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RussiaDescription and Is It Worth Visiting
The Saltinsky Waterfall or Salta Waterfall is a unique natural site in Dagestan, and perhaps the most famous, unusual, and beautiful waterfall in the Republic. What sets it apart from other waterfalls is that it is an underground waterfall, the only one of its kind in Dagestan. You can visit it independently or as part of an organized tour group from Makhachkala, Derbent, or Gunib.
Description of the Route to Saltinsky Waterfall
The Saltinsky Waterfall is equipped for visitors, but you'll need to walk about 500 meters from the parking lot. This walking route passes through the gorge of the Saltinka River and is itself unusual and picturesque. Overhanging rock slabs create a narrow corridor with gaps in the gorge ceiling, with the river flowing along the bottom, fed by the waterfall. Eventually, the gorge leads you into a spacious cave where you'll be greeted by the impressive sight of the underground waterfall.
Depending on rainfall and the season, the waterfall can be full, and then the gorge fills with a rushing stream of water. At such times, you'll have to walk almost waist-deep in water wearing boots or other rubber footwear. You can go barefoot or just in water-resistant shoes, but be careful of slippery and sharp stones hidden underwater. At the entrance, they offer high boots for rent for 100 rubles.
Currently (in 2026), a footpath has been built along the bottom of the gorge where you previously had to walk on stones and through water. So, when the waterfall isn't too full, you can even walk just in rubber flip-flops or other shoes without getting your feet wet. But during such times, the waterfall itself is not very impressive.
When you pass through the gorge to the cave, you'll encounter another obstacle: a steep, slippery boulder. You'll need to climb it and walk along the wall, holding onto a handrail – a metal chain or cable. You need to be especially careful here and have sufficient physical fitness or additional support from guides. Despite these challenges, Saltinsky Waterfall is easily visited by children and elderly people, and it's definitely worth it.
🕐 Opening Hours
There are no set opening hours for Saltinsky Waterfall, but for safety, we recommend visiting during daylight. It's best to come here on weekdays or early in the morning; then you can take beautiful photos without crowds of tourists in the frame. After 10 AM, large groups arrive from Gunib, and a bit later from Makhachkala and Derbent. Then passing through the narrow gorge and the section with the handrail becomes difficult, human traffic jams appear, and you have to let oncoming groups pass. Also, there isn't much space near the waterfall to just stand and enjoy the view.
💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Prices
Adults - 100 rubles; school and preschool children, eligible categories - free.
🚶 How to Get There
The Saltinsky Waterfall is located in the village of Salta, Gunibsky District (waterfall on the map). This is 20 kilometers or about a 40-minute drive from Gunib, and 150 kilometers from Makhachkala (at least three hours drive). A good asphalt road leads here, ending at a parking lot. Parking is free, but there is very little space for turning around and passing, so we advise stopping in any available spot on the roadside even when approaching. From the parking lot, a walking route begins along footbridges and a trail through the river gorge, about 500 meters long, and how to navigate it is described above.
The easiest way to visit Saltinsky Waterfall is with tours, during which you'll be delivered to the spot and guided almost hand-in-hand. The waterfall is included in the program of many different tours, so there's plenty to choose from:
If you're traveling with your own transport, you can drive here within a day from Makhachkala and Derbent, but the round trip will take a whole day. As an option, you can stay overnight in Gunib for one or even several nights, and from there visit Saltinsky Waterfall and other places in the area. You can plan your route to include other places along the way; for this, use our map of Dagestan with sights.
Another route option is the scenic road through Kala-Koreysh Fortress, the master craftsmen village of Kubachi, and the pottery village of Balkhar. You'll be driving on asphalt almost all the way to Kubachi, and after Kubachi, a dirt road leads through the villages of Urkhnishcha, Urari, Gulebki, Tapshima. Then you can plan a route through Balkhar (pottery village) or Akusha. On this path, you can also visit the Vatan Memorial Complex, the abandoned village of Gamsutl, see the Dagestan Pyramids and other interesting places. In general, this route is very scenic, passing through beautiful green hills and low mountains. The road is quite passable, but there can be difficulties in rain or snow. You can drive this route to Gunib in one day if you leave early in the morning. But if you visit places along the way and linger, you won't be able to make it in one day. So plan for a possible overnight stay in Kubachi or somewhere further along the route, including camping in a tent. The area here is calm and quiet, with plenty of opportunities to set up a tent.
💥 We'd like to remind you that it's much more interesting to explore Dagestan's sights with the help of tours, so we advise checking out options with online booking on these trusted sites for searching and comparing prices: