Pioneering Horseback expedition in Kabardino Balkaria

We visit Nalchik which is a soviet old city and has beautiful parks, market and public places. The museum is worth the visit to plunge you in the North Caucasian world. We stroll around to have a feel of what was once the Soviet Union. After lunch, we visit the workshop manufacturing beautiful north caucasian saddles and bridles according to the ancient traditions. We visit the surroundings of Nalshik and then go to a Balkar village where we stay overnight in a family guesthouse.

We start the beautiful ride through the immensity of the northern Caucasus slopes on majestic Kabardian horses. Theses horses are incredibly well trained
and can cover more than 100km a day. They are quite tall but are very well balanced. They have a quick walk and gallop comfortably. We ride over the first mountains towards Elbrus. The relief is hilly which allows us to trot and gallop sometimes. By the end of the day, we reach a Kabardian village that is near a beautiful river.

Fresh cooking.
Overnight in a tent.
Around 7 hours on the saddle

Today we start riding in the valley and then we spend a long time in crest reaching a high plateau in the second half of the day. The plateau is about 3000m high. The landscapes are simply incredible along some huge cliffs given us an opened wide param on a lower plateau. During the day, we may meet some shepherds on our way. The camp surroundings are amazingly beautiful.

Overnight in a tent.
Fresh Adygueen cuisine.
Around 7 hours on the saddle

We start riding down to the lower plateau, and through gorges which lead us to the Kabardian’s summer camp. The day offers an outstanding panorama and
if the weather is clear where we will admire the snow-covered 2 summits of the Elbrus when waking up. Overnight in tent at the horse summer camp. It is a very very simple place with a shepherds hut where we will share our diners with the Adygueens living up there. Around 7 hours in the saddle.

We ride in some impressive canyons. Overnight in tent at the breeding camp. Fresh Adygueen cuisine. Around 6-7 hours on the saddle.

We start the day riding up. We reach a high plateau. The scenery today offers wild opened landscapes with the high summit background (peaks over 5000m). We trot and canter during the day. We ride back (round trip) to the camp where we spent a nice calm evening.

Overnight in tent at a breeding camp.
Fresh Adygueen cuisine.
Around 7 hours in the saddle.

The target of the day is to visit some caves that are reachable only on foot/horseback. They are well hidden and known only by the local shepherds. Like every day we have lunch on the way. We take some small pathway carved in the mountains up and downs. At the end of the day, we ride back to the summer camp.

Overnight in a tent.
Fresh Adygueen cuisine.
Around 7 hours in the saddle.

We ride down to the curvy canyon which leads us to the lowlands. We ride back to the first Balkar village and enjoy the end of the day with great hot
showers.

Overnight in a guesthouse.
Balkar homemade cuisine.
Shared bathrooms

We drive to Vladikavkaz where the atmosphere starts to slightly change from soviet to the colourful and energetic Tbilisi. The architecture might remind you of Georgia. During the rest of the day, we have time to stroll around the interesting and charming city of Vladikavkaz, known before under Ordjonikidze and which was once (and still) a strategic city. We stay overnight in a 3-star hotel and have dinner in a local restaurant.

Today we start very early. We will be driving on a very well know and famous Darial gorge, the only passage through the Caucasus Mountain chain. The Darial originates from Dar-i Alān (الن در) meaning ”Gate of the Alans” in Persian. The Alans held the lands north of the pass in the first centuries AD.

As a result, Darial Gorge has been fortified since at least 150 BC, and the ruins of an ancient fortress are still visible. The pass served as a hub point for many roads connecting North and South Caucasus and remained open for traffic for most of its existence. The Georgian military way in its present form was improved at the time of the Caucasian conquest by the Russian empire in 1799 which follows the traditional route used by invaders and traders throughout the ages. It is a 212 km link between Tbilisi (Georgia) and Vladikavkaz (Russia) along the valley of the Terek via the Jvari Pass at 2,379 meters. Depending on the time spent at the Russian border and the traffic jam, we reach Tbilisi between 6 and 8 pm.

We drive through Kazbegi and its famous Mount Kazbek. We can admire the Sameba monastery and if there are right conditions, then the Kazbek summit. From there we drive towards the Djvari pass and the famous Soviet esplanade which commemorates the 200 years friendship treaty between Russia and Georgia! It offers a beautiful panorama on the valley. We drive by Gudauri ski resort and go to Ananuri fortress along the road Georgian Military Highway. The Ananuri fortified ensemble (architect K.Bakhsarashvili), dating from the 17th century, is located on the left bank of the Aragvi River and was built to protect the entrance of the valley. We drive to Tbilisi and leave our luggage at our hotel. This 3-star hotel is located at the very centre of the old Tbilisi. It is a very convenient place to
visit the town. We go for our first Georgian dinner in the city.

Free time in Tbilisi until the end of the afternoon to allow you to discover this wonderful city. A lot to see and do. Free lunch. Museums, galleries, cobbled streets, markets, exhibitions, churches.  You can also book a thermal bath and enjoy the massages. At the end of the day, we meet and have dinner together and enjoy the Georgian cuisine and wines.

Transfer to Tbilisi airport. Flight to Europe. End of trip.