Greetings! Not all drivers decide to climb the Ai-Petri plateau by car, there are those for whom the trip becomes entertainment. Undoubtedly, the route is memorable and picturesque - the higher you go, the more you admire the panorama of the southern coast of Crimea.
I have received many questions about the situation on Ai-Petri in the 2020 season. It seems that the Crimean people spent the winter so well on Maslenitsa that it left the peninsula for a long time and was noted only on a few mountain peaks. I decided to collect all the available information on social networks and add it to this article. It's about entertainment on the plateau, prices and road conditions.
Dear Readers! The article was written a long time ago, but it is still in demand, so I constantly update it and provide the latest information. (Used personal pictures and photos from social networks for 2020). Updated 01.20.
Road to Ai-Petri
You can climb Ai-Petri in four ways: on foot, by your own car, by cable car or with carriers. Each option has its pros and cons, but at least one must be used. There are schemes for walking routes on the Web.
In January 2019, the Ai-Petri plateau was the most popular place for outdoor activities. Hundreds of tourists posted their pictures in social networks from the snow-covered mountain: some on a sled, some on skis, and some in a kilometer-long traffic jam. On New Year's holidays, the movement was paralyzed, there were cranks who climbed on summer tires (they had to be pulled out).
photo from the group VK "Weather on Ai-Petri".
Dear, before traveling in winter, check the weather conditions on the Web! If you don't care about yourself, think about children! Rescue services cannot reach some areas.
Count on the possibilities of your car: 4x4, spikes or chains, a full tank. Up-to-date information ingroup in VKontakte "Weather on Ai-Petri".
The mountain serpentine leading to the plateau is the longest and most winding in the Crimea. Depending on weather conditions, some sections or the entire road may be closed, as warned by a sign at the beginning of the path or guards. There are landslides, landslides and avalanches here.
Since 2019, the road to Ai-Petri has been served by the Krymavtodor enterprise. To ensure road safety in winter, the road is cleared of snow and sprinkled with a sand-salt mixture.
On January 4, 2019, 6 avalanches descended, the transport itself could not get out, they called heavy equipment and augers to punch to the stuck people. Avalanches covered a lot of vehicles.
Previously, there was an unspoken rule for visiting Ai-Petri: ascent to the plateau along a narrow serpentine until 12 noon, descent - after 12 noon. Now autotourists ignore this rule and create problems for themselves, others and rescue services.
The T 0117 road leads to the Ai-Petri plateau, and then along the northern slope, through the Grand Canyon of Crimea, to the Bakhchisarai district. The second name is the old Yalta highway. On the way there are springs, interesting rocks and the most famous waterfalls of Crimea: (on the southern slope) and Silver Streams (on the northern slope). From the side of Bakhchisarai, from Sokoliniy the road (January 2020) to Ai-Petri is much worse, there are many holes.
We can say with all confidence that the road to Ai-Petri is one of the most dangerous roads in Crimea, so tired drivers and beginners have nothing to do there!
You can climb Ai-Petri by cable car or by transport that carries out transportation.The list of carriers on the Ai-Petri plateau is here:
https://vk.com/ai.petri?w=page-1728944_54122784Since August 2019, Yaltagortrans Municipal Unitary Enterprise has been carrying out transportation (in the warm season) from Miskhor and the Yalta bus station to the Ai-Petri plateau by a licensed taxi. One way trip price - 450 rubles. per person.
“Taxis will be dispatched as soon as they are loaded from the points of sale of season tickets. In the area of the Ai-Petri plateau, dispatching and boarding of passengers will be carried out. In the future, the directions and types of transportation by licensed taxis will expand. "
For those who do not know what the serpentine looks like on the Ai-Petri route map.
What to do on Ai-Petri in snowy weather
In January 2020, there is much less snow, but there are enough people who want to get into the winter atmosphere.
From January 20, 2020, the cable car will be closed for annual scheduled maintenance. The last day of work is January 19. It is planned that the cable car will resume operation in the spring.
For lovers of hiking routes, ascents are organized. For example, a 5 km route starts on the Koreiz trail (44.440463, 34.08323), past the Baba-Ali-Tekne spring (44.455722, 34.070383) with a transition to the Miskhor trail and ends at the upper station of the cable car. The scenic trail will take you from autumn to winter and be impressed by the picturesque landscapes.
For fans of extreme sports, the company "Ai-Petri tour" organizes individual jeep tours with a visit to the Trout farm "Forelevo" (look for the official website on the Web), where there is a Russian wood-fired sauna, there is an opportunity to fish and taste delicious dishes from freshly caught Crimean trout ...
Map of ski slopes on Ai-Petri.
Lift prices for 26 km in January 2020:
- small - 500 rubles.
