Arkhyz is an all-season ski resort in the Western Caucasus in Karachay-Cherkessia on the territory of the Arkhyz Gorge with an area of about 16 thousand hectares, which opened to the public in March 2012.
Now the resort continues to be built , and the final completion of the project is planned only in 2022. Of course, travelers have a very logical question: is it worth going to an unfinished resort, and what awaits tourists there? So, what is the infrastructure of Arkhyz, and when should you go there for new experiences?
Resort location, how to get there
The ski resort is located at an altitude of 1450 meters in Karachay-Cherkessia, in the Zelenchuksky district, in the northern part of the Greater Caucasus Mountains. The valley of the Bolshoy Zelenchuk river, where the Arkhyz resort area is located, is surrounded by two high, over 2700 m, mountains - Mog-Syrt and Krasnaya.
You can get to the Arkhyz resort by train, car or by plane . From Mineralnye Vody airport to Arkhyz 220 km by bus or minibus. The nearest train station from the resort is in Nevinnomyssk. From here there is a bus to Cherkessk (1.5 hours), then you need to get to the resort by taxi or bus (117 km).
By car, residents of Central Russia can reach the resort along the M29 highway.
Attractions
The Caucasus is famous for its extraordinary nature. Therefore, the main beauties of this place were created not by human hands, but by nature. You can visit some of the highest points of the Main Caucasus Range - Mount Sofia and Pshish.
In addition, you can visit one of the 60 lakes and glaciers. You can look at one of 12 waterfalls, the sound of which can be heard throughout the village. You can look at the deposit of the most popular mineral water. Arkhyz ski slopes alternate with popular mountain springs.
It is here that the legendary Church Glade is located, where the face of Jesus Christ was discovered. Here you can look at the first temples, preserved from the end of the 10th century. One of the most modern observatories on the continent operates in the mountains.
Project implementation history
Arkhyz is a ski resort, reviews of which are easy to find on the Internet, and is part of a project to create tourist areas in the North Caucasus. The project was adopted in 2010 and should be completed by 2025. Construction of the resort began with private investors back in 2009 , and in 2010 the future resort became part of the North Caucasus Tourist Association.
Arkhyz ski resort, located 10 km above the village of the same name, welcomes tourists all year round
Since that time, the Arkhyz resort has been an example of joint work between private investors and the state, and is a pilot site for the implementation of a grandiose plan to build tourist facilities in the North Caucasus Mountains. The ski resort began operating in December 2013.
By this time, of the four planned villages, only Romantik was functioning; the village of Lunaya Polyana began receiving guests in 2016.
The villages of Phiya and Dukka are still under construction. In the winter season 2017-18. The resort had 14 km of trails, varying in difficulty level, 3 cable cars with a length of 2.4 km, and a 4th one is being prepared for launch in the winter of 2022. The resort's immediate plans include opening at least 10 km of slopes on the northern slope.
Arkhyz is developing rapidly; according to the plan, by 2022 the resort will be able to simultaneously serve 25 thousand guests.
When is the best time to go – skiing season
Arkhyz Park is open all year round. The winter season begins at the end of November and lasts until April.
The climate in this area is quite mild. The weather is mostly sunny. The mountain range protects the territory from cold northern winds. The lowest temperature is 6 degrees below zero. The first snow covers the mountain peaks in early November. Snow cover lasts almost the entire season and begins to melt only at the end of March.
It is best to come to Arkhyz for the New Year holidays. After all, it is at this time that, in addition to skiing on snow-capped peaks, tourists can attend various events and festivals that take place annually at the resort.
Resort infrastructure
The ski resort is located in the gorge of the river. Arkhyz is 10 km above the village of the same name. The lower station of the cable car is located at an altitude of 1600 m, the lower one - 2300 m. Most of the hotels are located in the village, from where a transfer is organized to the skiing areas. Several hotels are located not far from the ski lifts.
You can get acquainted with the slopes of the resort by watching this video:
Reviews from vacationers about them are positive, but the cost of accommodation in these hotels is much higher.
The service center building in the village of Romantik presents all the most important services of the Arkhyz resort: it is possible to rent ski equipment, buy a ski pass, and enroll in a ski school. There is also a first-aid post, a canteen, a storage room, and toilets. Free parking is available nearby.
Another parking lot is located in the village of Lunnaya Polyana.
Service-center
The central place in the infrastructure of the resort complex is occupied by the service center, where all the services of the base are concentrated - a ski pass sales office, a ski school, an equipment rental point, luggage storage, a self-service canteen, a first-aid post, and toilets.
