How to get to Crimea
Autumn is a great time to go to Crimea. From the end of August to the end of October, the sweltering heat subsides on the peninsula and the velvet season, beloved by the locals, begins. This is a great opportunity to taste honey apples and grapes straight from the branch, swim in the warm sea and enjoy a variety of activities.
You can get to Simferopol from Moscow and some regions of Russia by direct flights of Aeroflot.
View flights
The peninsula is easier to explore by car. You can rent a car directly at the airport on OneTwoTrip for 3100 rubles * per day. During the velvet season, there are fewer tourists, respectively, the prices are lower, and the choice of cars is more.
View flights
Kayaking: see the peninsula from a different angle
This popular outdoor activity includes small kayaking along the coast. One-day tours are suitable for beginners; those wishing to spend several days rowing can choose routes with overnight stays on the shore. There is a kayak center in Balaklava where you can rent equipment and get all the necessary instructions.
One of the most popular and affordable options is to go from Balaklava to the side Cape Fiolent . During this trip, you will be able to admire the bizarre volcanic forms of the rocks from the water, as well as go through the arches of the grottoes. Another route runs along the Lost World Wildlife Sanctuary to Cape Aya and Laspi Bay . Here you will have the opportunity to make stops on the beaches of Fig and Zolotoy, as well as visit cozy coves with clear water.
Diving: discover the mysteries of sunken ships
Diving into mysterious depths and exploring the seabed is another must-have for this autumn adventure. While diving, you can get acquainted with the flora and fauna of the Black Sea: swim among unusual algae, iridescent schools of fish, watch the life of crabs, jellyfish and other underwater inhabitants. Feel like an explorer of ancient underwater caves and shipwrecks.
And even with the beginning of autumn, the water in the sea begins to phosphorize, so you should definitely watch this phenomenon at night. The sea surface shines brightest in the velvet season, because the sea has warmed up enough for the reproduction of marine life. With the help of bright phosphorus, marine plants and animals scare away predators and delight the eye of connoisseurs of beauty.
I recommend going to Cape Tarkhankut : this place will definitely appeal to lovers of history and artifacts. During the dive, you can stumble upon the ancient remains of ship utensils: dishes, coins, weapons. Clean water allows you to see even small objects and feel like a real treasure hunter. You will also find an unusual museum, or “Leader’s Alley”: at the bottom there are giant busts of Lenin, Tolstoy, Gagarin and other famous personalities.
Tarkhankut is notable for its safety, so this place is suitable for novice divers. More confident divers can head to the coastal strip of Fiolent, where there are many grottoes and caves, harbors and fjords. The place is characterized by strong currents, therefore, special attention must be paid to safety rules.
Surfing: catch a wave in the Black Sea
Surfing is a story not only about Bali and Morocco. If you are lucky with the weather, you can ride on the sea waves as well as on the ocean waves. And most of all chances are in the beginning of autumn. There are three most popular surfing locations:
– Deer. A village on Cape Tarkhankut in the western part of the peninsula. There is a surfer training school here: you can rent equipment, take lessons from professional instructors. The sandy bottom makes it safer to ride here, so beginners should pay attention to this place.
– Sevastopol. Beach “Park Pobedy”, or as the locals call it – “home spot”. Surfers use a long pier to quickly get to the lineup (a safe place to wait for a wave), drive through, and return. This saves them rowing energy and catches more waves. Here you can always ask local athletes for advice or find out where you can rent a board.
– Funny. The village near Sudak is one of the most beautiful surfing spots on the Black Sea. The lagoon is surrounded by mountains that protect it from the winds. Picturesque views of vineyards, rocks and Crimean yayly open from the water. The sea is clear and clear water, long waves, suitable for any level of skiing.
Sailing: enjoy a leisurely boat trip
Supsurfing – board control with a special paddle. This type of recreation opens up several ways to spend time on the water: here you can enjoy leisurely walks, yoga, and even fishing. Suitable for the whole family.
To enjoy stand-up paddle boarding, head to Tsarskaya Bay. The place is famous for the filming of the film “Amphibian Man”. The bay is located 7 km from Sudak, from the water there are picturesque views of rugged rocks, juniper thickets, trees bizarrely curved by the winds.
Swimming along Cape Meganom will give views of hilly distances, wrecks rocks, a lighthouse nestled over the cliff. And it is worth going to Fiolent to see the volcanic island, where the ruins of the St. George Monastery are preserved.
Trekking: climb Chatyr-Dag and fall in love
When the heat subsides, it’s time to head to the mountains. An excellent choice would be a one-day hike to Chatyr-Dag – a mountain range near Alushta. There are two plateaus on Chatyr-Dag, with two peaks: Eklizi-Burun (1527 meters) and Angar-Burun (1453 meters). Trekking to the highest point of the plateau will become more memorable.
Next, you should climb the Angarsk pass to Angar-Burun, bypassing Bukovaya Polyana and follow the route “5-115”. This is a fairly popular route, so just in case you just need to install maps.me on your phone and then navigate the well-trodden path.
Incredible juniper aromas, a sequoia grove, and bizarre placers of stones await you along the way. And from the top, views of Alushta, the Demerdzhi and Babugan-yila massifs open up. I recommend taking marshmallows or marshmallows with you and frying them over a fire overlooking the mountains of Crimea.
Climbing: Feeling Stronger
For many athletes Bakhchisarai has become a kind of climbing mecca. You can come here to stay at one of the campsites (where there is equipment rental) and spend days honing your skills in sectors of varying difficulty. Beginners can learn to rock climbing under the guidance of instructors. In addition, in Bakhchisarai, you should definitely try the local chebureks and yantyks, visit the nearby cave cities of Chufut-Kale and Eski-Kermen, as well as stroll along the narrow streets of the old city.
If you want to be closer to the sea for a swim after an active day, head to Simeiz . Low cliffs are located at the edge of the village, where it is easy to rent a house, among the gardens of figs and pomegranates. In between workouts and swimming, you can explore the nearby Yalta .
In the velvet season, it is especially pleasant to be on the sea in Crimea: the beaches are not as crowded as in summer, and all kinds of activities will help you find the perfect beach. Where it will be: at Cape Meganom, on Tarkhankut, or near Fiolent – it’s up to you.