A comfortable tour to North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya, and Dagestan

Day 1 Introduction to North Ossetia

After meeting your guide at the airport, you will head into the mountains, stopping for lunch at a café along the way.

You will visit Dargavs, the "City of the Dead" — the largest medieval necropolis of tower-tombs in the North Caucasus.

Crossing the Kakadur Pass, you will arrive in the Kurtatin Gorge. According to legend, this is where the brothers Kurt and Tag lived, ancestors to over 100 Ossetian families. After seeing the reconstructed towers of the brothers, you will ascend to the Dzhivgis Rock Fortress and visit the Alan Holy Dormition Monastery — the highest-altitude monastery in Russia.

By evening, you will return to Vladikavkaz for hotel check-in, followed by dinner.

Route distance: 100 km by car.

Day 2 Medieval towers of Ingushetia and transfer to Grozny

After breakfast, you will travel to the mountains of Ingushetia. The Ingush people are renowned as master tower builders — the diversity, number, and seamless integration of these structures into the landscape are astonishing. The latest towers, built in the 17th–18th centuries, are true skyscrapers of Caucasian architecture.

You will visit the Dzheyrakh Gorge and explore the Egikal tower complex, which includes about 50 residential and military towers, as well as several crypts. Remarkably well-preserved, they have stood empty since the deportation of their inhabitants.

Next, you will take a walk near the Vovnushki tower complex. It was built on impregnable cliffs in the narrow gorge of the Guloy-Khi River, on a branch of the Silk Road. Nearby, the 10th-century Christian temple of Tkhaba-Yerdy has survived. It is a fascinating example of the interweaving of architectural and cultural traditions.

In the late afternoon, you will arrive in Grozny. After checking into the hotel, you can take a walk through the Chechen capital.

Route distance: 200 km by car.

Day 3 Lake Kezenoyam and the ancient town of Khoy

In the morning, after breakfast, you will set off for the largest high-mountain lake in the Caucasus — Lake Kezenoyam.

On the way, you will make a stop at the largest mosque in Europe, "Pride of Muslims," in the city of Shali. The mosque occupies a five-hectare site. Its dome is 43 meters high, and its four minarets are 62 meters tall. A park with 12 fountains is located next to the mosque. The exterior is finished with white marble, and the interior decoration is done by hand. You will also visit the "Mother's Heart" mosque and see the monument to the "Chechen Robin Hood," Zelimkhan Kharachoevsky, and the "Maiden's Braid" spring.

Upon arrival at the lake, you will have lunch and then explore the surroundings. You will visit the reconstructed ancient town of Khoy. This "town of guards" was founded in the 9th century and served as an eastern outpost of Chechnya. Here you will see examples of Vainakh architecture and the ruins of residential and military towers.

After visiting the town, you will have some free time for activities — you can go horseback riding, boating, or zip-lining. Then, you will check into the tourist complex.

In the evening, you will have dinner at the complex's restaurant.

Route distance: 100 km by car.

Day 4 Excursion through the Argun Gorge

After breakfast, you will depart for an excursion through the Argun Gorge. Your first stop will be at the "Meeting Place" spring, where you will learn the story behind this romantic name, followed by a stop at the picturesque Nikhaloy Waterfall. Over many years, a small mountain stream has cut the mountain in two, forming a zigzagging canyon.

During this excursion, you will also visit the Ushkaloy watchtowers carved into the cliffs. These twin towers marked the border between the Chechen societies of Shatoy and Chanti. A toll was charged for passage, and signals about approaching enemies were given from here. Lunch will be at a café in the village of Itum-Kali.

By evening, you will arrive in the settlement of Veduchi, where you will check into a hotel, have dinner, and rest.

Route distance: 90 km by car.

Day 5 Open-air museum "Phakoch" and Grozny city tour

After breakfast, you will visit the local history museum in the village of Itum-Kali. Then, you will explore the "Phakoch" castle complex — a true open-air museum. Here you can see residential and military towers, as well as everyday Chechen objects.

After the tour, you will head to Grozny for lunch. Following hotel check-in, you will take a walk through the Chechen capital. You will visit the "Heart of Chechnya" mosque, stroll through Flower Park and along Esambayev Boulevard.

In the evening, you will have dinner at a restaurant.

Route distance: 170 km by car.

Day 6 Sulak Canyon

After breakfast, you will transfer to Dagestan. You will visit a viewpoint overlooking the Sulak Canyon — one of the deepest in the world (1920 m). You will stop for lunch at a roadside café.

After lunch, you will take a boat trip on the Chirkey Reservoir. Then, you will transfer to the village of Gunib for hotel check-in. In the evening, you will have dinner and rest.

Route distance: 250 km by car.

Day 7 Gunib excursion and the ghost village of Gamsutl

In the morning, after breakfast, you will head to one of the most atmospheric places in Dagestan — the ghost village of Gamsutl. It is located on a mountain ridge at an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level. This ancient Avar settlement is over 2000 years old. The village was finally abandoned in 2015, and since then, this picturesque site has attracted photographers and history enthusiasts.

Lunch will be at a café where you can appreciate the features of Avar cuisine.

Next, you will have an excursion to the village of Chokh. Amazingly beautiful, Chokh is one of the oldest villages in the North Caucasus, where a Neolithic site was discovered in the mid-20th century.
You will then return to Gunib for a walk through the village. Gunib is primarily associated with the last stronghold of Imam Shamil and his capture. This is where the Caucasian War of 1825-1859 ended. Essentially, Gunib is the unofficial capital of inner-mountain Dagestan. During the tour, you will see the gazebo of Imam Shamil and the historical memorial from the Caucasian War period — the Tsar's Meadow.

Route distance: 50 km by car.

Day 8 Walking tour of Derbent

In the morning after breakfast, you will transfer to Derbent, one of the oldest cities on Russian territory. The city's continuous history spans approximately 2000 years, with the first settlements appearing here as far back as 5000 years ago.

Upon arrival, you will have lunch and set off for a walk through the Old Town. You will see the Naryn-Kala Citadel, the historic districts (mahallas) of Derbent, and the walls of the oldest mosque in Russia — the Juma Mosque, built in the 8th century.

In the evening, you will check into a hotel for dinner and rest.

Route distance: 220 km by car.

Day 9 Departure

After breakfast, you will transfer to Makhachkala airport for your departure flights.

Route distance: 120 km by car.