Do you know that in our homeland there are alpine meadows that are not inferior in their beauty to the slopes of Tyrol or Cervigny? A continuous sea of flowers and aromatic herbs spreads at an altitude of about two thousand meters in the Western Caucasus, between the Krasnodar Territory and the Republic of Adygea. This is the Lagonaki Plateau. Photos of this wonderful place worthy to decorate wall calendars, travel magazine covers and computer screensavers. Well, what about relaxing on this high plateau? This place is for everyone who is attracted to an active lifestyle. Horseback riding, skiing, ATVs and mountain biking, trekking, rock climbing, caving and rafting on rough rivers - all this you will find here in abundance. Holidays in Lagonaki are not at all fraught with Spartan living conditions. On a hill there are both ski resorts and camp sites.
Where is the Lagonaki Plateau
Administratively, the territory of this former pasture, and now the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve, almost all belongs to the Maykop district of Adygea. Only the northern part of the plateau (to the Kurdzhips river) and the western slopes of Mount Messo enter the Krasnodar Territory, the Absheron region. Alpine meadows surround mountain peaks on all sides. From the east of its border, the Stone Sea ridge outlines a bizarre pile of rocks. In the west rises Mount Messo. 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. 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 2200 meters above sea level.
How to get there
A bad, difficult and long road is the only minus of relaxation on the Lagonaki plateau. The map shows that numerous stone seas and deep sheer canyons with bubbling rivers significantly complicate the journey. You can only get to Belorechensk by train. Next, you can take the bus going in the direction of Armavir and exit at the bend, where there will be a road sign for Lago-Naki. Well, and then - just a ride, and the asphalt will soon end, and the road becomes impassable (especially in winter) due to the large slope. Especially dangerous is the site near the cave "Big Azish." But there is a more convenient road from Maykop. You need to drive through Hadzhokh and the village of Dakhovskaya. Then the serpentine begins with excellent viewing platforms along the side of the road. Entrance to the territory of the Caucasian reserve is paid.
Where to stay
A vacation on the Lagonaki plateau is a vacation 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 centers to comfortable hotel centers. The stellar record holder is the Azish-Tau complex. Here you can hire a professional instructor to learn horse riding or skiing, a guide to the mountains, a senior in rafting on the rivers Pshekhi and Belaya. The tourist and tourist hotel "Star Valley" accepts fans of productive leisure. Especially a lot on the plateau of camp sites. “Alpika”, “Mountain Kuban”, “Lago-Naki”, “Tender meadow”, “Fir forest”, “Edelweiss”, “Silver key” - some names sound like a song.
Climate
Despite the considerable height at which the Lagonaki plateau is located, winters are mild. Even in January there are long thaws, and the average January temperature is +4 degrees. This is because in winter warm winds blow from the Black Sea. But the summer pleases tourists with light freshness. Plus, eighteen to twenty degrees under a cloudless sky is the best temperature to go on a mountain hike. Snow cover wraps alpine meadows since the end of November. And spring fully comes into its own in the second half of April. But icy air masses stagnant at the mountain peaks can suddenly fall on the Lagonaki plateau. The weather is very changeable in May and September. Snowstorms are not uncommon during these months.
Tourism
Thrill-seekers are provided with a particularly wide selection of entertainment. On ATVs, bicycles, on horseback, on foot - many routes run along the plateau. You can also soar in ascending air currents on a para- or hang glider. Speleotourism and rafting are no less developed here. On the Lagonaki plateau, there are about 125 caves. The most beautiful of them are available for visiting. Majestic stone halls decorated with stalactites and stalagmites, underground waterfalls and lakes - all this can be seen in the caves "Tender" and "Big Azish". Fans of mountain trekking are attracted by glaciers in the mountains of Pshehasu and Fisht. Rafting instructors and equipment can be ordered to safely sail along the Belaya River. Well, for those who like a relaxing holiday and unity with nature, light one-day hiking trips along the mountain slopes are suitable. Here you can observe how the altitudinal zonation is changing: laurel cherries give way to rhododendrons, juniper and grassy meadows ...