The Crimean peninsula is a kind of tourist Mecca for the residents of Russia. It has everything you need for a good rest. The healing air filled with the aroma of flowering plants, the warm Black Sea, the bright sun and the wonderful climate - all this annually attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists. There are a lot of families with children among the guests of Crimea. Excursions for children in Crimea are one of the main directions of the tourism business. There are many entertaining and educational attractions that little guests will be delighted with. These are dolphinariums, aquariums, family hikes in the mountains and valleys, botanical gardens and much more.
Master class of communication and friendship with horses
This is one of those wonderful excursions that arouses a lot of positive emotions in children. Parents with children on vacation in Crimea are advised to take an organized trip to the village of Sinapnoe, which is half an hour's drive from Bakhchisarai. Horse riding master classes are held here. Experienced horse breeders will not only ride horses for adults and children, but will teach the subtle art of communicating with intelligent animals.
Curious, open-minded and benevolent horses amaze with their good breeding and tender attitude towards children. The training of animals is admired by the visitors of the farm. Instructors will teach the correct behavior while riding, as well as show how to properly mount a horse and give him commands so that they must be followed.
Communication with the herd takes place on a picturesque section of a meadow near the banks of the Kacha River. During bad weather, visitors can warm up with tea by the stove in a large warm tent. It is safe to say that children will remember this event for the rest of their lives.
By jeep in the picturesque surroundings of Bakhchisarai
A car ride for 6 people lasts 4 hours. The route runs along a difficult track accessible only to an off-road vehicle. During the rally, passengers will see picturesque rivers and valleys, amazing palaces and mysterious ancient buildings. Bakhchisarai Sphinxes - these powerful boulders, reminiscent of ancient Egyptian mythical creatures, will amaze travelers with their grandiose appearance.
Further, the transport will take travelers to the cave city of Chufut-Kale, where the ancestral fortress of the Crimean queen Janike once stood. Here you can walk along the ancient paths, presenting, according to the stories of the guide, the struggle of the local khanate for independence from the Golden Horde. At the end of the tour program, an inspection of the Khan's Palace, the former residence of the Tatar khans, must be included.
Here travelers will see the famous Fountain of Tears, sung by Pushkin in the poem of the same name. A subsequent visit to 4 viewing platforms will give an opportunity to make beautiful photos of the views of Bakhchisarai from a height, surrounded by majestic mountain ranges.
Secrets of the Baydar Valley: a hike for the whole family
The name Baydarskaya Valley is a literal translation of the Crimean Tatar name of the area "Baydar Uva". The intermountain basin is located in the southwestern part of the Crimean peninsula. The route runs along a relatively flat area without steep ascents and abrupt descents. Therefore, tourists can take their children with them, who can spend 9 hours on a walking trip with a mandatory halt along the way.
The route starts at 5 km of the Balaklava highway from Sevastopol. An energetic and sociable group guide, ready to answer any question, will guide the participants of the tour to the most picturesque places of the legendary Crimean valley. On the way, the group will meet the Chernorechenskoye reservoir, which supplies Sevastopol with drinking water.
Having reached the highest point of the Biyuk-Karmazy cliff, adults and children will be able to admire the delightful panorama of the Emerald Canyon. During a walk among the ruins of the medieval fortress Sardzhik-Isar, the guide will tell its interesting story. Then you can see the rapidly rushing waters of the Black River along the mountain rapids, turning into steep waterfalls.
On a cozy meadow in front of the mountain peaks, the guide will prepare a delicious and hearty lunch for everyone. After resting, tourists will walk to the Yusuf-Koba cave, where primitive people lived thousands of years ago. The journey will end with a tour of the Cold War underground command post.
Neparade Sevastopol
After a hot day on the beach, it will be useful to take a walk in the evening in the cool Sevastopol together with a connoisseur of the legendary city. This opportunity is provided by local professional guides. Within 2.5 hours, a group of tourists in the amount of no more than 10 people, accompanied by a guide, will walk up Lenin Street and climb the central city hill.
Here, at the Vladimir Cathedral, they will tell that the church building has long been the burial vault of the great admirals of the Russian fleet. Guests of the city will visit the entrance to the city underground, walk along Lazarev Square and descend into Artillery Bay. During the passage of the route, people will learn little-known interesting and funny stories that happened in the city.
