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RussiaTOP 10 places in Dagestan that you should definitely see
Dagestan is an amazing land where mountain landscapes are combined with a rich history and hospitable traditions. If you are traveling to this region for the first time, be sure to include key places in the route, without which acquaintance with the republic will be incomplete. This article contains the TOP 10 must—see sights of Dagestan: from the legendary ghost village of Gamsutl and Sulak Canyon to mysterious caves and ancient fortresses.
Sulak Canyon
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.
Practical Information
🕐 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 / person (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 10,000 rubles for the whole car. Boat trip from the pier in Zubutli (if you get here yourself) from 5000 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.
Derbent
Derbent is the southernmost city in Russia, and, without a doubt, the tourist capital of Dagestan. It is also the oldest in Russia, it is already more than 2000 years old, and it is filled with historical sights and museums, there is even a beach holiday here. It is best to come to Derbent for a few days, or even for the entire period of your vacation. But if you have other plans, then be sure to visit the city at least in the form of a guided day trip or on your own. Here you should definitely visit the UNESCO World Heritage site Naryn-Kala Fortress, stroll through the streets of the old town of Magala, see the oldest Juma Mosque fortress in Russia, walk along the Derbent tourist mile along the fortress wall, watch a grandiose light and music fountain show in the evening, and finish with dinner on the "Happy People" walking street. Learn more about Derbent and what to see here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge, entrance to attractions and museums is paid additionally.
🚶 How to get there: Derbent is located in the south of the republic on the shore of the Caspian Sea, 130 kilometers from Makhachkala and 110 kilometers from the airport (Derbent on the map of Dagestan). If you are vacationing at one of the resorts of Dagestan, then you can go to Derbent for one day on your own transport, by trains, minibuses or taxis, as well as with an individual or group excursion.
The abandoned ghost village of Gamsutl
This is a ghost village in Dagestan, the most famous and most visited abandoned village in the Republic by tourists. This picturesque highland village is an amazing and stunning place that is definitely worth a visit during your trip to Dagestan. Sometimes it is even compared to the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu in Peru, and indeed, there is something similar and mysterious about them. Today it is an open-air museum of ruins, which anyone can visit. There are streets and remnants of brick walls, some of which are even in good condition, and in some places there are wooden entrance doors and window frames. And this is not surprising, because the village was abandoned only in the 1980s, and in 2015 its last resident died. During the visit, you will plunge into the history of this place, walk along the winding narrow streets, look into the preserved houses, and if you are with a tour guide, you will also listen to an interesting story about history and traditions. In addition, from Gamsutl there are stunning views of picturesque landscapes and mountains, everything you see is truly fascinating. Read more about Gasmutl here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: Gamsutl is located 10 kilometers from the village of Gunib and 160 from Makhachkala at an altitude of 1600 meters above sea level (ghost village on the map). To get to Gamsutl on your own transport, you will not need an SUV, you can get there by any car. You can use the navigator to go, they "know" the way here. Almost to the parking lot in front of Gamsutl there is a tolerable asphalt road, from which there will be an exit towards the village to the dirt road, it will take about a kilometer to cross the Tsamtichai River on the bridge. There is no equipped parking as such, it's just a dirt playground where cars are put for free and whoever wants. There are drivers in the parking lot who offer to drive part of the way in jeeps or "loaves" for a nominal price of 100 rubles per person, but even with this in mind, you still have to walk at least a kilometer and about 30 minutes. There are brave souls who bring tourists in jeeps even higher, but it depends on the weather. Also, as an option, you can get almost to the most abandoned village on horseback for 1000 rubles / person.
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.
Practical Information
🕐 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.
Gunib village
Gunib is a small village in the mountainous part of Dagestan, the center of the Gunib district. Gunib is an important tourist center of the republic, and perhaps the most popular non-beach resort in Dagestan. It is worth going here if you want to enjoy the magnificent views of the mountains, visit waterfalls and gorges, get acquainted with historical and cultural attractions, go hiking in the surrounding area and much more. Gunib is very convenient to use as a starting point for day trips to other villages and attractions of the mountainous part of Dagestan, and there are a lot of such places here. Learn more about the village of Gunib here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: the village of Gunib is located at an altitude of about 1500 meters and far from the beaches and shores of the Caspian Sea, 140 kilometers from Makhachkala to it, and 170 kilometers from Derbent (Gunib on the map). You can easily get here by any car, because an excellent asphalt road leads to the village itself, although in some places it leads along difficult serpentines. Read more at the link with the full description.
Saltinsky underground waterfall
The Salta Waterfall is a unique natural place in Dagestan, and perhaps the most famous, unusual and beautiful waterfall in the Republic. Its difference from other waterfalls is that it is underground, and the only one like it in Dagestan. You can visit it either on your own or as part of an organized group with excursions from Makhachkala, Derbent or Gunib. Learn more about the Saltinsky waterfall here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: the opening hours of the Saltinsky Waterfall are not set, but for safety we recommend visiting it during daylight hours. It is better 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 o'clock, large groups from Gunib arrive here, and a little later from Makhachkala and Derbent, and then it becomes difficult to pass a narrow gorge and a section with a handrail, traffic jams appear and oncoming groups have to pass. In addition, there is not much space near the waterfall to just stand and enjoy the view.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: adults - 100 rubles; children of school and preschool age, preferential categories - free of charge.
🚶 How to get there: located in the village of Salta, Gunibsky district (waterfall on the map). It is 20 kilometers or about 40 minutes drive from Gunib.
Karadakh gorge
The Karadakh gorge is one of the most beautiful natural attractions of Dagestan, accessible to tourists in the form of a short hiking route. In our opinion, this is generally the most beautiful and interesting gorge in the Republic available to tourists without special training and trips to remote regions that are difficult to access for transport, and therefore we definitely recommend visiting it during a trip to Gunib. Read more about the Karadakh gorge here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock, it is better to visit during the day for security reasons. Also note that during rain and bad weather, the gorge is closed to the public due to the danger of rising water, so it's better to check the weather forecast before traveling here.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: 100 rubles adults; children of school and preschool age, preferential categories - free of charge.
🚶 How to get there: the gorge is located 30 kilometers from Gunib (Karadakh gorge on the map). There are two roads leading here from Gunib: through the dam of the Gunib hydroelectric power station and the village of Murada, a short route of 30 kilometers; a detour on asphalt through Kurmi, Kikuni, Chalda 50 kilometers. It is better to drive on asphalt in a detour.
The abandoned village of Goor
This is one of the brightest historical sights of Dagestan, known for its towers and ruins of an ancient settlement. The village is located on the top of a mountain at an altitude of 1700 meters, offering a stunning view of the surrounding hills and valleys. The view from here is breathtaking, and another natural attraction in this place will cause special unique sensations – the observation deck Troll Language, which is considered one of the most picturesque and photogenic places in the whole republic. Even from here you can see an amazing man–made landmark - Dagestan terraces, built in Soviet times on the slopes of a nearby mountain. Read more about the abandoned village of Goor here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: Goor is located 170 kilometers from Makhachkala and 218 kilometers from Derbent (Goor on the map). Almost the entire road to Goor is asphalt and not bad in quality. Previously, after the village of Hebda there was a difficult primer 10 km to Goor. But now repairs have been made here and asphalt has been laid, so now it's generally easy to get there and you can drive any car without any problems. When you get to the new residential village of Goor, the normal primer will end in it. As such, there is no organized parking here, but there are plenty of places where you can park your car, everything is free. Further to the top of the mountain, where there are ruins, towers and magnificent views, it will remain to overcome one and a half kilometers, which can be done on foot or by a high-traffic car.
Troll Language in Goor
This is a rocky ledge on top of a cliff above a picturesque gorge. Without exaggeration, dizzying views open from it, perhaps even the most exciting in the whole of Dagestan. Indeed, when you enter it, you may even feel dizzy from the height and endless expanse. From a height of 1700 meters you will have a fascinating and beautiful view of the surrounding area. Words cannot convey this – you must definitely come here and see with your own eyes. And it is also one of the most popular places for lovers of beautiful and vivid photo and video sessions for selfies. It is also very convenient that the Troll Language is located in the abandoned village of Goor, which in itself is one of the most fascinating historical sights of Dagestan. And on the way here you can visit a few more worthy places. Therefore, we definitely recommend visiting the Troll Language in Dagestan without fail. Learn more about the Troll Language in Goor here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: The troll language is located in the abandoned village of Goor, 170 from Makhachkala and 218 kilometers from Derbent (Troll language on the map). Almost the entire road to Goor is asphalt and not bad in quality. Previously, after the village of Hebda there was a difficult primer 10 km to Goor. But now repairs have been made here and asphalt has been laid, so now it's generally easy to get there and you can drive any car without any problems. When you get to the new residential village of Goor, the normal primer will end in it. As such, there is no organized parking here, but there are plenty of places where you can park your car, everything is free. Further to the top of the mountain, where the ruins of the village of Goor and the troll language are located, it will remain to overcome one and a half kilometers, which can be done on foot or by a high-cross-country car.
Ekranoplan Lun
The Lun ekranoplane or the 903 project is a miracle of engineering thought of Soviet designers, a military development for the Caspian Flotilla of the USSR. For the times of its construction in the 80s of the last century, it was an advanced and unique project, and it remains so today. The ekranoplan was designed to destroy ships with a displacement of up to 20,000 tons, had a phenomenal speed for naval military systems of up to 500 kilometers per hour and was invisible to radar. Unfortunately, due to the collapse of the USSR, it suffered a sad fate: only one of the 8 planned samples was built, and it was in operation for 10 years, and in 2001 it was decommissioned. Read more about the Lun ekranoplan here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: The Lun Ekranoplan is located 30 kilometers from Derbent on the shore of the Caspian Sea right on the beach (Lun Ekranoplan on the map). You can get here by car, a good road leads to the beach with an ekranoplan.
💥 We remind you that it is much more interesting to get acquainted with the sights of Dagestan with the help of excursions, and therefore we advise you to look at online booking options on these proven search and price comparison sites:
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