Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SOARING ABOVE CRIMEA
The Soviet aviation and aerospace industries were born in the hills outside Kok-
tebel, and paragliders still come here to enjoy the thermal uplifts where sea
breezes meet the sun-drenched, long mountain ridges and steppes beyond. In the
1920s and '30s aircraft designers Sergey Korolyov (father of the Soviet space pro-
gram), Sergey Ilyushin and Oleg Antonov tested gliders on the 180m tall, 6km-long
ridge of Mt Klementyeva (Uzun-Syrt in Tatar). Koktebel was initially called Planer-
skoye because of this ( planermeaning 'glider' in Russian).
Today there are still paragliding, hang-gliding and speed-flying schools up here,
complete with a landing strip, museum, accommodation and competitions. If you
speak Russian, stalls in Feodosiya and Koktebel sell paragliding (about 250uah),
hang-gliding (350uah to 800uah) and microlight (400uah) flights, or you can con-
Apr-Nov)
. The moun-
tain ridge is off the Feodosiya-Koktebel road, signposted.
For flights elsewhere in Crimea with an English-speaking guide, visit
Festivals & Events
Every September, when students leave and the village reverts to being the relaxing idyll
which is attended by major musicians from Eastern Europe and beyond. Jazz is in the
name, but there is a strong rock and world music element.
Sleeping
Most people stay in rooms for rent and nameless private pensions that come in all shapes
and sizes. Look for (Rooms available) signs. None of these places have receptions as
such, so you normally need to dial a mobile number posted at the entrance. That's obvi-
ously bad news for those who don't speak Russian.
There are several overpriced hotels, but one good-value establishment is
Talisman
Hotel
( 244 80/76; vul Lenina 97; high season s/d from $56, superior d $70, winter s/d $12/24,
superior d $36)
, across the road from the bus station.
Dacha Koktebelica
GUESTHOUSE$
( 050 535 7173, 095 216 9118;
www.koktebelika.com
;
prov Klubny 16; d from 160uah; )
This one is the most peculiar black sheep in Crimea's dull guesthouse family. Accom-
