Dubki settlement in Dagestan

General information about Oaks, recreation, infrastructure

Oak trees is a small village in Dagestan with a population of just over 5 thousand people, located next to the Chirkeysky reservoir and on the outskirts of the Sulak Canyon, it is 87 kilometers from Makhachkala and 200 kilometers from Derbent (Oaks on the map of Dagestan).

Dubki was originally formed for the builders of the Chirkeyskaya HPP, and up to today, mostly power plant workers live here. However, in recent years, Dubki has also experienced a tourist boom, as, indeed, the whole of Dagestan. The thing is that the village has the best and most easily accessible viewing platforms for the main natural attraction of Dagestan – the Sulak Canyon. And to look at the canyon from a bird's-eye view, hundreds of tourists are brought here every day on large sightseeing buses and in small groups in jeeps, travelers come by car on their own.

Rest in Dubki and what tourists should do here

To be honest, if it weren't for the Sulak Canyon, then there would be absolutely nothing for tourists to do in Dubki. And it is and first of all for the sake of the canyon that it is worth coming here. The village can also be a convenient starting point from where you can make trips to the Chirkeyskoye reservoir, to the observation point at the Chirkeyskaya HPP or visit the HPP itself (guided tours in the style of industrial tourism are conducted on it). Even from the Oaks, the Sarykum dune is relatively close (72 kilometers). But you need to take into account that all this is available only on your own or rented transport, since public transport is very poorly developed here.

Infrastructure in Dubki

There are several small grocery stores in Dubki (there are no chain supermarkets), there is a market and convenience stores. You can eat in one of a couple dozen cafes that have been opening quite actively in recent years. From the tourist infrastructure there are only private jeep drivers who offer tours with boating on the bottom of the canyon or on the Chirkey reservoir. There are no organized tours and travel agencies here yet.

Where to stay in Dubki, hotels and accommodation

Tourism is still developing here, and therefore there are not very many accommodation options. Mostly private guest houses work here and private housing is rented. You can book accommodation in Dubki through Russian online search and booking systems:

• 🛌 Search for affordable housing in Dubki on Sutochno.ru (we recommend it, the bonus system works)
• 🛌 Search for hotels in Dubki on Ostrovok.ru
• 🛌 Search for hotels in Dubki on Otello from 2Gis
• 🛌 Search for hotels in Dubki on Yandex.travel

How to get to Dubki

You can get to Dubki with an excursion, by your own car, and there is also a rare, but quite public transport from Makhachkala. Let's tell you more about each method:

• With a guided tour

  If you want to visit the Oaks just to look at the majestic Sulak Canyon, then the easiest way to go here is with a ready-made excursion. Of course, these excursions include not only visiting the observation decks in the village, but also the Sarykum Dune, the Nokho cave, the Glavryba fish restaurant, the observation deck at the Chirkey hydroelectric power station, as well as boating on the Chirkey reservoir or the Sulak River at the bottom of the canyon. The programs offered are different, so approach their choice carefully.

  The easiest way to find such sightseeing tours is in Derbent, Izberbash, Kaspiysk or Makhachkala. But buying them on the streets from distributors, as well as in Russian Black Sea resorts, is not so easy. Mass organized tourism is still developing here, and therefore you will probably have to search for them on the spot through private individuals or hotel staff, on the Internet on bulletin boards, in chat rooms, or on the websites of local travel agencies. It is convenient to search on these sites aggregators of excursions with reviews:

  • 📷 Excursions to Dubki and Sulak Canyon on Sputnik8.com
  • 📷 Excursions to Dubki and Sulak Canyon on Tripster.ru

• In your own car

  If you are traveling by car, then this is also a great way to get to Dubki. There is a good asphalt road leading here, along which you can drive any car.

  Travelers in our chat about Dagestan the question is often asked: "Which road is better to go to Dubki, through Buinaksk or Kizilyurt?". Indeed, Yandex.Navigator offers you two routes to choose from. We drove to Dubki using both options, and we can say with confidence that there is no difference how to drive, since the road is the same everywhere. So choose the option that navigator will offer you as the shortest and fastest from your location.

  However, keep in mind that if you drive through Kizilyurt, you will be able to stop at the Sarykum Dune along the way. And if you go through Buinaksk, you will be able to stop by the observation deck at the Chirkeyskaya HPP and the Chirkeyskoye reservoir. Therefore, if you have the time and desire, we advise you to travel one way along one route, and back along the other, in order to cover all these interesting places in one trip at once.

• By public transport

  Public transport is poorly developed here, it rarely goes, but there is such an opportunity. Early in the morning from the northern bus station of Makhachkala (located on the outskirts of the city on Akushinsky Avenue 100/Kazbekov Avenue, 4, Makhachkala northern bus station on the map) suburban minibuses depart to Dubki. They depart only twice at 07:00 and 08:00. Back to Makhachkala at 12:00 and 15:30. But the schedule may change, so check on the spot. The fare is about 300 rubles.

  Such a schedule will theoretically allow you to come to the observation decks of the canyon during the day, and return back, but no more. If you want to go boating on the reservoir or on the Sulak River, then you need to plan a trip with an overnight stay in the village.

Sights in Dubki and what to see

In fact, there are only two attractions in the Oaks themselves: those are the most famous lookouts to the Sulak Canyon, as well as the Sulak trail. There are several viewing points here, and the middle of them are equipped with an asphalt entrance, where there are always a lot of tourists. And there are also viewing points where it is more difficult to get a mute, but no one but you will be there. All other places, including for boating on the Sulak River at the bottom of the canyon, will have to be reached by sightseeing jeeps or by your own transport.

Here is a map with an overview of places near the Oaks:

And here is a list and description of the best attractions in Dubki and nearby:

• Sulak Canyon and observation decks

  

  This is the most exciting natural attraction of Dagestan and a place that we undoubtedly recommend to visit every guest of the Republic. This is one of the deepest canyons in Europe, and even leaves behind the world-famous Grand Canyon in the USA. It is a gorge up to 1920 meters deep and 53 kilometers long, along the bottom of which the Sulak River flows. There are two hydroelectric power stations on the Sulak River: Chirkeyskaya HPP and Miatlinskaya HPP, they are usually visited simultaneously with the canyon.

  This natural attraction attracts tens of thousands of tourists annually. In clear sunny weather, the canyon offers stunning and fascinating views that take your breath away even from the most seasoned travelers: the surrounding mountains and hills covered with greenery, the emerald river winding among them and birds flying below. In addition to the views from the observation points, it is also possible and necessary to take a boat trip along the river at the bottom of the canyon. Learn more about the Sulak Canyon and how to visit it here.

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock, it is better to visit during the day. You can spend the night in the village of Dubki, Novo-Zubutli or in the village Zubuli.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: Access to the canyon and observation decks is free. Ready–made excursions with transport from Makhachkala and other resorts - from 3000 rubles (boat trip included). A trip to the village of Zubutli from Dubki or Novo-Zubutli (from the hydroelectric power station) by jeep for a boat ride along the bottom of the canyon – from 4000 rubles for the whole car. Boat trip from 700 rubles /person or 3500 rubles for the whole boat.

  🚶 How to get there: The Sulak Canyon is very long, only its official length is 53 kilometers. The most visited and interesting site for tourists is located opposite the village of Dubki, 85 kilometers from Makhachkala (Sulak Canyon on the map). You can get to the canyon and visit it within one day from Makhachkala, Derbent, Izberbash and other cities and tourist places of Dagestan, but you need to leave early in the morning. It is also possible to visit the canyon with an overnight stay in Dubki, Novo-Zubutli or Zubutli. Read in detail about the visit and how to get there by clicking on the link with a full description.

• Sulak trail

  

  The Sulak trail begins on the southern outskirts of the village of Dubki and leads to the bottom of the Sulak Canyon to the Sulak River. Going down it, you will get to the opposite side of the river from the village of Staroe Zubutli. On the other side there will also be a pier from which pleasure boats depart along the canyon. You can move to the village and to the pier via a pedestrian bridge, and also theoretically pleasure boats can pick you up on this shore, if you agree on it in advance. You can go back to Dubki on foot the same way, or leave the village of Staroe Zubutli by hitchhiking or get hooked on sightseeing jeeps if there are free places. Learn more about the Sulak trail here.

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: The beginning of the Sulak trail is located on the outskirts of the village of Dubki (Sulak trail on the map).

• Barkhan Sarykum

  

  This is a unique natural place in Dagestan, one of the highest dunes in Eurasia, its height is 262 m. And although it is not located in Makhachkala, but 30 kilometers from the city, it is best to visit it from Makhachkala.

  There is still no exact scientific explanation of how a single dune formed among the green hills on the border of the Caucasus Mountains, but this only adds to its mystery. And also, episodes for the film "White Sun of the Desert" were filmed in this place. It is located on the territory of the Dagestan Nature Reserve and is part of the natural corner of the Sarykumsky dunes. And therefore it is visited not only to see the sands, but also to get acquainted with the unusual nature of this region, which was formed here due to the appearance of this natural anomaly. There is also a small nature museum here, where you can get acquainted in more detail with the diversity of the inhabitants of the reserves of Dagestan. Learn more about the Sarykum dune and how to visit it here.

  🕐 Working hours: during daytime.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: entrance to the trail and visiting the dune – 200/100 rubles; nature Museum - 100/50 rubles.

  🚶 How to get there: Sarykum is located 30 kilometers from Makhachkala (Sarykum on the map). Public transport is poorly developed here, so it's best to get here by your own transport or with excursions. For more information on how to get there, see the link with a full description.

• Chirkeyskaya HPP

  

  This is one of the largest industrial attractions of Dagestan and the most powerful hydroelectric power plants in Russia. The huge arched dam of the hydroelectric power station, blocking the river, becomes the object of attention of travelers in this part of Dagestan, as a place that can be seen from an observation point. From it you can see the dam itself, part of the Sulak Canyon and the Chirkey reservoir. However, you can not only inspect the hydroelectric power station from the observation deck, but also visit the facility as part of a group excursion, for which you must pre-register for an excursion that takes place 2 times a day on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays. Learn more about the Chirkeyskaya HPP and how to visit it here.

  🕐 Working hours: observation deck around the clock, guided tours by appointment on the website https://visit.rushydro.ru/ Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays at 11:00 and at 14:00.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: access to the observation deck is free of charge. Excursion - 650 rubles for adults; schoolchildren, pensioners and the disabled - 250 rubles.

  🚶 How to get there: Chirkeyskaya HPP is located 80 kilometers from the center of Makhachkala (Chirkeyskaya HPP on the map). You can get here only by your own transport or with excursions. Purposefully, ready-made excursions with a transfer are not offered at the HPP, so if you book it on the Rushydro website, you will still have to get here yourself. Ready-made excursions by bus or individual by car to the Sulak Canyon sometimes also make a short stop at the observation point without visiting the HPP itself. For more information on how to get there, follow the link with a full description.

• Chirkeyskoye reservoir

  

  The reservoir was formed as a result of the construction of the Chirkeyskaya HPP. Behind the hydroelectric dam, you can observe a huge pond with turquoise water – this is the reservoir. It attracts guests of Dagestan with beautiful views, there are not equipped beaches on its rocky and sandy shores, and water activities are also offered here. You can ride a high–speed carriage or rent a jet ski, but the most popular entertainment for tourists is a boat ride along the reservoir and Sulak Canyon. Learn more about the Chirkeyskoye reservoir here.

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge, boating about 1000 rubles / person or 8000 for the whole boat.

  🚶 How to get there: The Chirkey reservoir is located 80 kilometers from the center of Makhachkala (Chirkey reservoir on the map). You can get here only by your own transport, as well as some excursions to the Sulak Canyon pass by the reservoir and make a sightseeing stop. Read more at the link with the full description.