You can also relax here, use free Internet access, and get answers to all your questions (information desk in the main hall).
Ski infrastructure
Over time, the Arkhyz ski resort promises to become a high-class resort with developed infrastructure. According to the development plan, about 270 km will be built. trails that will connect 63 ski lifts.
Arkhyz trails
The length of the slopes of the ski resort today is 24.5 km, the longest slope is 4369 m, three slopes have a FIS certificate, which makes it possible to hold international competitions here.
In the 2018-19 season. The resort has 8 trails of varying difficulty:
| Route | N | Length (m) | Cable car |
| Black* | 7 | 2318 | Northern lights |
| Black | 14 | 1460 | Moon Express |
| Red | 4 | 1710 | Milky Way |
| Red* | 5 | 520 | Northern lights |
| Red* | 9 | 641 | Northern lights |
| Red* | 11 | 1461 | Northern lights |
| Blue | 2 | 3054 | Milky Way |
| Blue | 4 | 4369 | Northern lights |
| Blue | 8 | 580 | Satellite |
| Blue | 12 | 2285 | Moon Express |
| Blue | 16 | 2905 | Moon Express |
| Green* | 1 | 1380 | Northern lights |
| Green | 6 | 884 | Satellite |
| Green | 10 | 923 | Satellite |
*marked are routes whose operation will begin in 2018/2019.
Trails for experienced skiers and snowboarders
Almost all trails of “blue”, “red” and “black” difficulty categories will be of interest to experienced skiboarders. The exception is the “Milky Way”: almost throughout its entire length it is too flat, and it is unlikely that it will be possible to accelerate. Although here, as stated in the previous paragraph, there are a couple of steep sections.
The blue tracks leading to Moonglade are very good, and the slope on them allows you to both gain speed and work on your technique - for example, small radius turns, or carving.
The routes of the northern slope are not yet open, so their assessment will be a little later.
Arkhyz lifts
The Arkhyz resort now has 3 lifts: 2 chairlifts and 1 gondola:
- The 6-seater Lunar Express chairlift is protected from snow by a special dome. The length of the lift is 2122m, the height between the lower and upper stations is 583m, the ascent takes 6-15 minutes.
- The 4-seater chairlift “Sputnik” has a length of 859 m, a height of 118 m, and a lifting time of 6-12 minutes.
- The 8-seater Milky Way Gondola has a length of 2354, a height of 183, and a lift time of 6-14 minutes.
Winter 2018/19 It is expected that another gondola lift, “Northern Lights”, with cabins with a capacity of 10 people will be put into operation. This is the first part of a 3-section cable car on the slope of the Northern direction, 3800 m long, which will be thrown over one side of the river. Arkhyz to the other.
Hotel and entertainment infrastructure
Arkhyz is a ski resort, reviews of visits to which make it clear that there are differences between living directly in the village and at a ski resort. The village has more than 40 guest houses and mini-hotels. Tourists get to the ski area by car or bus.
According to reviews from vacationers, accommodation in the village is cheaper, but there is no such entertainment infrastructure as directly at the resort.
There are three hotels on the mountain near the ski area:
- “Romantic” has 2 buildings of different star ratings with 105 rooms (“Romantic 1” 3* and “Romantic 2” 4*), designed for 209 vacationers. There is a restaurant, a lobby-bar, a sauna.
- Hotel "Vertical" is located 50m from the ski lift. This 5-story building has 80 rooms, also designed for 209 beds. The hotel has a restaurant, wellness and spa centers, a gym and karaoke.
- "Arkhyz Royal Resort&SPA" , which opened in December 2022, is located next to the ski area. The new hotel has 87 rooms of varying comfort and can accommodate 230 guests.
Services and entertainment
The Arkhyz resort is open all year round: in winter you can go tubing here and visit the skating rink located at an altitude of 1600 m. Beginners have a ski school with competent instructors at their disposal. Those interested can rent snowmobiles and ATVs.
You can rent ski equipment at rental points; for the convenience of vacationers, there are storage rooms and service workshops. There is a souvenir market on the promenade. There are special playgrounds for children , and the Arkhyzenok club is open for children over 3 years old. There are several cafes and restaurants on the territory of the ski resort.
Two of them, "Hole" and "Springboard 1650", are located near the ski area. According to reviews from vacationers, it is convenient to enter “Lunka” directly on skis.
In summer the resort offers:
- horseback riding;
- mini golf;
- shooting gallery;
- cinema.
There is an opportunity to ride in jeeps, there is an outdoor swimming pool, and you can play table tennis or billiards. Children can enjoy playgrounds where they can play board games or ride electric cars. Trails have been developed for cyclists, both beginners and experienced ones.
For thrill-seekers, paragliding flights are offered.
Trails for advanced students
If you are at least good at skiing, but difficult sections are an insurmountable obstacle for you, I have bad news. In Arkhyz, unfortunately, there are no trails of “medium” difficulty level: on every descent there will be a steep section. Somewhere these sections are shorter, somewhere longer, but there is a noticeable slope everywhere. Not counting, of course, the trails for beginners.
A couple of recommendations are not to interfere with the “red” and “black” slopes and, before going out on the “big” slopes, master side sliding, traverse and turning on the spot. And, if you still don’t feel comfortable, take an instructor.
Tourist potential
Arkhyz is a ski resort. Reviews from vacationers here are dedicated to both the skiing and the extraordinary beauty of the nature of the surrounding Caucasus Mountains and interesting sights.
Objects of tourist interest:
Sofia waterfalls. This popular attraction of Karachay-Cherkessia is located near the village of Arkhyz. Following the signs it is easy to find the way to this unique site. The uniqueness of the waterfalls is that they are located at an altitude of 3700 m and are recognized as the second largest in the Arkhyz mountain region. The waterfalls are fed by glaciers on Mount Sofia (3637 m).
At high speed, streams of water fall down and form the mountain river Sofia. The sound of the waterfalls can be clearly heard from afar. R. Sofia flows into the main river Arkhyza - B. Zelenchuk. In winter, the Sofia Falls are a stream of ice ; from July to August the waterfall gains maximum power.
Those who want to visit this waterfall must overcome 17 km from the village of Arkhyz to the foot of the mountain, and then begin climbing up.
In summer you can get to the waterfalls by off-road vehicle or on horseback, but the most popular type of excursion is hiking, which allows you to enjoy the diversity of the flora of the Western Caucasus. The length of the route is 11 km, during which time tourists climb 800 m. The ascent takes 2 hours.
Due to the difficulty of the climb, it is recommended to use the services of experienced professional guides.
Special astrophysical laboratory of the Russian Academy of Sciences , operating since 1966 on the slopes of Mount Pastukhov. It is famous for its observatory with one large telescope with a mirror diameter of 6 m and two small ones, with a mirror diameter of 1 and 0.6 m. A large telescope is used only by specialists, but small ones can also be used by tourists.
The distance from the foot of the mountain to the telescopes is 17 km. You can get here by car on a good road. The RAS laboratory is a sensitive facility, so it is open for visitors until 17:00 and not every day. Tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays only.
Not far from the village of Nizhny Arkhyz there is an architectural monument of the 7th-14th centuries. Here, in the Nizhne-Arkhyz settlement, there was the city of Maas, the capital of the ancient state of Alania. Scientists believe that the Alans are the ancestors of the Karachais, who lived at that time in the territory of what is now Karachay-Cherkessia. Alania adopted Christianity several centuries earlier than Rus'.
Among the artifacts of the Alan settlement, three Orthodox churches are of particular interest: the Middle one, intended in ancient times for ordinary parishioners, the North one, created in the shape of a cross and supposedly the main cathedral of the Alan diocese (here in ancient times the Alans received the sacrament of baptism) and the South one, founded in the 10th century in honor of the holy prophet Elijah.
Services are still being held here.
The face of Christ on the rock. The shrine is located on a rock opposite the Alan settlement. The gaze of Christ is turned towards the Northern Temple. The face is depicted on a smooth section of rock, with a bulletproof frame placed in front of it. This rock carving was discovered in 1999 and since then has been a place of pilgrimage for believers.
A metal staircase with 526 steps leads from the lower platform to the image. Together with recreation areas, its length is 345 m.
Natural attractions
The Arkhyz Nature Reserve is part of the Teberda Nature Reserve, which currently covers an area of almost 86 hectares. The climate here is milder due to the mountain ranges that protect the Arkhyz region from the winds. The average winter temperature in Arkhyz is -5.8ºС, summer – 14.8ºС.
More than 60 mountain lakes are located in the Arkhyz valley.
Many routes have been developed that allow you to see the beauty of the Teberda Nature Reserve, for example, a visit to the gorge of the Ptysh River, an excursion to the fir forest, where the Kyzgich fir is presented, reaching a height of 60 m and having a trunk girth of 1.5 m. The age of such trees can be more than 700 years.
