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RussiaWhat to Expect and Is It Worth Visiting
The lower Karmadon baths are hard–to-reach natural hot springs located in the picturesque gorge of the Genaldon River in the North Caucasus, the Republic of North Ossetia. These are the outlets of therapeutic narzan waters rising from the depths of the Kazbek volcanic massif. Despite the fact that the volcano is considered dormant, its thermal activity continues to nourish these unique mineral springs.
We have visited these sources, and we can recommend with 100% certainty that all travel lovers visit here. This is an amazingly beautiful corner of nature and a real find for lovers of adventure and natural attractions away from civilization. There is no infrastructure here, the places are completely wild, but there is an opportunity to dive into the hot waters in the open air, enjoying the magnificent views of the mountain ranges.
Local residents have set up improvised fonts of several baths here, but the conditions remain as authentic as possible – no spa complexes or changing rooms, but everything is free. Just do not forget that here you need to keep clean and respect the work of those who have equipped everything here: do not leave garbage and take waste with you, take care of the surrounding nature.
The water in the springs has a brackish taste, but there is no strong smell of hydrogen sulfide. They say that in composition it is close to narzanna, which means it can have a beneficial effect on the body. However, we have not found accurate data on its healing properties, so it is worth taking bathing more as a pleasant and relaxing procedure than as a full-fledged therapy. In addition, do not forget that prolonged exposure to thermal springs is not recommended and can lead to harm. Keep an eye on your well-being, and it's better not to stay in the springs for longer than 20 minutes.
There are other hot springs in these parts – the upper Karmadon baths, and they are sometimes confused with the Lower Ones, which we are talking about. The upper baths are located about 11 kilometers further towards the border and the top of Kazbek from these springs. You can also go there in the form of a one-day hike, but we haven't been there yet and we can't tell you all the details.
🕐 Working hours
Around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket price
Free of charge.
🚶 How to get there
The lower Karmadon baths are located in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania in the Karmadon gorge about 40 kilometers from the center of Vladikavkaz (Lower Karmadon baths on the map). Although it is not far from the border with Georgia, the sources are not included in the border zone and do not require a pass.
It's a little difficult to get here, but not to say that this is a very inaccessible place. The only problem is that you can only get here on your own transport or with individual private tour guides. Also on the Internet you can find excursions to this place as part of hiking tour groups to the upper baths, but these, again, are practically individual and very expensive tours.
But if you have your own transport, then getting here is no problem at all, you just have to walk a little. Read on for detailed instructions, and also see our video about the trip to the Karmadon baths, there we show in detail the road conditions.
But it is important! You need to go not along the route offered by navigators, including Yandex maps, but along the path described by us! Navigators will take you on the way to the mountains much higher than the springs.
So, from Vladikavkaz you need to go along the asphalt road through the Karmadon gorge towards the village of Karmadon village. Here in 2024 they made a good asphalt road through the Karmadon Gorge, it's a pleasure to drive along it, especially if you compare it with what it was before.
You can also drive from the side of the city of the dead in the village of Dargavs, but you will have to drive 8 kilometers along the dirt road. The primer is normal, it is leveled and rammed, so you can safely drive any car, but there will be fierce shaking. In turn, Dargavs can be reached by another dirt road from Upper Fiagdon. We drove all this way with visits to the City of the Dead and other places along the way in one day.
But, of course, you will not get to the baths on the asphalt. You will need to turn right onto a dirt rocky road at this point on the map. Here begins a really bad and very difficult road to travel without experience, 3.5 kilometers to the baths. It is safest to park the car somewhere here on the asphalt and or roadside, and then walk these three and a half kilometers on foot, it will take 40-60 minutes on a smooth road without climbing.
If you have a crossover or SUV, then you can drive further along this primer as much as you can to walk less. On cars prepared for off-road driving, you can get almost to the very springs. But be sure to watch our video above to imagine what conditions are here. And keep in mind that this is a road in the mountains, and they tend to change over time. For example, a couple of years ago we were unable to pass or pass through this place because of the blockage. Also keep in mind that the road here is narrow and without roadsides, there are very few places to park or turn around in the middle of the way. So if you run into a stretch of road that you can't drive, you may have to go back in reverse.
Another road leads here through the village of Tmenikau, and it is through it that navigators usually offer to go. But we do not advise you to go that way, because in the end you will find yourself on the slopes of the mountain much higher above the springs, and from there you will have to descend more than 250 meters, and then climb the same amount. But if suddenly the route described by us again turns out to be temporarily blocked by rubble or landslides, then you will have to get that way.
You will have to find out all these conditions on the route on the spot, or ask local residents about it.
💥 We remind you that it is more interesting and safer to get acquainted with the sights of North Ossetia–Alania with the help of excursions, and therefore we advise you to look at online booking options on these proven search and price comparison sites: