Republic of North Ossetia-Alania

The territory of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania on the map of Russia is small and occupies only 7987 square kilometers. Nearby are located:

Georgia;
South Ossetia;
Chechen Republic;
Ingushetia;
Stavropol region.

The satellite map of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania shows that many rivers flow through its territory. The main ones are:

Terek;
Urukh;
Giseldon;
Ardon;
Kambileevka.

Also on the territory of the republic there are glaciers that occupy a fairly large area. This:

Miley, its area is 22 square kilometers;
Tseysky, with an area of 18 square kilometers;
Karaugomsky. It occupies 35 square kilometers.

The flora is diverse. These are steppes, alpine meadows, broad-leaved, pine and birch forests. The fauna is also diverse. The region is home to chamois, aurochs, lynxes, wild boars, roe deer, bears and other animals. There are a large number of birds. The climate is moderate. Summers are long and not dry, and winters are mild.

The coldest month is January. Temperatures drop to -16 degrees;
The warmest is July. The air warms up to +24 degrees.

Automobile route in North Ossetia No. 1: Karmadon Gorge, Dargavs and Midagrabinsky waterfalls

For those who come to North Ossetia, the optimal means of transportation is a car. By car you can get to the most remote corners of the republic, or easily visit the most popular ones. It is worth choosing Vladikavkaz as a location – the capital of the republic is an interesting tourist city.

Prospekt Mira - the historical center of Vladikavkaz

If you have some free time, first take a walk around Vladikavkaz. It is worth visiting the historical center of the city - Mira Avenue. This is one of the oldest highways in Vladikavkaz, the most beautiful street in the capital of Alanya. The avenue is a real monument of urban planning, an object of cultural heritage of our country. The history of Mira Avenue begins in the 19th century, and many examples of architecture - luxurious mansions - have come down to us from those times. There are many museums, parks, squares, and walking areas on Mira Avenue and nearby. Sacral buildings such as the Sunni Mukhtarov Mosque and the Armenian Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator are also worth visiting.

We looked at Vladikavkaz - we can move on. Short distances in North Ossetia allow you to explore many interesting locations in 1 day. If you only have 6-8 hours of daylight, check out the Karmadon Gorge, a route well-known among active tourists. The Karmadon Gorge became notorious after the collapse of the Kolka glacier in 2002. This disaster claimed the lives of many people; you can honor their memory at the memorials, as well as posthumous plaques with the names of Sergei Bodrov and the artists of the Narty equestrian theater. Now the roads are cleared, you can travel safely. Tourists are fascinated by the magnificent mountain views that open along the route. By the way, there are also hiking trails parallel to the road; they are more suitable for experienced trekkers.

Karmadon Gorge

In the Karmadon Gorge there are mineral springs, as well as historical monuments: towers, ruins of buildings and remains of villages, and of course the famous necropolis in the village of Dargavs.

Dargavsky necropolis is one of the most popular attractions in North Ossetia. A very ancient landmark, because people have been living in the village of Dargavs for more than 1000 years. It is believed that the City of the Dead began to form in the early Middle Ages; the crypts that have reached us are about 500 years old.

Now the Dargavsky necropolis is more of an open-air museum than an ancient cemetery. The Mamsurovs' watchtower, a monument of medieval architecture, rises above the village. The crypts differ in design and complexity of construction; paths and stairs are laid between them. There are 97 buildings in total. If you are not afraid, look through the windows into the other world - many tombs contain the remains of the buried. If you came to Dargavs, you probably admired its natural landscape. The city was built on the banks of the Midagrabindon River. Its bed begins high in the mountains, and if you drive further along the river, you will come to the Midagrabin Waterfalls . The valley of waterfalls looks very picturesque.

Valley of Midagrabin waterfalls

Just imagine: a huge stone bowl, gray rocks with waterfalls flowing down them, and a gorge ending in a grandiose mountain barrier. There are eight waterfalls in the park. One of them, Greater Zeygalan, with a height of more than 600 meters, is one of the largest water streams in Europe. In all its grandeur, it appears before the audience only at the height of summer, but in other seasons, a walk through the Midagrabin Waterfalls Park will make an impression.

Please note: the waterfall park is located on the border area, do not forget your passport. You should leave at least 2-3 hours for a walk through the park. Bring water, a blanket and a light snack - it’s great to have a picnic in the nature park.

