THE RUSSIAN CAUCASUS - Run by GREENTOURS for the AGS
A Tour for the AGS run by Greentours
We start at the Olympic site at Krasnaja Poljana above the Black Sea coastal town of Sochi. The snows will just about be disappearing leaving a stunning alpine flora. Meadows support lovely colonies of Fritillaria latifolia whilst valleys harbour Centaurea fischeri and the strange Sredinskya grandis, a type of primula. Among the fine mountains of Adygea is the Lagonaki plateau where we’ll find flowers from spring and summer all flowering at once, such are the conditions allowed by the clints and grikes of high level karst, an amazing place indeed. The beautiful yellow spring gentian Gentiana oshtenica is a common plant here and with it we’ll find purple or white Primula amoena, yellow Fritillaria collina, plentiful Arnebia pulchra and patches of blue Corydalis conorhiza. Daphne circassica, Daphne glomerata and endemic Campanula dzaaku require a little more walking.
In Teberda national park Primula renifolia grows by a waterfall and even amongst the cable cars of Dombai’s resort, the epitome of an alpine, lovely large-flowered Delphinium caucasicum holds its beautiful flowers above the screes. Dombai is a truly mountainous place, the main ridge of the greater Caucasus reaching nearly 4000m above it. A spectacular show of Inula magnifica and Lilium keselringianum thrive amongst the fall-forb communities in the lower meadows and higher we’ll find true alpine splendour with Campanula biebersteiniana, Omphalodes lojkae, Eritrichium caucasicum and yellow form of Pedicularis nordmanniana. On rocks and cliffs are plentiful cushions of Draba bryoides, several Saxifrages and Potentilla divina. Massed displays of the lovely Pulsatilla aurea take the breath away and Senecio pyroglossus, Anemone speciosa, Linum hypericifolium, Geranium gymnocaulon and Trollius patulus are just some of a fine array of flowers.
DATES & PRICES
14 Days30th June - 13th July 2012
Cost = £2595
Deposit = £300
Ground Only Price
Sochi – Sochi = £2100
Single Supplement = £235*
* does not apply if you are willing to share and a room-mate can be arranged
FLIGHTS
UK return flights are from London Heathrow to Sochi,
via Vienna. Other indirect routes from regional UK
Airports* may be available.
*These routes may incur a supplement.
TOUR SUMMARY
Day 1 Arrive SochiDays 2-5 Krasnaja Poljana – Rai-Ski-Domik Hotel
Days 6-9 Adygea and Lagonaki
Days 10-12 Dombai & Teberda – Twin Peaks Hotel
Day 13 Return to Sochi
Day 14 Depart Sochi
INFORMATION
Leaders Ian Green and Pavel Krivka
Walking Moderate, usually three or four miles in a day, optionally more, but on some days we may cover seven or eight miles. Most days will see some uphill walking, occasionally on steep ground. On the longest uphill walks we will have a vertical rise of 500m or so in total (so about 1600 feet).
Included in the Price All flights. All transport, accommodation and meals in the Russian Caucasus. Tips. Services of your leaders. Please note: drinks, and items of a personal nature including insurance, are not included.
Group Size The inimum is 4 and the maximum is 15.
Accommodation We start with five nights in the Rai-Ski-Domik Hotel in the ski resort of Krasnaja Poljana. This alpine chalet-style hotel has comfortable rooms with typical modern facilities and is beautiful set next to great countryside. Next we’ve four nights in a good quality hotel on the Lagonaki Plateau. We’ve four nights at the fascinatingly named Twin Peaks in Dombai, a lovely little wooden-built chalet-style hotel, before returning to Sochi for the final night of the tour at the elegant little Nairi Hotel. All rooms on this tour have en suite facilities.
Climate Warm and sunny for much of the time. However rain is not infrequent, though usually in the form of short-lived showers or thunderstorms.
For further information or to book on this tour, please contact Greentours.
Tel: 01298 83563
Email: enquries@greentours.co.uk
