Emine-Bair-Khosar Cave or Mammoth Cave in Crimea

What to Expect and Is It Worth Visiting

Emine-Bair-Khosar cave, aka mammoth cave, is one of the most beautiful caves in Crimea. It is located on the plateau of the Chatyr-Dag mountain range at an altitude of 1000 meters, where water and time have formed more than 2 kilometers of intricate passages and cave formations. For tourists, however, only part of the cave is open, about 700 meters. Also inside there is a lake and skeletons of prehistoric animals, including a mammoth, which is why the cave got its second name - Mammoth Cave. And the official name "Emine-Bair-Khosar" in translation from Turkic means: a well on the slope near an oak tree.

The cave is open for tourist visits and is well equipped with paths, railings, stairs, lighting. During the tour, the tour guides tell about the history of the discovery and exploration of the cave, its formation and the riddles associated with it. Attention is paid to every interesting education, and the story as a whole is interesting, but not always exciting. It all depends on the specific guide, who are not professional guides, but rather professional cavers.

Of course, visiting the cave is one of the most exciting excursions in the Crimea, both adults and children will like it here. There is also another popular cave nearby - Marble, and their visits are sometimes combined.

Order of visit: the cave is visited strictly with a tour guide in a group on one of three routes to choose from. The guide's services are included in the entrance fee. To get to the caves, you must first buy a ticket at the ticket office for the route you are interested in, and then you need to wait a little for the group to gather (no more than 45 minutes) at the entrance to the cave. After the gathering of the group or after the time has elapsed, even if the group has not gathered, the tour begins with an instruction, and then the descent down. Before visiting, be sure to go to the toilet (located at the entrance, free of charge), since there is no one inside, and if you really want to, you will have to interrupt the tour and go upstairs. It's very cold in the cave, about +5℃, so dress warmer. Do not be self-confident that you will not freeze in a thin jacket, for an hour and a half of the tour you can freeze even in a jacket. If you did not take warm clothes with you, jackets are rented at the entrance (15 rubles for an adult, 10 rubles for children). Photo and video shooting is free, but it is forbidden to shoot with a tripod.

🕐 Working hours

daily from 08:00 to 18:00, seven days a week.

💵Entrance fee / ticket price

there are three sightseeing routes:

Northern Gallery - 350r. (25-30 minutes)
Northern Gallery-Hall of Idols-Kechkemet - 450r. (70-80 minutes)
Full route - 500 rubles. (80-90 minutes)

Traditionally, all tourists are offered a full route, and others are not always typed. Children under 5 years old are free, from 5 to 12 years old - 50% discount.

🚶 How to get there

Emine-Bair-Khosar is located between Simferopol and Alushta on the plateau of the Chatyr Dag mountain range (Emine-Bair-Khosar on the map). You can get here only by your own transport or as part of an organized excursion.

Excursions to the cave can be bought in almost any resort corner of the Crimea. They can include a visit to the same cave, or together with the marble cave.

If you travel by your own transport, you can easily get to the cave on your own. The road leads through the village of Marble, and this is the only way to the plateau for cars. The road is poorly equipped with signs, so it is better to use a navigator. After the village of Marble, the asphalt road ends, and a winding steep ascent begins up a dirt and rocky road. It is generally not so bad and you can drive on it even in the rain, but you will have to move very slowly and carefully. It will take about half an hour to travel 9 kilometers after the village. After Marble it is impossible to get lost, the road and the signs lead in the same direction. There is a large free parking area near the cave. From it on foot a few tens of meters to the ticket offices and the entrance to the caves.