- on the big one - 1000 rubles.
- set of skis - from 500 rubles.
- board - from 500 rubles.
- large cheesecake (snow tube) - 600 rubles
- standard cheesecake - 500 rubles
They ask for a document as a deposit. The lift starts working at 10 am.
Important! Message from GKU RK "KRYM-SPAS":
REFERRING TO RESCUE WARNINGS, TOURISTS CONTINUE TO DISSOLVE SAFETY RULES WHEN RIDING A SNOWTUBE
The Minister of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Crimea Sergey Shakhov informed that the tourists, despite the warnings of the rescuers, continue to neglect the safety rules when riding a snowtube, getting various injuries. Over the weekend, rescuers on patrol on the Ai-Petri plateau assisted 4 tourists who were injured while riding snowtubes.
Away from the lift, local chefs prepare pilaf, kebabs and shurpa for sale. You can bring your own food and have a picnic by renting a gazebo with barbecue. The rental price is 1500 rubles. for a day.
The longest snow lies on the northern slopes of the plateau, usually it lasts until March-April.
View from the side of the meteorological station. Silence and pacification…. In the distance, the Ai-Petri teeth are clearly visible, it is there that the upper station of the cable car is located, the highest point is 1234 m. And the Trekhglazka cave.
From the observation deck, a clear space opened up - a turquoise sky with glimpses of azure, immersed in the sea surface of the Black Sea. Evergreen shrubs and trees surround Alupka and Koreiz with their thickets.
All around neglect and chaos. Private houses, sheds, cafes, shalmans, construction sites. After 15 minutes you forget what kind of goblin you got here.
"Highlanders" do not want to ennoble the territory because of unresolved land issues. Environmentalists are sounding the alarm and calling for an end to economic activities on the territory of Ai-Petri, to limit the capacity for the development of eco-tourism. They just realized it too late: many entrepreneurs have been working here for more than a dozen years. The circle has closed and now all hope is for the new government, which will make a rational decision so that "the wolves are fed and the sheep are safe" ...
Due to the peculiarity of the relief, Ai-Petri is called yayla - a summer pasture. Since ancient times, settlements have been built on the plateau, but the biggest "contribution" was made by nomo sapiens.
Perhaps the only object that is in its place is a monument to the Crimean partisans of the Great Patriotic War, who died in battle in December 1941.
The road to Ai-Petri was of great importance during the Second World War. It was along it that the Nazis transferred troops and equipment towards Sevastopol. The partisans managed to blow up a section of the road and prevent the enemy plans from coming true, but they all died in an unequal battle.
At the cost of incredible efforts, the soldiers were able to protect their land, their memory must be passed on from generation to generation, and not disappear under the scaffolding ...
Approximately 35 km from the top of Ai-Petri, there is a parking lot and a hiking trail to the Grand Canyon of Crimea. I have already talked about this route in my report.
What happens at Ai-Petri in January 2020.
There is a rivalry between the "highlanders" and the owners of the cable car for their client. Time will tell how events will develop. The article will be updated.
Thank you for attention!
Mount Ai-Petri is one of the most popular places in Crimea and one of its visiting cards. As well as the famous cable car "Miskhor - Ai-Petri", which makes visiting the mountain easily accessible. The name of the mountain has Greek roots and means "Saint Peter". The height of Mount Ai-Petri at 1234 m will give you the opportunity to enjoy excellent panoramas and feel the difference between subtropical and mountainous climates.
How to get to Ai-Petri
Mount Ai-Petri is one of the peaks of the Ai-Petrinskaya yayla, located above the city of Alupka and the urban-type settlement Koreiz (Mishor is not a separate settlement, but is included in Koreiz).
Cable car to Ai-Petri
The official name of the cable car on Ai-Petri is "Miskhor - Ai-Petri". The cable car can be considered a separate attraction. Opening hours from 9:00 to 17:00 on the rise and until 18:00 on the descent. Without a break and days off. Only in spring it is closed for maintenance work. Current prices and news can be viewed on the official website of the cable car "Mishor - Ai-Petri".
The cable car consists of three stations: "Miskhor" (located at an altitude of 86 m above sea level) - the lower station, "Sosnovy Bor" (304 m) - the middle station of the transfer and the upper station "Ai-Petri" (1152 m).
The cable car journey starts from the Miskhor lower station. 
The name is from the village of the same name Miskhor, which is now not independent and is included in the urban-type settlement Koreiz. Now Koreiz, Gaspra, Alupka, Semeiz are located so tightly to each other that it is difficult to visually distinguish one from the other. And all of them, by the way, are part of the Yalta urban district. Therefore, when we left Alupka, it was not clear whether we left it and entered Koreiz, there was a feeling of a single settlement. It's time to answer the question:
How to get to the cable car "Miskhor - Ai-Petri"
- By car. From the Yuzhnoberezhnoe highway, it is necessary near the concrete sign "72. Sevastopol. Yalta." and the petrol station turn towards Koreiz (Miskhor) on the branch of the road to the Sevastopol highway. Further along the ring we go to Koreizskoe highway, and from it - to Alupkinskoe highway. After driving a little, you will see the stand "Mishor - Ai-Petri Cable Car". There is a paid parking lot right next to the lower Miskhor station. Maybe we could park the car on the side of the road, but the road there is very narrow and we were scared.
- By public transport. The bus stop "Kanatnaya doroga" is located directly at the lower station "Miskhor" and belongs to Koreiz. Buses of routes No. 102 (Yalta Bus Station - Vorontsovsky Park Alupka) and No. 132 (Clothes Market of Yalta - Vorontsovsky Palace Alupka) stop there. Movement intervals: 15-30 min.
The length of the cable car is 2980 m. The distance between the lower station "Miskhor" and the middle station "Sosnovy Bor" is 1310 m. But the distance between the middle station and the upper "Ai-Petri" is already 1670 m, and there is not a single support tower. There is often information that this is the longest unsupported flight in Europe, listed in the Guinness Book of Records. There is also information (Wikipedia) that there is a cable car Reiteralpe which overtakes the cable car "Miskhor - Ai-Petri" for this indicator. At the expense of the Guinness Book of Records, it was not possible to verify the information for certain, but the Reiteralpe cable car really exists and it is located in Germany in the village of Oberjettenberg. The length of the Reiteralpe cable car is 2100 m, and the length of its unsupported span is 1980 m, and it was put into operation in 1965.
While the cable car "Miskhor - Ai-Petri" was just beginning to be built in 1967, in 1987 the first passengers were the admissions committee, and it was commissioned only in 1988. It turns out that at the time when the cable car was built in Crimea, Reiteralpe was already in Germany. Another thing is that the Reiteralpe cable car is used by the technical center of the Bundeswehr, it is a military-technical facility, therefore, I am not sure that ordinary tourists will be able to ride this cable car. Its little-knownness is probably connected with this. Accordingly, it can be said unequivocally that the cable car in Crimea "Miskhor - Ai-Petri" really has one of the longest unsupported spans in Europe and certainly in first place in this indicator from the public. 
We arrived at the lower station at 14:00 and went to boarding rather quickly, but sometimes there are long queues, especially during the season. The rise takes an average of 15 minutes. At the Sosnovy Bor station, we change to the next booth. From here, the operators operate the cable car.
Pendulum cable car, 4 cabins run in antiphase. The angle of elevation of the cabin near the mountain is 46 degrees. And this is one of the most exciting moments when the cabin slows down and comes close to the mountain wall. 
The path to the rocks "Zubtsy"
After leaving the upper station, without hesitation, we went to the main attractions, to the top and to the rocks "Zubtsy". 
On the way, there is another attraction - the Steven maple. This tree is about 250 years old. These trees are endemic to Crimea, that is, they are found only on the territory of the southern coast of Crimea. This species was discovered by Steven Christian Christianovich, a Russian botanist of Swedish origin, the first director of the Nikitinsky Botanical Garden. 
It is not far to the top, only 500 m, periodically encouraging signs come across. 
We leave to the top. 
Suspension bridges on the rock "Zubtsy"
The most famous symbol of Ai-Petri is the Zubtsy rocks. This group of rocks 60-80 meters high is an ancient reef. The rocks are formed by the weathering of unstable limestone rocks. 
Suspension bridges are made to one of the rocks in the summer, over which you can walk with insurance. Naturally, this entertainment is paid - 500 rubles. In winter, suspension bridges are removed, they can simply be blown off by a gust of wind. Mount Ai-Petri is famous for its strong, gusty winds and is the most windy in Crimea. The maximum recorded speed is 50 m / s. 
In addition, for lovers of air procedures and adventures on the top of Ai-Petri, a troll track is organized. 
The top of Mount Ai-Petri
The height of the Ai-Petri mountain is 1234 m, and it is not the highest mountain of the Ai-Petri yayla. The highest is Mount Roca (1346 m). 
And of course, the most important thing why everyone climbs Mount Ai-Petri is magnificent panoramas and views. 
And the big plus of Ai-Petri is that you do not need to have the skills of a climber or go on a long and difficult hike for everyone, or even take an expensive excursion with an off-road vehicle (horses) to be at such a height with such beauties. Mount Ai-Petri is available to everyone. Of course, this has its own peculiarities: the attendance of Ai-Petri is very high. But without this there is no way: either one or the other. Whoever was inspired by the high-rise beauties can visit other peaks of the Crimea. For example, a peak with a height of 1239 m, which we also visited as part of a short hike. 
