Ai-Petri Crimea: Yalta from a bird's eye view, dizzying cable car and much more. Journey to the mountain or how to get to ai-petri from yalta. What are the trails on ai-petri
Resting in the village of Gaspra, near Yalta and descending every day to the sea, we admired the jagged peak of Ai-Petri. On one of the days of our vacation, we independently visited one of the most picturesque mountains of the southern coast of Crimea. In ancient times, a church was built at the top of Ai-Petri in honor of St. Peter, after whom the peak was named.
Many legends are associated with the name of Mount Ai-Petri. They say that once upon a time at the foot of Ai-Petri there lived a young man and a girl who fell in love with each other. But their families were against this feeling and forbade them to meet. Then the lovers decided to jump off the mountain and stay together forever. They climbed to the top, but the gorge there was so narrow that it was impossible for the two of them to jump. Then the young man decided to step into the abyss first. He said goodbye to his beloved and jumped off a cliff into the raging sea. The girl, seeing a terrible sight, exclaimed “Ay, Peter”, because that was the name of her lover. Since then, the mountain has received this name. And the girl, after crying through the night, changed her mind about jumping down and returned to her family. They say that it was after this story that men began to let women go ahead.
View of the South Coast from Ai-Petri
The picturesque slopes of Ai-Petri were appreciated both by representatives of the royal family and the Yusupov family. The latter had estates on both sides of Ai-Petri. One in Koreiz, and the other in the current village of Sokolinoe.
Many of my friends, who had previously visited the Crimea, spoke with enthusiasm about the trip to Ai-Petri. Of course, living nearby, we could not refuse an exciting journey and climb to the top of these majestic mountains.
In 1987, the Miskhor-Ai-Petri cable car was built, which allows you to quickly go up. Its length is about three kilometers, and this distance is overcome in 20 minutes. The cable car is divided into two sections: lower and upper. The upper part is currently the longest unsupported cable car in Europe.
Ropeway Miskhor-Ai-Petri
It took us 15 minutes by minibus to get to the cableway station from the village of Gaspra. As soon as we got off the bus, we were immediately surrounded by a bunch of men who offered us to climb to the top of Ai-Petri by car. We listened to their suggestions and took a little time out to think.
The fare for the cable car is 220 rubles one way, the same is the cost of lifting a minibus. And since it’s not particularly interesting to go back and forth on the same road, we chose the following option: we decided to climb the mountain as part of a small group in an air-conditioned minibus along the Yalta-Bakhchisarai highway, and go down the mountain by cable car.
Another argument "for" was that the driver promised to make small stops near the Wuchang-Su waterfall, near the silver gazebo and on the observation deck almost near the top of Ai-Petri.
After waiting a bit for the group to gather, we hit the road along the slope of Mount Pendikul. The driver, who is also a guide, told us in an interesting way about the area we were passing through and the amazing plants we encountered along the way.
Trees on Ai-Petri
At first, the forest was dense, with lush vegetation, but as the height climbed, the trees thinned out, and the area became more deserted.
Quite quickly we got to the Wuchang-Su waterfall. In the summer, it flows in a barely visible stream, and it is most full-flowing in spring and autumn. Therefore, this waterfall did not particularly impress us, although the area in which it is located is very beautiful. Tall trees grow on the slopes, including mast pines, from which the Russian fleet was once built.
Uchu-san waterfall
We made the next stop at an altitude of 865 meters above sea level at the Silver Pavilion. It was erected at the end of the 19th century in honor of the builders of the Yalta-Bakhchisaray road. The work was carried out for more than a dozen years by the soldiers of the Russian army in difficult conditions. In winter, when the arbor is covered with frost, from Yalta, shimmering in the sun, it seems to be made of silver.
Silver gazebo
Stunning views of Yalta open from the observation deck near this gazebo-rotunda. Here you can buy souvenirs and take pictures with birds for 100 rubles. But I usually feel very sorry for attached animals.
View of Yalta from the observation deck at the Silver Pavilion
Further along the mountain serpentine, we climbed to the observation deck, located very close to the final stop. On this slope, in 1959, a monument was erected to Soviet partisans who died in battles with the Nazis in December 1941. The terrain here is quite flat, with small shrubs and trees.
Ai-Petri. Monument to partisans
View from the observation deck at the monument to the Partisans
After driving for another 10 minutes, we reached the upper station of the cable car. At this point we said goodbye to the group and our driver. I was already looking forward to wandering through the beautiful expanses of the plateau on the top of Ai-Petri. But it was not there. The magnificence of nature and the amazing atmosphere of this place are spoiled by the Crimean Tatars who occupied this section of the mountain.
Immediately I felt like I was in an oriental bazaar in Egypt or Turkey. It was impossible to take a single step without the Tatars working here running up to you and inviting you to their restaurant or for horseback riding. All this was done with their characteristic obsession. It was worth refusing one, another immediately approached. To be honest, I don’t understand why it was necessary to create here several dozen identical restaurants with the same food, in order to fight for customers later.
Plateau on Ai-Petri
We decided to explore the area. The caves that are on this mountain were closed, because, according to the locals, they have not yet figured out whether to make the entrance to them paid or not. Therefore, we decided to go to the teeth of Ai-Petri. They say that before the rise there was also paid. I don’t understand why they take money there: climbing to the battlements is quite difficult along a steep rocky slope.
First, the climb goes among outlandish trees, and then along the stones under the scorching sun.
Trees on top of Ai-Petri
Rocky road to the battlements of Ai-Petri
But the final destination is stunning in its views. From here you can see the entire southern coast of Crimea, because the height of the peak of Ai Petri is 1234 meters.
At the peak of Ai-Petri
The cable car cabins seem very small from the teeth, you can’t even believe that they can accommodate up to 35 people.
Cabins of the cable car on Ai-Petri
Stunning views fascinate, here you understand that it was not in vain that you have come a long way. If possible, I think, every tourist,
wishing to see the picturesque coast of Crimea from a bird's eye view, you must definitely climb to the teeth of Ai-Petri.
View of Yalta from Zubtsov
After standing on the top for a while, we began to descend. Then we immediately went to the cable car station. Right now we had to descend to the foot of the mountain along the cable car. Cabins leave every half an hour. When the cabin of the cable car was almost full, we began to descend.
Being inside, it seems that we are moving very slowly, and the booths we met just rush past. At the middle station you need to make a change and go down further. Thus, the descent took about 20 minutes, while we went up by car for more than an hour.
By minibus we returned to Gaspra tired and full of impressions. We did not regret at all that we went upstairs by car. This allowed us to see the wonderful vegetation of the Crimean slopes from the inside and admire the views of the southern coast of Crimea from different viewing platforms. And the picturesqueness and wonderful prospects of the top of Ai-Petri will remain a vivid memory for a long time.
All articles in the direction Crimea , Yalta .
useful links
Hotels in Crimea: reviews and booking
Hotels in Yalta
Hotels in Sudak
Hotels in Sevastopol
Hotels in Feodosia
One of the most frequently visited places in Crimea is the highest in these parts. Mount Ai Petri. In this article, I will tell you how to visit this wonderful place on your own and give you some important tips.
How to get to Ai Petri?
You can get to this attraction both by public transport and by car.
Alushta became my place of residence during a short vacation. How to get there from Alushta to Ai Petri on your own without a car and not by taxi I will tell you in more detail.
Almost all my travels started from the Alushta bus station.
Council number 1. Find out where the nearest bus station is, no matter what part of Crimea you are in. In the building of the bus station you can see information boards with bus schedules.
If you are staying in a small locality, then ask what trolleybuses and buses go through it, and what is the name of the stop.
In order to quickly find the time and place of departure of the nearest buses to one or another corner of the Crimea, you can use the services of Google and Yandex. You can rely on these services, but not always. Not all routes take tourists directly to certain attractions, so do not be afraid to check with the locals.
The first step is to get to Yalta You can do this both on trolleybuses No. 52 and No. 53, and on different buses. Bus tickets are purchased at the ticket office of the bus station.
Price a bus is slightly higher than a trolleybus, but does not exceed 50 rubles.
As for my trip, most often I got to Yalta by trolley bus number 52. This trolleybus runs directly from the bus station relatively often. Payment for travel on a trolley bus is carried out at the entrance to the driver.
Buses No. 102 and No. 107 run from the Yalta Bus Station to the Vorontsov Palace (another sight of Crimea). The beauty of the route of these buses is that you cover as many as three sights: at the beginning you pass the Swallow's Nest, then cable car to Mount Ai Petri, then to the Vorontsov Palace.
Just do not think that you can visit all of them at once in full. You can, of course, try, but it will be all running, and you will not enjoy the beautiful scenic views these places.
When you get on the bus, ask the driver or someone who knows the route well to tell you when the cable car will be.
Cableway to Mount Ai Petri
You will be offered to get to the place by taxi or even take a tour, starting from the Alushta bus station up to the mountain itself. Agree or not - it's up to you. In my case, I took the cable car up and down. You can go up, for example, by taxi, and go down by cable car or vice versa.
Opening hours of the cable car: from 10.00 to 17.00 - rise, and from 10.00 to 18.00 - descent.
Ticket price for September 2016 - 350 rubles one way. Tickets are checked half way.
If you are driving your own car, I don’t know if the fare will be paid. Unfortunately, there was no way to find out.
Next, you will rise in a slightly swaying booth filled with curious tourists who take pictures of the opening views.
Almost before the exit to the mountain, the cabin slows down and begins to rise vertically, while creating the feeling that you will crash into the mountain.
Overview of Mount Ai Petri
Before you had time to get out of the cabin (funicular), a wonderful view of the Crimean coast opens up! You can explore the surroundings with the help of binoculars (but again, this is for money).
Tours are constantly led to the mountain, so you can join one of the groups and listen to the stories of this place for free.
The advantage of a self-guided trip is that you can fully enjoy the view and take more good photos.
Also at the top of Mount Ai Petri there are many different shops where you can buy various goods and souvenirs.
For those who are hungry, there is always a place to eat. Prices are different, so you can find a suitable option and enjoy local food.
Before having a meal, I suggest walking to the highest point of the mountain and getting a full range of sensations.
To get to the very top Ai Petri You will have to pay another 100 rubles. I did not spare the money and went to conquer the summit further. Ahead of you will not be the easiest climb, so put on the right shoes in advance.
Enjoy the views of the mountainous surroundings.
Climbing along the forest paths to another observation platform, at the very edge of the cliff (behind the railing) you will find great places for a photo session. For those who are dizzy and their knees are trembling with fear, I do not recommend climbing over the railing so as not to take risks once again, because one mistake can cost a life.
Nothing stopped me and I took a few pictures.
For selfie lovers, this is a great opportunity to take some breathtaking shots, but BE CAREFUL if you dare!!!
Don't risk your life if it rained the day before. You can slip and fall.
Having reached the very top, you will see hanging bridges, fixed with many cables, which were visible even when leaving the funicular.
They go from the main mountain (rock) to a small peak, on which a Cross is erected in honor of the fallen climbers conquering the mountain.
Seekers of thrills and adrenaline recommend walking along these bridges swaying in the wind.
Price for this pleasure 500 rubles.
You will be given equipment, instructed, and you can start moving. Be careful if there is strong wind!
It was not enough for me, and I decided to go. After taking a couple of steps and being over the abyss, adrenaline began to slowly make itself felt.
After walking a little further, the feeling of fear left me, and stopping in the middle of the bridge, I decided to take a few photos. It didn’t take long to admire the bewitching view of the mountains, as there are a lot of tourists who want to walk along these bridges. From the peak of the rock I followed back to the very high point Ai Petri, 1234 meters above sea level with the Russian flag.
I was in no hurry to return back to the cable car, as you can take pictures here endlessly.
Back to Alushta, I got in the same way as I arrived.
This is where my journey ended. In the next article I will talk about my journey in .
Total costs:
The way to the road from Alushta (trolleybus + bus) is about 200 rubles there and back.
Ascent and descent by cable car 700 rubles, 350 one way.
Passage to the highest point - 100 rubles.
Adrenaline bridges - 500 rubles.
Only 1500 rubles. (September 2016)
Travel time
5 hours from Alushta to Ai Petri and back (2.5 hours one way). If you are traveling from Yalta, then deduct one hour for the journey from Alushta to Yalta and, accordingly, an hour back.
Advice:
Check the weather forecast (if it's cloudy, you won't see anything)
Take warm clothes (it is windy and cool upstairs even in hot weather)
Don't risk taking photos if it rained the day before.
Wear sneakers or other comfortable shoes that won't slip
Happy travels!!!
Mountains of stunning beauty surrounded the city of Big Yalta in the Crimea like an amphitheater.
The sharp white teeth of Ai-Petri, the main peaks of the Ai-Petri massif, are familiar from films loved since childhood and are one of the famous Crimean sights.
If possible, it is worth visiting Ai-Petri to see the surroundings from a height of 1234 m. How to get to Ai-Petri from Yalta, this article will tell.
mountain name
The famous one got its name because of the Byzantine temple, which the ancient Greeks erected on its top and dedicated to St. Peter. Ai-Petri Temple existed until the 15th century.
mountain legend
What mountain would do without a tragic legend of love?! Ai-Petri is no exception. In local folklore, there is a story about how in ancient times a guy and a girl fell in love, but their parents forbade them to even dream of a wedding. The lovers decided to commit suicide and climbed on high mountain. The guy jumped first, and the girl shouted: “Ay, Peter!”, But she was afraid to jump, returned home and was unhappy all her life.
A bit of geography
In the past, the oceanic coral reef, Ai-Petri, due to tectonic processes, rose to a height of 1234 m.
The mountain range stretches for 25 km from west to east, protecting Yalta from winds and bad weather. The total area of \u200b\u200byaila (the so-called Crimean table mountains) is 300 square meters. km, most of it is a mountain forest reserve.
Attractions of Ai-Petri in winter and summer
If you know how to get to Ai-Petri from Yalta, it is worth doing both in winter and in summer - the mountain deserves attention.
In summer, this is a wonderful observation deck where you can take unique photos. The surface of the plateau is covered with picturesque green meadows and forests, which are pleasant to walk on a hot day.
One of the favorite entertainments of vacationers is a walk along the adrenaline bridges, which are suspended from the main Ai-Petri plateau to the white limestone ledges at the top. Four teeth are separated from the plateau by a wide crack several tens of meters wide, the depth of the crevice is more than a thousand meters. A walk along the suspension bridge leaves an unforgettable experience.
In the warm season, it is interesting to walk along the plateau to the caves, there are about 300 of them on Ai-Petri. The most famous and equipped is Three-Eyes, where snow does not melt even in summer. An unforgettable adventure will be a hike to the Taraktash rocks, where the trail leads from the Uchan-Su waterfall.
In winter, people come to the Ai-Petri plateau to go skiing, snowmobiling, snowboarding. A dense snow cover appears on Ai-Petri in December and lies until March. For skiing on the gently sloping northern side of the plateau, ski slopes, their length is 120-1030 m. Ski lifts operate from 10 am to 3 pm.
What to consider when visiting
If you are going to conquer one of the Crimean peaks, you should take it seriously:
- Pick up shoes. No flip flops, no heels, no slippery soles.
- It is always windy on the mountain - it is better to grab a windbreaker or jacket.
- It is much cooler on Ai-Petri than in Yalta, so you need to warm up. Even in summer the temperature rarely rises above +15-18 °С. In winter, the plateau is covered with snow, the air temperature drops to -20 °C.
- In winter, you need to take spare shoes - there is usually a lot of snow on the plateau, the feet get wet quickly.
- When taking photos, it is worth remembering your safety and not approaching the very edge, from where a strong gust of wind can throw selfie lovers down. In addition, the rock is slippery.
- On holidays and weekends, long queues form at the lower station.
- Visiting Ai-Petri is a rather expensive pleasure, but there are no ATMs upstairs yet.
Whoever has never been to Ai-Petri has not seen Yalta!
From the top of the Ai-Petrinsky ridge, an amazing view of the Big Yalta opens up: you can see the snow-white building of the Swallow's Nest, rocks and forests. At 130 km away, you can look at the sea surface with boats and motor ships.
It is much easier to get to the Ai-Petri peak than to any other Crimean mountain.
Arriving in Yalta, how to get to Ai-Petri on your own? You can choose from several options:
- walking along forest paths;
- by cable car in the funicular cabin;
- along the highway.
Hiking ascent
When setting out on a journey, you need to understand that climbing a mountain with a height of 1234 m is not a simple walk in the park, it requires physical fitness and appropriate equipment. Fans know how to get to Mount Ai-Petri from Yalta hiking who trodden paths to the plateau. Each has its own name:
- Miskhorskaya;
- Taraktashskaya;
- Botkinskaya;
- Koreizskaya.
Hiking takes 2 to 7 hours. It should be taken into account that there are no shops in the mountain forest reserve, so you need to take water and food with you. Another difficulty awaiting travelers is the lack of clear marking of the tracks.
If you really want to climb Ai-Petri (Crimea) on foot, how to get from Yalta to the foot? There are several options:
- you can take bus number 30 from the bus station to the Vodopad stop and climb along Botkinskaya or;
- along the South Coast highway by buses No. 107, 128, 142 to the fork near Koreiz to climb the Koreiz trail;
- by buses No. 107, 128, 142 to the fork in Miskhor.
Bicycle lift
Fans of cycling will also enjoy visiting Ai-Petri. There is a little trick here: it is better to go up on the cable car, and go down on your own.
In addition, you can ride a bike from Ai-Petri not in the direction of Yalta, but in the direction of the Grand Canyon and drive to Bakhchisaray along beautiful mountain roads.
Caution: mountain road! To the top by car
You can drive to the top of Ai-Petri by car from Bakhchisaray and Yalta. The Bakhchisaray road is in poor condition, in winter the road is often covered with snow, and you have to wait until it is cleared. It can only be driven by a four-wheel drive vehicle.
How to get from Yalta to Ai-Petri by car?
- Drive along the Yuzhnoberezhnoye Highway, connecting Yalta and Sevastopol, until the turn to Vinogradnoye and turn right following the sign. In Vinogradnoye, by the way, there is a theater of marine animals, and in summer dolphins, whales, seals, fur seals and walruses perform in the open air.
- Through Vinogradnoye move along the mountain serpentine.
- The length of the route from Yalta to Ai-Petri will be 30 km. The journey will take about an hour.
Mountain narrow serpentine is quite dangerous and requires increased attention from the driver. On the way Yalta - Ai-Petri there are almost 300 turns, and many of them are closed.
Going to the top of the Crimean visiting card, you can make several stops:
- near the Wuchang-Su waterfall - a waterfall with beautiful name"flying water" falls from a height of almost 100 m;
- near the "Drunken Grove", where trees grow at an angle;
- at mountain lake Karagol;
- on the observation deck "Silver Arbor".
If it’s scary to climb by car on your own, you can get to the lower station of the cable car on Ai-Petri (Yalta). How to get here by car:
- leave Yalta on the South coast highway towards Sevastopol;
- drive 14-15 km along it;
- turn left at the fork near the large concrete sign "Sevastopol - Yalta";
- go down the road SO-11806, winding in a serpentine, down for about 5 km.
You can leave your car in a small parking lot.
cable car
There is no easier and more comfortable option, how to get to Ai-Petri from Yalta by cable car. This unique engineering structure, built in 1967, is an interesting attraction in itself:
- The Yalta cable car is the longest in Europe, its length is almost 3 thousand meters.
- The construction was created according to the unsupported principle - a span of 1670 m in length has no supports.
- near the mountain, the angle of elevation of the cabin is almost 50°.
Four spacious cabins, in which even bicycles can be transported, are designed for 30 people each. They move on the principle of a pendulum - towards each other.
Consists of 3 stations:
- lower in Miskhor;
- medium in Sosnovy Bor;
- the upper one is on the Ai-Petri plateau.
At the middle station, a transfer is made, tickets are checked. The whole journey takes approximately 17 minutes.
The cable car operates seven days a week in the following mode:
- from 11:00 to 15:00 - rise;
- from 11:00 to 16:00 - descent.
In 2017, tickets cost 400 rubles. adult, 250 rubles. child from 6 years old.
From Yalta to Ai-Petri by bus
Tourists who come for a couple of days want to quickly and easily get to the top of the famous Crimean mountain.
How to get to Ai-Petri from Yalta with minimal independent movement? The answer is simple: find one that will directly go to the top of the mountain. These minibuses are not on the schedule, they do not pass technical inspection, being the property of the driver. If you want to take a risk, you can go on it. You can find transport by the cries of drivers inviting tourists to Ai-Petri. The cost is discussed on the spot.
If you choose a safe option, then how to get from Yalta to Ai-Petri from the bus station? You need to take buses No. 102, 107 or from bus No. 132 to the lower station "Miskhor" of the cable car and take the funicular to the top of Ai-Petri.
Unforgettable impressions and a lot of fun are guaranteed!
Our vacation in the Crimea has been going on for three weeks, it's time to pack up and visit Yalta. I've heard a lot about this city, but I've never been there before. We decide to change the situation and go at least for 3 days, as a result we get 3 nights and 4 days.
Since we have few days, but I want to see a lot, I prepare in advance. With the help of the Internet, I study the main sights of Yalta. I get acquainted with the advice of experienced tourists and guides.
And of course, Mount Ai Petri is mentioned everywhere. I read, look at photos and understand this tour is not for me. I'm terribly afraid of heights. Ascent and descent by cable car, for me it's not a rest, but solid nerves.
Literally before the trip, talking with a friend. I know that 15 years ago she was in Yalta and climbed the cable car to Ai Petri. I'm casually wondering:
Fearfully?
It's not scary - she answers, adding - in Krasnaya Polyana, in Sochi, it's worse.
Here's where I'm thinking. I was in Krasnaya Polyana, climbed, I remember my fear, but I survived, but what a beauty there.
And on the very first day of our stay in Yalta, after visiting the Fairy Tale Glade. We set off to look for the beginning of the ascent to Mount Ai-Petri. I can’t explain how I decided to do this, curiosity is to blame for everything.
Cableway to Ai Petri how to get there? We are looking for a long time, there are no signs on the road. We are trying to find it on the Internet, we have swept to 3 addresses, where we just don’t come. :) We go to the official website of the cable car. We need to look for the Lower Station. If you follow exactly as described on the site and start from the point “By car from the YUBSH, we turn down to Miskhor, next to the TES gas station”, then you will quickly be there. The description does not help us, we are lost and do not quite understand where the main road is, where the big intersection is, where the Tes gas station is. The official website has GPS coordinates of the lower station: 34.070, 44.425, we hammer them into the navigator. Do you know what he finds for us? He offers us a ride to Iraq. It's not fun anymore. My husband makes one last attempt and drives in these coordinates on the contrary without spaces 44.425, 34.070 and lo and behold, the navigator builds the route. We go, there is nothing, not hoping, and we arrive where we need to go.
Parking near the lower station of the cable car is paid, in May 2017 we are charged 200 rubles, while the time is not limited (in Yalta the price is everywhere, wherever we leave the car). As soon as we got out of the car, a young man comes up to us and politely tells us how we can get to Ai-Petri. We were offered to climb Ai-Petri by car, with a visit to the waterfall, turtle lake, observation deck, and go down to the car by cable car. The price is the same, 350 rubles. - lifting by car, and 350 rubles. - One-way cable car ride. We agree right away, I want to see both the waterfall and the lake, but, to be honest, I’m not drawn to the cable car.
And then they take us in an old car. We practically return to Yalta along the YUBSh and begin our ascent. The road to Ai Petri is about 22 km long. The first few turns... and I start to worry about my youngest daughter, she often gets sick in the car. The car is so tough and the road is so broken that my worries are in vain, everything is going great.
We stop at the waterfall on the way to Ai Petri. We walked, looked, a beautiful sight. Uchan-Su or Flying Water is the highest waterfall in the Crimea. Streams of water break down from a height of 98 meters. We were lucky to see the waterfall in all its glory.
We return to the car, while waiting for the others, we talked with the driver.
80 I think is too much, but since I didn’t hear the first digit, I ask again.
He answers again.
180, wow. A fellow traveler who sits next clarifies:
When lifting 280 turns, 18 of them are 180 degrees.
How much is 280? Is that really true? Although everything is possible. If you look at the map, the road to Ai Petri wags like a snake.
And here we are again on the road, left, right, left, right, I hope we have already passed half. The kids are doing well and having fun. Feeling good, lucky that the car is tough. Shaking, jumping up, down, in different directions.
Stop - turtle lake. Before leaving the car, we check with the driver skeptically.
Are there turtles there?
He smiles again - we are not the first and not the last to ask him such questions.
Yes, he nods.
It looks like an ordinary lake, if we went ourselves, we drove.
We walked 10 meters ... turtle, one, two. They swim.
You can’t drag children away, but what about children, adults. This is the first time I see turtles in the wild. After walking along the lake, we return to the car. Let's go further.
Our next stop is at the observation deck, the view from above to Yalta. Among the pines, a fabulously beautiful view of the mountain peaks, overgrown with forests, the sky with bizarre fairy-tale clouds, the sea leaving the horizon opens up.
We take pictures, breathe the mountain air and continue on our way.
Only 5 kilometers left. But what, just most likely these 18 turns by 180 degrees. The road changes the forest massif is replaced by rocks. Rock on one side, cliff on the other. The road is narrow, two cars pass with difficulty. The driver did a good job - he stopped where he needed, the view is breathtaking (you won’t see it in your car, because you need to know where to stop and how to park the car, then we couldn’t repeat it in our car).
When you are already thinking, everyone is tired of these chattering and shaking, stop, I’ll go on foot. By the way, we saw such pedestrians, someone can not stand it, people are walking, the car is following them.
And when it's all, the forces are running out - the top. More like a plain. Fields, forests, people, houses - we arrived. Hooray! The road to Ai Petri by car takes about an hour of our time.
We were lucky, sunny, windless, not a single cloud. The air temperature is the same as below. Mid-May, we don’t wear T-shirts, jackets and windbreakers, we carry them with us in a bag. On the mountain they offer many excursions by car, on horseback, on foot. All you want, as they say, would be money and desire. :) In order to go through and see everything, a day is not enough. Since we are with small children, the road pretty much exhausted everyone, we decide to just relax and go down. We go to the observation deck. The height is 1200 meters, below Yalta, Mihor, the sea…
The heart freezes. I see a cable car to Ai Petri, a trailer hanging over an abyss.
And I understand that I will not enter it. Panic begins, to hysteria inside me. I tell this to my husband. The eldest daughter rejoices that now we will go down, we will ride on the trailer, the youngest rejoices with her. What to do? Descent by car is also not an option, I feel sorry for myself and the children. I call a friend and say that I'm terribly afraid. To which she advises to calm down and not to frighten the children. And just enter, close your eyes and go down.
So I do, I go in, but I don’t close my eyes, but open them wide. And I stand at the very beginning of the trailer. As they say, beauty will save the world, admiration from what he sees takes up over fear. How beautiful it is.
I walk along the trailer from one window to another and admiringly look around. It's unforgettable.
There were ten people in the trailer with us, so it was possible to see from all windows.
Still, rest in the Crimea in May has its undeniable advantages - this is a good time for excursions, there are few vacationers, there are no queues.
The descent lasted no more than 10-15 minutes, I can’t say for sure, I didn’t spot it. I manage to take a few pictures. Most importantly, the children are delighted. I read in some article or review that the tour is not for the faint of heart, and if you are afraid of heights, then this is definitely not for you. I refute these words, for us! Take the first step, you won't regret it! Tested on my own experience!
Ai-Petri is the most popular mountain in the Crimea and is considered one of the visiting cards of the Crimea.
