Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Around Alushta
Although the following natural attractions are closest to Alushta, they can also be visited
from Yalta (on organised tours) or Simferopol (if hiking from the Simferopol-Alushta
road).
Sights
Mt Demerdzhi
MOUNTAIN
The
Valley of the Ghosts
under Mt Demerdzhi (1356m) contains some stunning rock
formations created by the wind erosion of sandstone. The freaky pillars have vaguely hu-
man features and are certainly memorable. The nearby village of
Luchistoye
has a
couple of lodges boasting spectacular views of the coast below. The friendly young
tp://demergi.com/
;
vul Severnaya 11, Luchistoye; beds per person from 60uah)
offer inexpensive
mountain treks varying in length, including a two-day trek to their other base on Karabi-
Yayla plateau in eastern Crimea.
Luchistoye, from where you can hike to the Valley of the Ghosts, can be accessed
from Alushta bus station by
marshrutka
(2uah, every 40 minutes). A taxi from Alushta
should cost around 60uah. You can also walk from the Luchistoye bus station on the
Simferopol-Yalta road. Travelling from Simferopol it is after Angarsky Pass - get off
when the sea comes into view.
Two other options include taking an organised
mountain-bike tour
(
www.mt.crimea.com
)
or booking an organised tour from a stall in Yalta.
Mt Chatyr-Dag
MOUNTAIN
Mt Chatyr-Dag (1527m) lies west of the Alushta-Simferopol road and is renowned for
the numerous caves that lie beneath it. The most famous are the
Mramornaya Cave
(Marble Cave; 1hr tour 50uah)
and the
Eminé-Ba'ir-Khosar
(Well of Maiden Eminé; 1hr tour
50uah)
. They're not world-beating, but maybe are worth seeing if you're staying longer
in Crimea.
Mramornaya Cave is long and shallow (68m deep and nearly 2km long) and full of
strangely shaped stalactites and stalagmites, nicknamed after various animals, objects,
fairy-tale characters and international buildings, such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