Some photographs can already be called historical. They were made in early October 2016. The area near the upper station is cleared of shopping arcades and numerous cafes; how it will be arranged in the future - time will show. We hope that it is beautiful and reasonable in terms of preserving natural objects. They also deliberately did not write about the cost of walking the path to the battlements. This trail is included in the list of objects of the Yalta Mountain-Forest Natural Reserve. Previously, the passage was paid, as it will be organized in the future, time will also show.
Ai-Petrinskaya Yaila
Turning back, we will see the panorama of the Ai-Petrinskaya yayla. 
The area of the Ai-Petrinskaya Yayla is about 300 km2. The climate differs sharply from the subtropical climate of Yalta. When climbing the Ai-Petri, you need to take this into account, the temperature can be 6-10 degrees lower than by the sea, you must take appropriate clothes with you. Winters are full here, snowy and frosts down to -25. Accordingly, this is one of the few places in Crimea where skiing, snowboarding and other things are possible. The ski complex is located not far from the radio engineering battalion, which is impossible not to notice, these are white balls that look like an observatory.
Since Mount Ai-Petri is composed of limestones, a strong karsting process is widespread. Simply put, there are many caves and sinkholes on Ai-Petri. One kilometer from the summit, and even closer from the parking lot, there are three caves equipped for visiting: Yalta, Geofizicheskaya and Trekhglazka. If you have time, we advise you to visit them. We were in a hurry, we decided to visit them next time, since this time we were going to the caves and located on the Chatyr-Dag plateau. But to visit them, you need to go on a separate excursion, and the three mentioned above are nearby, this is their undoubted plus. And for the first acquaintance with the cave beauty will come in handy.
Ai-Petrinskaya yayla is rich in natural and historical sights, and, in an amicable way, requires a separate study and inspection. Our walk ends here. We also went down on the cable car, although it was possible to go down the serpentine and see a few more sights along the way. This, by the way, is a great option if there is a long queue for the cable car, and it has already finished its work (by 18:00).
If you ask Russians what they associate Crimea with, many will first of all answer - Ai-Petri. I myself adore this mountain and in many respects associate Crimea with it and with its plateau. This attraction has become the invariable cover of all tours to Crimea and rightfully tops many must visit lists. The Ai-Petri teeth attract the eyes with their rare beauty and irresistibly beckon to themselves. I myself can constantly stare at the mountain, since it can be seen from almost anywhere in Yalta.
The first time I visited the mountain in a snowy winter and immediately fell in love with it, because it is simply impossible to treat it differently!
If you look directly at the mountains when you drive along the South Coast Highway from Yalta towards Sevastopol, or look back when you lie on the beaches of Yalta, you will see three towering cliffs in the form of battlements. This is the top of the famous Ai-Petri.
Ai-Petri is so popular that tourists consider it the highest point of Crimea. But this is a misconception. The highest point is Mount Roman-Kosh (1547 m.) The height of Ai-Petri is 1234 m. Even this figure is very symbolic and only adds to the sights even more rating.
Legends
As usual in places with high tourist traffic, there are a lot of romantic legends about him. But, as always, there is one true and rational explanation: Ai-Petri in translation from Greek means "Saint Peter": on the mountain there was a monastery of the Saint, built by the ancient Greeks. The remains of its ruins have survived to this day.
Romantic legends were invented by a young man named Petya, who threw himself off the Ai-Petrinsky rocks due to the fact that his parents did not approve of his choice of the bride, who in turn exclaimed “Ai, Peter!”, Seeing how his beloved crashed on the rocks.
They also talk about another Peter, who managed to conquer the strong wind that invariably rages on Ai-Petri, holding his shirt in the wind and flying on it, thereby inventing seaworthy sails, which greatly facilitated the life of Greek sailors, for which he was canonized by them.
Weather
Ai-Petri is considered the windiest place in Crimea. Both in winter and in summer there are long and powerful winds. Well, as you know, in the mountains the weather is very changeable, it can suddenly rain or snow, and then there is not a cloud in the sky and the sun is hot. Therefore, you need to be prepared for changeable weather and have a warm sweater with spare socks and sun glasses with a cap. Well, and a windbreaker, of course.
In winter, Ai-Petri breaks rainfall records: there is a lot of snow and there are strong blizzards. For a winter visit to Ai-Petri, it is worth especially to warm up, take several pairs of gloves and a mask or balaclava on your face. And of course, sunglasses. On sunny days, the snow in the mountains is very blinding.
How to get there
By cable car
The Miskhor-Ai-Petri cable car is more of an attraction than a vehicle. Traveling in the air with a length of about 3 kilometers with breathtaking views often attracts tourists more than the final destination itself - Ai-Petri.
The road consists of two parts: the first span - 1310 meters to the central station "Sosnovy Bor", the second - to the station on Ai-Petri - 1670 m (which is considered one of the longest unsupported spans in Europe). Travel time is 15 minutes. The cable car works all year round. In the last section of the path, the slope of the cables reaches 46 degrees, so to make your ears less obstructed, grab some candy. I can't recommend anything against heart sinking at an altitude of more than 1000 m :)
You can get to the lower station in Miskhor by minibus # 102 from the upper platform of the Yalta bus station, or by minibus # 132, leaving from the clothing market (I don't advise you: it goes around the city and collects all traffic jams and traffic lights, unlike 102, which immediately goes to the track).
The fare on the cable car is about 300 rubles one way.
Before leaving, I recommend that you go to their website and see the work schedule (and at the same time, check the cost) - it happens that due to weather conditions the cable car does not work.
By car
It is best to go by car to Ai-Petri only in dry, snowless seasons. When the snow falls, there is nothing to do without chains on wheels. And if avalanches come down, then even with chains you won't really be able to drive along a steep mountain serpentine. Therefore, in winter, in bad weather, on the highway to Ai-Petri, there are traffic police on duty and turn everyone who wants to breathe the mountain air. But they try to clean and maintain the road to Ai-Petri, therefore, there are chances to pass, especially among those who are eager to ride downhill skiers.
From Yalta you need to go along the South Coast Highway towards Sevastopol, before turning to Bakhchisarai. Do not miss it - there is a sign to Ai-Petri, which notifies if the road is open today. This road to Bakhchisarai through the Ai-Petrinskoe plateau. On it and need to go, carefully fitting into the turns. Drivers claim that they refuel for 600-700 rubles per descent and ascent.
A scenic forest road and a serpentine mountain - an unforgettable pleasure and good relaxation.
By minibus
For the lazy and unwilling to bother with maps and other logistics, there is a very simple option. In the high tourist season, on the lower platform of the Yalta bus station, special taxi drivers of mini-vans work, shouting at the entire bus station "Ai-Petri, we are going to Ai-Petri". It is impossible not to notice them even with all the desire. You jump up to them, paying 300 rubles per person, and calmly drive yourself, admiring the scenery and not worrying about missing your stop. About an hour of a dashing ride, and you're on a plateau. I walked, realized all my mountain dreams there, and vice versa in the same mini-van. Your task is only to get to the Yalta bus station. Simple and tasteful. But in winter you will not find such taxi drivers.
On foot
Trekking enthusiasts will not be left without attention either. On Ai-Petri there are a lot of hiking trails of varying difficulty and length from Yalta, Bakhchisarai and other surrounding villages. Descriptions and tracks for navigators can be found on custom file sharing services for electronic maps. I will tell you about two of the most famous, which I walked on myself.
- Miskhoraskaya (Koreizskaya) trail
From the Yalta bus station, you need to take minibus # 142 or # 115 to a stop at the turn to Koreiz and Gaspra.
Coming out of the minibus and standing with your back to Yalta, on your right you will see a dirt forest road. This is the beginning of the Miskhor trail. In places it is marked and generally well distinguishable, do not get lost. The length of the trail is 11 kilometers. On the way there will be two springs, marked with awnings and benches nearby, you cannot miss them. The trail will pass through the top of Maly Ai-Petri, from where a gorgeous view of the forest and the sea opens. There is a small steep section on the way to the plateau, and if you have the opportunity, grab trekking poles - they will facilitate the ascent. Coming out to the plateau, you will find yourself on a large observation deck, from where, of course, a beautiful view of the Crimean beauty opens up, as a reward for overcoming the hardships of the ascent. And behind the site immediately begins Ai-Petrinsky town.
- Taraktash trail
The Taraktash trail is a uniquely beautiful place because of the massive weathered outlier rocks of bizarre shapes. The trail starts from the Usan-Su waterfall. How to get to it, you can read in.
The Taraktash trail starts from the waterfall and goes straight to the Ai-Petrinskaya yayla.
The trail is marked. There are red marks on the trees with paint. The color of the trail in the diagram corresponds to the color of the marking. The main thing on the trail is not to miss the turn on the plateau. Part of the route (about 2 km) coincides with the Shtangeevskaya trail, and only at one remarkable bench on the observation deck, enclosed by an old metal fence, they diverge - Shtangeevskaya goes further straight along the edge of the rocks, and Taraktashskaya goes up to the left. There is no other bench there, it is impossible to miss it. Just from the bench itself, you need to turn 90 degrees to the left and stomp up.
