One of the fascinating tourist routes in the mountainous Crimea consists of an ascent to the Ai-Petrinskoe plateau and Mount Ai-Petri along the Koreiz trail, crossing along the yayla and descending to Yalta along the Taraktash trail.
It is difficult to find a faster and more accessible way to get to the Ai-Petri plateau in general, and to Mount Ai-Petri in particular, than the Koreiz trail. You rarely see this in Crimea, when the climb to the top begins directly from the Yalta-Sevastopol highway. The Koreiz trail is widely known among hikers and is included on all more or less detailed maps of the southern coast of Crimea.
Route diagram:
Finding the beginning of the route is not difficult. In the place where the highway and the road rising from Alupka intersect, there is a public transport stop, which is popularly called Samota. You can use the sign “72 - Sevastopol, Yalta - 9” as a guide.
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| Koreiz Trail: route map at the beginning of the trail |
Before climbing, look at the prospect ahead of you. There are two main landmarks - Ai-Petri itself (if you don’t know what it looks like, look for the cable car station at the top of the ridge - it is clearly visible from the route) and the triangle of the Small Ai-Petri rock (Crow Rock). Both points must be passed.
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So, let's start the climb. The road going up and slightly to the left is exactly what we need.
The elevation gain is small; the trail passes through a sparse pine forest and a number of small unfinished houses.
It must be said that the Koreiz trail is well marked; signs are painted on the stones along the road. Therefore, at first you should be more careful when choosing marked paths and preferably sticking to the right. In addition to the main paths, the forest is dotted with shortcuts or, as they are called here, “Socrates”. Almost all of them will lead to the goal, but it is better to use the markings for the first time, holding the Small Ai-Petri rock as a guide, if, of course, visibility allows.
The next noticeable point on our way along the Koreiz trail will be a gazebo where you can relax and have a snack. After all, the second, most difficult part of the journey lies ahead.
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As is often the case on mountain routes, there are two options for the route: hard, but fast, or easier, but also longer. By choosing the first option, you will storm the climb head-on, straight from the gazebo, rushing up and slightly to the left. The steepness of the climb will not allow you to stay on the trail for a long time; the stones under the soles slide treacherously. On this trail you will see bridges that were installed here by fans of mountain biking - downhill racing. Bridges, by the way, are a good landmark.
By the way, be careful along the entire length of the upper half of the route, because extreme sports enthusiasts rush down at breakneck speed, risking not only their own, but also your health.
If you prefer an easier route, then take the right from the gazebo and along a wide arc you will eventually go to the same place where the difficult path leads - to the Crow Rock or Small Ai-Petri, from which stunning views open up.
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Having had enough fun with photography and rest, we will begin the third stage of the ascent. Medium weight, it will reward you with wonderful views of the Yalta mountain amphitheater and panorama of the coast.
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It must be said that most of the way along the Koreiz trail will be brightened up by a dense pine forest, it will be easy to breathe, and a beginner will not have time to turn his head from side to side. The higher you go, the thicker the pines; some cannot be reached by two adults at the same time.
It’s not far to the top of Ai-Petri. The forest thins out, the ground becomes rocky, and at the very top the surface of the mountain looks like a yayla, which you will soon reach. Stones - of different sizes - seem to be everywhere. This is also a haven for amateur photographers.
Well, this is the top. One last effort - and you are on Ai-Petri. If you plan to return back the same way, remember the place where you left, it will not be easy to find the way back later. As a guide, take the airplane pine tree, which, thanks to its unusual shape, can be swarmed with tourists like flies.
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| Plane pine at the exit from the Koreiz trail to the top of Ai-Petri |
The entire ascent, depending on the level of preparedness, will take 2.5 - 3.5 hours.
If you are not tempted by the touts of a huge number of eateries, and you are determined to continue on your way, then you should turn right from the bazaar. Check the availability of water, if necessary, purchase it.
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A quite comfortable road through a beautiful open area will lead you to the village of Okhotnichye.
On the way to it you will pass by antennas and an unfinished wind farm.
In the village itself, be sure to visit the observation deck - all of Yalta will be at your fingertips.
Don’t miss the lonely landmark standing nearby - a geodetic sign placed here in the pre-revolutionary era (1913), on which there is a sign with information about the height, longitude and latitude of this geographical point.
Okhotnichye is the last point before the descent, where you can still buy something for provisions. In the village you will not miss the route, following which you will reach the turn to the right, to the Ai-Petrinskoye forestry.
Another landmark will be several pieces of construction equipment abandoned in the open air many years ago.
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Yayla ends, the forest begins, the road through which will lead you to a clearing at the edge of the mountains, where you will find a map of the routes passing in these parts.
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However, all the difficulties of the path will be forgotten when you see this miracle of nature with your own eyes, from a distance of ten meters. The work of the wind, which lasted for thousands of years, turned the faceless mountains into a grandiose and beautiful monument to the forces of nature. Take a closer look, the Taraktash stone rock is layered like a pie; you can remove fragile plates directly from the rocks with your hands. Underfoot are piles of broken thin stone. The Taraktash trail passes through a shady gorge, where the camera works tirelessly, and the memory tries to capture all this splendor. From the numerous “windows” and breaks you can admire the panorama of Yalta and the Yalta Mountain Forest Nature Reserve.
But then the small gorge ends and you have a long descent down the Taraktash trail. It will not be fast and easy; you will have to constantly change direction, winding along serpentine roads and stepping over fallen trees. But the breathtaking scenery of mountains covered with pine forests will not let you lose heart.
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After an hour and a half of descent, a flat road will finally appear and you will again make your choice: go back a little and visit the Uchan-Su waterfall, or keep yours, passing which you will once again be able to enjoy the view of the Yalta mountains. Here is the route, you go home with unforgettable impressions of the route traveled, and the fatigue from the hike will quickly pass.
It remains to be added that for an unprepared tourist the entire route with stops and photo sessions will take about 9 hours.
olegman37
Mount Ai-Petri is one of the most popular places in Crimea and one of its calling cards. As well as the famous cable car "Miskhor - Ai-Petri", which makes visiting the mountain easily accessible. The name of the mountain has Greek roots and means “Saint Peter”. The height of Mount Ai-Petri at 1234 m will give you the opportunity to enjoy excellent panoramas and feel the difference between the subtropical and mountain climate.
How to get to Ai-Petri
Mount Ai-Petri is one of the peaks of the Ai-Petri Yayla, located above the city of Alupka and the urban-type settlement of Koreiz (Miskhor is not a separate settlement, but is included in Koreiz).
Cable car to Ai-Petri
The official name of the cable car to Ai-Petri is “Miskhor - Ai-Petri”. The cable car can be considered a separate attraction. Opening hours are from 9:00 to 17:00 for ascent and until 18:00 for descent. No breaks or days off. Only in the spring it closes for maintenance work. Current prices and news can be found on the official website of the Miskhor – Ai-Petri cable car.
The cable car consists of three stations: "Miskhor" (located at an altitude of 86 m above sea level) - the lower station, "Sosnovy Bor" (304 m) - the middle transfer station and the upper station "Ai-Petri" (1152 m).
The cable car journey begins from the lower Miskhor station. 
The name comes from the village of Miskhor of the same name, which is now not independent and is included in the urban-type settlement Koreiz. Now Koreiz, Gaspra, Alupka, Semeiz are located so close to each other that it is difficult to visually distinguish one from the other. And all of them, by the way, are part of the Yalta urban district. Therefore, when we left Alupka, it was not clear whether we had left it and entered Koreiz; there was a feeling of a single settlement. It's time to answer the question:
How to get to the Miskhor – Ai-Petri cable car
- By car. From the Yuzhnoberezhnoe Highway, you need to near the concrete sign “72. Sevastopol. Yalta.” and the gas station turn towards Koreiz (Miskhor) onto the branch of the road to the Sevastopol highway. Further along the ring we go out onto the Koreizskoe highway, and from there onto the Alupkinskoe highway. After driving a little, you will see the stand “Miskhor – Ai-Petri Ropeway”. Paid parking is available right next to the Miskhor lower station. It might be possible to park the car on the side of the road, but the road there is very narrow and we were afraid.
- By public transport. The “Ropeway” bus stop is located directly at the lower station “Miskhor” and territorially belongs to Koreiz. Bus routes No. 102 (Yalta Bus Station - Alupka Vorontsov Park) and No. 132 (Yalta Clothing Market - Alupka Vorontsov Palace) stop there. Movement intervals: 15-30 min.
The length of the cable car is 2980 m. The distance between the lower station “Miskhor” and the middle village “Sosnovy Bor” is 1310 m. But the distance between the middle station and the upper “Ai-Petri” is already 1670 m, and there is not a single support tower. There is often information that this is the longest unsupported span in Europe, listed in the Guinness Book of Records. There is also information (Wikipedia) that there is a Reiteralpe cable car that is ahead of the Miskhor - Ai-Petri cable car in this indicator. It was not possible to verify the information for certain regarding the Guinness Book of Records, but there really is a Reiteralpe cable car and it is located in Germany in the village of Oberjettenberg. The length of the Reiteralpe cable car is 2100 m, and the length of its unsupported span is 1980 m, and it was put into operation in 1965.
While the construction of the Miskhor - Ai-Petri cable car had just begun in 1967, the first passengers were the reception committee in 1987, and it was put into operation only in 1988. It turns out that at the time the cable car was built in Crimea, Reiteralpe already existed in Germany. Another thing is that the Reiteralpe cable car is used by the technical center of the Bundeswehr; it is a military-technical facility, so I’m not sure that ordinary tourists will be able to ride this cable car. This is probably what accounts for its obscurity. Accordingly, we can definitely say that the cable car in Crimea “Miskhor - Ai-Petri” really has one of the longest unsupported spans in Europe and is certainly in first place in terms of this indicator among those publicly available. 
We arrived at the bottom station at 14:00 and boarded fairly quickly, but sometimes there are long queues, especially in high season. The ascent takes on average 15 minutes. At the Sosnovy Bor station we change to the next booth. Operators operate the cable car from here.
The cable car is of a pendulum type, 4 cabins run in antiphase. The elevation angle of the cabin near the mountain is 46 degrees. And this is one of the most exciting moments when the cabin slows down and comes close to the mountain wall. 
Path to the rocks “Zubtsy”
After leaving the upper station, without hesitation, we headed to the main attractions, to the top and to the “Zubtsy” rocks. 
Along the way there is another attraction - Stephen's maple. This tree is about 250 years old. These trees are endemic to Crimea, that is, they are found only on the territory of the southern coast of Crimea. This species was discovered by Steven Christian Christianovich, a Russian botanist of Swedish origin, the first director of the Nikitin Botanical Garden. 
The walk to the top is not far, only 500 m, periodically you come across encouraging signs. 
We go to the top. 
Suspension bridges on the rock “Zubtsy”
The most famous symbol of Ai-Petri is the Zubtsy rocks. This group of rocks, 60-80 meters high, is an ancient reef. The rocks are formed by the weathering of unstable limestone rocks. 
