Plateau Lagonaki - Alpine meadows of the Caucasus

And do you know that we also have alpine meadows in our homeland that are not inferior in their beauty to the slopes of the Tyrol or Cervinia? The continuous sea of flowers and fragrant grasses stretches at an altitude of about two thousand meters in the Western Caucasus, between the Krasnodar Territory and the Republic of Adygea. This plateau Lagonaki. Photos of this wonderful place worthy of decorating wall calendars, covers of travel magazines and background screensavers of computers. Well, what about rest on this high plateau? This is a place for everyone who is attracted to an active lifestyle. Horseback riding, ski runs, quad biking and mountain biking rallies , trekking, rock climbing, speleology and rafting on rough rivers - all this you will find here in abundance. Rest in Lagonaki is not associated with the Spartan living conditions. On the hill there are both ski resorts and tourist centers.

Where the Lagonaki Plateau is located

Administrative territory of this former pasture, and now - the Caucasian biosphere reserve, almost all belongs to the Maikop region of Adygea. Only the northern part of the plateau (up to the Kurdjips River) and the western slopes of Mount Meso are included in the Krasnodar Territory, Absheron District. From all sides alpine meadows are surrounded by mountain peaks. From the east of its border delineates the ridge of the Stone Sea - a bizarre pile of rocks. In the west stands Mount Meso. All significant peaks surround the plateau from the south: Fisht (2854 m), Oshten (2804 m) and Psheha-Su (2743.8 m). Their shining peaks in clear weather can be seen even from Krasnodar. The mountains can be perfectly observed from Sochi. But with Lagonaki these peaks do not seem so unattainable. After all, the plateau itself lies at an altitude of 2,200 meters above sea level.

How to get there?

A bad, difficult and long road is the only minus of rest on the Lagonaki plateau. The map shows that the numerous stone seas and deep steep canyons with rushing rivers make it difficult. By train you can get to Belorechensk only. Then you can take the bus going towards Armavir, and get off at the turn, where there will be a road sign to "Lago Naki". Well, and then - just passing by, and the asphalt is soon coming to an end, and the road becomes difficult to pass (especially in winter) because of the large slope. Particularly dangerous is the site near the cave "Bolshaya Azishskaya". But there is also a more convenient road from Maikop. We must pass Hadzhokh and the village of Dakhovskaya. Next, a serpentine begins with excellent viewing platforms along the sides. Entry to the territory of the Caucasian Reserve is paid.

Where to stay

Vacation on the plateau of Lagonaki is a holiday with a capital letter. Among the flower-grassy sea, surrounded by mountain peaks and glaciers, hotels of all levels rise from modest shelters and tourist bases to comfortable hotel centers. The record holder for "star rating" is the "Azish-Tau" complex. Here you can hire a professional instructor to teach riding or mountain skiing, a guide to the mountains, an elder in rafting along the rivers Pshekha and Belaya. Spotivno-tourist hotel "Star Valley" takes lovers of outdoor activities. Especially a lot on the plateaus of camp sites. Alpika, Mountain Kuban, Lago-Naki, Tender Glade, Fir Forest, Edelweiss, Silver Key - some names sound like a song.

Climate

Despite the considerable height on which the Lagonaki plateau is located, the winters here are mild. Even in January there are long thaws, and the average temperature in January is +4 degrees. This is due to the fact that in winter warm winds from the Black Sea are blowing here. But summer pleases tourists with light freshness. Plus eighteen to twenty degrees under the cloudless sky - the best temperature to go on a mountain trip. The snow cover covers Alpine meadows from the end of November. And spring fully comes into its own right from the second half of April. But the icy air masses stagnant at the mountain peaks can suddenly fall on the plateau of Lagonaki. The weather is very variable in May and September. In these months, even snowstorms are not uncommon.

Tourism

Fans of thrill are given a particularly wide range of entertainment. On quad bikes, bicycles, on horseback, on foot - many routes run along the plateau. You can also soar in the ascending air streams on a para- or hang-glider. There is no less developed speleoturism and rafting. On the plateau of Lagonaki there are about 125 caves. The most beautiful of them are available for visiting. Magnificent stone halls, decorated with stalactites and stalagmites, underground waterfalls and lakes - all this can be seen in the caves "Nezhnaya" and "Bolshaya Azishskaya". Fans of mountain trekking are attracted by glaciers on the mountains of Pshehasu and Fisht. Instructors and equipment for rafting can be ordered to safely raft down the Belaya River. Well, for those who like a quiet rest and unity with nature, light one-day hikes-walks along the slopes of the mountains will do. Here you can observe how the altitude zonality changes: the cherry tomatoes give way to rhododendrons, juniper and grassy meadows ...