Thanks to the Winter Olympics in Sochi, all Russians heard about Rosa Khutor, but not everyone can list the main attractions of this largest Russian ski resort. Let's fill these gaps and answer the questions: what can you do here in the summer, what can you see on your own, how to get there?
New life
Rosa Khutor is a year-round mountain climatic resort that meets the highest standards of service and safety. It is located 70 km from the city of Sochi - in the village of Krasnaya Polyana, which is located in the picturesque valley of the Mzymta River (about 500 km above sea level). At the beginning of the 20th century, this village, lost among the high mountains, consisted of one street, with several shopping shops and a small church. Mostly immigrants from Greece and Estonia lived here.
Attempts to develop the territory for tourism purposes were stopped first by the revolution and then by the Great Patriotic War. Only in the 1960s were several tourist centers built in Krasnaya Polyana, but only for hiking.
A new life for the village began in 1993, when the first ski lift was launched and the resort received the status of a ski resort. The construction of sports facilities and the development of related infrastructure for the XXII Winter Olympics in Sochi turned the village into the capital of alpine skiing in Russia.
The best complex in Krasnaya Polyana is the world-class ski resort Rosa Khutor. For three years in a row, this resort received the tourist “Oscar” - the highest award in the category “Best Ski Resort in Russia” at the international World Ski Awards. Including quite recently – in November 2015.
Resort and its levels
The Winter Olympics, held in Sochi, pleased the Russians with championship in the unofficial team medal standings. Undoubtedly, this success is the merit of the beautiful Rosa Khutor slopes, where skiers, snowboarders and freestyle skiers competed.
The total length of the trails is 77 km, their difficulty ranges from green to black. They operate 18 lifts, capable of handling up to 10,000 people per day. There is a special “Magic Carpet” lift for children.
It must be said that holidays for children at Rosa Khutor are thought out very carefully:
- in the Olympic Village there is a multifunctional children's club “Mama House”, where young tourists aged 2 to 17 years can practice yoga and gymnastics, take part in outdoor competitions, entertaining and educational games and events;
- children's ski club "Egorka" teaches kids and teenagers the secrets of skiing;
- Riglet Park Burton hosts free children's snowboarding workshops;
- The entertainment and educational family center “Park of Miracles” houses a museum of optical illusions, a laboratory “Wonders of Science”, and a mirror labyrinth.
The Rosa Khutor ski complex includes several levels. The lower, base part of the resort is called “Rose Valley”, it is located at an altitude of 560 meters above sea level. This is a favorite vacation spot in both winter and summer. Indeed, “Rosa Valley” amazes the imagination with the abundance of services offered and interesting attractions.
Here are located:
- wonderful hotels, including the Radisson Rosa Khutor hotels, Golden Tulip, Heliopark, Accor hotel chains;
- numerous shops, restaurants and cafes;
- embankment of the Mzymta River;
- Rose Square with the Town Hall;
- Craftsmen Square;
- lower stations serving cable cars;
- indoor ice arena;
- rental offices, ticket offices, parking, help center.
"Rose Valley" with its bright decoration and beautiful buildings resembles a European town in the Alps.
“Rosa Stadium” (960 meters above sea level) is a transition level to more complex terrain. There are two stadiums, an extreme park, a Snowboard Park and a Freestyle Center.
At an altitude of 1170 meters above sea level, the territory of “Rosa Plateau” is located. You can get here by cable car or highway. Here are the sites of the former Olympic Village, hotels in a lower price range, numerous restaurants and cafes. A winter sports school is open for beginners, and there is a training slope. At rental points you can rent skis, snowboards, sleds, and equipment.
There are cable cars (chairlift and gondola) to the highest point of the resort – “Rosa Peak” (2320 m). “Rose Peak” offers magnificent mountain views, including the Aibga ridge and the Kamenny Pillar peak, located at an altitude of 2509 meters above sea level. Only true professionals can master the slopes of Rosa Peak, especially masters of freeriding - free descent on unprepared slopes. The resort's sports facilities are located here, as well as observation decks and cafes. On clear sunny days, tourists do not miss the opportunity to get a beautiful mountain tan.
Not ski season
Of course, Rosa Khutor experiences the main load in the winter, but even in the summer there is something to do and see. Bicycles, velomobiles and carving scooters can be rented for tourists, and walking and horse riding routes lead to numerous natural attractions.
