Sochi-Elbrus-Vladikavkaz: Motorcycle Tour over the Caucasus Mountains

Book the tour - 01 Oct - 10 Oct 2024

One-way tour along the Caucasus Mountains. It can be either Sochi-Vladikavkaz or Vladikavkaz-Sochi, please pay attention to direction

• Dates 2024: 1-10 May (Sochi-Vladikavkaz, full group), 1-10 October (Vladikavkaz-Sochi)
• Dates 2025: 1-10 May (Vladikavkaz-Sochi), 12-21 May (Sochi-Vladikavkaz)
• Duration: 10 days (7 riding days + 1 rest day at Elbrus + 2 days arrival/departure)
• Total mileage: 1950 km
• Roads: 95% asphalt 
• Tour level: Intermediate 
• Price: 3250 EUR (includes BMW F750/850GS rent)
• Extra charge for BMW R1250GS: 350 EUR
• Comprehensive motorcycle insurance: 350 EUR (no deposit needed, full coverage)
• Deposit for the motorcycle: 1500 EUR for F750GS or F850GS and 1750 EUR for R1250GS (Read more...) or you can purchase comprehensive all-inclusive motorcycle insurance that costs 300 EUR (no deposit needed, full coverage)
• Price if you ride your own motorcycle: 1750 EUR  
• Price for the passenger: 1450 EUR
• Single room supplement: 350 EUR

Key tour highlights: Caucasus Mountains, Sochi, Black Sea, Elbrus, local cuisine, serpentine roads

Included services:

• Motorcycle rental 
• Petrol (for rented motorcycles only)
• Accommodation in 3-4* hotels (based on sharing a double/twin room)
• Welcome dinner
• Meals (breakfasts and dinners) during all days
• English-speaking guide on a motorcycle
• Support vehicle assistance with second guide
• Entry tickets to the places of interest and excursions with local guides
• Hotel transfers from/to the airport
• Souvenir pack (t-shirt, paper maps, etc.)       
• Visa assistance

Services not included:

• Air tickets to/from Russia
• Air tickets to Sochi and from Vladikavkaz (approx 75-100 Euro per ticket, we can help with this if needed)
• Personal medical insurance
• Lunches and drinks
• Visa counsel fee
• All services not mentioned as included

Route: where we will go

Sochi – Adygea – Arkhyz – Dombay – Elbrus – Digora – Fiagdon – Vladikavkaz

Day 1. Sochi, arrival

You arrive in Sochi, we will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel in Krasnaya Polyana (ski resort near Sochi where Olympic games in 2014 took place). In the evening we will have a general welcome meeting, kick off about the ride, you will get bikes, sign documents, then we go to a welcome dinner.

Important: for a comfortable daily routine, it is desirable to arrive at the Sochi airport no later than 15:00. Briefing is usually at 17:00 at the hotel

Day 2. Sochi - Adygea, 360 km

After breakfast we leave for Adygea. Today you will see Lago-Naki - the famous West Caucasian Plateau, which is located at an altitude of about 2 km in the mountains. This is a place of stunning natural beauty, primarily flowering alpine meadows.

Highlight of the day: Azish cave and views of the Lago-Naki plateau

Day 3. Adygea - Arkhyz, 330 km

After breakfast we go to Arkhyz, look at one of the youngest ski resorts in Russia. On the way, we will stop at the waterfalls, ancient monasteries and one of the largest observatory in Europe.

Highlight of the day: Arkhyz ski resort

Day 4. Arkhyz - Dombay, 185 km

We move to the next valley, today Dombay is waiting for us. On the way, we will also make stops at several sights, for example, at the Military-Sukhum Road. At Dombay, after checking in the hotel, we will take a cable car up to the mountains to admire sunset with famous mountain Dombai tea.

Highlight of the day: Dombay

Day 5. Dombay - Elbrus, 370 km

Today we have a long driving day. In the morning, the Gumbashi pass awaits us, from there, in good weather, a stunning view of Elbrus opens. Then we go to the Emmanuel Glade to the very foot of Elbrus. The place is named in honor of the Russian general, the conqueror of Elbrus. The last driving segment today - through Kichmalka village we go to Polyana Azau, where we check in the hotel right next to the ski lifts to Elbrus.

Highlight of the day: Glade Emmanuel, Glade Azau

Day 6. Elbrus, rest day

We will climb the highest cable car in Europe, Gara-Bashi, to an altitude of 3800m. If you wish, in good weather, you can climb even higher up to 5000m on a snowcat or snowmobile. Incredible and stunning views of the mountains will open up here. After lunch, free time, you can relax at the hotel, go to the spa or arrange trekking in the mountains.

Highlight of the day: climbing Mount Elbrus

Day 7. Elbrus - Upper Balkaria - Digorskoe Gorge, 380 km

We go further, today the Digorskoye gorge is waiting for us, a very beautiful and relatively non-tourist place. Watchtowers, numerous crypts, temples and ancient ruins await you, all set against a backdrop of imposing mountain slopes and verdant gorges. In the evening we arrive at the recreation center, located on the banks of a mountain river at the foot of the mountains.

Highlight of the day: Digorskoe Gorge

Day 8. Digorskoe Gorge - Tsey - Upper Fiagdon, 195 km

In the morning we go to see the Transcaucasian highway, the road to South Ossetia. In beauty it is not inferior to the famous Chuysky Tract. Next, we are waiting for the Tsey ski complex, where you can climb the lift to the glacier. At the same time, let's compare what ski tourism looks like in Krasnaya Polyana and in Ossetia. Then we go to Upper Fiagdon, where we stay in a beautiful hotel in the mountains.

Highlight of the day: Transcaucasian highway, Tsey

Day 9. Upper Fiagdon - Vladikavkaz, 150 km

Last driving day. In the morning we go to the most high-mountainous monastery in Russia - Holy Dormition Monastery, then the city of the dead Dargavs, waterfalls and the Karmadon Gorge. We arrive in Vladikavkaz around 16:00, park our motorcycles and go to a farewell dinner.

Highlight of the day: Dargavs, Karmadon Gorge

Day 10. Vladikavkaz, flight hom