Entertainment: what to do besides skiing
What to do in Arkhyz during the warm season?
Take a ride around the resort
Guests of the resort, having paid a deposit, can rent any vehicle:
- Adult or children's bike.
- Regular or mini scooter.
- Hydro scooter.
- Electric car.
- Electric scooter.
- Segway.
- Quad bike.
- Scooter with seat.
- Electric scooter.
Depending on the chosen vehicle, the amount of the deposit ranges from 1,500 to 45 thousand rubles. The fee for use ranges from 100 to 650 rubles. For groups of 10 people or more, discounts on equipment are provided at 10-15%.
Horse ride
Karachay-Cherkessia is famous not only for its mountains and trails, but also for its horses. A horse ride with an instructor will cost from 250 rubles. 30 minutes before 3500 rub. per day. The duration of the walk can reach 6-10 hours if you move to various natural sites nearby, for example, to the Dukka lakes.
Observatory
Arkhyz is famous not only for its natural beauty, but also for its famous observatory, which can be visited on a guided tour during the day and at night. A bus for 19 passengers will cost 9,500 rubles, and a tour of the observatory will cost 200 rubles. from the visitor.
Alan temples
Another interesting object nearby is the Alan temples of the 9th century. They are considered the oldest Christian churches in Russia. The price of an excursion to them can range from 4.5 to 15.5 thousand rubles. for a group of 4 to 24 people. It includes not only visiting the temples, but also drinking tea. The fact is that Karachay-Cherkessia is famous for its mountain herbal tea.
In addition, visitors to the resort can book a walking and driving tour, a walking tour for the day, or an overnight hike for several days. There is also such a service as a separate excursion for the mushroom season.
Rope park
At an altitude of 1800 meters in Arkhyz, during the tourist season there is a rope park with a length of 400 meters. It consists of 18 stages.
It can be visited at the following rates:
- Children’s – 300 rub.
- Junior – 850 rub.
- Extreme – 1000 rub.
Bike Park
At the Bike Park, visitors can ride a bike using a cable car to get to the heights. Tariffs for adults are varied, from 300 rubles for one lift to 12 thousand per season. Discounts for teenagers and children.
Take beautiful photos
For lovers of panoramic photos, Arkhyz has observation platforms on the southern and northern slopes. Why not take lots of beautiful pictures and then sell them for a good price? Perhaps the income will be enough for another trip to Arkhyz.
You can admire the picturesque views not only from the observation deck, but also from a bird's eye view. Persons over 18 years old have access to a paragliding service costing about 5,500 rubles. This takes a little time, from 5 to 15 minutes. It is useful to take photo and video equipment on the flight.
Equipment rental prices
At the Arkhyz Ski Resort, prices for equipment rental vary depending on the seasons (high - 12.29-08.01; 02.23-24.02; 08.03-10.03, average - 12.15-28.12; 01.09-22.02; 25.02-07.03; low - 07.12-14.12; 1 1.03- 15.04) and rental dates.
So, rental of 1 set of ski equipment (skis + poles + boots or snowboard + boots) will cost 2,700 rubles per day in the high season. VIP, 1800 rub. adult, 1300 rub. for children, in the middle season 2500 rubles, 1450 rubles, 900 rubles. and low 2200 rub., 1100 rub., 800 rub. respectively.
If you take inventory for 3 or 6 days in a row, you can save daily from 200 to 400 rubles.
Cost of tours to the Arkhyz resort
Tours to the Arkhyz ski resort can be purchased from tour operators or ordered independently via the Internet. Accommodation prices vary. It all depends on the chosen place of residence - hotels directly at the resort or hotels and guest houses in the village of Arkhyz.
For example, travel agencies offer a 7-day tour to Arkhyz in February with accommodation in a guest house in the village of Arkhyz for 36,000 rubles. for two without flights on a breakfast basis.
Every year more and more tourists visit Arkhyz, a young, rapidly developing ski resort in the North Caucasus, reviews about it help to see all the nuances of life, recreation, skiing and excursions here and help its owners improve service, making Arkhyz the most popular and widespread resort in Russia.
Article design: E. Chaikina
Skating lessons
Vladimir Danilov, guide in Arkhyz
If you want to learn how to ski or improve your skiing level, come to my lessons. My name is Vladimir Danilov, and I work as a ski instructor in Arkhyz.
- Tariffs for] ski school[/anchor] here;
- Details of the multi-day training courses are here;
- My Instagram is here;
- Contact me: +79514971878