One of the most popular routes is the “Health Path”, which leads to observation decks where you can look at stunning mountain landscapes. To do this, you need to cross many turbulent rivers and streams and admire the waterfalls.
Another exciting entertainment is the highest ropes course in Russia, Panda Park, located at an altitude of 1350 meters. The park's obstacles are the height of a nine-story building, which is 23 meters above ground level. Fans of extreme sports will truly appreciate the most difficult obstacles, including hanging climbing walls, bridges, ladders, ropes and trolls. Particularly exciting for trolls is the “Flight of the Eagle” - a 240-meter long descent from one bank of a mountain river to the other.
At the very end of the resort, on the Rose Valley level, there is the cultural and ethnographic center “My Russia”. The purpose of the center is to introduce visitors to the diversity of cultures of peoples and nationalities living in Russia. Here you can see 11 buildings made in the national traditions of Russian cities and regions: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Suzdal, the Russian North, Kazan, Buryatia, etc.
Especially for the Rosa Khutor resort on the Black Sea coast, a well-maintained beach has been opened in Imereti Bay. The water in this bay is considered the cleanest in Sochi. You can get to the beach by bus; travel time is 35 minutes. Another beach complex is located in the mountains near the lake. On Saturday evenings, incendiary discos and parties are held on the beach.
How to get there?
Getting to Krasnaya Polyana and, accordingly, to Rosa Khutor is quite easy. This can be done both from the city of Sochi itself and from Sochi-Adler International Airport. Between Sochi, Adler and the village there are roads and railways, along which buses, taxis, the high-speed train “Swallow”, and electric trains run both in winter and summer. From Adler, by the way, the route is 30 km shorter.
Interesting facts: not far from Krasnaya Polyana, on the mountain river Mzymta, one of the episodes of the popular film comedy “Prisoner of the Caucasus” was filmed. The village of Krasnaya Polyana got its name from the red-brown fern growing in the valley. But “Rosa Khutor” is named after one of the first Estonian settlers – Adul Rooz.
A trip to Rosa Khutor is one of the important moments for most vacationers in Greater Sochi, which includes the city of Sochi itself, Adler, as well as Dagomys, Khosta and other neighboring towns. One of the frequent questions that my acquaintances asked me after returning was “Have you been to Rosa Khutor?” In short, people are interested in this place; visiting there is, as it were, a “compulsory program.”
This post is not devoted to a description of the Rosa Khutor resort (by the way, formerly Roosa Khutor; Roosa is the name of an Estonian who once lived here). I think that I will not be able to give a sufficiently complete description of the place, since we were on a standard excursion, where everyone was running, quickly and by the clock.
But I will try to reflect one important point - when to go to Rosa Khutor, what day. After all, you must remember that the resort, and especially the sites where the cable car cabins will take you, are located in the mountains. The weather below, by the sea, in Adler or Sochi can be sunny and hot, but in the mountains you will be greeted by clouds and chilly humidity.
It’s not that hard to guess, but I’ll tell you honestly, it was given to us by local residents. But for intrigue, this is at the end of the article.
Our trip to Rosa Khutor
I'll be honest - it was a success! In particular, the weather. It takes 40 minutes to drive from the center of Adler (if there are no traffic jams). Along the way we took another spring to collect some narzanchik. They actually charged 100 rubles for entry. Sunny, warm. There was still an apiary.
You only understand the scale of construction when you see it for yourself. Before this, they didn’t even know that Rosa Khutor and Krasnaya Polyana were not the same thing at all. Krasnaya Polyana is a village, a village where few hotels have been built, and all the local residents are trying to the best of their ability to snatch their piece of wealth from tourists.
And only then we enter Rosa Khutor. Are there any simple houses here? I didn’t see it, maybe there is, but somehow it’s covered with hotels, cafes and shops.
This is the central square of Rosa Khutor. Local Big Ben. There are also ticket offices and the entrance to the cable car, which has three basic levels. In general, there are about 20 cable cars, nine of which operate in the summer. The main road where everyone takes the sightseeing trip has closed cabins. The rest have chair seats, and they depart from the platforms to which the main cable car brings you (as I at least understood).
The board reports the weather conditions up there. As you can see, it is not hot on the upper level, which is called Rose Peak. Nevertheless, everyone moves around in shorts and T-shirts (and as it turns out, this is quite acceptable as long as it’s not raining).
