What are the trails on Ai Petri? Ai-Petri Crimea: Yalta from a bird's eye view, a dizzying cable car and much more. The Ai-Petri cable car consists of three stations

Highest point Crimean mountain range, which stretches in a wide strip along the southern and southeastern coasts of the peninsula, is the mountain Ai-Petri (1234 meters). Geographically, Ai-Petri, which in Greek means “St. Peter” (there was previously a monastery of the same name here), is located between the village of Koreiz (Miskhor) and Alupka and is part of Yalta protected area.

The easily recognizable silhouette of a mountain with four prongs was formed as a result of the influence of precipitation on reef limestones, of which the array consists. A little below the battlements is the Ai-Petrinsky plateau (yayla), the area of ​​which is 300 sq.m.

The main goal of all tourists is to get to this plateau where you can spend an unforgettable day! And you can climb to the top of the most famous Crimean mountain in different ways ways. Some people prefer walking routes, while others prefer auto-climbing. There are other options. Let's try to consider the advantages and disadvantages of various methods of climbing one of the most famous Crimean mountains.

How to get to Ai-Petri

From Yalta

Mount Ai-Petri is one of the most attractive Crimean sites that many guests of the peninsula seek to visit. It is located in the Yalta administrative region, and therefore, to get to Ai-Petri, you need to at least come to Yalta.

From the Yalta Bus Station there are minibuses and taxis to the very top of the mountain, as well as to Wuchang-Su waterfall(if you decide to climb Ai-Petri on foot). You can also drive from Yalta to the coveted peak in your car along the Bakhchisaray highway, which branches off from Yuzhnoberezhny.

Directions to Ai-Petri from Yalta

From Sevastopol by car

Tourists vacationing in Sevastopol can come to explore Ai-Petri along the traditional route - first to Yalta, and from there either through the Uchan-Su waterfall or through Koreiz (Miskhor).

If you have your own car, there is another travel option via Bakhchisarai. This is not a very big detour, but very interesting for sightseeing along the way. If you wish, you can visit Khan's Palace and nearby attractions.

And, besides, the road to Ai-Petri from Bakhchisarai offers wonderful views Grand Canyon, which you don’t even have to make a special trip to inspect! But this is a unique natural phenomenon, and a fantastically beautiful one at that!!!

From Koreiz (Miskhor)

Another starting point for the climb to the Ai-Petri mountain peak is the village of Koreiz (Miskhor), which lies at the very foot of the mountain. Getting to Koreiz from any resort point on the peninsula is also not difficult. You can get here from any bus station, although the route usually goes through Yalta. The ascent from Koreiz is interesting only for those who want to use the services of a cable car or Koreiz walking trail.

Ascent by cable car

The fastest and least tiring way to climb to the Ai-Petri teeth (in just 15-20 minutes) is to climb along 3 km cable car, starting from the Miskhor station, located in the village of the same name, to which you can arrive from any locality Crimea by public transport or minibus. The Miskhor cable car, which is now included in the Guinness Book of Records as having the longest unsupported spans, appeared here in 1987-88.

The advantages of this rise are obvious. First of all - speed and a significant time saving. Besides - beautiful view angles the mountain itself and the coastline with local vegetation.

The disadvantages of this method of transportation include a decent fare on the cable car (400 rubles one way) and wasting time in line for a ticket. But, nevertheless, you should definitely ride this route at least once - in one direction.

The climb itself is divided into two plots. From “Miskhor” we get to the transfer station - “Sosnovy Bor”, where, under the control of the workers on duty, we get out of one trailer and get into another, which will take us to the desired height.

Flight over the coastal strip in a cable car

A nice cable car will take you and 39 other people to the territory Ai-Petrinsky plateau, from which, if desired, you can climb on foot to the battlements themselves. In addition to climbing to the top itself, on the Ai-Petri plateau there are all kinds of entertainment for tourists, which are the subject of a separate article (What to see on Ai-Petri).

It remains to add that the cable car does not always work. On particularly windy days it closes. Although, in principle, under favorable weather conditions it operates all year round.

Pedestrian climb to Ai-Petri

A walking journey will undoubtedly bring many discoveries, unforgettable impressions and unique photographs. But this climb requires sufficient time and some physical preparation. If you have small children with you, then it is better not to go on such trips.

Pedestrian routes are designed for trained tourists

There is at least three mountain trails, recommended for such tourist ascents. The first and main one is Taraktash trail, starting at the Uchan-Su waterfall. There is also an ascent coming from Koreiz (Miskhor) - Koreiz trail. These paths are very convenient to get to in dry weather, because after rain they are very steep and difficult to pass. The third way to the top of Ai-Petri is a climb along the serpentine highway Yalta-Bakhchisarai, which also starts from the Uchan-Su waterfall.

It is optimal to make such climbs as part of an excursion group, and you need to have comfortable sportswear. shoes, warm clothes, water, food, etc.! And during the ascent, behave extremely carefully and carefully, following the instructions of the guide. If you decide to go up on one's own, then it is better to go along the Bakhchisarai highway, although this path is the longest, but the safest. Moreover, there will be signs along the road that will allow you to shorten the route somewhat.

When climbing on foot, it is interesting to observe the change in vegetation

Fans of mountain walks can climb along one trail and descend along another within one day. And along the way, see the sights of the Ai-Petri plateau. Of course, walking on foot is quite tiring, but it leaves unforgettable experience and emotions, a feeling of a discoverer and many unique photographs.

Taraktash trail

Ai-Petri is considered the most picturesque, popular and difficult mountain trail Taraktash trail. As already mentioned, it begins from the Wuchang-Su waterfall, which can be reached from Yalta bus station on a minibus. Those. Wherever you are, you must first of all come to Yalta, which is easy to do from any Crimean city or village, and then just get to its Bus Station.

From the waterfall we begin the ascent, along which we reach the observation deck Eagle takeoff. Next, we are interested in turning right, and pay attention to constantly occurring marks. The Taraktash trail is marked with red markings. For some time it will coincide with the healing path of the Shtangeevskaya Trail.

Approximately this 3.5-kilometer climb requires about 4 hours, but you still need time to examine the Ai-Petri plateau (yayla) itself and on the way back. Usually the return descent is made by cable car, the movement of which stops at 18.00.

There is only one road up, but sometimes there are forks, from which you must always choose the left one. The most intriguing attraction of this trail is Taraktashsky ridge– fantastic rock formation – the work of local winds. By the way, the name Taraktash is translated precisely as “stone comb”.

This layered rock miracle is very reminiscent American canyons from popular westerns. While moving, you need to look both forward and back so as not to miss the stunning views of Yalta and other local beauties, such as capes Mogabi, Martyan and Pendikulya. And along the way you will meet springs and the Vodopadnaya mountain river.

The exit to the Ai-Petri Plateau will occur around Meridian ball and the old Weather Station, from where you still have to walk a fair distance to the Cable Car Station. But on this way you can explore the interesting Ai-Petrinsky caves and other natural attractions.

Koreiz trail

For vacationers in Miskhor and Koreiz, the most convenient climb to the top of Ai-Petri is Koreiz trail, which starts in Koreiz at the Miskhor fork from the road sign to Yalta on South Coast Highway.

The path along this trail also runs through the territory Yalta Nature Reserve, as road signs constantly remind us of. The views are very picturesque. The pine trees growing at an angle are especially fascinating on rocky slopes.

If you are not afraid of heights, you can come closer to some cliff and imagine yourself as a soaring eagle, or at least just admire the views.

In general, traveling along the Koreiz trail allows you to forget all worldly problems and delve into a relaxed worldview of the surrounding reality. Part of the path passes through a thin, but still forest, which creates a comfortable coolness.

Meet the mountain on the trail source "Syungasy", which is civilized. It will quench your thirst, and you can take miraculous life-giving water with you. If up to this spring the path climbed quite smoothly, then from here a very steep climb begins.

From the Syungasy spring the climb becomes steeper

The rest of the journey is part-time and bike path for extreme mountain descents from Ai-Petrinsky Yaila. Is here and bicycle jump, but this is for very advanced cyclists. In any case, on this section of the path you need to be extremely careful to avoid collisions with descending cyclists.

The near completion of the route can be guessed by the appearance on the horizon of a working cable car, to which the trail leads. It ends at the Ai-Petrinsky plateau next to 300 year old airplane pine, recognized as a natural monument. And nearby there is a thousand-year-old yew - a very interesting relict tree, but we must remember that its berries are very poisonous.

Experienced tourists recommend starting to get acquainted with this trail from the descent. Those. Climbing Ai-Petri along the Koreiz trail is much more difficult than descending from it due to the large altitude difference. But if you are confident in your abilities and have very comfortable sneakers on your feet, then you can conquer this trail in any direction.

Lifting by car

Some road travelers prefer to get to the top of Ai-Petri by car. This is much more convenient and comfortable, but there are also several...

First of all, climbing by car is quite dangerous, because serpentine road not very wide and attracts almost all attention. Although, on the other hand, there doesn’t seem to be much to look around, because the route first goes through a dense forest. Rare observation platforms do not leave such a powerful impression as when climbing on foot, although the views from them are also very picturesque.

The total duration of the road from Yalta is approx. 30 km. For a normal road this is not much, but if you have about 100 turns ahead, many of which are equal to 180 degrees, then you will inevitably think about it. However, if you have quite a lot of driving experience, then an auto climb will save both time and effort, which can be usefully spent on sightseeing on the mountain plateau itself.

In addition, on the Bakhchisarai highway you will be able to see what is inaccessible with other methods of ascent. First of all, this is the famous Wuchang-Su Waterfall. If your trip took place in the last spring or first summer month, then the waterfall will make a pleasant impression on you. By mid-summer, unfortunately, it dries out almost completely.

Along the way you will also encounter a very picturesque, almost fairy-tale forest. Turtle Lake with a small house. You can walk around the lake from different sides, go to the house, take a photo as a souvenir and listen to the optimistic polyphony of croaking frogs.

The legend of the Ai-Petrinsky spring

And not far from the lake is spring, about which another Crimean legend involuntarily comes to mind about an old man and an old woman. They lived and lived to a ripe old age. But they never made any money. They'll be dying soon, and there won't even be enough money to bury them. And having gathered his last strength, the old man went to collect brushwood at the foot of Ai-Petri so that after selling it, you can set aside a certain amount for a rainy day.

The old man had been collecting brushwood for a long time and was tired. Suddenly I saw a spring nearby. The old man drank water from the spring, quenched his thirst, and fell into a deep sleep. Waking up in the evening, he grabbed the collected brushwood and ran home. And the path did not seem difficult to him, and the brushwood was not heavy.

Approaching the village, he saw his old woman, who slowly hobbled towards the mountains in search of the old man. But the old woman did not recognize the old man, because after drinking spring water, he became a young and strong youth! When the old woman believed his story, she also hurried to the treasured spring as quickly as she could.

The old woman also decided to look younger, and she hurried to the treasured spring

The rejuvenated old man did not wait for his wife, and in the morning he went in search of her. However, she was not there either along the road or near the spring. Suddenly a faint cry was heard in the bushes. The old man rushed there, and there little girl crying in old woman's rags. He realized then that his wife was greedy and drank more water than necessary. He took the girl in his arms and went with her to the village.

So, when you encounter springs on Ai-Petri, be vigilant and look younger in moderation. The road to the Ai-Petrinskoe plateau from Yalta from the Yuzhnoberezhnoe highway continues along the Bakhchisarai highway.

You can also go from Bakhchisarai. The main thing is not to miss the sign for Ai-Petri and make sure that the road is today allowed, i.e. open.

Silver gazebo

There is another advantage to road travel. You can leisurely explore the passing attractions, which are located a little aside from the main road. We have already talked about the forest lake and waterfall. In addition to them, you can and should turn to Silver gazebo, which is located on Mount Pendikül, above 860 meters above sea level and is the most romantic object on Ai-Petri. You can find it by following the sign located on the main highway. It is approximately located halfway between the Uchan-Su waterfall and the Ai-Petrinsky plateau.

Silver gazebo appeared on Ai-Petri towards the very end 19th century as a memorial sign about the completion of the construction of the current Bakhchisarai highway, which was then simply called the road Yalta-Bakhchisaray. This road was almost paved 30 years!, blowing up rocks and leveling landscape unevenness, our Russian child soldiers.

A gazebo is a memory of a construction feat and a romantic object

The silver gazebo was named due to the fact that during the cold season it is covered icy frost, which shimmers in the sun like silver. And the place chosen for its installation is also a magnificent observation deck.

Near the Silver Gazebo you can buy a souvenir as a souvenir, you can take a photo with a bird (this is one of the local earnings), and, of course, you can admire Yalta lying below. Then we return to the Bakhchisarai highway and continue along the given route.

By the way, it was on this route, against the backdrop of Ai-Petri, that the famous final chase from Gaidai’s beloved film comedy took place "Prisoner of the Caucasus". So, when you return home, watch this film again and you will be happy to recognize many places on the Crimean coast.

Watching your favorite movie, you can remember the trip to Ai-Petri

In the village Hunting you need to turn right and move past the weather station, the Ai-Petrinsky meridian to the town near the cable car station. Just don't miss the caves if you decide to explore them - they are on the road to the battlements

Ascent by minibus

If you do not have your own vehicle, you can use the services taxi drivers, for whom during the tourist period this route from the Yalta bus station is their main income.

The advantage of such a rise is its comfort, i.e. you don’t have to think about the road or serpentine turns, but you can just relax and admire the surrounding landscapes.

The ascent with a driver gives you the opportunity to view all the details of the route

In addition, along the way the driver will not only tell you local legends and traditions, name rare plants, etc., but will also make short stops near the Wuchang-Su waterfall, the Silver Pavilion, the Monument to the Partisans and at some observation platforms.

Thus, climbing Ai-Petri is a small problem. And everyone chooses the method of lifting for themselves. But there is no doubt that a visit to Ai-Petri is a must.

It is very difficult to describe Mount Ai-Petri in two sentences. Legends are made about this mountain. To learn about this mountain range, you need to talk to climbers, rock climbers, speleologists or tourists. But even if their story is put together, it will not be possible to get an idea of ​​Ai-Petri. The surest way is to visit her.

Having reached the top, you can see the sea horizon at a distance of 135 kilometers. From the panoramic platform you can see Cape Ai-Todor, and from.

Description and characteristics of the mountain: where is Ai-Petri located?

Mount Ai-Petri is a peak and a mountain range. Its area is about 300 square meters. km. The peak is a table massif, which stretches along the southern coast of Crimea, and forms the main mountain range.

Ai-Petri is a popular attraction on the peninsula. The height of Ai-Petri is 1234 meters above sea level. The massif is covered with snow from the beginning of December and remains until the onset of spring. This place in Crimea is the windiest. This location is home to a wind power plant, which is currently not operational.

Ai-Petri is famous for its rocks, which are called “white teeth”. They bring the line of the massif from Cape Ai-Todor to the sea. The Ai-Petri teeth are peaks of different heights. They were created by nature over many years, blowing the wind across reef limestones.

Weather on Ai-Petri. The climate on the mountain range is characterized by sharp contrast. During the long winter season, the temperature ranges from -20 to 11.5 degrees. The warmest month on Ai-Petri is July, when the thermometer rises to 15 degrees.

At the foot of the majestic Ai-Petri mountain there is a sanatorium of the same name, which is a unique healing place due to its climate, protected by mountains on one side and washed by the sea on the other. We talk about the Ai-Petri sanatorium in Crimea in our.

What is remarkable about the place

Since the mountain has an unusual shape, its teeth have become a real landmark of the massif. In summer they can be reached via the Ai-Petri suspension bridges to admire the southern panorama. In addition to its famous battlements, Mount Ai-Petri may be of interest to tourists for other attractions. The most famous among them are:

Caves. There are more than 300 of them. Of the total number, only three are equipped - Geofizicheskaya, Yalta and Trekhglazka. The last cave is known for the fact that there is always a snowdrift inside, which turns into ice. Caves tours are only available in summer;

Rocks Taraktash. These rocks are formed by weathering. You can get to them along the Taraktash trail, starting from the eastern slopes of the mountain and ending at, which originates on the southern slope of the massif;

Ski slopes. They are located on the northern slopes of the mountain, distinguished by their flatness;

Ropeway. It is considered the longest in Europe.

There are many legends about this majestic mountain. The most popular of them is the legend telling about a young couple in love.

In the old days, two families lived near the mountain. One family had a daughter, and the other had a son. The young people fell in love with each other, with such a bright and strong love that a person can experience only once in a lifetime.

But the parents of the boy and girl were against the union. A rich groom has already been chosen for the girl, and an enviable bride has been selected for the young man. When the parents found out about the feelings of the children, they gave them an ultimatum: either the children remain under the roof of their father’s house, in prosperity and wealth, or they will face poverty and shame.

The young people despaired and made, in their opinion, the most correct decision - not to give in to their parents’ will, but not to renounce it either. The young people decided to commit suicide. So they wanted to stay together, even in the next world. The lovers held hands, overcame the climb to Ai-Petri and approached the edge of the cliff. There they swore their love to each other for the last time.

However, the rocky cliff was narrow enough for both of them to jump off. The guy decided to do it first, and the love of his life promised to follow him. Peter, that was the guy’s name, looked into the heavens and took his last step. He crashed against the rocks, and the depths of the sea carried his body to the bottom.

The girl got scared after her lover's jump. She changed her mind about jumping and shouted: “Ay, Peter.” The girl was depressed, her eyes went blank, she sat down on a stone, mourning her lover. With dawn, the girl stopped crying, the cliff no longer seemed scary to her, and the sea so ominous. The birds sang, the leaves rustled, the sun shone, and the young girl realized that she shouldn’t cry so much for her departed lover. She is young and attractive, and she will have many more fans, and she will meet her love. So she returned home.

From then on, the mountain began to be called Ai-Petri or St. Peter. Now, according to tradition, all the men let the women go first, and the picturesque view from the mountain reminds people of the bitter love story.

Look at all the photos of Mount Ai-Petri in Crimea:

The cable car to Ai-Petri can be called a miracle of engineering. It is one of the ten most impressive ski lifts in the world. The uniqueness of the “cable car” lies in the length of the unsupported span, which is 1670 meters. The elevation angle near the mountain itself is 46 degrees.

The Ai-Petri cable car consists of three stations:

1. Bottom - ;
2. Middle - Sosnovy Bor;
3. The top one is Ai-Petri.

Passengers are transported using four passenger cabins. A transfer is made at the middle station. During the entire ascent, passengers are accompanied by service personnel.

The road is designed according to the pendulum principle - the cabins rise and descend towards each other. The cabins are quite spacious and can accommodate up to thirty people. You can transport both bicycles and heavy tourist backpacks in the cabins.

The cable car was built back in Soviet times. The cable car operates almost all year round, and only in February is it stopped for technical repairs.

During the entire period of operation of the road, an accident occurred only once, in 2013. There were no injuries, and the cause of the accident was a power outage to the structure. For some time, tourists had to stay in stationary cabins, stuck at a decent height. Crimean rescuers evacuated them safely.

Cost of visit

The cable car is a real symbol of the peninsula, as it takes just 17 minutes to reach the panoramic plateau.

Cost of the Ai-Petri cable car one way:

• For adults - 300 rubles
• For children - 200 rubles

Children under 6 years old are transported free of charge. An additional fee applies when transporting bicycles and backpacks. The length of the cable car is 2980 meters.

How to get to Ai-Petri

You can get to Mount Ai-Petri in different ways:

• First— get to Miskhora station, where the lower cable car station is located, which will take you to the plateau;
• Second The way to get to Ai-Petri is by car. Serpentine starts in the area. The duration of the journey is 18 km;
• Third- on foot or by bike. It is quite difficult to get to the top of Ai-Petri in this way, and an unprepared person should not do this. The journey is long, with long and steep climbs. For lovers of hiking, there are walking paths - Botkinskaya, Taraktashskaya, Miskhorskaya.

Before visiting Mount Ai-Petri, pay attention to the following recommendations:

• The air temperature on the plateau is 5-10 degrees lower than at the foot. In addition, the mountain is the windiest place on the peninsula, so you need to have warm clothes with you;
• It is not recommended to take photographs on the edge of a cliff, as you may step on slippery stones. And since this place is considered the windiest, there is a chance of breaking on the rocks from a strong gust of wind;
• Bring enough money with you for the excursion. Even an independent walk along the observation deck requires a fee;
• At the lower station there are wild queues during the season. Be patient, as you can wait for your turn for hours;
• There is no drinking tap water on Ai-Petri, think about this before you order lunch at the restaurant;
• You can get to the cable car from the Yalta bus station by minibuses No. 27 or 32. They will take you directly to the lower station;
• You can go back from the mountain using an alternative method - a minibus;
• Fans of hiking and cycling tours are recommended to take the cable car up the mountain. Since the cabins can carry bicycles and backpacks, you can make the return descent yourself. The descent will be much more pleasant than the ascent.

We also invite you to watch the video of the Ai-Petri cable car:

Resting in the village of Gaspra, near Yalta and going down to the sea every day, we admired the jagged peak of Ai-Petri. On one of the days of our vacation, we independently visited one of the most picturesque mountains on the southern coast of Crimea. In ancient times, a church was built at the top of Ai-Petri in honor of St. Peter, after whom the peak was named.

Many legends are associated with the name of Mount Ai-Petri. They say that once upon a time at the foot of Ai-Petri there lived a young man and a girl who fell in love with each other. But their families were against this feeling and forbade them to meet. Then the lovers decided to jump off the mountain and stay together forever. They climbed to the top, but the gorge there was so narrow that it was impossible for both of them to jump. Then the young man decided to step into the abyss first. He said goodbye to his beloved and jumped from the cliff into the raging sea. The girl, seeing the terrible sight, exclaimed “Ay, Peter,” because that was the name of her lover. Since then, the mountain received this name. And the girl, after crying all night, changed her mind about jumping down and returned to her family. They say that it was after this story that men began to let women go ahead.

View of the South Coast from ai-Petri

The picturesqueness of the slopes of Ai-Petri was appreciated by both representatives of the royal family and the Yusupov family. The latter had estates on both sides of Ai-Petri. One is in Koreiz, and the other is in the current village of Sokolinoe.

Many of my friends who had previously visited Crimea spoke enthusiastically about the trip to Ai-Petri. Of course, living nearby, we couldn’t refuse an exciting journey and climb to the top of these majestic mountains.

In 1987, the Miskhor-Ai-Petri cable car was built, which allows you to quickly climb to the top. Its length is about three kilometers, and this distance is covered in 20 minutes. The cable car is divided into two sections: lower and upper. The upper part is currently the longest unsupported cable car in Europe.

Cable car Miskhor-Ai-Petri

We got to the cable car station from the village of Gaspra in 15 minutes by minibus. As soon as we got off the bus, we were immediately surrounded by a bunch of men who offered us to climb to the top of Ai-Petri by car. We listened to their proposals and took a short time out to think.

The cost of travel by cable car is 220 rubles one way, and the same price for a ride on a minibus. And since going back and forth along the same road is not particularly interesting, we chose the following option: we decided to go up the mountain as part of a small group in an air-conditioned minibus along the Yalta-Bakhchisarai highway, and go back down by cable car.

Another argument in favor was that the driver promised to make short stops near the Uchan-Su waterfall, near the silver gazebo and at the observation deck almost near the top of Ai-Petri.

After waiting a little for the group to gather, we set off along the slope of Mount Pendikul. The driver, who is also a guide, told us interestingly about the area we were passing through and the amazing plants we encountered along the way.

Trees on Ai-Petri

At first the forest was dense, with lush vegetation, but as the altitude gained, the trees thinned out and the area became more deserted.

Quite quickly we reached the Uchan-Su waterfall. In the summer it flows in a barely visible trickle, and it is at its fullest in spring and autumn. Therefore, this waterfall did not particularly impress us, although the area in which it is located is very beautiful. Tall trees grow on the slopes, including mast pines, which were once used to build the Russian fleet.

Uchu San Waterfall

We made our next stop at an altitude of 865 meters above sea level at the Silver Arbor. It was erected at the end of the 19th century in honor of the builders of the Yalta-Bakhchisarai road. The work was carried out for decades by soldiers of the Russian army in difficult conditions. In winter, when the gazebo is covered with frost, from the side of Yalta, shimmering in the sun, it seems to be made of silver.

Silver gazebo

The observation deck near this rotunda gazebo offers stunning views of Yalta. Here you can buy souvenirs and take pictures with birds for 100 rubles. But I usually feel very sorry for tied animals.

View of Yalta from the observation deck at the Silver Gazebo

Further along the mountain serpentine we climbed to the observation deck, located very close to the final stop. On this slope in 1959 a monument was erected to Soviet partisans who died in battles with the Nazis in December 1941. The terrain here is quite flat, with small bushes and trees.

Ai-Petri. Monument to the Partisans

View from the observation deck at the Partisan Monument

After driving another 10 minutes, we reached the upper cable car station. At this point we said goodbye to the group and our driver. I was already looking forward to wandering through the beautiful expanses of the plateau on top of Ai-Petri. But it was not there. The splendor of nature and the stunning atmosphere of this place are spoiled by the Crimean Tatars who occupied this mountain area.
Immediately I felt as if I was in an oriental bazaar in Egypt or Turkey. You couldn’t take a single step without the Tatars working here running up to you and inviting you to their restaurant or to go horseback riding. All this was done with their characteristic obsession. As soon as one was refused, another immediately came up. To be honest, I don’t understand why it was necessary to create several dozen identical restaurants here with the same food, and then fight for customers.

Plateau on Ai-Petri

We decided to explore the surroundings. The caves that are on this mountain were closed, because, according to the locals, they had not yet figured out whether to charge entry to them or not. Therefore, we decided to head to the Ai-Petri battlements. They say that previously there was a fee to go up there. I don’t understand why they charge money there: climbing to the battlements is quite difficult along a steep rocky slope.

First, the climb goes among strange trees, and then over rocks under the scorching sun.

Trees on top of Ai-Petri

Rocky road to the teeth of ai-Petri

But the final destination is stunning with its views. From here you can see the entire southern coast of Crimea, because the height of the peak of Ai Petri is 1234 meters.

At Ai-Petri peak

The cable car cabins seem very small from the cogs; it’s hard to believe that they can accommodate up to 35 people.

Cable car cabins on ai-Petri

Stunning views are mesmerizing, and then you understand that it was not in vain that the hard journey was made. If possible, I think, every tourist
If you want to see the picturesque coast of Crimea from a bird's eye view, you should definitely go up to the Ai-Petri battlements.

View of Yalta from Zubtsy

After standing at the top for a while, we began to descend. Then we immediately headed to the cable car station. Right now we had to descend to the foot of the mountain along the cableway. Booths depart once every half hour. When the cable car cabin was almost full, we began to descend.

Being inside, it seems that we are moving very slowly, and the booths we meet are simply rushing by. At the middle station you need to change trains and go down further. Thus, the descent took about 20 minutes, while we climbed by car for more than an hour.

