Mineral waters Dombay how to get there. Elena Iskhakova's blog
We talk about our vacation in Dombay and how much the trip costs: prices for hotels, food and ski lifts in 2019, as well as for excursions and travel to the resort.
The oldest ski resort in our country is worth visiting at least once. And although the infrastructure leaves much to be desired, the nature in the vicinity of the resort is beyond praise.
A new complex of ski lifts in Dombay.
How to get to Dombay
Dombay is located on the Russian border with Abkhazia. The road there is a dead end, further only the Main Caucasus Range. So, how can you get to Dombay?
Airplane + bus or taxi
The nearest airport is in Min. Waters (Stavropol is also suitable). The cost of tickets from Moscow to Min. Water low - from 3500 rubles in both directions in winter and from 6000 rubles in summer. Find tickets on Skyscanner.
So, you have arrived, and then difficulties arise - there are no regular buses to Dombay, only with transfers (via Cherkessk, Teberda). Check the information on the website of the Gulliver carrier; direct flights are still organized in winter. For those who value convenience and do not want to waste time, we advise you to order a transfer from the service - it is more reliable than contacting local bombers.
From the bus station Min. You can get there by bus to Teberda (from 470 rubles one way), and from there by taxi or bus to Dombay.
The fogs in Dombay are very beautiful. Train/bus + bus or taxi
The closest railway station to Dombay is in Nevynnomyssk, you can also get to Min. Water Tickets for a reserved seat from Moscow cost from 2 thousand rubles one way. Next - by bus or.
Bus tours from the capital cost from 10 thousand rubles per person (the price depends on the duration of the tour). Bus fare one way - from 2.5 thousand rubles.
Buses from Stavropol, Rostov, Pyatigorsk, Nevinnomyssk, Krasnodar
Automobile
A trip to Dombay by car is one of the most convenient ways to get to the resort, and we chose it. The road is good, except for the section from Kislovodsk to Karachaevsk. There are sections being repaired between Cherkessk and Karachaevsk. There is no gas station in Dombay, refuel in Teberda.
Personal experience. We vacationed in Dombay twice in the off-season (October 2016 and 2018). For the first time we lived in a beautiful place for 1600 rubles per day. The hotel was carefully chosen based on reviews. The price-quality ratio is ideal, it’s quiet, the owners are sincere, the food is very tasty. There was always hot water and independent heating, and this was our main criterion when choosing a hotel in the cool season.
It's nice to ride on the old Soviet ski lifts in Dombay, especially with warm tea. How to choose a hotel for a holiday in Dombay:
- If you find a hotel at a discount on the website, it is better to book, since without a reservation the price for a room will be 300-500 rubles higher.
- Carefully read the reviews of other tourists: there helpful information about the Internet, heating and hot water - there are problems with this in Dombay.
- In the off-season, choose a hotel with independent heating.
- Vacationers from Stavropol and Krasnodar region. They make it noisy parking spaces no, but the hotels are full.
- If you are driving, check about parking.
We treat waterfalls without unnecessary trepidation, but we love Chuchkhur waterfalls. They are especially beautiful when framed in gold. The streams fall down in cascades from about 250 meters in height. You can feel the power of mountain rivers here! Prices for tours to Dombay in 2019
The cost of tours is indicated for two people with departure from Moscow and may vary.
If you do not want to organize your holiday in Dombay yourself, then you can buy a tour. Vouchers in 2019 cost from 17 thousand rubles for 7 nights in three star hotel without food, but on average - 30 thousand for two.
Prices increase closer to the New Year: on holiday dates, tours already cost from 45 thousand rubles for 5 nights (with breakfast) and from 40 thousand for 3 nights. In winter 2019, tours to Dombay for 3-5 nights cost from 25 thousand rubles, for 7 nights - from 35 thousand. There are very few offers, so hurry to book.
View of Dombay from the Amanauz gorge. 
Observation deck over the Chuchkhur waterfalls. Prices for ski lifts in Dombay in 2019
There are different lifts in Dombay: old Soviet chairlifts, a brand new complex (gondola and chairlifts) and a pendulum cableway. Maximum height, which can be reached by cable car - 3168 meters. Work starts at 8:30, ends at 16:00-16:30.
Lift prices new complex in Dombay in 2019: 1 lift - 500 rubles, so it is more profitable to buy a subscription for several queues at once (1 lift for 3 queues costs 1050 rubles), or a ski pass for one or several days. A ski pass for 1 day costs 1600 rubles, 2 days - 2840, 3 - 3910 rubles. There are benefits for children and elderly people, and sometimes there are promotions and discounts.
Here are the prices for new ski lifts in Dombay in 2019 in the table:
| Rise | Price, rub.) |
| Cashier first line | |
| 1 gondola ride (1590-2277 m) - 1st stage | 500 |
| 1 lift on a gondola and a six-seater lift (1590-3008 m) - 1st + 2nd stages | 850 |
| 1 climb - 1+2+3rd stages (1590-3168 m) | 1050 |
| 1300 | |
| Cash desk on the second line | |
| 1 lift on a six-seater lift (2277-3008 m) - 2nd stage | 500 |
| 1 lift on a six-seater and a four-seater lift (2277-3168 m) - 2nd and 3rd stages | 700 |
| Half a day (before 13:00 or after 13:00) | 1000 |
| 1 day | 1100 |
Prices for a ski pass in Dombay in 2019 for a new ski lift (RUB):
Screenshot from the site dombaj.ru. 
We chose the old one Soviet lift because of obvious advantages: excellent visibility and a dose of extreme sports (the chairs breathe badly, creak, there is not always protection). Price - 250 rubles per person for one turn (round trip), that is, 1000 rubles for all ascents and descents. We were a little unlucky, and on that day there was a planned power outage in the village, so all the cable cars were running on generators, and during the ascent on the first stage we were completely stuck halfway. The rise is up to 3002 meters, further to the top you can easily climb on foot.
Is there some more "Yugoslavka"- a double chairlift, which duplicates the fifth stage of the Soviet ski lift, but the final station is slightly lower than the 5th. Price - 100 rubles for an adult, 150 for a child under 13 years old, ticket for 1 day - 500 rubles.
On the pendulum cable car there are 2 red carriages, which can accommodate up to 35 people each. They go to the slope of Mussa-Achitara. The cost for tourists is 300 rubles, for skiers - 200, for children under 10 years old - 150, and for children under 5 years old - free.
Soviet cable car in Dombay. 
Hiking to the top of Mussa-Achitara - the elevation gain will be approximately 100 meters. You can get up in 15-20 minutes. 
View from the top of Mussa-Achitara. Prices for equipment rental in Dombay
We saw a lot of signs advertising equipment rentals both in the village itself and at the stations cable cars, so you don't have to worry about it. It also doesn’t cost anything to rent equipment at a hotel - almost every hotel does this kind of business.
Thus, you can go on vacation to Dombay lightly. Prices for equipment rental in 2019 are as follows: a standard set (sticks, boots, skis or snowboard) costs from 500 rubles per day, goggles - from 200 rubles, gloves - from 150, overalls - from 250 rubles. Deposit - passport or money.
Instructor services usually cost from 1,500 rubles per hour.
Cafe at an altitude of 3000 meters. 
View from the top of Mount Mussa-Achitara, which can be reached by ski lifts from Dombay. Prices for food in Dombay in cafes and shops
Prices for food in Dombay in summer and winter are almost the same and depend on the level of the establishment. You can save a little on your trip to Dombay by choosing a hotel with breakfast included, which is what we did - we highly recommend the hotel. We lived there for 5 days. Breakfasts are served very hearty, varied, there is always a main dish (for example, we had porridge, khychin, buckwheat with sausage, dumplings, omelet), tea and pastries.
Prices in cafes and restaurants Dombaya in 2019:
- River and lake trout - from 250 rubles per serving (usually one large fish).
- Khychins - from 130-200 per piece. You can’t guess with them: they are small with meager filling, and sometimes they are so big that even two people can’t handle them at a time.
- Mountain-style meat and Karachay-style meat - from 250 rubles.
- A kettle of mountain tea with honey or jam - from 150 rubles per 0.5 liter.
- Lagman and shurpa - 150-250 rubles per serving (lagman can be quite spicy).
You can eat in a cafe for 500-1000 rubles for two. In the cafe "Metelitsa" on main street There are business lunches for 300-350 rubles. There are also many cafes and restaurants at the cable car stations; the cost of food there is higher.
Our hike to the Alibek glacier. Take a thermos with hot tea and some snacks on every trip. Prices for products in stores Dombaya is like in small provincial shops. The cost of some products, mainly fruits, is overestimated by about 20%:
- Tangerines (kg) - from 130 rubles.
- Kefir and milk (1 l) - from 70 rubles.
- Lavash - from 20 rubles.
- Khychiny (pieces) - from 100 rubles.
- Baklava (kg) - 350 rubles.
- The cheapest wine (from the Krasnodar region) - from 250 rubles.
- Abkhazian wines - from 400-500 rubles.
Gonachkhir gorge in the vicinity of Dombay. Excursions, entertainment, routes
There is no shortage of excursions and entertainment - holidays in Dombay are very diverse. Prices in 2019:
- ATV rental - about 2000 rubles;
- guide services - from 1000 rubles per group;
- fishing - from 500 rubles per person;
- horse riding tours - from 1000 rubles per person per day of riding.
There is one caveat: if you are going to explore the surrounding area, you will have to apply for a pass to the border zone - the village is surrounded by the Teberdinsky Biosphere Reserve, in addition, the border with Abkhazia passes nearby. Previously, it had to be done in advance (2-3 days in advance) in Cherkessk, but now you can get it directly from the forester on the route for free. We got it done in just 5 minutes; you need to have your passport with you and fill out a form.
Fields of fireweed on the road to the Chuchkhur glacier. All routes in the reserve are paid. Here are the cost of admission to the most popular attractions:
- Chuchkhur waterfalls - 150 rubles per person;
- Amanauz gorge, to the Devil's Mill and Sofrudzhinsky waterfall - 100 rubles;
- Gonachkhir gorge - 150 rubles per person;
- Alibek glacier and waterfall - 100 rubles per person.
The Chuchkhur glacier is located a few kilometers from the waterfalls. 
There are many bears in the vicinity of Dombay, but, according to locals, they are not aggressive or dangerous. We found this bear track on Mount Toguzkelbashi. View all offers by Dombay
View offers for other ski resorts Russia And CIS
Flight to Dombay For ski holiday is carried out to the Mineralnye Vody airport with subsequent transfer, travel by car or taxi.
Main flights "Moscow - Mineral water" (check information when booking air tickets or on airport websites)
Aeroflot airline, from Moscow (airport Sheremetyevo-1) TU-154, travel time 2 hours 15 minutes.
flight No. 785 at 08:35, arrival at 10:50;
flight No. 787 at 15:40, arrival at 18:05.
A/k "Siberia"", from Moscow (Domodedovo airport) TU-154, travel time 2 hours 10 minutes.
flight No. 1213 at 12:50, arrival at 15:00.
A/k "KavMinvodyAvia", from Moscow (a/p Vnukovo) TU-154, travel time 2 hours.
flight No. 1219 at 11:20, arrival at 13:20;
flight No. 1217 at 18:50, arrival at 20:50;
from Moscow (Domodedovo airport) TU-154, travel time 2 hours.
flight No. 1225 at 10:30, arrival at 12:20.
"Mineralnye Vody - Moscow" (main flights)
Aeroflot airline(airport Sheremetyevo-1) TU-154, travel time 2 hours 25 minutes.
flight No. 786 at 12:20, arrival at 14:45;
flight No. 788 at 19:25, arrival at 21:50.
A/k "Sibir"(a/p Domodedovo). TU-154, travel time 2 hours 10 minutes.
flight No. 1214 at 16:30, arrival at 18:40.
A/k "KavMinvodyAvia", (a/p Vnukovo) TU-154, travel time 2 hours.
flight No. 1218 at 08:05, arrival at 10:50
flight No. 1220 at 14:50, arrival at 16:50
(Domodedovo airport) TU-154, travel time 2 hours.
flight No. 1236 at 13:40, arrival at 15:40
flight No. 1226 at 20:30, arrival at 22:25
Russian railways
offer trains "Moscow - Mineralnye Vody" for travel to ski resorts in Dombay. The exact cost and availability can be found in the section " Order tickets
"
No. 004 "Moscow Kazanskaya - Kislovodsk" (branded)
No. 027 "Moscow Kursk - Kislovodsk" (fast)
No. 034 "Moscow Kazanskaya - Vladikavkaz" (fast)
No. 062 "Moscow Kazanskaya - Nalchik" (fast)
For a comfortable ski holiday in Dombay, you can order the transfer "Mineralnye Vody - Dombay or Elbrus region - Mineralnye Vody" (check the price when booking):
- individual - 3700 pa. auto, 4500 - foreign car;
- group - 7000 domestic cars, 8000 - foreign cars.
To be ordered upon arrival, travel time is 3.5-4 hours.
There is an additional charge for the booking service - 250 rubles. for the car.
For a ski holiday in Dombay And Elbrus region can be reached from Moscow:
Regular bus service(first departure at the end of December). Buses of the "Neoplan" brand (comfortable buses for 53-55 seats, audio and video systems, kitchen, dry closet, attendant, two drivers)
Departure from Moscow every Friday, departure at 8:30 from Domodedovskaya metro station
Departure from Dombay every Saturday, departure at 16:30 from the guest house. "Mountain Peaks" departure at 17:00 from the guest. "Dombay"
Departure from Terskol every Saturday, departure at 16:30 from the guest house. "Terskol" departure at 17:00 from the guest. "Cheget". The total travel time is 24-26 hours.
Approximate cost and dates (to be specified when booking tickets at the bus station
Departure from Moscow Departure from Dombay/Terskol Round-trip fare
Get to ski resort You can get to Dombay in one of the following ways: by plane, train, bus or car.
By plane:
You need to fly by plane to the one closest to Dombay major airport- Mineral water. Many airlines operate flights from Moscow to this route. Flight time is approximately 2:30 hours.
From the airport you can choose 2 travel options: by taxi or by regular bus to Teberda, then by taxi or by bus to the village of Dombay. The distance from Mineralnye Vody to Dombay is 230 km.
By train you are heading to one of the following cities: Nevinnomyssk, Cherkessk, Nalchik or Mineralnye Vody. From Moscow trains depart from Kazan, Kursk and Paveletsky railway stations. From Moscow to Mineralnye Vody it takes from 28 to 38 hours by train.
From the station of any of the listed cities you can get either by taxi or by bus through Karachaevsk to Teberda. Then take a taxi or bus to the village of Dombay.
By bus:
There are many companies that provide direct bus routes in this direction. For example, you can take a direct bus from Moscow with the help of several companies. Flights operate weekly. Buses have increased comfort, equipped with audio-video systems, boilers, bio-toilets, and an attendant. Travel time is 28 hours. Your path will pass through the Tula, Lipetsk, Voronezh, Rostov regions, Krasnodar, Stavropol Territories, Karachay-Cherkess Republic and end in the village of Dombay.
By car:
The road from Moscow to Dombay starts from the federal highway M4 “Don” - Moscow-Rostov-on-Don-Nevinnomysk-Cherkessk-Teberda-Dombay (1600 km). Travel to Dombay is paid, as the route passes through the Teberdinsky Nature Reserve. Payment is made upon departure from Teberda.
Hotel "Snow Leopard" is located at a distance
- Airport Mineralnye Vody 225 km
- Stavropol Airport 250 km
- Railway station Cherkessk 100 km
- Railway station Nevinnomyssk 150 km
- Railway station Kislovodsk 220 km
Thanks to the majestic mountain peaks and amazing white snow Dombay has been popular with many athletes and amateurs for many years. extreme recreation. In this wonderful place, there is an excellent opportunity to ride not only ordinary ones, but also alpine skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and also mountaineering. Well-developed tourist and hotel infrastructure provide the opportunity to have a good and comfortable time and enjoy all the delights of this beautiful resort. Fans of this type of holiday will find something to do here.
What's the best way to get there?
This resort can be reached from anywhere in our country in various ways. Of course, the fastest way is to fly by plane. It is also very convenient because the nearest airfield is very close, in Mineralnye Vody. Traveling by train has both pros and cons. The first is the relatively low cost of the ticket, but the disadvantage is the long travel time. The train arrives at the Nevinnomyssk railway station, after which you can get to Dombay by regular bus, by taxi or by renting a car. You can also get to this resort village and using tourist buses. A bus trip will be comparable in cost to a train trip. You can get there by bus not only from Moscow, but also from other Russian cities. A great way to get to this resort is by private vehicle. You will have the opportunity not only to get directly to Dombay itself, but also to enjoy excellent scenery during the trip.
Getting to Dombay by plane
Air travel to Dombay by plane is the fastest way for vacationers to get to this resort in the shortest possible time. The plane lands at the largest airport in the Caucasus - Mineralnye Vody. Many airlines operate direct flights to this airport not only from Moscow, but also from other major cities Russia. The flight won't take too long. For example, you can get from Moscow to Mineralnye Vody by plane in about 2 hours.
You can get from the airport to your vacation spot by regular or tourist bus, by taxi, or by renting a car. The distance from Mineralnye Vody to Dombay is about 240 kilometers.
If you intend to get from the airport by tourist bus, then you need to take into account that they run from the beginning of December until mid-March. As a rule, they depart from the airport at lunchtime, and if from the railway station - in the morning.
If you decide to rent a car, then you can use the services of any company in Mineralnye Vody that is engaged in such activities. All of them have large fleets and you can choose a car to suit every taste. This can be either a domestic car or a foreign one, including business and VIP class. Such companies operate at any time of the year, around the clock.
Getting to Dombay by train
The cheapest and easiest way to get to the resort from any region of Russia is to travel by train. Trains arrive in the cities closest to Dombay: Mineralnye Vody, Nalchik, Cherkessk, Nevinnomyssk. If you intend to travel from Moscow, then this can be done from Kursky, Kazansky or Paveletsky railway stations.
The train doesn't take too long. Most often, a little more than a day. After the train arrives, getting to the resort will not be a problem using a regular or tourist bus or taxi. The tourist bus leaves at approximately 7 am. If desired, you can rent a car.
We get to Dombay by bus
Many travel companies transport tourists to this resort using comfortable buses. Each travel company has its own flight schedule. These can be either daily or weekly flights. To obtain all the necessary information, please call travel agency and clarify everything.
Tourist buses are characterized by increased comfort. They are equipped with audio-video equipment so that passengers do not get bored along the way. The buses have boilers and dry closets. Each bus must have an accompanying person. The road from Moscow passes through the Lipetsk, Tula, Voronezh and Rostov regions. In addition, when making a bus trip you pass through the Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories, as well as the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. Well, the final stop of the bus is the resort village of Dombay.
We get to Dombay by private car
You can get to Dombay from Moscow by car along the federal highway – M4 “Don”, which passes through Rostov, Nevinnomyssk, Cherkessk, Teberda. The distance from Moscow to Dombay is approximately 1600 kilometers.