Most popular resorts

North Ossetia is one of the calmest republics of the North Caucasus. The last armed ethnic conflict occurred in 1992. The only real danger for tourists is horsemen driving cars.

The recreational and tourist base “Harp” in the village of Akhsau, opened in 2015, has become incredibly popular.

Minimal but sufficient comfort, beautiful place, all-inclusive tours. Perhaps the ideal place for a family holiday in nature. The Taymazi sports and health tourism base is the best place for the young and active. A great chance to try your hand at paragliding.

Fiagdon is the closest mountain resort to Vladikavkaz. Here you can stay in one of the most famous art hotels - “Fiagdon”. The location and proximity to the best restaurant in Fiagdon, “Valley of the Sun,” make the choice of the hotel obvious.

An alternative to a serious hotel is a youth tourist hotel. The prices are moderate, everything is of good quality, but without comfort or frills. Fiagdon has a large selection of private houses that are rented out to vacationers - from modern designed villas to timber cottages and old dachas.

In Tsey, a favorite among tourists is the Vertical Hotel. The cost of living there is 4000 per room with breakfast and lunch.

Directly from the hotel, the trail leads to a beautiful waterfall. The only problem is that there is no Wi-Fi and the mobile Internet works very poorly.

An alternative to “Vertical” are cheaper ones:

"Victoria";
"Fairy tale";
the iconic Soviet alpine camp "Tsey".

The options for overnight accommodation in Vladikavkaz are varied: from the hostel with the very accurate name “One” to the “Alexandrovsky” hotel with an honest four stars. This hotel is one of the best in the North Caucasus. We can also recommend the Imperial Hotel, it has a solid three stars.

There are several three-star hotels in the city that cost 2–2.5 thousand rubles per room - half the price of the Imperial. There is also an exotic place to stay overnight in the historical center of the city - a tent camp in the art space "Portal".

Automobile route in North Ossetia No. 2: A trip along the Kurtatinsky Gorge

If you are planning a car route from Vladikavkaz along the Kurtatinsky Gorge, the easiest way is to immediately mark the Alansky Assumption Monastery as the end point. This monastery is a must-see for many reasons.

High mountain monastery - Alan Monastery

Firstly, this is the highest mountain Orthodox shrine in our country. The territory of the monastery has been known since the Middle Ages; thus, in the 17th - 18th centuries, two watchtowers were built here. They fit perfectly into the architectural style of the monastery complex and serve as bell towers. The first church on the territory of the monastery appeared in the middle of the 19th century, and the modern monastery began work in 2000. The monastery is operational, but improvement work is still ongoing. Despite the fact that the building is modern, it perfectly reproduces the architectural lines of medieval Ossetian architecture.

Let's go further, it's very close here. Literally 5 minutes away, don’t miss the village of Verkhniy Fiagdon. There are ruins of battle towers, a cultural center, shops and bakeries if you get hungry.

Look higher: on the hill are the ruins of the archaeological village of Tsimiti - a monument of medieval architecture in the open air. Here are watchtowers, destroyed and well preserved, foundations of buildings, picturesque stonework of walls. The history of Tsimiti begins in the 14th century, and little has changed here since then. Walk higher up and you will see the necropolis, the city of the dead. Even further away there are two monumental towers, from their platform there are fantastic views of the valley, gorge and mountains.

We admired it and moved on; a lot of interesting things awaited us. Our next stop will be at the village of Dzivgis, a tiny village in the Alagirsky district of Ossetia. But with a venerable history: it is one of the cultural and spiritual centers of medieval Alanya. The ancient sanctuary in the village, preserved from the pre-Christian era, is revered to this day. In addition to sacred places and a necropolis, a rock fortress has been preserved in the village of Dzivgis.

Walk along the Path of Miracles

The unusual fortification complex merges with the rocks, because the walls of the fortress literally grow out of natural caves. It is also interesting to see the fortress from the inside, climbing up the stone stairs.

You can finish our route with a walk along the Path of Miracles . This is a convenient walking path in the rocks of the Kurtatinsky gorge, in the Kadargavan canyon. It is famous for the fact that you can walk here in any shoes (hypothetically), the paths are smooth and comfortable. The length of the trail is only 500 meters; a leisurely walk will take 30 minutes. The good thing about the Path of Miracles is that any family can come here. Older people can easily walk along it, and children will love the mini-zoo. Fans of mountain panoramas will also not be disappointed - the views of the Fiagdon River gorge are magnificent.

Active recreation in North Ossetia

Are you a fan of active and even extreme recreation? Great, you will find plenty to do in North Ossetia. The vast expanses of this republic seem to be created for restless travelers; there are a lot of ecological routes, recreation centers on the banks of the river, mountaineering camps and equestrian clubs.

Trekking along mountain trails is a popular pastime

It’s convenient to start with trekking . There are dozens of ecological trails throughout the republic for tourists of all levels of physical fitness. They pass through famous gorges and through Alanya National Park. If you come in the summer, take a walk through the Midagrabin Waterfalls Park and see the majestic water flows in all their glory. Another interesting easy route is the Path of Miracles in the Kadargavan Gorge.

You can also organize trips on ATVs, and in winter on snowmobiles. Horse clubs are waiting for fans of this noble sport. Another bonus: as a rule, horseback riding is organized in the most picturesque places.

Have you always dreamed of seeing a glacier with your own eyes? In North Ossetia, organizing such an adventure is not at all difficult. You need to go to the Tseyskoye Gorge and buy tickets for the cable car. She will take you to the beginning of the route to the Skazsky glacier, which is very close.

The nature of North Ossetia has created excellent conditions for air adventures . So, not far from the village of Dargavs there is a Fazikau parade ground, located at +1600 meters above sea level. The site can be reached by car; it is located an hour’s drive from Vladikavkaz.

Water activities include rafting; rafting is organized by North Ossetian sports clubs for the most adventurous tourists. And for those who prefer a quieter holiday, there is fishing and modern glamping on the river banks.

Excursions in North Ossetia

Most tourists come here for them - excursions. Some travel as part of an excursion tour, others choose routes on the spot. In any case, North Ossetia can offer guests a wide variety of excursions - historical, educational, active, gastronomic.

It’s interesting to start your trip with a city tour of Vladikavkaz - this city is simply created for walking. It is optimal to come for a long weekend, but even if you only have a few hours left, an experienced guide will be able to captivate your attention. You will walk through the historical quarters of Vladikavkaz, see the heart of the city, and be amazed at the beauty of local mansions and the flow of the Terek River. In the company of a guide, you won't miss anything interesting.

Tower complex Egikal in Ingushetia

We got acquainted with Vladikavkaz - we can move on. Why not visit the neighboring republic, Ingushetia? It’s very close, and you can go there in one day. The mountain route along the Dzheirakh Gorge, overflowing with beauty, is very popular among tourists. There are ancient towers, ruins of fortresses, and entire cities. The most famous are the Vovnushki towers and the Egikal tower complex. These are the pearls of medieval Caucasian architecture.

A popular excursion to ancient Digoria. There are natural routes and historical sights - castles, ruins, necropolises. A trip to the Digor Gorge can take 1 day or several - choose the route to suit your taste. The easiest and most budget-friendly destination is the Karmadon and Kurtatin gorges. Almost all the iconic sights of North Ossetia are located along these routes: monuments, viewing terraces, eco-trails, family battle towers, fortresses, and the Dargavs necropolis.

A more original excursion is a trip to the Tseyskoye Gorge. You can do a lot in 1 day - ride a cable car, see a real glacier, say hello to the Uastirdzhi statue, appreciate the waterfalls and even relax in a thermal spring.

All excursions around North Ossetia on the Experts project. Tourist. RU

Health holidays in North Ossetia

After you have gone on an excursion and visited all the active entertainment in North Ossetia, it would be nice to relax. Not everyone knows, but tourists often come to the republic to improve their health, relax, and have a good rest.

Thermal complex Upper Biragzang

This can be done at thermal springs, especially since North Ossetia has all the conditions for such a vacation. The most popular and ennobled thermal spring bubbles up in the village of Upper Biragzang . The well was discovered in 1990, and at first it was popular only with local residents who wanted to get medical treatment. Later, the composition of the water was studied by doctors, and it was classified as a medicinal table. Thermal springs of Upper Biragzang treat many diseases, heal the body as a whole, and have a positive effect on well-being. Water enters the surface from a depth of 2000 meters, its outlet temperature is more than 40 °C.

It’s convenient that the source is landscaped; there are changing cabins, WC, a cafe and even a hotel in a convenient area. And of course swimming pools, with a water temperature of + 36...42 °C. You can come here for a couple of hours, relax in the pool (payment for the service is hourly), but experienced travelers recommend booking a hotel room at the springs in advance. By the way, swimming is allowed for hotel guests around the clock.

Features of the region

North Ossetia is not a Muslim republic. And yet, it is also customary here to follow certain rules in clothing: women should not wear miniskirts, see-through items or short tops. Men - shorts and sleeveless T-shirts.

In addition, women are not allowed to enter sanctuaries (zuars). In appearance, they resemble gazebos with tables and benches; most often, they are found along roads and are always fenced. In fact, these are religious objects.

Communication in the mountains does not work. First download one of the offline maps to your smartphone to make it easier to navigate the area.

Ski holidays in North Ossetia

Did you come to North Ossetia in winter? Great, this is a very attractive time of year in the mountains covered with fluffy snow. It’s especially cool to see it at the Tsey ski resort, located in the Tsey gorge of the same name.

Ski resort Tsey

Tsey resort is an all-season destination. The nature here is very beautiful: forests, meadows, picturesque mountain panoramas, glaciers. From December to March the resort operates as a ski resort. The lower part of the resort is located at a level of +1300 meters, skiing is organized at an altitude of +1850 to +2870 meters. Tourists can ride a chairlift and rent any ski equipment. There is also a school of instructors at the resort.

If you don't like skiing, an ice skating rink, sled, and tubing are at your service. The Tsey resort has 7 trails of varying difficulty levels: blue, red, black. The length of the slopes is up to 3 kilometers. The resort infrastructure is excellent: there are hotels for every budget, a cafe, a swimming pool, equipment rental, a tour desk, entertainment, and a mountain camp. Tourists come here for inexpensive winter holidays and magnificent mountain panoramas.

What to try and what to bring as a gift

It’s worth coming to North Ossetia not only for the natural and cultural attractions. The republic can also be visited because of its unique national cuisine.

The king of Ossetian cuisine is meat. Lamb is especially respected in Ossetia. For example, a dish such as lyvzha is a stew of meat with potatoes and onions, seasoned with pepper, garlic and savory. In addition to stewed meat, lamb is loved in the form of shish kebab, not only from the sirloin, but also from offal. In this case, the kidneys, liver and heart of young animals are threaded onto wooden skewers and fried over coals.

The sauce with which the dish is served is also important:

tsakhton made from sour cream;
Nury Tsakhton - very spicy garlic.

One of the iconic dishes of Ossetian national cuisine is pies. Ossetian pies are not food, they are the religion of the nation. A pie with cheese will never be served alone, but three plates with them will be placed on the table. They symbolize the sun, water and earth - the three foundations of the universe.

The most popular are pies with cheese - olibach. In addition, Ossetians also prepare other pies with different fillings.

Among them are:

Tsakharadzhin - with cheese and beet leaves.
Khaedurjyn - with minced boiled chopped beans and lard.
Nasjin - with pumpkin.
Kabuskajin - pie with cabbage and cheese.

Pies are often served instead of bread with main courses. You can wash it all down with iron bagane, a dark Ossetian beer with a rich taste, or a shot of barley arrack.

For dessert, you can eat halua - small balls of dough that are prepared using melted butter and powdered sugar.

To purchase souvenirs, you can visit the following shops in Vladikavkaz:

"Fatima";
"Souvenirs of the Caucasus";
"Tsarazon" and some others.

One of the gifts from Ossetia could be a dagger. Decorative items with beautiful handles, decorated with precious stones or with stunningly beautiful carvings can be found in almost any gift shop. Prices start from 500 rubles for the simplest souvenir dagger, and for a real one, not a souvenir one, you will have to pay an amount of 2000 rubles.

No less popular souvenirs are:

Key rings.
Wooden figures.
Paintings depicting Uastirdzhi - the patron saint of men, a mediator between people and God.

In North Ossetia, products with the image of Uastirdzhi are considered a talisman and bring good luck to warriors. The price for a bronze keychain starts from 650 rubles. You can take Ossetian cheese with you as an edible souvenir. It is recommended to buy it at the Central Market of Vladikavkaz