We returned to Gaspra by minibus, tired and full of impressions. We did not regret at all that we went up by car. This allowed us to see the wonderful vegetation of the Crimean slopes from the inside and admire the views of the southern coast of Crimea from different observation platforms. And the picturesqueness and wonderful prospects of the Ai-Petri peak will remain a vivid memory in the memory for a long time.

All articles in the direction of Crimea, Yalta.

useful links

Hotels in Crimea: reviews and booking

Hotels in Yalta

Hotels in Sudak

Hotels in Sevastopol

Hotels in Feodosia

Good day to all!

This summer we vacationed in Crimea, and one of our points was to visit Mount Ai-Petri, Mount St. Peter.

I want to say in advance that I walked through the Turkish, Krasnodar and Thai mountains, and they all certainly impressed me, so I can say with great confidence that the mountains of the Southern Coast of Crimea are no less impressive and cause great delight.

Let's start in order, my first acquaintance with the peak was on the serpentine road, when we were approaching the South Coast. Mount Ai-Petri impressed me, delighted me and scared me a little. It looked so majestic and dangerous that I had to overcome myself to decide to conquer it.

Preparation

Before climbing the mountain, we learned in advance how best to do it,

There are three ways to climb the mountain:

1. The most standard is the Lift. You need to go down to the Miskhor - Ai-Petri station, stand in line for about an hour or more often longer, pay 400 rubles for one adult and 250 for one child, and get tickets. Then take the lift up the mountain in 15 minutes. When ascending, as well as during descent, there is an intermediate station where you will be transferred from one cabin to another for further ascent.
2. Climb the mountain by car along the serpentine road, with guides. The price is the same as on the lift: 400 rubles. adults, 250 children. It is worth considering that this excursion will be conducted for you by private owners, and here you can think about safety: who will take you, what kind of driver will be, and what will your transport be like. I think all this is not checked anywhere and by anyone.
3. Conquering the mountain "on your own" on your own two feet! There are special groups for groups, or you can do it on your own if you are an avid hiker and you are not afraid of real nature and dangerous paths.

It is also necessary to remember that on the mountain, the temperature is slightly lower, so do not forget to take a cape and socks with you.

Another item is comfortable sports shoes, sneakers or specialized sports sandals.

Climb

We chose the second method of ascent. In order to climb the mountain with the help of private tourists, you don’t need to call anywhere and buy tickets in advance. Everyone who goes down to the Miskhor - Ai-Petri station meets along the way a “cluster of guys” who offer their services to climb the mountain.

We chose this method because we did not want to stand in line for a long time at the lift and also because we were promised a much more interesting and spectacular ascent by car.

To get up by car you also have to wait a little. Wait until there are people for the mini gazelle, and wait until the car itself arrives. We waited 15 minutes.

Excursion while climbing Ai-Petri

When climbing the mountain by car, an interesting excursion will be organized for you.

Our driver was the guide; he drove and at the same time, without a microphone, shouted interesting facts from the history of Crimea to us.

Our first stop was the Yalta Sign. The famous photo background of all Soviet Crimean photo cards.

Yalta sign

We were given 10 minutes so that we could all take a photo in front of this sign.

The next point was the Uchan-su waterfall.

The day before our visit to Mount Ai-Petri, it rained all day, so we found a “working” waterfall. We were pleased that the waterfall had been dry for a couple of weeks, but by the time we arrived it had started working. Therefore, everyone should take note, it is best to go to our Russian waterfalls after rain.😁

The waterfall itself is very beautiful, noisy, impressive... But there is one drawback, this is a huge crowd of tourists like us. You won’t be able to unite with nature here; it’s good if you can stand in line and take a photo.

The third point was a mountain lake with Turtles, where, according to the guide, the Soviet children's film Buratino was filmed. But not the whole film, of course, but specifically the moment with Turtle Tortilla on the lake.

The lake is surrounded by coniferous and deciduous trees. In the lake itself you can see turtles that come out to bask in the sun, as well as ducks. We walked around the entire perimeter of the lake, since it is not large, and it was not difficult. Walking along this lake you can imagine singing Tortilla and Pinocchio. I think children will find it very interesting there. Even those who have never seen the film Pinocchio will be interested in seeing the turtles in their natural habitat.

Also not far from the lake there is a source of mountain spring water where you can replenish your water supplies. The water in the spring is really good and tasty.

Then we set off again, the road to Ai-Petri lay through a wooded area with huge century-old pine trees, and gave way to views of rocky and mountain cliffs. To be honest, I was afraid and delighted at the same time, all the way.

By the way, the driver did not drive at all, he drove slowly and carefully.

The next, fourth, point was the Silver Gazebo.

The favorite place for relaxation and tea drinking of our emperors. The place is also very beautiful, the only negative is that the gazebo looks abandoned and unkempt. She could use some cosmetic work.

The gazebo offers an amazing view of Yalta and the entire South Coast. The city is in full view, and in the distance is the endless sea.

There are also a lot of people at the gazebo, and you have to stand in line. to take a photo, or just enjoy the beautiful view.

Nextand the last point on our excursion is the highest point of Ai-Petri.

A very impressive and beautiful place where the mountains touch the clouds. And in front of you is the same endless sea. A place where you feel like a small point, a place where you seem to understand that everything is perishable, except for the mountains, sea and clouds...

It seems that you walk a little and you can catch the cloud by the tail, touch it, plunge into fog and see it from the inside.

It’s worth going to the mountain by car specifically for this point. It’s incredibly beautiful and picturesque there. And, what pleases me most, there are practically no tourists.

In the photo you can see the teeth of Ai-Petri, it is there, closer to them, that you will ascend by cable car, and unfortunately you will not see all the beauty that we saw when we climbed the serpentine road by car.

Peak of Ai-Petri

A car with a guide took us to the final point of our ascent, the peak of Ai-Petri. Then we were left to our own devices. At the very top it is no less interesting, there are cafes, shops and a very cheap market.

Speaking of the market. If you have the opportunity to shop there, do so. We traveled all over Crimea, from east to west, and have never found better prices anywhere else. A friend bought Crimean sweets and healthy teas there, no matter how much we later looked for the same favorable prices for them, we could not find them.

In July 2018, an exhibition of Retro cars was held on the mountain, both old rare cars and modern luxury cars were presented, well, where else can we see them, if not on Mount Ai-Petri.))

My husband, very joyful and no less admiring, walked among these masterpieces of automobile production and took photographs in front of almost every car.

Then my husband and I went to the famous teeth of Ai-Petri , and our friend stood in line at the cable car for the descent. It's not far to walk to the Zubtsa for 10-15 minutes at a calm pace. Having reached them, the husband decided that he should cross two suspension bridges.

This entertainment is for daredevils and it costs 500 rubles

Before entering the trail, we put on the belay and received a full briefing. My husband walked across the bridge, and I watched him with a sinking heart, and took photographs... and cried from excitement and worry.

The height of the bridge is 1234 meters.

Having reached one prong, he had to catch his breath and reposition the belay himself. The insurance was double. Having rested, he stepped onto the second bridge which was already leading him to me!

The entire transition took him 10 minutes.

Also, at the top of Ai-Petri you can ride, fly on a zipline, this already costs more than 1000 rubles.

After conquering the bridge, we walked back to the cable car, our friend stood in line all this time to buy tickets for the descent. We joined her and stood in line for another 15 minutes. A return ticket also cost 400 rubles per adult and 250 per child. And after that a very interesting and exciting descent awaited us.

We also bought delicious hot pies at Ai-Petri. Either they were very tasty or we were very hungry 😉, but I still remember their taste!!!

The view from the lift cabin is also incredibly beautiful; we took a seat at the window and enjoyed the view around us.

The only downside to this whole trip is the tiresome queue!

Our conquest of the Ai-Petri peak was very interesting. All four of us were incredibly delighted; we didn’t notice any downsides (besides the queue) or shortcomings, we just enjoyed and admired the view around us!

I think that we were not mistaken in choosing to go up by car, because without it it would not have been so interesting, and we would not have learned or seen much.

If you are looking for a good campsite on the South Coast, then THIS review will be useful to you!

And if you, like us, go to Crimea by car, then I advise you to go to the western coast of Crimea.

You can read my detailed story about the car tour of the Crimean peninsula

Also, don’t forget about high-quality cosmetics from Crimea! You can read reviews of the masks I tried.

Mount Ai-Petri, one of the most visited and famous attractions of the Crimean peninsula. The beauty of these mountain landscapes is difficult to describe in words. Is it possible for an artist with a brush in his hands to do this? Well, at worst, a good photographer. Better yet, come here and experience all the charm and breathtaking views for yourself.
The name of Mount Ai-Petri is translated as Saint Peter. Before the conquest of Crimea by the Tatars, the Christian Church of St. Peter was located on the mountain, and the mountain and plateau were named after him.

Tourists flocked here en masse at the end of the 19th century, after the section of the road connecting the village of Sokolinoe and Yalta, through Mount Ai-Petri, was completed. The road was completed in 1894 and connected southern and central Crimea. As a result, the two large cities of Yalta and Bakhchisarai received direct communication. The construction of the stone road practically took about 30 years, and is still one of the most complex engineering projects in Crimea.

Sights of Mount Ai-Petri:

How to get to Ai-Petri by car

If you decide to get to Mount Ai-Petri by car, you should get to the Ai-Petri plateau, and from there to the Ai-Petri cable station. It is from here that the ascent to the very peak of the mountain begins - to its teeth.
A pedestrian road leads to the Ai-Petri battlements from the cable station. The duration of the route is about 30 minutes, without large differences in altitude. The cost of walking up to the battlements is 100 rubles. Payment is at the entrance to the trail.

Peak of Ai-Petri

The top of Mount Ai-Petri It is the Prongs that are considered, their height from base to top is 1234 meters. In addition to beautiful views, Zubtsy has two extreme activities that may tickle your nerves, but are absolutely safe. All safety rules are followed and almost every element of extreme entertainment has two levels of insurance.

The most interesting, to my taste, is the suspended road between the battlements. Walking through it really tickles your nerves; under your feet, through the cracks, you can see a huge gap, with sharp rocks and tree tops. After taking the cable car to Ai-Petri, you can safely add yourself to the category of extreme sports enthusiasts. The price of the walk is 500 rubles. The average duration of the transition is 10-15 minutes.
If you decide to go for a walk, it is best to do it in pairs, one walks along the path, the other takes photos and videos from the end point of the route, and then switches. This is how you will get more successful pictures as a memory.
Although this is a little longer in terms of time than going one after another, you can save a little time by taking the queue for the first person and immediately taking the queue for the second. In order for the first one to pass, and the second one to take a photo and get back in line in time, you should leave a gap of 6-7 people between people.

The second extreme route is a descent to the cable car station, on a suspended cable. The descent is very fast and fun, the cost of the descent is 1000 rubles. The safety of the route is also at the highest level. Both extreme attractions operate from April to September inclusive.

Having descended from the battlements, you find yourself on the busiest part of the plateau, the market and a large number of cafes, canteens and restaurants. The food on the plateau is mainly Tatar: pilaf, pasties, lagman, lamb shashlik, etc. Also, if you want, you can find European cuisine. Prices in catering establishments vary greatly. Therefore, if you take a walk and look around a little, you can choose a menu and price tag that is acceptable to you. Due to the large number of tourists, the food is almost always fresh and tasty, but quite greasy, although the choice of dishes is quite large and everyone can find something acceptable for themselves. Almost all cafes and restaurants offer wine tasting. Almost all wine is either homemade or purchased at Crimean wineries. In most establishments, the wine is of rather low quality, with a lot of coloring. Therefore, if you want a high-quality drink, ask that they bring you wine bottled at the factory, with an excise stamp. This option will be the best for your body.

A little below the gazebo of winds is the Uchan-Su Waterfall, it is the highest Crimean waterfall and one of the highest waterfalls in Europe. Literally translated from Turkic, the name translates as “Flying water”. The height of Uchan-Su is about 99 meters, the maximum peak activity of the waterfall occurs in the spring, from early March to mid-April. In summer, Wuchang-Su turns into a relatively small stream, but this does not prevent it from looking graceful and attractive. More details

In addition to all the attractions of Ai-Petri described above, I should also mention one of the most beautiful mountain roads, the Shtangeevsky trail. The trail originates just below the Uchan-Su waterfall, but the most convenient way is to go up to the waterfall, from there walk 120 meters up the road and you will see a large sign - the Shtangeevskaya trail, with a description of the route. The route of the Shtangeevskaya trail passes over the Uchan-Su waterfall (you can approach the waterfall) along the picturesque valleys of Ai-Petri and gradually the Shtangeevskaya trail turns into the Botkinskaya trail and smoothly descends through coniferous forests to Yalta, namely to the Fairy Tale Zoo. The average walking time along the Shtangeevskaya and Botkin trails is 4-6 hours. The entire route is marked with colored markers, making it very difficult to lose your way. You will meet people along the entire route; the trails are very popular and well-trodden by thousands of tourists.

Climbing the Ai-Petri plateau on a cable car, you have a choice of how to go back down. You can go down the same way you went up, but in the summer, the queues are very long and you can stand in them for several hours. Therefore, your options are to go down by bus or minibus. But it should be taken into account that the driver is directly interested in getting down quickly and getting up quickly. Their earnings directly depend on this. In general, this is also a kind of extreme walk. But despite this, all drivers make sure to stop at the Silver Arbor and the Wuchang-Su waterfall.

How to plan a visit to Ai-Petri

Planning a route to visit Ai-Petri by car - in my opinion, it is better to start with a visit to the Grand Canyon, the entrance fee is 100 rubles. You can also be offered a guide - from 1000 rubles. The guys are very funny, but essentially they are practically useless. It is very difficult to lose your way. There are only two trails along which people ply all the time, even in winter. The walk takes about 2-3 hours along with a swim in the Bath of Youth.

The Grand Canyon of Crimea is located at the very beginning of the ascent to Mount Ai-Petri, from the side of the city of Bakhchisarai. If you are coming from the southern coast of Crimea, you have several options: go around Ai-Petri, through Sevastopol, then turn onto Bakhchisarai, and before it go to Ai-Petri. Or climb through the Ai-Petri plateau to the top of Ai-Petri, cross the entire plateau and go down to the foot from Bakhchisarai. From Yalta to the Grand Canyon it’s about a 2-hour drive, if you go around it it’ll be about the same

Next, after visiting the Grand Canyon, you need to climb the plateau again, walk to the battlements, and go down to eat in a cafe. After the cafe, you can choose a horseback ride or a visit to the Three-Eyes Cave. On average, a horse ride costs from 800 rubles. at one o'clock. You will also be offered an ATV ride and other entertainment; the cost is approximately the same everywhere.

Descending from Ai-Petri towards Yalta. The first stop on your way will be the Silver Gazebo. Visit - 100 rubles. Then the waterfall is a little lower about 15-17 km, the Uchan-Su waterfall. Also 100 rubles.
The entire walk is designed with departure from Yalta at 9:00 for the whole day; if you follow the proposed route, then by 20:00-21:00 you will be back in Yalta again.

If you are planning to visit Ai-Petri, then you need to pay attention to comfortable shoes, sneakers or sneakers, take warm clothes, because the temperature difference between Yalta and Ai-Petri can be up to 10 -15 C and be sure to take water with you. If you get motion sickness along serpentine roads, you can take anti-motion sickness pills at the pharmacy. Their cost is very low, and the effect is quite good.

Winter on Ai-Petri life doesn't stop. In winter, the Ai-Petri cap is usually covered with snow from January to February. And on this basis winter sports were born: skiing, boarding and sledding. Almost all winter trails in Crimea are located on the Ai-Petrensky plateau. The most popular routes are 25,26, 27 kilometers, laboratory. All routes are located almost in the middle of the plateau; you can reach them along the Yalta-Bakhchisarai road. There is only one road and it is impossible to miss. Only in winter it is cleared of snow. In winter, the climb up the mountain is generally only open to vehicles with all-wheel drive and wearing winter tires. During snowfalls, the passage to Ai-Petri is partially closed for a short time from Yalta and Bakhchisarai.
If you are planning a vacation to Crimea, no matter what time of year, be sure to visit Mount Ai-Petri, it is one of the most beautiful.