Ai Petri cable car on your own. Road trip to Crimea. Trip to the top of Ai-Petri. You can get to Mount Ai-Petri in different ways

A visit to Ai-Petri is a must for any tourist traveling along the southern coast of Crimea: it is here that some of the highest observation platforms are located, offering a beautiful panoramic view of the coast. For a tourist just discovering all the beauties of Crimea, knowing how to get to Ai-Petri from Yalta is vital. The Yalta mountain forest reserve, located immediately below the Crimean Mountains, includes the city of Alupka and the village of Koreiz, which are perfectly visible from Mount Ai-Petri; how to get from Yalta to these and others settlements, every Crimean from the South Coast knows, since most jobs are concentrated in Yalta.

It is for this reason that bus No. 102 runs from Alupka to Yalta, which starts from the Vorontsov Palace and ends at the bus station. Along the way, the bus also stops at the Swallow's Nest - another attraction south coast Crimea. Bus No. 32 has almost the same route, Ending station which is located not at the bus station, but at the clothing market. The fare on buses is 25 rubles (the price is not fixed; many buses have a special system in which the main criterion for calculating the fare is the distance traveled by the bus).

If your visit to Ai-Petri is scheduled for the summer months, then you don’t have to worry about missing a stop, since huge number tourists traveling on these buses regularly ask both the driver and each other for the correct stops. To get to the top of Ai-Petri, you should get off at the “Ropeway” stop, which is quite easy to identify: a long line of queues, stretching for tens of meters, is visible even at the entrance. At the same time, it moves quite quickly, since the movement of trailers along the cable car is excellent.

The cost of an adult ticket is 350 rubles, for a child from 6 to 18 years old - 250, persons under 6 years old may receive a discount in the form of free travel in the summer months (again, this is not always the case, even residents of Alupka do not know what exactly does its presence depend on). The cable car, which runs from Miskhor to the Ai-Petri plateau, by the way, is one of the longest unsupported cable cars in Europe. During its almost thirty-year operation, an accident occurred only once: two cabins got stuck in the air in 2013; the breakdown was promptly repaired.

If you decide to get to Ai-Petri by car from Yalta, then, firstly, you need to move west towards Simeiz, Alupka and Miskhor. The sign for the Uzbekistan sanatorium serves as a kind of landmark (there is also a bus stop near it). A little further from the stop there is a fork where the first road goes further towards Alupka (just to the cable car described above), and the second goes up towards Mount Mogabi. If along the way there are signs “Bakhchisarai”, this will be further confirmation of the correct chosen direction. Soon the sanatorium “Uzbekistan” itself should appear on the right hand.

The first five kilometers of the road will not be remembered for anything special; you will not encounter any settlements along the way either. However, after that you will already be able to notice wide lavender plantations, from which a characteristic aroma will emanate. Approximately at the seventh or eighth kilometer of the road from the turn, a path will appear leading to the Uchan-Su waterfall, which is the main attraction of the lower ridge of the Ai-Petrinskaya Yayla. Since the waterfall is fed exclusively by karst waters, the flow of water is not constant: for example, in the summer it is quite weak (sometimes it can dry up completely), but in the fall it can be very powerful.

On the tenth kilometer of the road, which becomes more and more serpentine and steep, you can notice that the trees seem to grow at an angle, leaning to the sides and forming bizarre clumps. This occurs as a result of active geological processes: since the Crimean Mountains are among the youngest on the planet, the process of their growth is accompanied by landslides. The abundance of those leaning in different sides trees gave the name to this place - “Drunken Grove”. At the fifteenth kilometer of the road you can see the destroyed house “Pendikul”, which previously belonged to the road caretaker. It is from here that the path begins, leading to the “Silver Gazebo” site, where you can make a stop.

After the “Silver Pavilion” the steepest and sharpest section of the road begins, which is quite short and is only 2 kilometers long. Here every driver should be as attentive as possible; a moment of relaxation can result in unpleasant consequences. The exit to the plateau is quite abrupt: one turn, and the terrain changes dramatically. The coniferous trees surrounding the road give way to low-growing wild grasses, and the plateau itself gives the impression of a local desert, among which there are small craters and hills.

They appeared here due to the heterogeneity of the rocks that make up the plateau: reef limestone, as is known, is a highly porous rock, and precipitation penetrating inside, as well as the activity of microorganisms, together formed the relief of the yayla. In general, the questions “How to get from Yalta to Ai-Petri”, “How to get to Ai-Petri by car” and similar ones are already so familiar to city residents that you should not be afraid to ask them in order to clarify the route, almost all local residents They will be happy to answer and suggest the best route.

There are corners of the Crimean peninsula that literally attract travelers and have become its permanent symbols. Over the course of many years, they have acquired all sorts of stories - both scary and romantic, and as a result, staying there gives you the opportunity to experience many different impressions at once. Such a place is Mount Ai-Petri in Crimea. Photos of this hill are often decorated with various souvenirs.

Where is the high ground in Crimea?

Strictly speaking, it does not rise above Miskhor, but rather above and. But it is from the first that you can get to its top directly - with the help cable car. From major resorts Yalta is closest: Ai-Petri is part of the territory.

Do you want to plunge into the real ice world? Read the material about.

Ai-Petri on the map of Crimea

Protected steep slopes of the symbolic mountain

In fact, Ai-Petri is not just one peak, but a whole mountain complex, which also includes the Ai-Petri yayla (plateau) with an area of about 300 square meters. km. She happens to be an extinct volcano, heavily destroyed by time, the influence of centuries, the mountain owes its famous “teeth” - sharp rocks up to 80 m high near the top. They give Ai-Petri a very recognizable look. Since 1947, the battlements have been officially considered a natural monument.

It is not the highest on the peninsula, but still quite high. The height above sea level of the Bedene-Kyr peak (“Quail Mountain”), considered the main peak of the massif, is 1234 m. But the Roka elevation is higher - 1346 m. The peak of Ai-Petri is considered the most foggy place in Crimea; clouds often “spend the night” here. At the same time, this is the windiest corner of the peninsula, which should be taken into account when planning an excursion.

Ai-Petri in the legends of Crimea

The name of the massif is often associated with the medieval monastery of St. Peter (the name is translated from Greek exactly like that), the remains of whose buildings are still preserved at the top.
But there is another legend that tells the story of the peculiar Crimean Romeo and Juliet. The beginning is like Shakespeare's: two lovers whose parents forbade them to be together. The young man and the girl decided to commit suicide in order to be reunited in the next world, and climbed the mountain to throw themselves off the cliffs.

And then the development of the plot took a different path. It turned out that the convenient platform at the top was very small and there was no way two people could fit on it; they would have to jump one at a time. The young man, as befits a man, stepped into the abyss first and crashed on the rocks. And the girl, seeing that death was not as romantic as she thought, changed her mind. The guy from the legend, naturally, was called Peter, and the name of the mountain is explained as an imitation of the cry of a girl who saw the suicide of her loved one. Since then, men in Christian countries have always tried to let the ladies go first...

Walk to Ai-Petri - an excursion with character

Reviews from tourists clearly indicate that Mount Ai-Petri in Crimea can give unforgettable experience, but at the same time requires quite strong nerves. As you know, not everyone can boast of such. When going on a trip, it is better to take warm clothes with you,
since in the mountains it is, in principle, cooler than below, and the winds and fogs of Ai-Petri have already been mentioned

Second necessary thing- camera. From the top there are stunning views of the massif, forests and Yalta, so photos from Ai-Petri will be the pearl of any collection. You can take pictures at the top with interesting animals or riding a camel. But what it’s better not to take are hats and umbrellas: the Ai-Petri rocks are literally strewn with them, and it’s impossible to get something “stolen” by the wind.

Part of the excursion to the top can be a kind of record holder for unsupported distance of movement. The “trams” of the road have very large windows, which allows you to start admiring the scenery already along the way. A fear of heights can become a limitation - those suffering from it cannot withstand such a road.

What else is attractive about the symbol of Crimea?

From the height of the plateau you can see Yalta in all its glory and excellent panoramas mountain Crimea, including . You can even spot the famous one. The views from Ai-Petri are considered to be perhaps the most beautiful on the peninsula. The excursion also includes a walk through the forest, where the rare Steven maple and Crimean pine grow (the wind made many trees look like Japanese bonsais - squat,
powerful and clumsy), and the opportunity to get to the “mergs” and look at the resort from.

For thrill-seekers, there is an attraction here - between two “teeth”. The new product is popular, but you should move everywhere with caution - mountains don’t like jokes. Although handrails are installed on hiking trails, their strength is limited - this is due to the protected status of the territory, therefore, it is better not to rely on them, but on your own prudence.

There are also routes organized on the mountain for climbing groups, with varying degrees of difficulty. On the Ai-Petri plateau there will be no problems with relaxing and having a snack - there are plenty of all kinds of cafes and kebab houses here, and for a wide variety of tastes and budgets. It is not difficult to buy and, and experienced tourists claim that prices at the top are preferable than at the bottom.

How to get to Ai-Petri?

When organizing such an excursion, the critical question is how to get there. Mount Ai-Petri in Crimea is quite difficult to reach. The fastest way is the cable car from Miskhor. Travel prices are quite high, but the trip takes only 20 minutes.

You can also get there by minibus from Yalta or by private car. You need to drive your own car along the highway. But you need to know that the road is a continuous serpentine, so the conditions are extreme for an unprepared driver, and passengers can also get nervous. According to the map, the path will be taken like this.

Mount Ai-Petri, one of the most visited and famous attractions Crimean peninsula. The beauty of these mountain landscapes is difficult to describe in words. Is it possible for an artist with a brush in his hands to do this? Well, at worst, a good photographer. Better yet, come here and experience all the charm and breathtaking views for yourself.
The name of Mount Ai-Petri is translated as Saint Peter. Before the conquest of Crimea by the Tatars, it was located on the mountain christian temple St. Peter, the mountain and plateau were named after him.

Tourists flocked here en masse at the end of the 19th century, after the section of the road connecting the village of Sokolinoe and Yalta, through Mount Ai-Petri, was completed. The road was completed in 1894 and connected the Southern and central Crimea. As a consequence - two major cities Yalta and Bakhchisarai received a direct message. The construction of the stone road practically took about 30 years, and is still one of the most complex engineering projects in Crimea.

Sights of Mount Ai-Petri:

How to get to Ai-Petri by car

If you decide to get to Mount Ai-Petri by car, you should get to the Ai-Petri plateau, and from there to the Ai-Petri cable station. It is from here that the ascent to the very peak of the mountain begins - to its teeth.
A pedestrian road leads to the Ai-Petri battlements from the cable station. The duration of the route is about 30 minutes, without large differences in altitude. The cost of walking up to the battlements is 100 rubles. Payment is at the entrance to the trail.

Peak of Ai-Petri

The top of Mount Ai-Petri It is the Prongs that are considered, their height from base to top is 1234 meters. In addition to beautiful views, Zubtsy has two extreme activities that may tickle your nerves, but are absolutely safe. All safety rules are followed and almost every element of extreme entertainment has two levels of insurance.

The most interesting, to my taste, is the suspended road between the battlements. Walking through it really tickles your nerves; under your feet, through the cracks, you can see a huge gap, with sharp rocks and tree tops. After taking the cable car to Ai-Petri, you can safely add yourself to the category of extreme sports enthusiasts. The price of the walk is 500 rubles. The average duration of the transition is 10-15 minutes.
If you decide to go for a walk, it is best to do it in pairs, one walks along the path, the other takes photos and videos from the end point of the route, and then switches. This is how you will get more successful pictures as a keepsake.
Although this is a little longer in time than going one after another, you can save a little time by taking the queue for the first person and immediately taking the queue for the second. In order for the first one to pass, and the second one to take a photo and get back in line in time, you should make a gap between people of 6-7 people.

The second extreme route is a descent to the cable car station, on a suspended cable. The descent is very fast and fun, the cost of the descent is 1000 rubles. The safety of the route is also at the highest level. Both extreme attractions operate from April to September inclusive.

Having descended from the battlements, you find yourself in the busiest part of the plateau, the market and a large number of cafes, canteens and restaurants. The food on the plateau is mainly Tatar: pilaf, pasties, lagman, lamb shashlik, etc. Also, if you want, you can find European cuisine. Prices in catering establishments vary greatly. Therefore, if you take a walk and look around a little, you can choose a menu and price tag that is acceptable to you. Due to the large number of tourists, the food is almost always fresh and tasty, but quite greasy, although the choice of dishes is quite large and everyone can find something acceptable for themselves. Almost all cafes and restaurants offer wine tasting. Almost all wine is either homemade or purchased at Crimean wineries. In most establishments the wine is of rather low quality, with big amount dyes. Therefore, if you want a high-quality drink, ask that they bring you wine bottled at the factory, with an excise stamp. This option will be the best for your body.

A little below the gazebo of the winds is the Uchan-Su Waterfall, it is the highest Crimean waterfall and one of the most high waterfalls on the territory of Europe. Literally translated from Turkic, the name translates as “Flying water”. The height of Uchan-Su is about 99 meters, the maximum peak activity of the waterfall occurs in the spring, from early March to mid-April. In summer, Wuchang-Su turns into a relatively small stream, but this does not prevent it from looking graceful and attractive. More details

In addition to all the attractions of Ai-Petri described above, I should also point out one of the most beautiful mountain roads Shtangeevskaya trail. The trail originates just below the Uchan-Su waterfall, but the most convenient way is to go up to the waterfall, from there walk 120 meters up the road and you will see a large sign - the Shtangeevskaya trail, with a description of the route. The route of the Shtangeevskaya trail passes over the Uchan-Su waterfall (you can approach the waterfall) along the picturesque valleys of Ai-Petri and gradually the Shtangeevskaya trail turns into the Botkinskaya trail and smoothly descends through coniferous forests to Yalta, namely to the Fairy Tale Zoo. The average walking time along the Shtangeevskaya and Botkin trails is 4-6 hours. The entire route is marked with colored markers, making it very difficult to lose your way. You will meet people along the entire route; the trails are very popular and well-trodden by thousands of tourists.

Climbing the Ai-Petri plateau on a cable car, you have a choice of how to go back down. You can go down the same way you went up, but in the summer, the queues are very long and you can stand in them for several hours. Therefore, the options are to go down by bus or minibus. But it should be taken into account that the driver is directly interested in getting down quickly and getting up quickly. Their earnings directly depend on this. In general, this is also a kind of extreme walk. But despite this, all drivers make sure to stop at the Silver Arbor and the Wuchang-Su waterfall.

How to plan a visit to Ai-Petri

Planning a route to visit Ai-Petri by car - in my opinion, it is better to start with a visit to the Grand Canyon, the entrance fee is 100 rubles. You can also be offered a guide - from 1000 rubles. The guys are very funny, but essentially they are practically useless. It is very difficult to lose your way. There are only two paths along which people ply all the time, even in winter. The walk takes about 2-3 hours along with a swim in the Bath of Youth.

The Grand Canyon of Crimea is located at the very beginning of the ascent to Mount Ai-Petri, from the side of the city of Bakhchisarai. If you are coming from the southern coast of Crimea, you have several options: go around Ai-Petri, through Sevastopol, then turn onto Bakhchisarai, and before it go to Ai-Petri. Or climb through the Ai-Petri plateau to the top of Ai-Petri, cross the entire plateau and go down to the foot from Bakhchisarai. From Yalta to the Grand Canyon it takes about 2 hours, if you go around it it will be about the same

Next after the visit Grand Canyon you need to climb the plateau again, walk to the battlements, and go down to eat in a cafe. After the cafe, you can choose a horseback ride or visit the Three-Eyes Cave. On average, a horse ride costs from 800 rubles. at one o'clock. You will also be offered an ATV ride and other entertainment; the cost is approximately the same everywhere.

Descending from Ai-Petri towards Yalta. The first stop on your way will be the Silver Gazebo. Visit - 100 rubles. Then the waterfall is a little lower, about 15-17 km, the Uchan-Su waterfall. Also 100 rubles.
The entire walk is designed with departure from Yalta at 9:00 for the whole day; if you follow the proposed route, then by 20:00-21:00 you will be back in Yalta again.

If you are planning to visit Ai-Petri, then you need to pay attention to comfortable shoes, sneakers or sneakers, take warm clothes, because the temperature difference between Yalta and Ai-Petri can be up to 10 -15 C and be sure to take water with you. If you get motion sickness along serpentine roads, you can take anti-motion sickness pills at the pharmacy. Their cost is very low, and the effect is quite good.

Winter on Ai-Petri life doesn't stop. IN winter time The Ai-Petri cap is usually covered with snow from January to February. And on this basis winter sports were born: skiing, boarding and sledding. Almost all winter trails in Crimea are located on the Ai-Petrensky plateau. The most popular routes are 25,26, 27 kilometers, laboratory. All routes are located almost in the middle of the plateau; you can reach them along the Yalta-Bakhchisarai road. There is only one road and it is impossible to miss. Only in winter it is cleared of snow. In winter, the climb up the mountain is generally only open to vehicles with all-wheel drive and wearing winter tires. During snowfalls, the passage to Ai-Petri is partially closed for a short time from Yalta and Bakhchisarai.
If you are planning a vacation to Crimea, no matter what time of year, be sure to visit Mount Ai-Petri, it is one of the most beautiful.

Ai-Petri and its attractions on the map of Crimea

Ai-Petri: legend and reality

Mount Ai-Petri received its name thanks to the ancient Greeks: on the top of the mountain there are preserved ruins of an ancient Greek monastery. The name of the mountain translates as “St. Peter”. Names are what the monastery was called in ancient times. Well, the Greeks loved to build monasteries in such places - remember the Greek Meteora!

Today, Ai-Petri is perhaps one of the most popular mountains among tourists in Crimea.

The mountain, whose height is 1234 meters, is a place of attraction for tourists, because... it offers an indescribable view of Greater Yalta. From the top of Ai-Petri all resorts are clearly visible South Bank Crimea, and the sea from here is visible at a distance of 135 km.

The mountain has an unusual shape, decorated with sharp teeth, making it noticeable among other Crimean peaks. Scientists have found that Ai-Petri peak - this is the ex coral reef.

Moreover, Ai-Petri is not a single peak, but a huge massif, stretching from Yalta to Foros and called the Ai-Petri yayla or plateau. Like other Crimean yaylas, it is practically treeless. However, the reasons for its treelessness are not entirely clear. Some scientists believe that the yayls were previously covered with forest, but already in historical time tree cover was destroyed by fires and humans. Others believe that the reason is unfavorable climatic and soil conditions. Strong winter winds are especially destructive for trees and bushes (even we had the opportunity to verify the plausibility of this version)

Be that as it may, the Ai-Petri plateau is a unique and beautiful place. And it's definitely worth climbing it. All that remains is to decide how you will do it.

How to get there

There are several ways to get to the top:

on the cable car
by vehicle: personal or use the services of numerous private operators (their prices are comparable to the price of the cable car)
on foot: tourist routes, of which there are a lot leading to the top, can be found from almost any point at the foot of the mountain.

The fastest and most famous way is use the cable car services . Actually, that's what we did. The lower station is located at resort village Miskhor, height above sea level 87 meters. Cost of the cable car: 350 rubles – adult ticket; 250 rubles – for children (prices tend to increase by 50 rubles from season to season)

You can get to the cable car by bus from Yalta (buses No. 27 and 32). For motorists, getting to the lower station is a little more difficult. The station is located almost in the center of Miskhor, but there are not signs at intersections everywhere, and we constantly stopped to ask passersby whether we were going the right way... Finally, having parked the car in a small parking lot, we headed to the cable car ticket office.

On the way to the ticket office, guys tried to catch us several times, offering us to go to the top in their car: they said, it would be more interesting. But we firmly decided to go up at least once by cable car, and then we can do it ourselves by car if we want.

First, a few words about the cable car itself. The cable car operates from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for ascent and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for descent without breaks or weekends. The capacity of the cabins is 30 people. The length of the road is 2980 meters. It consists of two segments: approximately in the middle you will have to get out of the cabin and wait for the arrival of the upper cabin in order to transfer to it and go further to the top. This section of road between the middle and top station It is 1670 meters long and is the longest unsupported span in Europe, with an elevation angle of 46 degrees.

By the way, this year the Aypetrin cable car will have an anniversary - it turns 30 years old. Its construction began back in 1967, and the opening took place only on December 31, 1987.

To be honest, the cable car cars look like they are all 70 years old... They look like old pre-war trams.

And while we are riding up in it, I am warily listening to all sorts of different creaks... But soon beautiful views outside the windows captivate me much more than the interior of the carriage:

During the transfer, people get out of the carriage that arrived from above and they... uh... look like Napoleonic soldiers near Moscow: they are wrapped in a lot of clothes, as if it’s not September, and we’re not in the Crimea. Of course, I read that you need to dress warmly, because it will be cool on the mountain, but I didn’t imagine HOW COOL it would be there...

How to dress

A few words about the weather features on Ai-Petri. The contrast of climate between the mountain and the coast can be easily seen by rising from Yalta - from a hot sub-Mediterranean climate - to the moderately cold, excessively humid climate of Ai-Petri. In terms of temperature regime, the Aypetrin plateau can be compared with middle lane Russia. If in Yalta the average annual air temperature is +13 degrees, then on Ai-Petri it is only +5.9. Precipitation on Ai-Petri is 1052 mm, in Yalta - 635 mm. The wind speed on the plateau can reach 50 m per second!

Therefore, even in summer it is worth taking WARM CLOTHES with you when visiting Ai-Petri. No, you didn’t understand - really warm clothes. And not a knitted jumper, as I did...

And winter here is completely real, with snowstorms and snowdrifts. Frosts in February can reach -27 C. North wind It blows on the plateau 220-230 days a year. As for snowstorms, during the winter there are up to 35 days with snowstorms.

This place is such a joke of nature...

What will we see at the top?

At the exit from the cable car we immediately feel this change climatic conditions: The wind is blowing so hard that your eyes are watering. And it’s cold, it’s blowing to the point of shivering... I wrap the stole that miraculously ended up in my bag around myself, and we set off to explore the plateau.

And almost immediately we come across numerous cafes inviting with dishes national (Crimean Tatar) cuisine. It curls here and there smoke from the brazier... We are persistently invited to drink hot tea. But we politely refuse - we don’t feel like it yet, thank you...

So far we have no desire to take advantage of other entertainments. The list of entertainment is standard - horseback riding, ATVs, ziplining from the top to the plateau.

Here, on the plateau, is tourist shelter, welcoming travelers not only in summer, but also in winter, when it is a paradise for lovers skiing. Yes, I didn’t make a reservation: Ai-Petri is equipped with several ski slopes. Where do they skate here in winter, I wonder?

Then our path passes through a real oriental bazaar with its own flavor. In addition to tea and sweets, you will also find wine by the glass and souvenirs. They sell warm chuns made from sheep skins, vests made from them, and other handicrafts. The path that leads to the top - to the battlements, begins in the protected area, entrance to it is paid (100 rubles).

Then you have to walk a couple of hundred meters through a forest, along a rocky path. This takes about 10-15 minutes, but you need to watch your step - the surface of the stones is quite slippery in any weather! And, although the altitude gain is insignificant, some probably have time to get tired. Apparently, this encouraging poster hangs for them:

We leave the forest, it’s only about a hundred meters to the top. But it’s impossible to walk quickly because of the strong wind (by the way, there was almost no wind in the forest).

Finally, before us is the very place from which the most beautiful pictures from Ai-Petri:

These are the famous teeth. Among them are four especially large ones (up to 12-15 m in height) and many smaller ones. The Ai-Petri teeth were formed during the weathering of a reef massif cut by faults. On one of the battlements there is a spire for raising the flag, on the other a wooden cross was left after filming.

Climbing the Zubtsy is accessible only to rock climbers. But for lovers of extreme sports on the prongs for a small fee it is organized unforgettable attraction. The essence of the attraction is to cross a shaky suspension bridge over an abyss along the battlements. Adrenaline must be overflowing.

And I wanted to do it so much, I wanted it so much!... But I was so frozen due to the terrible cold wind that sometimes I couldn’t feel my fingers. How to walk on such a shaky wind turbine suspension bridge with limbs numb from the cold? And I decided - not this time, friends...

So, if you want to go on this attraction, I advise you to warm yourself and be sure to wear sports shoes.

What we didn’t see at Ai-Petri...

After spending a few minutes at this place, we take some photos and videos for the blog.

At this point we considered our task completed. And on legs stiff from the cold we begin to descend back to the cable car station.

Meanwhile, on the Aypetrin plateau there are several interesting objects that we simply did not reach.

For example, to the northeast of the battlements, above the cable car station, there is a small yew grove in which it grows 1000-year-old yew berry. Trunk diameter 103 m, height 10 m.

You can also visit Ai-Petri series of caves , where excursions are organized for tourists. Of the three caves - Yalta, Geofizicheskaya and Trekhglazka - the last one is the most remarkable. It got its name thanks to the three holes through which tourists get inside it. In the cave you can admire ice stalactites and stalagmites, a skating rink and a huge block of snow. The temperature in the cave always remains quite low, so it has several other names - Refrigerator or Ice. We definitely no longer had the desire to climb into the ice cave.

Also on the Bakhchisarai-Yalta highway there is weather station, one of the oldest in Crimea , founded in 1895. In addition to meteorological observations, work on hydrology, botany, soil science, astronomy, and zoology was carried out here. From 1905 to 1932 Head of the weather station K.F. Levandovsky headed research papers by winds and atmospheric electricity. It was noticed that on Ai-Petri, due to a sharp change in air temperature in the steppe and on the coast, there are constant strong winds, and their speed reaches 125 days a year 40 m/s (144 km/hour!)

By the end of the 1930s, measurements were carried out using a device installed on the very edge of the plateau. The measurement data was necessary for the design of a wind power station with a capacity of 10,000 kW. But in 1940 the device was torn down by a hurricane. In the early 1990s, Danish contractors installed a 30-meter riser with a wind turbine on top. Everything happened again: the Crimean wind turned out to be much stronger than Danish technology - the wings spun so much that they were simply torn off!

Left to come back

Going back down in the lift cabin, we decided that it was worth returning to Ai-Petri for two reasons. Firstly, to walk along those suspended walkways. Secondly, to complete walking with inspection of all the unexplored attractions (groves, weather stations, caves).

I will definitely write about all this. Subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss new articles.

Ai-Petri is the most popular mountain in Crimea and is considered one of business cards Crimea.

If you climb to the top of Ai-Petri, you will see from above the view of Greater Yalta and the endless expanses of the sea. For those who don't want to climb mountains, there is good offer: relaxation in boarding houses and sanatoriums of Crimea with a view of the majestic Ai-Petri battlements.

Photo by Ai-Petri:

This is interesting:
1234 meters - height of the massif;
1052 mm of precipitation falls on the plateau per year. This is one and a half times more than in Yalta;
50 m/s - the winds blow with such force on the plateau;
40-50 m - the height of each of the four large teeth.

Ai-Petri: historical excursion

The mountain received its name “St. Peter” from the ancient Greeks. There was a monastery at the top. In the old days they really liked to build churches in hard-to-reach places. Scientists have proven that the Ai-Petri mountain range is a typical coral reef in origin. Millennia passed, and as a result of the weathering of rocks, the famous teeth were formed. The top of one is crowned with a flagpole; on the other, after filming the film “The 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 work in the field of natural sciences: soil science, biology, astrophysics.

Options for getting to know Ai-Petri

The Ai-Petri Plateau stretches in a long strip between Yalta and Foros. mountain range It is distinguished by the unusual structure of its peaks: the sharpness of their teeth stands out among the rest of the peninsula. This place is unique and picturesque. Each vacationer can choose their own option for exploring the plateau. What do you prefer: admiring beauty Crimean mountains from the sea, go up by cable car or reach the peaks on your own? Each method finds its admirers.

The peaks appear in all their glory during a trip along the Yalta-Alushta highway. When staying in Miskhor or Koreiz, you can rent an apartment with a view of the mountains and admire the battlements from the window or veranda.
In the picturesque village of Miskhor, a cable car begins that will take you all the way to the Ai-Petri battlements. From an altitude of just under one hundred meters above sea level, the first part of the journey upward 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, 1,670 meters long. The journey takes 15 minutes. Breathtaking! The views of the coast from Gurzuf to Foros are enchanting.
Real tourists climb the plateau on foot. From the village of Miskhor there are well-marked hiking trails. Independent ascent takes from 2 to 4 hours. For careless vacationers, local residents offer to climb up in jeeps for a reasonable fee.

Note:
in the northeast of the battlements you can walk through a relict yew grove. The oldest tree, the berry yew, is more than 1,000 years old. A real giant!

Video review:

Operating hours of the cable car

The cable car starts operating at 10 o'clock every day. Tourists can go up until 16-00, descent is organized until 17-00. One cabin, more reminiscent of a tram car, can accommodate up to 30 people at a time. It is worth keeping in mind that it is better to arrive in the first half of the day; there are always many people who want to go up.

Ticket prices:

adult - 350 rubles;
preferential and children's - 250 rubles. During periods of large influx of tourists, prices may increase.

Advice from experienced tourists:
Even in the summer on Ai-Petri, take warm clothes, a windbreaker, pants, and sneakers. The winds at the top can be very strong.

Entertainment and relaxation

The plateau has a large number of equipped cafes and places to relax. Visitors are offered dishes of Crimean Tatar cuisine: belyashi, kebabs, shurpa, ochpochmak.

There are comfortable observation decks for photo shoots and selfies. The best shots are taken on the suspended walkway in front of one of the large battlements.

Those interested are offered horseback riding and jeep riding. Professional guides are ready to take you on a tour of the surrounding area and tell interesting stories about Ai-Petri.

There are also more extreme entertainments. For adrenaline lovers, there is an attraction at the top: with the help of a safety net, walk along a suspended bridge over the abyss between the battlements!

Speleologists climb the plateau to visit the caves. There are three of them in the vicinity: Yalta, Geofizikov, Trekhglazka. The latter was named so due to its three entrance holes. Inside, tourists can expect giant calcite growths, stalactites and stalagmites, an ice skating rink and a huge snowdrift. Even on the hottest July days, the temperature in the caves remains 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 to bus route No. 27 or 32 to the “Ropeway” stop.

By car you travel from Yalta 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