Suspension bridges are built to one of the rocks in the summer, which you can cross with insurance. Naturally, this entertainment is paid - 500 rubles. In winter, suspension bridges are removed; they can simply be torn off by a gust of wind. Mount Ai-Petri is famous for its strong, gusty winds and is the windiest mountain in Crimea. The maximum recorded speed is 50 m/s. 
In addition, for lovers of aerial procedures and adventures, a troll trail has been organized at the top of Ai-Petri. 
The top of Mount Ai-Petri
The height of Mount Ai-Petri is 1234 m, and it is not the highest mountain of the Ai-Petri Yaila. The highest is Mount Roca (1346 m). 
And of course, the most important thing why everyone climbs Mount Ai-Petri is the magnificent panoramas and views. 
And the big advantage of Ai-Petri is that you don’t have to have the skills of a climber or go on a long and difficult hike for everyone, or even take an expensive excursion with a ride on an SUV (horses) in order to find yourself at such a height with such beauties. Mount Ai-Petri is accessible to everyone. Of course, this also has its own characteristics: Ai-Petri’s attendance is very high. But without this there is no way: either one or the other. Those who are inspired by the high-altitude beauty can visit other peaks of Crimea. For example, a peak with a height of 1239 m, which we also visited as part of a short hike. 
Some photographs can already be called historical. They were made in early October 2016. The space next to the upper station is cleared of shopping arcades and numerous cafes; How it will be equipped in the future - time will tell. We hope that it is beautiful and reasonable from the point of view of preserving natural objects. They also deliberately did not write about the cost of walking along the path to the battlements. This trail is included in the list of objects of the Yalta Mountain Forest Nature Reserve. Previously, the passage was paid; time will also tell how it will be organized in the future.
Ai-Petrinskaya Yayla
Turning back, we will see a panorama of Ai-Petrinskaya Yayla. 
The area of Ai-Petrinskaya Yayla is about 300 km2. The climate differs sharply from the subtropical climate of Yalta. When climbing Ai-Petri, you need to take this into account, the temperature may be 6-10 degrees lower than the sea, you need to take appropriate clothing with you. Winters here are full-fledged, snowy and frosts down to -25. Accordingly, this is one of the few places in Crimea where skiing, snowboarding and other things are possible. The ski complex is located not far from the radio engineering battalion, which is impossible not to notice; these are white balls that look like an observatory.
Since Mount Ai-Petri is composed of limestone, a strong karst process is widespread. Simply put, there are a lot of caves, karst sinkholes and sinkholes on Ai-Petri. A kilometer from the top, and even closer from the parking lot, there are three caves equipped for visiting: Yaltinskaya, Geofizicheskaya and Trekhglazka. If you have time, we recommend visiting them. We were in a hurry and decided to visit them next time, since this time we were going to the caves located on the Chatyr-Dag plateau. But to visit them you need to go on a separate excursion, and the three mentioned above are nearby, this is their undoubted advantage. And for the first acquaintance with the beauty of the caves they will be useful.
Ai-Petri Yaila is rich in natural and historical attractions, and, in a good way, requires separate study and inspection. Our walk ends here. We also went down by cable car, although we could have gone down the serpentine road and seen a few more sights along the way. By the way, this is an excellent option if there is a long queue for the cable car and it already finishes its work (by 18:00).
Mount Ai-Petri, one of the most visited and famous attractions of the Crimean peninsula. The beauty of these mountain landscapes is difficult to describe in words. Is it possible for an artist with a brush in his hands to do this? Well, at worst, a good photographer. Better yet, come here and experience all the charm and breathtaking views for yourself.
The name of Mount Ai-Petri is translated as Saint Peter. Before the conquest of Crimea by the Tatars, the Christian Church of St. Peter was located on the mountain, and the mountain and plateau were named after him.
Tourists flocked here en masse at the end of the 19th century, after the section of the road connecting the village of Sokolinoe and Yalta, through Mount Ai-Petri, was completed. The road was completed in 1894 and connected southern and central Crimea. As a result, the two large cities of Yalta and Bakhchisarai received direct communication. The construction of the stone road practically took about 30 years, and is still one of the most complex engineering projects in Crimea.
Sights of Mount Ai-Petri:
How to get to Ai-Petri by car
If you decide to get to Mount Ai-Petri by car, you should get to the Ai-Petri plateau, and from there to the Ai-Petri cable station. It is from here that the ascent to the very peak of the mountain begins - to its teeth.
A pedestrian road leads to the Ai-Petri battlements from the cable station. The duration of the route is about 30 minutes, without large differences in altitude. The cost of walking up to the battlements is 100 rubles. Payment is at the entrance to the trail.
Peak of Ai-Petri
The top of Mount Ai-Petri It is the Prongs that are considered, their height from base to top is 1234 meters. In addition to beautiful views, Zubtsy has two extreme activities that may tickle your nerves, but are absolutely safe. All safety rules are followed and almost every element of extreme entertainment has two levels of insurance.
The most interesting, to my taste, is the suspended road between the battlements. Walking through it really tickles your nerves; under your feet, through the cracks, you can see a huge gap, with sharp rocks and tree tops. After taking the cable car to Ai-Petri, you can safely add yourself to the category of extreme sports enthusiasts. The price of the walk is 500 rubles. The average duration of the transition is 10-15 minutes.
If you decide to go for a walk, it is best to do it in pairs, one walks along the path, the other takes photos and videos from the end point of the route, and then switches. This is how you will get more successful pictures as a memory.