The length of the path itself to the plateau from the place of the fork is only 3.5 kilometers, since it starts already at a decent height. But to get to the cable car station, you will need to walk a little more along the plateau, following the sign located right at the exit of the trail to the plateau.
This trail is much more popular than the Miskhor trail, because in itself it is very picturesque and captures two more sights: the Uchan-Su waterfall and a piece of the famous Shtangeevskaya trail. If you suddenly get lost or lose the markings, you can always ask the oncoming tourists, who are always many in the warm season. But the trail is one, well-trodden and there are no misleading clear forks, so the chances of getting lost are minimal. But in winter, you should be more careful - the snow drifts along the paths and can be very deep, which complicates and slows down the movement. With this mode, it becomes tired very quickly, and the path itself cannot be distinguished. You cannot distinguish the roads on the plateau - in winter it turns into a snowy endless desert, and it is very easy to get lost, especially in a blizzard and fog, which is not uncommon on Ai-Petri in winter.
Therefore, hiking is safer and most enjoyable during the warm, snowless season. In winter, it is better to use a cable car or a car. Or the services of a local experienced guide if the desire for adventure is irresistible.
Things to do
- First of all, go for a walk! Walk along the Ai-Petrinsky yayla, enjoying a wonderful view of the sea and Big Yalta, or a view of the endless plateau (it is really huge, several kilometers long and wide), admire the outlandish flowers, Crimean pines with long needles and get a thrill from walking along the richest nature of the Crimea.
- Be sure to walk along the suspension bridges to one of the teeth. Bridges sway and squeak in the wind, and underfoot - 1200 meters. Scary, but the views from the prong are worth it. You are standing on a small area, and an open, immense space surrounds you from all sides. Indescribable sensations, it is better to enjoy yourself. Well-trodden paths lead to the footbridges from the cable car station and there are signs - don't get lost. Just follow the main stream of citizens - all new arrivals invariably follow there.
- Visit the caves. On Ai-Petri there are three karst caves open to tourists: Trekhglazka, Yalta and Geofizicheskaya. The sign for the caves is also located near the cable car station. Finding caves on your own is not so difficult, and in the summer you will be repeatedly offered excursion and guide services right at the cable car - local guides will take you anywhere on the plateau, not only to the caves, and accompany the journey with a wide variety of bikes, historical and geographical information.
In the caves it is interesting to look at stalactites, stalagmites, bats and other bizarre underground world, and in summer it is pleasant to be in the coolness of the cave after the sultry heat. The entrance to the caves is paid, the price is 300 rubles. The slopes into the caves are equipped with stairs.
- Take a walk around the tent market town. The market is sometimes called the Tatar market, because the Tatars are mainly traded there with their authentic delicacies and products. But in addition to rare souvenirs that cannot be bought at the coastal markets, here you can buy horse and ATV tours of the plateau, hang gliding, rock climbing and many other extreme mountain entertainment. It is definitely worth trying on the most famous peak of Crimea.
Ai-Petri in winter
In winter, Ai-Petri is even more fabulous. White fluffy snowdrifts, frosty pine needles, whirling snows sparkling in the sun, snow-capped mountain peaks. And the most important thing is a combination, surprising for the northern eye: snow and sea. In good visibility (when there is no fog, high clouds or dense blizzard), Big Yalta and the sea can be seen from Ai-Petri. And this is an almost unrealistic combination - white-white snow and azure sea below. If you find yourself in Yalta in winter, then visiting Ai-Petri is definitely worth it - there is rarely where else you can enjoy such unrealistic views in just an hour's drive.
Ski resort
The statement that there is everything in Crimea is absolutely true. There is even a downhill skiing there. One of a kind and on Ai-Petri. You can get to it by car along the already described mountain road Yalta-Bakhchisarai (in winter it is regularly cleaned) or by taxi-snowmobiles from the cable car station. The trails there are very interesting and long, but rope tows require great skill to use them. These are not the comfortable booths or pills we are used to. This is a looped cable moving at a low, but still speed, to which you yourself need to attach the metal hook of your yoke - a small wooden seat on a string, which, in fact, is your hoist. Due to inexperience, jackets, gloves are torn on the cable, and there have even been injuries. Therefore, if you have not used this antediluvian Soviet system before, then you should take a young fighter course with instructors for your own safety. In addition, you can rent bagels, snowmobiles and ATVs on the downhill skiing, try ski joring (cling to the jeep on a rope and follow it along the plateau on skis or snowboards). I am very glad that there is a rescue station on the plateau. They are very experienced and responsible guys (I declare with authority, since they are my acquaintances), and under their supervision, you can safely indulge in winter amusements.