The cabin goes up, the Rosa Khutor set remains below. The photo is blurry because it was taken through glass. This is the downside of this cable car - taking photos through the glass is not very good.
First level, mountain view. It was still sunny, but on the mountains to the right clouds became visible, as if they had caught on the peaks and frowned slightly.
Rose peak
The highest point of the cable car is Rose Peak. When we arrived, it happened - drops appeared on the glass of the cabin, and they literally drove into the cloud a couple of times.
The photo shows a chairlift, which, if I'm not mistaken, leads to the waterfalls. Fog sets in in places. 
Literally 5 minutes later, while someone decided to part with the amount of 4,700 rubles and flies over the slope on a parachute, the fog intensified and the air was filled with moisture, which you can directly feel on your skin. And to go back, you still have to wait in line. Nobody warned us about this line, but it was really 150 meters long. The line goes quickly, but if it rained or snowed, even 10-15 minutes and in general the trip to Rosa Khutor would seem very unpleasant.
While I was standing in line, before my eyes, a cloud was rising from the bottom up from the gorge.
But it passed - there was no rain. Below, as before, we were greeted by sun and warmth.
And now about how to choose a day when a trip to Rosa Khutor will most likely turn out to be a pleasant event for you, not soaked in water from the sky.
When you're "down" on the beach, for example, look at the mountains in the distance. If they are like the ones in the next photo, it’s better not to go to Rosa Khutor. Look, the peaks are covered with dense clouds. What will happen if you get there?! Especially when you take the cable car.
You need to choose a day when the mountain peaks are clearly visible and the sky is clear. It is not always possible to predict in advance whether this will be the case tomorrow. After all, many, like us, buy an excursion in advance, in the evening, and go the next day. The weather can change overnight.
We were lucky. There were no gloomy clouds on the mountain tops. In general, some excursions depart not early in the morning, but at lunchtime. Therefore, you can try to buy a ticket on the same day. Or even go to Rosa Khutor on your own. At Lastochka, for example. Not the cheapest way, but they said the views from the window are better. From Adler you can take bus 105 or 135 and return the same way. A bus excursion is the cheapest way (350 rubles), but there will be a plus there will be all sorts of springs, apiaries and other scams for money...
If you are planning a vacation in such a wonderful place as Rosa Khutor, what to see and where to go, you need to decide in advance. The variety of entertainment and attractions makes it possible to visit it at any time of the year. Despite the fact that this is a ski resort, Rosa Khutor looks no less attractive in the summer. We will tell you below what to see and how best to do it. Read the article carefully. We hope it helps you in your plans.
The delights of Sochi
In preparation for the Winter Olympics, the Rosa Khutor ski resort was built in the beautiful resort city of Sochi. What to see in winter at this resort? Mountains, snow, skiing - this is what many tourists and vacationers desire. And now all this has become available in the Krasnodar region. Almost every adult is well acquainted with the peculiarities of the city of Sochi, either personally or from the stories of friends and relatives. We often hear names such as Adler, Olympic Village, Krasnaya Polyana, Rosa Khutor. What to see in these famous places, what is the best thing to do while spending your vacation there, how to organize your vacation correctly, depends on your tastes and preferences, as well as the time of year when you decide to go there. You can bask in the sun, or you can ski. You can relax at the hotel by the pool, or you can explore the sights until you are pleasantly exhausted.
Planning a vacation
So, you have decided to spend your vacation at the Rosa Khutor resort in Sochi. What should you see first when planning a vacation? Of course, the weather forecast. The fact is that the weather in the mountains is changeable and you can ruin your vacation if you do not prepare for the trip correctly. Think about clothes. Be sure to take warm clothes with you, even if you are traveling in the summer.
Why Rosa Khutor?
Having studied the information, we can safely say that the Rosa Khutor resort is highly visited not only in winter, but also in summer and autumn. In summer alone, the number of tourists reaches 750 thousand people. And if you add other seasons, you get a very impressive figure. This shows that people love the Rosa Khutor resort. What to see in the fall and what in the summer is not a problem for them. Everyone finds something attractive and entertaining for themselves. It is very convenient that during the high season there are hot offers for tourists, the price of which includes travel and a walk to the top of the mountain. On average, the price for such an offer is about 1000 rubles for an adult and 700 rubles for a child under 14 years old. You can purchase such a ticket both online and on site.