Although this is a little longer in terms of time than going one after another, you can save a little time by taking the queue for the first person and immediately taking the queue for the second. In order for the first one to pass, and the second one to take a photo and get back in line in time, you should leave a gap of 6-7 people between people.
The second extreme route is a descent to the cable car station, on a suspended cable. The descent is very fast and fun, the cost of the descent is 1000 rubles. The safety of the route is also at the highest level. Both extreme attractions operate from April to September inclusive.
Having descended from the battlements, you find yourself on the busiest part of the plateau, the market and a large number of cafes, canteens and restaurants. The food on the plateau is mainly Tatar: pilaf, pasties, lagman, lamb shashlik, etc. Also, if you want, you can find European cuisine. Prices in catering establishments vary greatly. Therefore, if you take a walk and look around a little, you can choose a menu and price tag that is acceptable to you. Due to the large number of tourists, the food is almost always fresh and tasty, but quite greasy, although the choice of dishes is quite large and everyone can find something acceptable for themselves. Almost all cafes and restaurants offer wine tasting. Almost all wine is either homemade or purchased at Crimean wineries. In most establishments, the wine is of rather low quality, with a lot of coloring. Therefore, if you want a high-quality drink, ask that they bring you wine bottled at the factory, with an excise stamp. This option will be the best for your body.
A little below the gazebo of winds is the Uchan-Su Waterfall, it is the highest Crimean waterfall and one of the highest waterfalls in Europe. Literally translated from Turkic, the name translates as “Flying water”. The height of Uchan-Su is about 99 meters, the maximum peak activity of the waterfall occurs in the spring, from early March to mid-April. In summer, Wuchang-Su turns into a relatively small stream, but this does not prevent it from looking graceful and attractive. More details
In addition to all the attractions of Ai-Petri described above, I should also mention one of the most beautiful mountain roads, the Shtangeevsky trail. The trail originates just below the Uchan-Su waterfall, but the most convenient way is to go up to the waterfall, from there walk 120 meters up the road and you will see a large sign - the Shtangeevskaya trail, with a description of the route. The route of the Shtangeevskaya trail passes over the Uchan-Su waterfall (you can approach the waterfall) along the picturesque valleys of Ai-Petri and gradually the Shtangeevskaya trail turns into the Botkinskaya trail and smoothly descends through coniferous forests to Yalta, namely to the Fairy Tale Zoo. The average walking time along the Shtangeevskaya and Botkin trails is 4-6 hours. The entire route is marked with colored markers, making it very difficult to lose your way. You will meet people along the entire route; the trails are very popular and well-trodden by thousands of tourists.
Climbing the Ai-Petri plateau on a cable car, you have a choice of how to go back down. You can go down the same way you went up, but in the summer, the queues are very long and you can stand in them for several hours. Therefore, your options are to go down by bus or minibus. But it should be taken into account that the driver is directly interested in getting down quickly and getting up quickly. Their earnings directly depend on this. In general, this is also a kind of extreme walk. But despite this, all drivers make sure to stop at the Silver Arbor and the Wuchang-Su waterfall.
How to plan a visit to Ai-Petri
Planning a route to visit Ai-Petri by car - in my opinion, it is better to start with a visit to the Grand Canyon, the entrance fee is 100 rubles. You can also be offered a guide - from 1000 rubles. The guys are very funny, but essentially they are practically useless. It is very difficult to lose your way. There are only two trails along which people ply all the time, even in winter. The walk takes about 2-3 hours along with a swim in the Bath of Youth.
The Grand Canyon of Crimea is located at the very beginning of the ascent to Mount Ai-Petri, from the side of the city of Bakhchisarai. If you are coming from the southern coast of Crimea, you have several options: go around Ai-Petri, through Sevastopol, then turn onto Bakhchisarai, and before it go to Ai-Petri. Or climb through the Ai-Petri plateau to the top of Ai-Petri, cross the entire plateau and go down to the foot from Bakhchisarai. From Yalta to the Grand Canyon it’s about a 2-hour drive, if you go around it it’ll be about the same
Next, after visiting the Grand Canyon, you need to climb the plateau again, walk to the battlements, and go down to eat in a cafe. After the cafe, you can choose a horseback ride or a visit to the Three-Eyes Cave. On average, a horse ride costs from 800 rubles. at one o'clock. You will also be offered an ATV ride and other entertainment; the cost is approximately the same everywhere.
Descending from Ai-Petri towards Yalta. The first stop on your way will be the Silver Gazebo. Visit - 100 rubles. Then the waterfall is a little lower about 15-17 km, the Uchan-Su waterfall. Also 100 rubles.
The entire walk is designed with departure from Yalta at 9:00 for the whole day; if you follow the proposed route, then by 20:00-21:00 you will be back in Yalta again.
If you are planning to visit Ai-Petri, then you need to pay attention to comfortable shoes, sneakers or sneakers, take warm clothes, because the temperature difference between Yalta and Ai-Petri can be up to 10 -15 C and be sure to take water with you. If you get motion sickness along serpentine roads, you can take anti-motion sickness pills at the pharmacy. Their cost is very low, and the effect is quite good.
Winter on Ai-Petri life doesn't stop. In winter, the Ai-Petri cap is usually covered with snow from January to February. And on this basis winter sports were born: skiing, boarding and sledding. Almost all winter trails in Crimea are located on the Ai-Petrensky plateau. The most popular routes are 25,26, 27 kilometers, laboratory. All routes are located almost in the middle of the plateau; you can reach them along the Yalta-Bakhchisarai road. There is only one road and it is impossible to miss. Only in winter it is cleared of snow. In winter, the climb up the mountain is generally only open to vehicles with all-wheel drive and wearing winter tires. During snowfalls, the passage to Ai-Petri is partially closed for a short time from Yalta and Bakhchisarai.