If you climb to the top of Ai-Petri, then from above you will see a view of Big Yalta and the endless expanses of the sea. For those who do not want to climb mountains, there is a good offer: rest in boarding houses and sanatoriums of the Crimea with a view of the majestic Ai-Petrinsky teeth.
Photo of Ai-Petri:
It is interesting:
- 1234 meters - the height of the array;
- 1052 mm of precipitation falls on the plateau per year. This is one and a half times more than in Yalta;
- 50 m / s - with such force the winds blow on the plateau;
- 40-50 m - the height of each of the four large teeth.
Ai-Petri: historical excursion
The mountain got its name "Saint Peter" from the ancient Greeks. At the top was a monastery. Very much loved in the old days to put temples in hard-to-reach places. Scientists have proved that the origin of the Ai-Petri mountain range is a typical coral reef. Millennia passed, as a result of the weathering of rocks, the famous teeth formed. The top of one is crowned with a flagpole, on the other, after the filming of the film "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 the work in the field of natural sciences: soil science, biology, astrophysics.
Options for exploring Ai-Petri
The Ai-Petrinsky plateau stretches in a long strip between Yalta and Foros. The mountain range is distinguished by an unusual structure of peaks: the sharpness of their teeth stand out among the rest of the peninsula. The place is unique and picturesque. Each vacationer can choose his own way of exploring the plateau. What do you prefer: to admire the beauty of the Crimean mountains from the sea, to climb the funicular or to reach the peaks on your own? Each of the ways finds its admirers.
- Peaks appear in all their glory during a trip along the Yalta-Alushta highway. Staying in Miskhor or Koreiz, you can rent an accommodation with a view of the mountains and admire the battlements from the window or from the veranda.
- In the picturesque village of Miskhor, a cable car begins that will take you to the very Ai-Petrinsky teeth. From a height of just under a hundred meters above sea level, the first leg of the way up 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 with a length of 1,670 meters. The journey takes 15 minutes. The spirit is captivating! The views of the coast from Gurzuf to Foros are enchanting.
- Real tourists climb the plateau on foot. Well-marked hiking trails lead up from the village of Miskhor. Self-ascent takes from 2 to 4 hours. Negligent vacationers locals offer to climb up in jeeps for a moderate fee.
Note:
in the northeast of the battlements, you can walk along the relic yew grove. The oldest tree, the yew, is over 1,000 years old. A real giant!
Video review:
Opening hours of the cable car
The cable car starts working at 10 a.m. daily. Until 16-00 tourists can go upstairs, the descent is organized until 17-00. One booth, more like a tram car, can accommodate up to 30 people at the same time. It should be borne in mind that it is better to come in the first half of the day, there are always a lot of people who want to go upstairs.
Ticket price:
- adult - 350 rubles;
- preferential and children's - 250 rubles. During the period of a large influx of tourists, prices may be increased.
Advice from seasoned travelers:
even in the summer on Ai-Petri, take warm clothes, a windbreaker, pants, sneakers. The winds above are very strong.
Entertainment and recreation
On the plateau there are a large number of equipped cafes and places for recreation. Visitors are offered dishes of the Crimean Tatar cuisine: belyashi, shish kebabs, shurpa, ochpochmak.
There are comfortable viewing platforms for photo shoots and selfies. The best shots are taken on a walkway in front of one of the large battlements.
Those who wish are offered horseback riding and jeep riding. Professional guides are ready to take a tour of the surroundings, tell interesting stories about Ai-Petri.
There are also more extreme activities. For lovers of adrenaline, an attraction is organized at the top: with the help of insurance, walk along a suspension bridge over the abyss between the teeth!
Speleologists climb the plateau to visit the caves. There are three of them in the vicinity: Yalta, Geophysicists, Trekhglazka. The latter was so named, thanks to the three holes-entrances. Inside tourists expect giant calcite outgrowths, stalactites and stalagmites, an ice rink and a huge snowdrift. Even on the hottest July days, the temperature in the caves is kept 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 on the bus route number 27 or 32 to the stop "Cable Road".
On their own car from Yalta they go 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