The Crimean peninsula for active travel

Basic information about Crimea

The Crimean peninsula (Krym)occupies the territory of 26 000 sq.km.The nearest biggest international airport is in Kiev; the nearest smaller international airport is in Simferopol. There are 30 curative lakes, 120 thermal medical sources, 10 thousand monuments of a history and culture on the peninsula. The Crimea (Krim) attracts mountain bikers, tourists, rock-climbers etc. Mountains consist of three ridges: the Main, which maximal height is 1545 meters above sea level, the Internal, represented by separate rocky massifs which heights are 500-600 meters, and the External, which height is insignificant. The Southern coast is known for its mild climate. That is a narrow ground strip between the Main ridge and the Black sea. See here: map of Crimea and Ukraine // pictures of Crimea

Krym. Southern coast

Southern coast of Crimea is a region from town of Alushta up to a village of Balaclava. In the past many people from all over the USSR rested in health resorts in this region.. The climate is mild and the humidity is moderate. The average annual temperature is + 13-14°C. This region is closed from North winds by the main ridge of Crimean mountains. On the plateau the average annual temperature is +5-8°C and in the spring and autumn frosts occur. Tourists are attracted not only by the sea and mountains, but also by remarkable palace and museum complexes surrounded by parks. One can visit White Livadia palace (exposition: Yalta conference of 1945, The Romanovs in the Crimea); Massandra palace (everyday life in the nobleman estate in XVIII-XIX c.); Alupka palace - Count Vorontsov summer villa built by English architect, the admirable Swallow's Nest Castle, heavenly Church on the Rock in Foros, Chekov's house in Yalta and Gurzuf, Nikitsky Botanical Gardens etc. There are also Massandra and Magarach wine tasting excursions. There are sweet and dry Crimean wines - port, muscatel, cahors and cognac. This is one of the best place to mark the end of holidays. See pictures: The Black Sea coast of Crimea Palaces and sightseeing of Big Yalta // Yalta // Nikitsky Botanical Gardens

Krim. South-Eastern coast

South-east Crimea begins with the city of Alushta. Even for many Russians this region is terra incognita. The climate is dry: near the town of Sudak the average annual precipitation 300 mm. The sea at coast is rather shallow and beaches are pebbled. The massif Karabi dominating over East Crimea is the place the heart of a cave explorer beats for. It is territory of ancient volcanoes, tall beech woods, medieval fortresses, cozy bays. Here in Noviy Svet (New World) the outstanding wine maker prince Lev Golitsyn organized champagne production. The village is considered to be the most attractive part of East Crimea. Many Soviet maritime films have been shot here. Beside - the majestic Genoese fortress in Sudak that is the most preserved one of fortresses out of Genoa. Further to the east there is the town of Feodosia: the sand beach, the remnants of Kaffa - the capital Italian in Crimea, a great medieval city with the population of 70 000 at the time. See pictures: Bays of Noviy Svet Genoese fortress in Sudak // Kara-Dah Nature Reserve

South-West of Crimea: area of the cave towns

South-west of Krim is an area with a moderate humidity: 500 mm is average annual precipitation. Slopes of mountains are covered with pine and juniper trees. It is the land of cave cities, canyons of the fast rivers, picturesque uplands and bays. The Main ridge is cut by deep canyons with waterfalls. Here is the Grand Canyon of Crimea. In the vicinities of the town of Bakhchisarai (the Internal ridge) many archeological and architectural monuments are concentrated. One can visit here the Khan palace, which has become the Tatar national museum, different cave monasteries founded in 6-7-th century and amazing cave towns: Chufut-Kale, Eski-Kermen, Manhup-Kale - the centre of medieval principality, the capital of the orthodox principality Feodoro. The great city was well guarded with natural abruptions, towers and casemates carved in the rock. See pictures here: Cave towns of Crimea // Grand Canyon

Heroic pages of the Crimean war 1853-1856 and World War Two are connected to the city of Sevastopol. During Soviet time this city was a military base and difficult to visit. Sebastopol itself draws attention, and the well known archeological monument - the antique city of Chersonesus also attracts visitors. In 988, the Russian prince Vladimir the Grand has accepted here Orthodoxy and then christened Rus. 15 km to the south from Sebastopol, in Balaklava, the English base was during the Crimean war. The balaclava helmet, cardigan and raglan sleeve are originally from here. In Balaclava it was the heroic and useless attack of Light Brigade... Not far from here the English tomb and the Conciliation of the countries-Crimea war participants monument are situated. The bloody war which began with the farewell waving of queen Victoria's hanky and finished with late regret of lord Sinckler. Also near Sebastopol there is the burial place of German soldiers where remains found everywhere in Crimea one reburies in the proper way... In Sebastopol there are museums: the panorama (see all around) devoting to the Crimea war and the diorama - WW II museum.

Sightseeing excursions in Crimea - my most popular programs, that include Palaces & medieval castle, museums & monasteries, cities & views.

One-day hiking tours: Ghost's valley, cave towns, mountain plateaus, etc...

Book your intelligent and caring guide! for any information do not hesitate to contact me Travel to Ukraine forum: ask and answer any questions you'd like to know about Ukraine Hotels in Crimea - list of most of Crimean hotels with pics of rooms and rates Holiday apartments in Yalta: 1, 2, 3 -room apartments in the center of Yalta, near embankment

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