They will help you learn Sevastopol from a non-standard perspective. A short walk is completely stress-free, so the participation of children in the mini-trip is encouraged. The walk will end with admiring the panorama of the grandiose sunset over the Sevastopol Bay.
Sevastopol: Walking Tour of the Balaklava Arc
The walking tour begins immediately after the Nazukin embankment. A professional guide will lead a group of tourists in the amount of up to 10 people for 8 hours along the iconic places of the Balaklava arc. The first attraction that travelers will meet will be the Genoese fortress of Cembalo. At one time, the strategic citadel completely blocked the passage to the Balaklava Bay.
After a short climb along the ridge with a fabulous name - Sleeping Beauty, the so-called. "The barrel of death". This steel structure, hanging over an abyss, during the war served as a platform for the execution of captured Soviet soldiers. Further, the route will lead to an abandoned missile base (object 100).
The former military site is a network of tunnels where the group can take a walk and have an exotic photo session. Then everyone will go to the viewing platforms of the Ayazim tract, from where grandiose views of the mountain ranges and the Black Sea will open. Afterwards, adults and children will be able to rest at a halt, during which the guide will cook a delicious and hearty lunch over the fire.
The trip will end below on the beach of Fig, where after an hour of swimming in the sea, the tourists will return by boat back to the embankment of the Balaklava Bay.
Two in one: Cape Fiolent and the Kachi-Kalion cave monastery
The individual route is designed for a maximum of 4 people, who for 8 hours, accompanied by a professional guide-driver, in a comfortable jeep will drive through one of the most picturesque places in Crimea. During one day, travelers will see the fantastic beauty of mountains and valleys, visit mysterious caves and ancient temples and visit the most beautiful natural beaches of the turquoise sea.
During the rally, the guide will tell you the myths associated with the places of residence of the ancient Greeks. Passengers learn a lot from the stories about the birth of Christian culture here. A trip along the coast of Cape Fiolenta will leave in your mind the breathtaking views of the cliffs and the sea for a long time. After admiring the Bounty beach with turquoise sea water from a height, the jeep will drive up to Diana's grotto.
From there, going down the path, the group will find themselves on the Karavella beach, where they will hear the story of the touching ancient Greek myth about the rocks of Orest, Pilad and Iphiginea. Further, visits to Jasper Beach, Cape Aya and St. George's Lavra will follow.
The trip will end with a trip to the mountains to the medieval cave city of Kachi-Kalion. Here tourists will learn how the legendary settlement arose and fell into decay, visit the Beaded Temple, the Church of St. Sophia and walk through the grottoes and caves. After that, everyone will return to the starting point of the route.
Two wars of Sevastopol
The tour will take only 4 hours. During this short time, a group of three people (it may be a married couple with a child) will have an interesting educational trip on an individual transport with a driver and a guide. As they move around the city from one iconic landmark to another, tourists will hear many stories about the Crimean War at the end of the 19th century and about the battles for the liberation of the peninsula in 1944.
There will be a lot of information about the 4th bastion, which Leo Tolstoy described in "Sevastopol Stories", the monument to the sunken ships at the Grafskaya pier, Admiral Nakhimov on the square of the same name. Leaving the historical center, the car will go to Sapun-Gora and Malakhov Kurgan - the places of the grandiose battles of both wars.
The guide will reliably describe the picture of the storming of the city by Manstein's tanks and the liberation of Sevastopol in 1944. This concludes the journey, and the driver will take people to the starting point of the route.
Resort Alupka, Livadia Palace and Swallow's Nest Castle
This is one of the most exciting routes for tourists with 6 people. For 8 hours, travelers will be able to explore some of the most remarkable sights of the South Coast of Crimea. The route starts from Yalta or Alushta. Moving is carried out by the customer's transport or by car with a professional driver for an additional fee.
The first on the way will be Alupka, where travelers can walk along the upper plateau of the Vorontsov palace and park complex. Then adults and children will visit the palace itself, in the architecture of which the English Gothic is mixed with the Oriental style. After inspecting the inner chambers, accompanied by detailed comments from the guide, the group will go to the Swallow's Nest. An amazing architectural monument, which has absorbed several directions in architecture, managed to retain its original appearance when several owners changed.
