets on the Tutu.ru website has a number of advantages:
- The site is easy to use, simple and accessible, it is easy to understand the purchase form the first time.
- The process of purchasing a ticket takes only a few minutes and there is no need to go to the station of departure and stand in line for a ticket.
- Possibility to choose a carriage and seat.
- You can pay for the train ticket in cash or by credit card online.
- Cashback and promotional codes allow you to save on ticket purchases.
- Reliability: confirmation of the purchase of an electronic train ticket is received by e-mail or by SMS with an enclosed coupon for boarding and a lot of information links (for example, to your personal account), as well as technical support phone numbers. A few hours before departure, SMS reminders with detailed information about the trip (station of departure, time, train number, carriage and location) are sent to the phone number you specified.
- After purchasing a ticket, the Tutu.ru service offers free discount coupons in various online stores.
Search for tickets to Nevinnomyssk:
From Nevinnomyssk to Dombai there is a bus to Teberda (07:20, 10:30). Travel time is 4 hours. Ticket price - 420-460 rubles... You can buy it on the same Stavavto website. The bus station is a half hour walk from the station. From Teberda to Dombai, as already mentioned, there are minibuses and taxi drivers.
Tickets to Minvod:
