How to get from Yalta to Ai-Petri. Long walk: road to Ai-Petri
The height of Mount Ai-Petri is easy to remember - 1234 m above sea level. This is not the most high peak Crimean mountains, but definitely the most famous. Translated from Greek, the intricate name of the mountain means “St. Peter.”
Ways to climb Ai-Petri
On the cable car
This is perhaps the most popular and picturesque option for climbing the mountain. The cable car “Miskhor – Sosnovy Bor – Ai-Petri” originates almost at the very seashore, in the village of Miskhor, and rises to a height of 1234 m. The fare is 300 rubles; you can check the operating schedule of the cable car on the official website.
The cable car cabin is designed for 35 people. There is not a single support tower between the Sosnovy Bor and Ai-Petri stations, and the distance between them is 1670 m. This is one of the longest unsupported spans in Europe. Only the road in Germany has surpassed the Crimean cable car, where in the town of Oberiettenberg the Reiteralpe cable car has a span length of 1980 m. The ski lift on Ai-Petri can boast of its trouble-free operation.
By minibus or car
If you drive from Yalta towards Alupka along the Yuzhnoberezhnoe Highway, then in the area of the village of Vinogradnoye you will see a right turn to Bakhchisarai. 22 km of mountain serpentine will lead to the final station cable car"Ai-Petri". The road is very picturesque, it passes by the Wuchang-Su waterfall, mountain lake and several observation platforms.
You can leave your car in a paid parking lot near the cable car terminal station.
On foot
The so-called Koreiz (Miskhor) trail leads up, the length of which is 4 km. It originates opposite the Crimean Tatar village of Chatal-Kaya, walking route starts immediately from the Samota stop on Yuzhnoberezhnoe Highway.
Market on Ai-Petri
The first thing you will encounter when you get to the top is a huge market, which is located right on the way to the famous Ai-Petri battlements (several separate rocks). Here you will be offered in a very intrusive manner to buy souvenirs, sweets and warm clothes. The sellers are mostly Tatars. The market is open at any time of the year. The passage to Ai-Petri itself is paid.
44.448089 , 34.056201 The height of Mount Ai-Petri is easy to remember - 1234 m above sea level. This is not the highest peak of the Crimean Mountains, but definitely the most famous. Translated from Greek, the intricate name of the mountain means “St. Peter.” Ai-Petri
As I wrote earlier, it was discussed in the last article, and today we are going to the sights of this luxurious resort. After several gloomy days on our trip across Crimea, the first sunny morning. And we will spend this wonderful day doing the same wonderful place- Mount Ai-Petri.
How to get to Mount Ai-Petri in Crimea
Having quickly had breakfast and packed our things in our backpack, we went to the bus station to take public transport to Ai-Petri.
Bus
WITH Yalta bus station the bus is coming under № 102 (he first passes by, then stops at the cable car to Ai-Petri, and his final stop is at, everything you need in one set). Flights daily from 06:45 to 21:45, interval 35-60 min 38 rub/person.
WITH bus station "Clothing market"(not far from Yalta Embankment) there is a bus service № 132 . Flights daily from 07:00 to 21:00, interval 20-30 min, fare Yalta-Ai-Petri (lower cable car station) 34 rub/person.
It is very difficult to get to the right stop. On the bus, the bulk of passengers are occupied by visitors, who ask each other almost every 5 minutes whether they will get off soon.
Taxi
Taxi Yalta-Mount Ai-Petri (upper station of the cable car) will cost from 1200 rub/car one way.
Personal or rented car
The easiest way to get there is by car, and you can see along the way Bird home And Vorontsov Palace without adjusting to the schedule public transport. If you have a license, but don’t have a car, you can easily get one via the Internet in Yalta upon arrival. Directions map below. The serpentine on the Ai-Petri plateau passes through locality Hunting. In addition, the associated attractions that are described in many excursions in the form of the Uchan-Su waterfall and the Silver Gazebo can only be seen if you drive along the serpentine road by car. It will be about 10 km on foot from the upper station, and you still need to get to the populated area where buses go.
You can also negotiate with the locals about a car from Miskhor ( 1000 rub).
Koreiz (Miskhor) trail
If the cable car is closed, and you do not have the desire/opportunity to rent a car, then you can climb to the Ai-Petri plateau on foot along the Koreiz trail.
From Yalta at the bus station we take the following buses: 107, 128, 142 and get off at the stop Koreiz ( fare approx. 35 rubles).
By the way: bus number 107 after Koreiz turns towards the lower cable car station. You can get off at the next stop after Koreiz - “Burevestnik sanatorium” and walk another 200-300 meters to the cable car.
The Koreiz trail begins immediately after the Koreiz stop, at first it goes more gently, closer to the plateau there will be a good slope.
- You will have to cover about 4 km.
- Wear comfortable, non-slip, closed-toe shoes
- Have water in your backpack!
- For the correct orientation in your smartphone, use a MapsMe map.
Excursions to Ai-Petri
Group excursions from Alushta:— up to 40 people, 6 hours
Individual excursions from Yalta:— up to 3 people, 9 hours
Cable car to Mount Ai-Petri
Before we had time to dismount from the bus, a young Caucasian man immediately ran up to us and began to eloquently tell us how to get to the top of Ai-Petri, and what else you can see on the way back, if you don’t go down by cable car. To get more information, I made a very interested face, knowing full well that the young man was not groping himself like that in front of me for the sake of beautiful eyes. The site was almost completely empty when I realized that there was nothing more interesting to get out of the boy. We said goodbye to him and headed to a small building with ticket offices for the cable car right there.
Cost and operating hours of the cable car to Ai-Petri (2019):
Working hours cable car: from 10 to 17- rise, and from 10 to 18— descent.
Price:
- 400 rub/adult, 250 rub/child one way.
- the passage to the cogs from the upper station of the cable car costs separately 100 rub.
- attractions at the battlements: walk along hanging bridges over the abyss ( 500 rub), trolls from the top to one of the slopes on the plateau ( 700 m, travel time 1 min, cost 1000 rub.).
Adviсe:
- take warm clothes and a raincoat with you regardless of the weather, mountains are mountains
- It is better to wear comfortable, non-slip, closed-toe shoes on your feet. Even if you don’t plan to walk along forest paths, there are also rocks and roots on the plateau, and after the rain it’s also slippery
- the upper station of the cable car is full of cafes and shops, you don’t have to bring food and water with you, but the prices are tourist prices, you understand
- In winter, the cable car is closed; you can take the serpentine road by car or negotiate with the locals ( 1000 rub/car)
There is no way to get through here as a stowaway, because somewhere in the middle of the yellow booth's route, passengers are transferred, and at the same time, purchased tickets are checked. The same thing happens on the way back. In principle, those who have a car can probably climb the mountain for free along the road. However, I can’t guarantee that some kind of toll barrier hasn’t been installed there now.
We drove the first half calmly, only about a couple of tens of meters above the ground. Moreover, I was pushed into the very center of the crowd so that even through the windows it was difficult to see anything. But this gave me the chance to almost be the first to get into the second cabin during a transfer and take advantageous positions by the window in front.
The second part is more exciting with beautiful views on the sea and a visible rock ahead. During the trip, I heard intriguing stories that the cable car is made in such a way that before the top the cabin rises almost vertically for several meters and hangs for a couple of seconds at the very edge.
I was waiting for this moment with great excitement. I will say that what I heard is partly true. The cabin at the end of the path really goes at a very large angle, rising high above the surface of the earth, but before the top it does not hang, but simply jerks it a little, which is why it is no longer breathtaking, but somehow uneasy.
Mount Ai-Petri
The views at the top are amazing. At this height they cannot be different. The wind here is only strong.
There are also plenty of shopping stalls upstairs, you want barbecue, you want Uzbek cuisine, you want sweets, trinkets and so on. While you walk from one observation deck to another, you only have time to brush aside the intrusive offers.
A little to the left there is another observation deck, previously fenced with a fence, in which there was now a gaping hole made by tourists. It is apparently useless to fill the hole, because tourists still “rush” to the edge.
Here you really feel uneasy from the realization that there are no life-saving railings, and beyond the edge there is a sharp cliff of several tens of meters.
I don’t know though... I haven’t checked.
Where we left is not the very top yet. To the very top you still need to walk 700 m to the battlements. It goes along a rocky slope, slippery and muddy after rain. Separate entrance and fee - as much as 100 rubles. In fact, you can see the same thing (according to local traders) if you go a little to the left of the pay-for-passage booth. But curiosity is such a persistent thing, I gave these 100 rubles. and went higher. My traveling companion was stuck at the ticket office, as he already had enough dizzying views.
That day, after the rains, so that the tourists would not break their necks and legs, they slightly shifted their path through the forest along drier paths to the top.
Having got out into the open space, I first looked around the surroundings to see if it was possible to bypass this cash register at all (sorry, hitchhiking habit). Below in the photo, if you look to the right, then from the parking lot with cars there is a wide road to the left. I think if you walk along it for 300 meters, and then turn into a forest to the place where I was standing now, you can get here for free. Anyone who wants can try this on personal experience. But be careful, locals say that there are karst wells in the form of inconspicuous holes.
The first attraction is already visible from below: suspended bridges going from the main rock to a small peak with a cross. For those for whom the adrenaline at the top is not enough, you can walk in equipment under the guidance of an instructor, back and forth 90 meters in total.
It looks harmless in the photo, but quite dizzying up close.
I climbed to the very top and sadly discovered another limiting railing and some kind of iron stump, all hung with ribbons.
I didn’t intend to climb over the fence, so I just walked to the place where it ended. There were plenty of breathtaking views here too.
By that time, the excursion group had approached me. The guide publicly announced that since he understood the curiosity of tourists who strive to climb over the fence, he did so in order to maintain safety and his job. It will still allow everyone to take photos almost at the very top. But only on his terms.
After hearing this, I decided to join the group; I couldn’t miss such an opportunity. We stopped right at the place where the iron thing was sticking out. Here the guide climbed over the fence and allowed only two people from the group to go with him to take a photo. Naturally, I squeezed into one of the next couples. Here's proof of that.
And while all this was happening, someone from the crowd asked about the very iron thing that the guide was leaning on at that moment. He said that this was another attraction. From this iron pillar down (naturally, in the opposite direction from the cliff) there is a troll, along which in just 1 minute you can “lower” everyone.
I received my portion of photographs and set off on the way back.
The day was in full swing and I still wanted to have time to see the Vorontsov Palace. Therefore, we rejected the idea of going down on foot along forest paths.
Those who wish can go down faster paths directly from the plateau to Miskhor, for example (see MapsMe maps). But apart from the sources and views, there is nothing special there. We didn’t waste time and returned the same way – by cable car.
As I said above, Vorontsov Palace is the final 102 bus. Therefore, we went to the stop at the cable car and, after waiting for the required bus, we went to, which I will tell you about next time. Good weather on Ai-Petri!
Ai-Petri is the most popular mountain in Crimea and is considered one of business cards Crimea.
If you climb to the top of Ai-Petri, you will see a view of the Greater Yalta and endless sea expanses. For those who don't want to climb mountains, there is good offer: relaxation in boarding houses and sanatoriums of Crimea with a view of the majestic Ai-Petri battlements.
Photo by Ai-Petri:
This is interesting:
- 1234 meters - height of the massif;
- 1052 mm of precipitation falls on the plateau per year. This is one and a half times more than in Yalta;
- 50 m/s - the winds blow with such force on the plateau;
- 40-50 m - the height of each of the four large teeth.
Ai-Petri: historical excursion
The mountain received its name “St. Peter” from the ancient Greeks. There was a monastery at the top. In the old days they really liked to build churches in hard-to-reach places. Scientists have proven that the Ai-Petri mountain range is a typical coral reef in origin. Millennia passed, and as a result of the weathering of rocks, the famous teeth were formed. The top of one is crowned with a flagpole; on the other, after filming the film “The Children of Captain Grant,” a wooden cross remained. It gives the area a mystical look.
Near the Yalta-Alushta highway there is a weather station, one of the oldest on the Crimean Peninsula, built back in 1895. At the beginning of the twentieth century, under the leadership of K.F. Lewandowski, research activities were carried out here to study the wind rose and atmospheric electricity. In addition, the station took seriously work in the field of natural sciences: soil science, biology, astrophysics.
Options for getting to know Ai-Petri
The Ai-Petri Plateau stretches in a long strip between Yalta and Foros. mountain range It is distinguished by the unusual structure of its peaks: the sharpness of their teeth stands out among the rest of the peninsula. This place is unique and picturesque. Each vacationer can choose their own option for exploring the plateau. What do you prefer: admiring beauty Crimean mountains from the sea, go up by cable car or reach the peaks on your own? Each method finds its admirers.
- The peaks appear in all their glory during a trip along highway Yalta-Alushta. When staying in Miskhor or Koreiz, you can rent an apartment with a view of the mountains and admire the battlements from the window or veranda.
- In the picturesque village of Miskhor, a cable car begins that will take you all the way to the Ai-Petri battlements. From an altitude of just under one hundred meters above sea level, the first part of the journey upward begins in a small cabin. At an altitude of 391 meters, passengers transfer to the carriages of the upper section and overcome the longest section in Europe, 1,670 meters long. The journey takes 15 minutes. Breathtaking! The views of the coast from Gurzuf to Foros are enchanting.
- Real tourists climb the plateau on foot. Well-marked hiking trails lead upward from the village of Miskhor. Independent ascent takes from 2 to 4 hours. To careless vacationers local residents They offer to go up in jeeps for a reasonable fee.
Note:
in the northeast of the battlements you can walk through a relict yew grove. The oldest tree, the berry yew, is more than 1,000 years old. A real giant!
Video review:
Operating hours of the cable car
The cable car starts operating at 10 o'clock every day. Tourists can go up until 16-00, descent is organized until 17-00. One cabin, more reminiscent of a tram car, can accommodate up to 30 people at a time. It is worth keeping in mind that it is better to arrive in the first half of the day; there are always many people who want to go up.
Ticket prices:
- adult - 350 rubles;
- preferential and children's - 250 rubles. During periods of large influx of tourists, prices may increase.
Advice from seasoned tourists:
Even in the summer on Ai-Petri, take warm clothes, a windbreaker, pants, and sneakers. The winds at the top can be very strong.
Entertainment and relaxation
On the plateau there is a large number of equipped cafes and recreation areas. Visitors are offered dishes of Crimean Tatar cuisine: belyashi, kebabs, shurpa, ochpochmak.
There are comfortable observation decks for photo shoots and selfies. The best shots are taken on the suspended walkway in front of one of the large battlements.
Those interested are offered horseback riding and jeep riding. Professional guides are ready to take you on a tour of the surrounding area and tell interesting stories about Ai-Petri.
There are also more extreme entertainments. For adrenaline lovers, there is an attraction at the top: with the help of a safety net, walk along a suspended bridge over the abyss between the battlements!
Speleologists climb the plateau to visit the caves. There are three of them in the vicinity: Yalta, Geofizikov, Trekhglazka. The latter was named so due to its three entrance holes. Inside, tourists can expect giant calcite growths, stalactites and stalagmites, an ice skating rink and a huge snowdrift. Even on the hottest July days, the temperature in the caves remains at +4°C.
How to get to Ai-Petri in Crimea
It is convenient to get to Ai-Petri from the resort city of Yalta. You need to go to bus route No. 27 or 32 to the “Ropeway” stop.
By car you travel from Yalta in the direction of Miskhor; the cable car station is located in the center of the village. For a walk, you can park your car in a paid parking lot.
Ai-Petri on the map of Crimea
GPS Coordinates: N 44 26.831 E 34 03.107 Latitude/Longitude
Extreme Report winter holidays– pack a trunk full of accessories, put on snow chains and send them to the top of Ai-Petri for the children to go sledding.
Preface
The winter of 2016-2017 turned out to be surprisingly snowy for Crimea. The serpentine road to Mount Ai-Petri was constantly covered with either a meter-thick layer of snow or small avalanches. At the beginning of December 2016, according to the order of the Ministry of Transport of Crimea, travel on the Yalta-Bakhchisarai road through Mount Ai-Petri was allowed only to vehicles of the M1 category, that is, all-terrain vehicles. Which we did not fail to take advantage of.
Attention! From January 26, 2017, travel through Mount Ai-Petri was generally closed for all categories Vehicle except for special equipment. The ban is valid until April 1, 2017. The road situation is really difficult, snow removal equipment cannot cope.
Route selection and preparation
They decided to climb in the traditional way - from Yalta. This road is periodically cleaned, a military unit is located on the plateau, the serpentine is the only connection with the mainland.
Previously, this was the only road connecting Yalta with Bakhchisarai
Remembering the January climb on all-season tires (or rather the intense descent on ice), we decided not to risk it this time. We used chains. 2010 Ford Explorer with BF Goodrich Rugged Trail T/A tires. In addition to the chains, the car contains a strong cable, two jacks, a shovel, an ax and some other accessories.
We checked the weather on the website, snowfall is not expected. Yesterday's photos have already been posted on the forum, there is enough snow. Judging by the number of cars on the Ai-Petri plateau, they are allowed up. Well, let's go!
Ascent along the serpentine
The weather from Yalta is sunny, we reach the turn to Bakhchisarai (the beginning of the serpentine), we see the traditional inscription: “The road to Bakhchisarai via Ai-Petri is closed.” This means that the right of passage will be determined by the traffic police post located immediately after the resting place: “Uchan-Su waterfall”.
You can drive on this road with all-season tires.
We passed the traffic police post. The employees stopped the car, examined the wheels and said that they wouldn’t let me through without chains. I showed a set of chains in the trunk, and we drove on. The road had pretty much melted (overboard +1°C), and in some places the asphalt was visible.
The sun melted some of the snow
The sun disappeared under a continuous layer of clouds. After a couple of kilometers, the temperature dropped to -3°C, and a crust of ice appeared on the asphalt. It's time to put on the chains.
The chains were put on easily, according to the instructions for the car; only the rear axle is used for them. My front-wheel drive is connected either automatically or hard.
Rear wheel locking
Literally after a couple of turns there is solid frozen snow, and on the chains the Explorer rows like a tank. The ride is comfortable, there is a constant feeling of security.
Chains are our everything!
Suddenly the sun broke through, but the temperature did not change. The thermometer showed -6°C (altitude according to the navigator was 900 m). Ahead is a small mess of a skidding crossover and an oncoming car. They were about to help with a tow rope, but the guys managed it on their own.
It's hard to climb on simple tires
Broke through the cloud cover - clear blue sky - beauty!
Frost and sun, wonderful day
Behind the stone barrier there is a magnificent view, like from an airplane window. An even blanket of clouds, a feeling of the Crimean summer. The temperature outside is -10°C.
Altitude 1000 m, normal flight!
The last straight section before the summit. The snow is dense, the car goes smoothly, without skidding.
Rolled snow 10 cm thick
Peak of Ai-Petri
As soon as we reached the plateau, a snowmobile rushed past. They don’t go out on the road, they rush through the virgin lands.
Hey comrade! Overtaking is prohibited in this area!
The beauty is breathtaking. Bright sun, temperature -11°C.
The southern coast of Crimea may be like this
We stop for a photo shoot. The landscapes are unreal; previously such views were only seen on TV in Siberia.
Atypical Crimean landscapes
A front-wheel drive minibus on shabby summer tires stopped next to us. A can of gasoline was taken out of it and carried to a stalled snowmobile standing nearby. Apparently these are mining entrepreneurs who live here. Climbing up an icy serpentine road in such a car is unrealistic.
Aborigines move on a monowheel
We decide where to go: to a traditional resting place near the cable car station or deep into the mountain plateau.
In the background are the battlements of Ai-Petri, in the center is the cable car station
People are walking from the side of the cable car, cars are getting up with difficulty, many are slipping.
The paved road is not for everyone
After all, we are going to the wild observation deck.
The most beautiful views open from here
The central part of the plateau promises an equally exciting journey.
At the top there is a center for tracking space objects - a once secret military unit
To assess the cross-country ability, I try to drive off the compacted road. Movement is impossible - 20-30 cm of snow has piled up, driving is only possible on caterpillar tracks.
Plowing virgin soil is a pointless activity
At the same time, there is the same layer of snow on the road, and the wheels do not fall through. A real winter road.
Rolled snow on the road
On the track you can safely drive at a speed of 20-30 km/h.
We are going to an impromptu observation point
Stopping at the edge of the cliff, we admire the stunning views. The sea coast and the resort city of Yalta are not visible under a dense layer of clouds, but they are there!
Clouds to the horizon
We turn back and drive along the compacted two-lane “road”. It's just that the markup is missing.
I want to drive on this road forever
The road is framed by beautiful spruce trees. By the way, they are listed in the Red Data Book, we are on the territory of the reserve.
Simply beautiful, no words needed
We arrive at the ski center. Rental of sleighs, buns, and ski equipment is organized. We don't need it, the sled is in the trunk.
Rental station
The prices are steep, so we make do with our sleighs one at a time. The best for the children, we have enough of the freshest frosty air.
The wife also doesn’t mind falling back into childhood.
There is a rope tow lift; avid skiers actively use it. But most tourists prefer traditional types of recreation - sleighs, snowmobiles.
Entertainment for every taste
Each tree has unique natural decorations.
The change in weather has left its mark on the pine trees
When photographing the snowman guard, we pay attention to the rapidly lengthening shadows.
Snowman in a natural fur coat
It's time to get ready to head back. We check the condition of the circuits.
The chains are ok
The sun is rapidly setting, the temperature on the plateau has dropped to -16°C.
Sunset at an altitude of 1200 m
As soon as we reached the beginning of the descent, it was time to turn on the headlights. It gets dark instantly in the mountains, so we couldn’t take any photos on the way back.
Bottom line
Comparing the ride on chains with, we can draw an unambiguous conclusion: no all-wheel drive will help on an icy descent. Spikes or chains - only possible variant in the winter mountains.
Andrey Perov.