If you are planning a vacation to Crimea, no matter what time of year, be sure to visit Mount Ai-Petri, it is one of the most beautiful.
Good day to all!
This summer we vacationed in Crimea, and one of our points was to visit Mount Ai-Petri, Mount St. Peter.
I want to say in advance that I walked through the Turkish, Krasnodar and Thai mountains, and they all certainly impressed me, so I can say with great confidence that the mountains of the Southern Coast of Crimea are no less impressive and cause great delight.
Let's start in order, my first acquaintance with the peak was on the serpentine road, when we were approaching the South Coast. Mount Ai-Petri impressed me, delighted me and scared me a little. It looked so majestic and dangerous that I had to overcome myself to decide to conquer it.
Preparation
Before climbing the mountain, we learned in advance how best to do it,
There are three ways to climb the mountain:
- The most standard is the Lift. You need to go down to the Miskhor - Ai-Petri station, stand in line for about an hour or more often longer, pay 400 rubles for one adult and 250 for one child, and get tickets. Then take the lift up the mountain in 15 minutes. When ascending, as well as during descent, there is an intermediate station where you will be transferred from one cabin to another for further ascent.
- Climb the mountain by car along the serpentine road, with guides. The price is the same as on the lift: 400 rubles. adults, 250 children. It is worth considering that this excursion will be conducted for you by private owners, and here you can think about safety: who will take you, what kind of driver will be, and what will your transport be like. I think all this is not checked anywhere and by anyone.
- Conquering the mountain "on your own" on your own two feet! There are special groups for groups, or you can do it on your own if you are an avid hiker and you are not afraid of real nature and dangerous paths.
It is also necessary to remember that on the mountain, the temperature is slightly lower, so do not forget to take a cape and socks with you.
Another item is comfortable sports shoes, sneakers or specialized sports sandals.
Climb
We chose the second method of ascent. In order to climb the mountain with the help of private tourists, you don’t need to call anywhere and buy tickets in advance. Everyone who goes down to the Miskhor - Ai-Petri station meets along the way a “cluster of guys” who offer their services to climb the mountain.
We chose this method because we did not want to stand in line for a long time at the lift and also because we were promised a much more interesting and spectacular ascent by car.
To get up by car you also have to wait a little. Wait until there are people for the mini gazelle, and wait until the car itself arrives. We waited 15 minutes.
Excursion while climbing Ai-Petri
When climbing the mountain by car, an interesting excursion will be organized for you.
Our driver was the guide; he drove and at the same time, without a microphone, shouted interesting facts from the history of Crimea to us.
Our first stop was the Yalta Sign. The famous photo background of all Soviet Crimean photo cards.
Yalta sign
We were given 10 minutes so that we could all take a photo in front of this sign.
The next point was the Uchan-su waterfall.
The day before our visit to Mount Ai-Petri, it rained all day, so we found a “working” waterfall. We were pleased that the waterfall had been dry for a couple of weeks, but by the time we arrived it had started working. Therefore, everyone should take note, it is best to go to our Russian waterfalls after rain.😁
The waterfall itself is very beautiful, noisy, impressive... But there is one drawback, this is a huge crowd of tourists like us. You won’t be able to unite with nature here; it’s good if you can stand in line and take a photo.
The third point was a mountain lake with Turtles, where, according to the guide, the Soviet children's film Buratino was filmed. But not the whole film, of course, but specifically the moment with Turtle Tortilla on the lake.
The lake is surrounded by coniferous and deciduous trees. In the lake itself you can see turtles that come out to bask in the sun, as well as ducks. We walked around the entire perimeter of the lake, since it is not large, and it was not difficult. Walking along this lake you can imagine singing Tortilla and Pinocchio. I think children will find it very interesting there. Even those who have never seen the film Pinocchio will be interested in seeing the turtles in their natural habitat.
Also not far from the lake there is a source of mountain spring water where you can replenish your water supplies. The water in the spring is really good and tasty.
Then we set off again, the road to Ai-Petri lay through a wooded area with huge century-old pine trees, and gave way to views of rocky and mountain cliffs. To be honest, I was afraid and delighted at the same time, all the way.
By the way, the driver did not drive at all, he drove slowly and carefully.
The next, fourth, point was the Silver Gazebo.
The favorite place for relaxation and tea drinking of our emperors. The place is also very beautiful, the only negative is that the gazebo looks abandoned and unkempt. She could use some cosmetic work.
The gazebo offers an amazing view of Yalta and the entire South Coast. The city is in full view, and in the distance is the endless sea.
There are also a lot of people at the gazebo, and you have to stand in line. to take a photo, or just enjoy the beautiful view.
Nextand the last point on our excursion is the highest point of Ai-Petri.
A very impressive and beautiful place where the mountains touch the clouds. And in front of you is the same endless sea. A place where you feel like a small point, a place where you seem to understand that everything is perishable, except for the mountains, sea and clouds...
It seems that you walk a little and you can catch the cloud by the tail, touch it, plunge into fog and see it from the inside.
It’s worth going to the mountain by car specifically for this point. It’s incredibly beautiful and picturesque there. And, what pleases me most, there are practically no tourists.
In the photo you can see the teeth of Ai-Petri, it is there, closer to them, that you will ascend by cable car, and unfortunately you will not see all the beauty that we saw when we climbed the serpentine road by car.
Peak of Ai-Petri
A car with a guide took us to the final point of our ascent, the peak of Ai-Petri. Then we were left to our own devices. At the very top it is no less interesting, there are cafes, shops and a very cheap market.
Speaking of the market. If you have the opportunity to shop there, do so. We traveled all over Crimea, from east to west, and have never found better prices anywhere else. A friend bought Crimean sweets and healthy teas there, no matter how much we later looked for the same favorable prices for them, we could not find them.
In July 2018, an exhibition of Retro cars was held on the mountain, both old rare cars and modern luxury cars were presented, well, where else can we see them, if not on Mount Ai-Petri.))
My husband, very joyful and no less admiring, walked among these masterpieces of automobile production and took photographs in front of almost every car.
Then my husband and I went to the famous teeth of Ai-Petri , and our friend stood in line at the cable car for the descent. It's not far to walk to the Zubtsa for 10-15 minutes at a calm pace. Having reached them, the husband decided that he should cross two suspension bridges.
This entertainment is for daredevils and it costs 500 rubles
Before entering the trail, we put on the belay and received a full briefing. My husband walked across the bridge, and I watched him with a sinking heart, and took photographs... and cried from excitement and worry.
The height of the bridge is 1234 meters.
Having reached one prong, he had to catch his breath and reposition the belay himself. The insurance was double. Having rested, he stepped onto the second bridge which was already leading him to me!
The entire transition took him 10 minutes.
Also, at the top of Ai-Petri you can ride, fly on a zipline, this already costs more than 1000 rubles.
After conquering the bridge, we walked back to the cable car, our friend stood in line all this time to buy tickets for the descent. We joined her and stood in line for another 15 minutes. A return ticket also cost 400 rubles per adult and 250 per child. And after that a very interesting and exciting descent awaited us.
We also bought delicious hot pies at Ai-Petri. Either they were very tasty or we were very hungry 😉, but I still remember their taste!!!
The view from the lift cabin is also incredibly beautiful; we took a seat at the window and enjoyed the view around us.
The only downside to this whole trip is the tiresome queue!
Our conquest of the Ai-Petri peak was very interesting. All four of us were incredibly delighted; we didn’t notice any downsides (besides the queue) or shortcomings, we just enjoyed and admired the view around us!
I think that we were not mistaken in choosing to go up by car, because without it it would not have been so interesting, and we would not have learned or seen much.
If you are looking for a good campsite on the South Coast, then THIS review will be useful to you!
And if you, like us, go to Crimea by car, then I advise you to go to the western coast of Crimea.
You can read my detailed story about the car tour of the Crimean peninsula
Also, don’t forget about high-quality cosmetics from Crimea! You can read reviews of the masks I tried.
Highest point Crimean mountain range, which stretches in a wide strip along the southern and southeastern coasts of the peninsula, is the mountain Ai-Petri (1234 meters). Geographically, Ai-Petri, which in Greek means “St. Peter” (there was previously a monastery of the same name here), is located between the village of Koreiz (Miskhor) and Alupka and is part of Yalta protected area.
The easily recognizable silhouette of a mountain with four prongs was formed as a result of the influence of precipitation on reef limestones, of which the array consists. A little below the battlements is the Ai-Petrinsky plateau (yayla), the area of which is 300 sq.m.
The main goal of all tourists is to get to this plateau where you can spend an unforgettable day! And you can climb to the top of the most famous Crimean mountain in different ways ways. Some people prefer walking routes, while others prefer auto-climbing. There are other options. Let's try to consider the advantages and disadvantages of various methods of climbing one of the most famous Crimean mountains.
How to get to Ai-Petri
From Yalta
Mount Ai-Petri is one of the most attractive Crimean sites that many guests of the peninsula seek to visit. It is located in the Yalta administrative region, and therefore, to get to Ai-Petri, you need to at least come to Yalta.
From the Yalta Bus Station there are minibuses and taxis to the very top of the mountain, as well as to Wuchang-Su waterfall(if you decide to climb Ai-Petri on foot). You can also drive from Yalta to the coveted peak in your car along the Bakhchisaray highway, which branches off from Yuzhnoberezhny.
Directions to Ai-Petri from Yalta
From Sevastopol by car
Tourists vacationing in Sevastopol can come to explore Ai-Petri along the traditional route - first to Yalta, and from there either through the Uchan-Su waterfall or through Koreiz (Miskhor).
If you have your own car, there is another travel option via Bakhchisarai. This is not a very big detour, but very interesting for sightseeing along the way. If you wish, you can visit Khan's Palace and nearby attractions.
And, besides, the road to Ai-Petri from Bakhchisarai offers wonderful views Grand Canyon, which you don’t even have to make a special trip to inspect! But this is a unique natural phenomenon, and a fantastically beautiful one at that!!!
From Koreiz (Miskhor)
Another starting point for the climb to the Ai-Petri mountain peak is the village of Koreiz (Miskhor), which lies at the very foot of the mountain. Getting to Koreiz from any resort point on the peninsula is also not difficult. You can get here from any bus station, although the route usually goes through Yalta. The ascent from Koreiz is interesting only for those who want to use the services of a cable car or Koreiz walking trail.
Ascent by cable car
The fastest and least tiring way to climb to the Ai-Petri teeth (in just 15-20 minutes) is to climb along 3 km cable car, starting from the Miskhor station, located in the village of the same name, to which you can arrive from any locality Crimea by public transport or minibus. The Miskhor cable car, which is now included in the Guinness Book of Records as having the longest unsupported spans, appeared here in 1987-88.