Here you will hear the story of how the legendary film "12 Little Indians" was filmed in the castle. After a break for lunch, travelers will be taken to Yalta directly to the Livadia Palace, the former Crimean residence of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II. The luxurious royal interiors will be examined. Here, in the courtyard, tourists love to be photographed near the monument to the famous historical troika: Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt.
The leaders of the anti-Hitler coalition are depicted sitting on a bench during a break between meetings at the Yalta conference. This concludes the wonderful journey.
Hiking in the woods and take off to Ai-Petri
The walking tour for a group of up to 15 people lasts 8 hours. The purpose of the trip is to climb the Yalta plateau along the picturesque Uzenbash trail through the mountain range. The route is 9 kilometers long. Children over 10 years old are admitted to the group. On the way up, the guide will tell you about the peculiarities of the local flora and fauna, the main monuments and iconic sights on the way of sightseers.
Having examined one of the most beautiful Crimean caves, where the temple used to be located, tourists will visit observation platforms, from which grandiose views of the mountain range will open. We should pay tribute to the viewpoint on the top of the Ai-Valentin cliff, from which a particularly picturesque panorama of the mountainous Crimea opens up.
Further, the path will continue downhill along the serpentine path. She will lead to the cable car station. The wagon with tourists will “fly up” to the peak of the Ai-Petri peak. From a height of 1234 meters above sea level, adults and children will enjoy the dizzying panorama of the Black Sea coast. On this the journey ends with a return to Yalta.
To the mysterious caves of Chatyr-Dag
The time spent on the route for a group of 7 people will be 7 hours. A peculiarity of the trip is visiting attractions located in two opposite directions - this is the descent into the underground and the ascent to the mountain peak. After the dazzling sun, warm sea, descent into the Marble Cave will surprise you with the cool atmosphere of the inner space. A delightful treasure trove decorated with fabulous stalactites and wall hangings was discovered in 1987.
The skillfully made illumination of the mineral formations turns the dungeon into a fabulous cave of Ali Baba. The constant temperature in the cave is kept at 8.5 degrees Celsius. Therefore, adults and especially children need to stock up on warm clothes and closed shoes, although both can be rented here. Previously, the ascent to the top of the Chatyr-Dag mountain took 2 days.
With the appearance of the road, tourists get upstairs in a short time by car, which will happen with a real group. All this time, the guide will occupy the attention of travelers with stories about why a low mountain is visible from all points of the peninsula, what kind of people lived in the foothills, and what influence the yayla (flat mountain pastures) have on the climate of the Alushta Valley. This route ends with a return to the starting point.
The Grand Canyon of Crimea
Among the numerous hiking routes, one of the first places is taken by excursion walks along the Grand Canyon of Crimea. For vacationers, Crimean travel agencies offer guests of the peninsula to visit the territory where there are rapid mountain rivers, crystal clear lakes, waterfalls and baths of youth. Unforgettable impressions will remain in the memory of adults and children after walking along the extreme mountain road.
The canyon originates from the village of Sokolinoe near the old Yalta road and continues, crossing the Ai-Petri plateau, to Bakhchisarai and further reaches Yalta. One of the shortest routes lasts 2.5 hours. Its length is approximately 8 kilometers. The Grand Canyon is open to the public all year round, except during the spring floods, when some of the trails are flooded with water. Groups of tourists go to the reserve in several places. The best option is when travelers follow the route from top to bottom, which is not at all tiring for children.
Tales of the Crimean Forest
The 5-hour walk is designed for a group of up to 12 people. During this time, travelers will overcome about 10 kilometers of the road of simple difficulty. Children are encouraged to participate. The journey will bring joy not only to adults, but also to their children. Travel to the Angarsk Pass is paid additionally. Before the hike, be sure to take care of comfortable shoes and clothing for the season.
First, a professional guide will lead people through a beech forest to an amazing tree, which, according to legend, saved the life of a goblin. After that, the route will lead to the top of Mount Elkh-Kaya. From here there will be an opportunity to admire the grandiose panorama of Alushta and the view of the Bald Ivan Mountain (Pakhkal-Kaya). Passing through a small field, the participants of the hike will hear the guide's story about several local legends.
At the top of Bald Ivan, a dizzying panorama of 3600 with views of Alushta, Simferopol, Demerdzhi and Chatyr-Dag will open in front of the group. After a short rest, tourists will head back.
Demerdzhi. Riddles "Valley of Ghosts"
The mountain with the sonorous name of Demerdzhi is covered with many legends and beliefs.To her, the route runs through the Valley of Ghosts, which amazes with the beauty of the local landscapes. An organized walk will acquaint travelers with the world of ancient peoples who lived in this area, will remind you of the period of Byzantium rule and the times of the Crimean Khanate.
The program is designed for a group of 6 people and lasts 5.5 hours. The length of the route is 22 km, of which 6.5 km. People will walk. After walking along the Valley of Ghosts, travelers will climb to the summit of South Demerdzhi. Here it will be interesting to examine the stone pillars, in the body of which you can see the dissemination of particles of pebbles of marine origin.
At Solnechnaya Polyana, the guide will show you the foundation of an ancient building and tell you about its purpose in ancient times. It will be interesting to see firsthand the tree from the film "Prisoner of the Caucasus", on which the legendary comedy troika was sitting. Near the ruins of the ancient Byzantine fortress Funa, travelers will enjoy views of the sea and mountain landscapes.
So that during the hike, adults and children do not feel discomfort, they should be equipped with warm clothes and comfortable closed shoes, as it will be pretty cool in the mountains. Each traveler will be given a comfortable backpack with dry rations. Before the end of the walk, a halt will be organized at the fortress, during which the tourists can have a supper.
Alushta ancient face
The route includes a visit to the Yukhary-Jami mosque and the Aluston fortress. The mosque is the only religious complex of Musumal buildings in Alushta. It was built in the 19th century on the highest point of the city - the Krepostnaya Gorka hill. From a height of 40 meters above sea level, a magnificent city panorama opens up in front of the visitors of the cult building. Translated from the Crimean Tatar language, Yukhar-Jami is the Upper Mosque.
In the pre-revolutionary past there was also the Lower Mosque, but it was completely destroyed. On Fridays, prayers are performed here. The mosque is open to everyone, but we must not forget that you cannot visit it with shoes on (you take off your shoes before entering) and open clothes. Women must have their heads covered.
Fortress Aluston is a few ruins of an ancient defensive structure. Three fragments of the fortress wall, lost among the private sector of the city. The tower is visible from the road next to the square. Remains of another tower can be found on April 15th Street. Finding both objects without the help of a guide will be quite difficult. The ruins of the fortress wall have been preserved between them.
The fortification was erected on a 45-meter hill in the 6th century. According to the ancient legend, the fortress was erected by order of the Byzantine emperor Justian I and was inhabited by the Goths. Subsequently, the defensive complex, which had become unnecessary, was surrounded by a settlement, which later grew and turned into a city named Alushta.
Travel from Alushta to Sudak and Novy Svet
This rather long journey takes about 11 hours. The group size is 24 people. Families with children are welcome. The group leaves Alushta on a special bus, first to Sudak, then to the village of Novy Svet, from where the travelers will go to the mountains along the Golitsyn trail.
Arriving in the city of Sudak, the guests, led by a professional guide, will climb up the mountain to the walls of the ancient Genoese fortress, which has been declared a historical monument of Italian fortification architecture. Entrance to the territory of the museum is allowed for an additional fee. Here visitors have the opportunity to get acquainted with rare archaeological artifacts from the 14th century. The guide's stories will transfer the imagination of tourists to a time when the southern coast of Crimea was under the rule of Venetian and Genoese merchants.
From here, from the height of the cliffs, a magnificent panorama of the Black Sea coast opens. After visiting the fortress, the group will arrive in the village of Novy Svet, where, in the century before last, Prince Golitsyn planted vineyards and built a champagne factory. While the guide tells about the origin of the village, tourists will walk through the territory of the plant, surrounded by relict trees and juniper bushes.
Leaving the princely wine production below, the guests will walk along the Golitsyn trail to the rocky grotto. On the way, adults and children will be surrounded by amazingly beautiful landscapes. There is a stage in the cave, where musicians give concerts on holidays. Behind it there is a unique storage of aged wines. After that, a descent into the bay will be made, where travelers can relax and swim in the warm sea.
Nikitsky Botanical Garden
The park, founded by Emperor Alexander I, has collected a huge number of different plants brought from all over the world. Over time, the garden institution was given the name - Nikitsky Botanical Garden. A bus with tourists leaves Alushta and arrives in the village of Nikita, where a rotunda with a crowning inscription in gold letters "Nikitsky Botanical Garden" is located by the road. More than 28,000 species of trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers are collected here.
The group, accompanied by a guide, will walk along the paths among the picturesque landscapes created by the hands of professional gardeners. During the walk, adults and children will hear a lot of interesting flora from the world, as well as learn the history of the creation of the famous garden. When leaving, you can buy seeds and seedlings in a special store, where sales assistants will advise on what is best to buy.
Sunset at the top of South Demerdzhi
An educational walk with a professional escort, designed for a group of 8 people, lasts 5 hours. Tourists arrive in the village of Luchistoye on their own, where they are met by a group guide. From here, the participants of the event will go to the Valley of Ghosts, where they will see picturesque stone statues of natural origin on a mountain slope.
Leaving Solnechnaya Polyana with bizarre rocky boulders, adults and children will climb to the highest platform of the route, crowning Mount Alenga. Here there is a rare opportunity to hold one of the most picturesque photo sessions against the backdrop of the amazing mountain landscapes of Crimea.
The apotheosis of an entertaining journey will be the transition to the summit of South Demerdzhi. The thing is. that, depending on the time of year, the route should start at such a time that at the end of the walk (in five hours) the participants of the voyage could admire at this place a grandiose picture of a sunset among fantastic clouds and mountain slopes.
Lost world at the Jurla waterfall
The program will take 5.5 hours, during which a group of 6 people, including children, will spend time among the pristine Crimean nature in the atmosphere of the purest mountain air. The route will pass along the eastern slope of Mount Demerdzhi. It will be interesting to see the stone pillars of natural origin, reminiscent of the figures of animals and people. The guide will tell the legends associated with this natural phenomenon.
On the way to the Valley of Ghosts, the guide will show the places where the filming of the legendary comedy "Prisoner of the Caucasus" took place. They always like to be photographed near a 400-year-old tree, on the branches of which the famous comedy Gaidaevka troika was sitting. Here travelers, walking through the relict forest, will find themselves near the crystal clear streams of the Jurla waterfall. The guide will tell a lot of stories, legends and beliefs associated with this attraction and its surroundings.
If you believe them, then the famous Silk Road passed here and dashing robbers lived here. On the way, there will be observation platforms with stunning views of the mountain landscapes. The last attraction of the rally will be the 14th century Funa fortress, or rather its ruins.
Immersion in Evpatoria: sounds, aromas, tastes and textures
The organized 2 hour guided walk is for 10 people excluding children.At any time of the day, starting at sunrise, you can go on a route to the sights of Evpatoria. First of all, the group will see the ancient city, inspect the Gezlev gate. Then, during a visit to the coffee shop, guests will taste coffee made in Gezlev and Sultan style.
From the third floor of the ancient tower, guests will see the entire Old City. During this, the guide will tell you a lot of interesting things related to the history of the city. Tourists will pass through the old quarters, bypassing colorful ethnic courtyards with the alluring smells of local cuisine. The participants of the walk will get to the area of Little Jerusalem, where there are seven temples of different religions.
Then the travelers will go to the Jewish Quarter, where a cafe with Jewish cuisine is located next to the synagogue. Nearby you can also see the local Wailing Wall. Then tourists will see the architecture of such structures as Karaite kenassa (prayer houses). The walk will end at the unusual Khan-Jami mosque, which was built to establish the newly elected khan in power.
Kerch: top attractions by car
The car ride will take 4 hours for 4 people. During the rally, passengers will explore the city center, where they will visit the Orthodox Church of St. John the Baptist, and then ascend to the highest point of Kerch - Mount Mithridates. Travelers will also see the Obelisk of Glory and the Adzhimushkay quarry memorial - a museum dedicated to the heroism and courage of the Soviet people.
Then there will be a trip to a unique mound - the Tsar's tomb. It will be interesting to see the ancient Turkish fortress Yeni-Kale. From there, beautiful views of the Kerch Strait, connecting the Black and Azov seas, open up. The highlight of the tour will be a trip to the Crimean Bridge, where you can take memorable photos on a special bench.