More detailed information about the slopes, prices and other features of the ski can be found on their website.
Food
Hunger is not something to be feared on Ai-Petri. There is a whole city near the cable car on the plateau - a lot of cafes, stalls, hotels and other entertainment services. Here you can satisfy a wide variety of gastronomic interests and find everything from boiled corn and pasties to oysters and salmon puree soup. But, of course, Crimean Tatar cuisine cafes prevail - pilafs, lagmans and dolmas for every taste.
Personally, I like the "Ai-Petri" cafe the most (it is not surprising that it is called that). It is clearly not the only one on the plateau with that name. It is located right on the cliff, and from the panoramic windows to the floor you can see the battlements themselves, the cable cars, the sea and the forest far below. It captures the spirit. It is located here: if you leave the cable car station and stand with your back to it, then you need to go to the left, walk to the observation deck, face the sea, admire the scenery, and on the right, right on the cliff, there will be a glass cafe, to which a black iron staircase leads. This is it. Both the service and the dishes themselves are on a high level. And the prices are more than democratic for Yalta and for an altitude of 1234 meters above sea level. A good 2-course dinner and a cheburek will cost 600 rubles in addition. There you can also order a hookah and taste the Crimean homemade wine, sitting in wide wicker chairs, covered with soft pillows. And all this with a beautiful view of the beauty of the Crimea!
Lodging
If one day to do everything that you wanted to accomplish is not enough, then you can stay on the mountain for the night and not even for one. Many hotels and hostels right on the plateau offer accommodation with different conditions and at different prices. Up to the rental of tents and sleeping bags to sleep in the fresh air and admire the stars at night. I would advise you to just walk around this mountain village, ask around and see what exactly they can offer you and choose to your taste. It is definitely worth staying there for a few days. You can live in houses near the cable car, in the shelter at the meteorological station, at the Kichkine camp site next to the ski complex, in the Okhotnichye village, which is located on the Yalta-Bakhchisarai highway, above the cable car. Housing prices on the mountain are quite high. The cost of rooms in hotels can be found, and for private apartments -. Knowing that Ai-Petri is very popular with tourists, Crimeans do not hesitate to break prices there. You can live in houses of different comfort, from trailers to good forest huts with a stylized design. Therefore, prices vary from 500 rubles per night to 5000. However, both have no sewerage and water problems. You can't take a soul there.
Finally
While in Crimea, you should definitely visit Ai-Petri. This mountain is unique and beautiful. The incredible beauty of nature, the greatness of the rocks, the mystery of the caves, the mountain air and a great many nishtyaks on it evoke only positive emotions and good thoughts. Be sure to climb this mountain, and I bet you will fall madly in love with it, just as I did.
Mount Ai-Petri
Ai-Petri Crimea is a real diamond in the crown of the peninsula's mountain range. Its jagged top, 1234 meters high, resembles the ruins of a magical castle. An excursion to this natural landmark is one of the most favorite among tourists visiting the republic. Rest on Ai-Petri allows you to see the Crimea from a dizzying height. The mountain rises majestically over the cities of the southern coast, offering a view of more than several tens of kilometers in each direction.
It is here that many tourists who have previously visited Crimea are advised to visit. The impressions of the fantastically beautiful view from this peak to Yalta and its "Swallow's Nest", Simeiz with its magnificent "Diva", Gaspru and Alupka with the "Vorontsov Palace" are simply breathtaking and will not be forgotten for a long time.
Where is Ai-Petri located?
So, you first appeared on the Crimean land and decided not to deprive yourself of the pleasure of visiting the unique Ai-Petri, how to get to the desired goal of our trip? You can get to the cable car "Miskhor - Ai-Petri" from Yalta by shuttle bus # 32. It will take about 35 minutes to get here.
To the question: how to get to Ai-Petri from Simeiz? Let's give this answer: it's even easier. From the central square of the town every quarter of an hour, a shuttle bus number 16 departs, which will reach the foot of the inviting mountain in just twenty minutes.
Bus stop near the cable car - Photo 02
Travelers who decide to climb the mountain by car will benefit from the following information: there are two roads leading to Ai-Petri, from Simeiz and from Yalta. If you leave Yalta by car and head towards Simeiz, or, on the contrary, the original building of the sanatorium "Uzbekistan" will serve as a reference point for you. The road forks here, but there is a direction sign to Ai-Petri.
Ai-Petri: how to get to the top
Excursion routes of Ai-Petri Crimea can be different: by funicular, by minibus, on foot. However, many tourists consider the best of them the one that involves climbing the mountain by cable car from Miskhor station and descending from the top on foot along winding mountain paths through thickets of pine forest, "ringing" with crystal clear air.
Cable car 'Miskhor - Ai-Petri' - Photo 03
The cost of lifting the funicular to either side is 250 rubles for adult passengers and 100 rubles for children. For the comfort of tourists who decide to visit the Ai-Petri Crimea, there are convenient waiting areas at the cable car stations. There are TV sets showing infotainment films, stands with all the necessary information - about the operating mode, interesting moments from the history of the cable car.
A storm of emotions, which begins the rest on Ai-Petri
To get to the top, you will have to experience an exhilarating adventure that will delight thrill-seekers. The unique cable car Miskhor - Ai-Petri is an attraction in itself. Due to its longest unsupported flight in Europe, the cable car is included in the Guinness Book of Records. The length between its second and third stations is 1,670 meters with an elevation of 46⁰, making this tourist site one of the most impressive cable cars on the planet.
The ascent by the cable car opens up stunning views - Photo 04
When you climb the mountain on the funicular, stunningly beautiful views open up. On the right you can see the defender of Yalta from the east winds - the picturesque mountain "Kucheryavaya". On the left, there is an opportunity to see in all its glory the visiting card of Simeiz - the mountain "Cat". Climbing higher, you will be amazed by the face of St. Petri and the pine trees "rock climbers" who cling to the stones with their roots.
What will please the top of the alluring mountain
Three thousand meters of the way and we are on the plateau Ai-Petri Crimea. Almost everyone who sets foot on the plateau for the first time experiences a sense of surprise from too abrupt changes in the landscape, and in the first minutes it is dumbfounded. The feeling is that you are thrown by a time machine into a completely different world, and it takes some time to get used to a new picture.
First, the strange landscape is striking - a flat rocky plain covered with wild grasses. Secondly, during the journey, the tourist gets used to the wild nature and suddenly - civilization in all its riot, a huge number of shops, restaurants and crowds of people. Thirdly, it has become much cooler and I want to put on something warmer. Indeed, in any weather it will be seven degrees lower on the mountain than at the foot. In addition, Ai-Petri Crimea is a “house of the wind”. The top of the mountain was considered the windiest point in Ukraine.
To the right of the road- Shishko rock with an observation deck, from where a magnificent view of the coast and a fantastic, mesmerizing sea surface opens up.
Turning to the right, you can walk on foot through the reserved beech forest to the peak of the mountain, which belongs to the geological reserve "Zubtsy". A visit to the reserve is paid and will cost 80 rubles. Not far from the edge of the forest there is an entrance to the vertical shaft of karst origin "Trekhglazku"; it is famous for the fact that the ice never melts inside. Nearby is another famous karst cave called "Geophysical" with an indescribable hall - "Diamond Castle".
Ai-Petri teeth - Photo 05
But rest on Ai-Petri is not only sightseeing. After all that has been seen and felt, vacationers usually go just to breathe in the air saturated with the aromas of mountain lavender and other meadow flowers, to make exciting horseback riding.
In numerous souvenir shops, choose gifts for memory or arrange a colorful photo session. Here you can visit hospitable Tatar restaurants and enjoy a portion of juicy shish kebab or spicy pilaf, taste original dishes of the Tatar national cuisine, smoke a hookah. In the tasting rooms, taste delicious Crimean wines with an incredible bouquet.
Gorgeous on Ai-Petri in winter... The plateau is covered with a thick layer of snow. Below is a warm autumn, and above it is Siberian winter. This is another beauty of the mountain. And in just half an hour you can find yourself in another from one season. At this time, there is freedom for ski lovers and snowboarders. Lifts and equipment rental are available. Instructors assist in training. Another pleasure is the delivery to the ski slopes on a high-speed snowmobile.
Winter on Ai-Petri - Photo 06
The way back from Ai-Petri Crimea
Rest on Ai-Petri is over. Now we start our way down. Three hiking trails go down to the foot. The most convenient way for these purposes is to move along the Koreiz trail, which begins at the cliff of the plateau with a pine-plane. She will lead to a waterfall Uchan-su(wonderful view), and then to the canyon with the source, which is called " Youth bath". The water temperature in it in any season is always the same -12-13 ° C.
The road back from Ai-Petri - Photo 07
The Taraktash trail is quite difficult and it is difficult for an unprepared traveler to master it. In some places, rocks surround the path, and sometimes it seems that a stone is about to fly off the top.
Going down the Botkin path, on the right side you will see a unique tree - a thousand-year-old berry yew, which is also a landmark of the highlands. From here goes the road to the Glade of Fairy Tales, where you will meet the heroes of our childhood, characters from your favorite fairy tales and cartoons.
Glade of Fairy Tales - Photo 08
Ai-Petri Crimea is a gorgeous nature, delightful air, extraordinary sea views, acquaintance with Crimean wines.