The advantages of this rise are obvious. First of all - speed and a significant time saving. Besides - beautiful view angles the mountain itself and the coastline with local vegetation.
The disadvantages of this method of transportation include a decent fare on the cable car (400 rubles one way) and wasting time in line for a ticket. But, nevertheless, you should definitely ride this route at least once - in one direction.
The climb itself is divided into two plots. From “Miskhor” we get to the transfer station - “Sosnovy Bor”, where, under the control of the workers on duty, we get out of one trailer and get into another, which will take us to the desired height.
Flight over the coastal strip in a cable car
A nice cable car will take you and 39 other people to the territory Ai-Petrinsky plateau, from which, if desired, you can climb on foot to the battlements themselves. In addition to climbing to the top itself, on the Ai-Petri plateau there are all kinds of entertainment for tourists, which are the subject of a separate article (What to see on Ai-Petri).
It remains to add that the cable car does not always work. On particularly windy days it closes. Although, in principle, under favorable weather conditions it operates all year round.
Pedestrian climb to Ai-Petri
A walking journey will undoubtedly bring many discoveries, unforgettable impressions and unique photographs. But this climb requires sufficient time and some physical preparation. If you have small children with you, then it is better not to go on such trips.
Pedestrian routes are designed for trained tourists
There is at least three mountain trails, recommended for such tourist ascents. The first and main one is Taraktash trail, starting at the Uchan-Su waterfall. There is also an ascent coming from Koreiz (Miskhor) - Koreiz trail. These paths are very convenient to get to in dry weather, because after rain they are very steep and difficult to pass. The third way to the top of Ai-Petri is a climb along the serpentine highway Yalta-Bakhchisarai, which also starts from the Uchan-Su waterfall.
It is optimal to make such climbs as part of an excursion group, and you need to have comfortable sportswear. shoes, warm clothes, water, food, etc.! And during the ascent, behave extremely carefully and carefully, following the instructions of the guide. If you decide to go up on one's own, then it is better to go along the Bakhchisarai highway, although this path is the longest, but the safest. Moreover, there will be signs along the road that will allow you to shorten the route somewhat.
When climbing on foot, it is interesting to observe the change in vegetation
Fans of mountain walks can climb along one trail and descend along another within one day. And along the way, see the sights of the Ai-Petri plateau. Of course, walking on foot is quite tiring, but it leaves unforgettable experience and emotions, a feeling of a discoverer and many unique photographs.
Taraktash trail
Ai-Petri is considered the most picturesque, popular and difficult mountain trail Taraktash trail. As already mentioned, it begins from the Wuchang-Su waterfall, which can be reached from Yalta bus station on a minibus. Those. Wherever you are, you must first of all come to Yalta, which is easy to do from any Crimean city or village, and then just get to its Bus Station.
From the waterfall we begin the ascent, along which we reach the observation deck Eagle takeoff. Next, we are interested in turning right, and pay attention to constantly occurring marks. The Taraktash trail is marked with red markings. For some time it will coincide with the healing path of the Shtangeevskaya Trail.
Approximately this 3.5-kilometer climb requires about 4 hours, but you still need time to examine the Ai-Petri plateau (yayla) itself and on the way back. Usually the return descent is made by cable car, the movement of which stops at 18.00.
There is only one road up, but sometimes there are forks, from which you must always choose the left one. The most intriguing attraction of this trail is Taraktashsky ridge– fantastic rock formation – the work of local winds. By the way, the name Taraktash is translated precisely as “stone comb”.
This layered rock miracle is very reminiscent American canyons from popular westerns. While moving, you need to look both forward and back so as not to miss the stunning views of Yalta and other local beauties, such as capes Mogabi, Martyan and Pendikulya. And along the way you will meet springs and the Vodopadnaya mountain river.
The exit to the Ai-Petri Plateau will occur around Meridian ball and the old Weather Station, from where you still have to walk a fair distance to the Cable Car Station. But on this way you can explore the interesting Ai-Petrinsky caves and other natural attractions.
Koreiz trail
For vacationers in Miskhor and Koreiz, the most convenient climb to the top of Ai-Petri is Koreiz trail, which starts in Koreiz at the Miskhor fork from the road sign to Yalta on South Coast Highway.
The path along this trail also runs through the territory Yalta Nature Reserve, as road signs constantly remind us of. The views are very picturesque. The pine trees growing at an angle are especially fascinating on rocky slopes.
If you are not afraid of heights, you can come closer to some cliff and imagine yourself as a soaring eagle, or at least just admire the views.
In general, traveling along the Koreiz trail allows you to forget all worldly problems and delve into a relaxed worldview of the surrounding reality. Part of the path passes through a thin, but still forest, which creates a comfortable coolness.
Meet the mountain on the trail source "Syungasy", which is civilized. It will quench your thirst, and you can take miraculous life-giving water with you. If up to this spring the path climbed quite smoothly, then from here a very steep climb begins.
From the Syungasy spring the climb becomes steeper
The rest of the journey is part-time and bike path for extreme mountain descents from Ai-Petrinsky Yaila. Is here and bicycle jump, but this is for very advanced cyclists. In any case, on this section of the path you need to be extremely careful to avoid collisions with descending cyclists.
The near completion of the route can be guessed by the appearance on the horizon of a working cable car, to which the trail leads. It ends at the Ai-Petrinsky plateau next to 300 year old airplane pine, recognized as a natural monument. And nearby there is a thousand-year-old yew - a very interesting relict tree, but we must remember that its berries are very poisonous.
Experienced tourists recommend starting to get acquainted with this trail from the descent. Those. Climbing Ai-Petri along the Koreiz trail is much more difficult than descending from it due to the large altitude difference. But if you are confident in your abilities and have very comfortable sneakers on your feet, then you can conquer this trail in any direction.
Lifting by car
Some road travelers prefer to get to the top of Ai-Petri by car. This is much more convenient and comfortable, but there are also several...
First of all, climbing by car is quite dangerous, because serpentine road not very wide and attracts almost all attention. Although, on the other hand, there doesn’t seem to be much to look around, because the route first goes through a dense forest. Rare observation platforms do not leave such a powerful impression as when climbing on foot, although the views from them are also very picturesque.
The total duration of the road from Yalta is approx. 30 km. For a normal road this is not much, but if you have about 100 turns ahead, many of which are equal to 180 degrees, then you will inevitably think about it. However, if you have quite a lot of driving experience, then an auto climb will save both time and effort, which can be usefully spent on sightseeing on the mountain plateau itself.
In addition, on the Bakhchisarai highway you will be able to see what is inaccessible with other methods of ascent. First of all, this is the famous Wuchang-Su Waterfall. If your trip took place in the last spring or first summer month, then the waterfall will make a pleasant impression on you. By mid-summer, unfortunately, it dries out almost completely.
Along the way you will also encounter a very picturesque, almost fairy-tale forest. Turtle Lake with a small house. You can walk around the lake from different sides, go to the house, take a photo as a souvenir and listen to the optimistic polyphony of croaking frogs.
The legend of the Ai-Petrinsky spring
And not far from the lake is spring, about which another Crimean legend involuntarily comes to mind about an old man and an old woman. They lived and lived to a ripe old age. But they never made any money. They'll be dying soon, and there won't even be enough money to bury them. And having gathered his last strength, the old man went to collect brushwood at the foot of Ai-Petri so that after selling it, you can set aside a certain amount for a rainy day.
The old man had been collecting brushwood for a long time and was tired. Suddenly I saw a spring nearby. The old man drank water from the spring, quenched his thirst, and fell into a deep sleep. Waking up in the evening, he grabbed the collected brushwood and ran home. And the path did not seem difficult to him, and the brushwood was not heavy.
Approaching the village, he saw his old woman, who slowly hobbled towards the mountains in search of the old man. But the old woman did not recognize the old man, because after drinking spring water, he became a young and strong youth! When the old woman believed his story, she also hurried to the treasured spring as quickly as she could.
The old woman also decided to look younger, and she hurried to the treasured spring
The rejuvenated old man did not wait for his wife, and in the morning he went in search of her. However, she was not there either along the road or near the spring. Suddenly a faint cry was heard in the bushes. The old man rushed there, and there little girl crying in old woman's rags. He realized then that his wife was greedy and drank more water than necessary. He took the girl in his arms and went with her to the village.
So, when you encounter springs on Ai-Petri, be vigilant and look younger in moderation. The road to the Ai-Petrinskoe plateau from Yalta from the Yuzhnoberezhnoe highway continues along the Bakhchisarai highway.
You can also go from Bakhchisarai. The main thing is not to miss the sign for Ai-Petri and make sure that the road is today allowed, i.e. open.
Silver gazebo
There is another advantage to road travel. You can leisurely explore the passing attractions, which are located a little aside from the main road. We have already talked about the forest lake and waterfall. In addition to them, you can and should turn to Silver gazebo, which is located on Mount Pendikül, above 860 meters above sea level and is the most romantic object on Ai-Petri. You can find it by following the sign located on the main highway. It is approximately located halfway between the Uchan-Su waterfall and the Ai-Petrinsky plateau.
Silver gazebo appeared on Ai-Petri towards the very end 19th century as a memorial sign about the completion of the construction of the current Bakhchisarai highway, which was then simply called the road Yalta-Bakhchisaray. This road was almost paved 30 years!, blowing up rocks and leveling landscape unevenness, our Russian child soldiers.
A gazebo is a memory of a construction feat and a romantic object
The silver gazebo was named due to the fact that during the cold season it is covered icy frost, which shimmers in the sun like silver. And the place chosen for its installation is also a magnificent observation deck.
Near the Silver Gazebo you can buy a souvenir as a souvenir, you can take a photo with a bird (this is one of the local earnings), and, of course, you can admire Yalta lying below. Then we return to the Bakhchisarai highway and continue along the given route.
By the way, it was on this route, against the backdrop of Ai-Petri, that the famous final chase from Gaidai’s beloved film comedy took place "Prisoner of the Caucasus". So, when you return home, watch this film again and you will be happy to recognize many places on the Crimean coast.
Watching your favorite movie, you can remember the trip to Ai-Petri
In the village Hunting you need to turn right and move past the weather station, the Ai-Petrinsky meridian to the town near the cable car station. Just don't miss the caves if you decide to explore them - they are on the road to the battlements
Ascent by minibus
If you do not have your own vehicle, you can use the services taxi drivers, for whom during the tourist period this route from the Yalta bus station is their main income.
The advantage of such a rise is its comfort, i.e. you don’t have to think about the road or serpentine turns, but you can just relax and admire the surrounding landscapes.
The ascent with a driver gives you the opportunity to view all the details of the route
In addition, along the way the driver will not only tell you local legends and traditions, name rare plants, etc., but will also make short stops near the Wuchang-Su waterfall, the Silver Pavilion, the Monument to the Partisans and at some observation platforms.
Thus, climbing Ai-Petri is a small problem. And everyone chooses the method of lifting for themselves. But there is no doubt that a visit to Ai-Petri is a must.