How to get to the goal?
To properly describe the road and transport options, we will mentally drive along the route. Let's start our journey with Adler. From here you can get to the Rosa Khutor resort in several ways:
- Drive your own car along the highway, which has been reconstructed and has an ideal surface. The A148 highway is 40 kilometers long. This option is very convenient for those tourists who prefer to plan a trip independently of the travel agency, know what they want from the Rosa Khutor resort, what to see on their own and how to do it.
- Use the services of the railway. The high-speed train with the wonderful name “Swallow” will take you very quickly to your destination. The fare is low and the train runs quite frequently.
- There is also a bus number 135 from Adler to the resort. It departs from a stop located near the Novy Vek shopping center. If you are coming from the city of Sochi, then you need bus number 105, which goes from the railway station.
- To avoid mistakes, it is best to look at the schedule of both trains and buses in advance. Then you will have options. If you purchased a comprehensive tour, then you will be given a special bus that will take you to the place. Buses also run from hotels, but this depends on the class of the hotel and the specifics of the tour desk.
"Rosa Khutor": lower level
So, in the resort area, all the beauty of mountain nature opens up to your eyes. The first, or lower, or basic level of the resort is called “Rose Valley”. This level is at an altitude of 560 meters. Speaking about what is good about the Rosa Khutor resort, what to see here and so on, one cannot fail to note the wonderful hotels, most of which are located on the lower level. There are both luxurious five-star hotels and lower-class hotels designed for tourists with average incomes. Depending on the class of the hotel, tourists receive different services, including excursions to the top of the mountain, delivery to the beach, and so on. The most famous hotels are:
- "Radisson".
- "Mercury."
- "Golden Tulip".
- "Heliopark".
You can choose the type of accommodation to suit every taste, from romantic apartments to rooms for large families.
On the lower level there is a platform for lifts. at the ticket office, you can go up to the second level of the resort. While you're waiting to get up, you can take some great photos near the Town Hall or near the Plinth of Champions. The resort's help center is also located here, where you can find out all the necessary information regarding the resort area and entertainment.
It is worth noting that even if you purchased special tickets via the Internet, you must obtain a travel card at the ticket office. The resort contains several cable cars:
- "Olympia".
- "Reserved Forest".
- "Caucasian Express".
- "Wolf Rock".
- "Crocus".
If you purchased a walking certificate, it includes trips on all cable cars of the resort. The average cost of such a certificate is about a thousand rubles for an adult. It is possible to purchase a family package: about 3,500 rubles for two adults and two children. This is profitable and is in great demand among tourists who vacation with their families. Having received the card, you apply it to the turnstile near the lift and go inside the cabin.
"Rosa Khutor": intermediate level
Having risen to this level, you understand why tourists strive to visit the Rosa Khutor resort, because here you can see a lot of beautiful places and enjoy magnificent views of the mountains. The second level is called “Rose Plateau” and is located at an altitude of almost 1200 meters. Here you can find many shops and restaurants. You can have lunch at the restaurant, as well as dress in local national costumes and take beautiful photos against the backdrop of the mountains. There are also hotels on this level, but they are mostly closed during the summer.
With your help you will move to the next area called “Gazebo”. Here you will find entertainment such as PandaPark and the Wolf Rock ski lift. PandaPark is especially popular in the summer. This entertainment is suitable for people who like to overcome obstacles by moving along rope ladders at height. The price of such entertainment is on average 400 rubles per person.
"Rosa Khutor": the highest level
The highest level of the resort is at an altitude of 2300 meters and is called “Rose Peak”. The Quartet or Caucasian Express lifts will take you here. The most breathtaking sight here is the panorama. The mountains and the sea are at your fingertips. You can take unforgettable photos. There is an opportunity to go even higher. On foot you can reach a height of 2510 meters and take a photo near the “Stone Pillar”. You can also ride a horse or rent an ATV. There is a cafe where you can have a delicious meal and relax.
Path of health
For people who visit places like Rosa Khutor and Krasnaya Polyana, what to see in the summer is not a problematic issue. At such times, the health path is very popular. It starts on the beach and has different durations. You can take a route that lasts 15 minutes, an hour and a half or two hours. Along the entire route there is the opportunity to relax on a bench, eat and enjoy the view in the shade of the trees. On one side of the trail there is a waterfall, and at the very beginning there is a spring where you can drink and take water with you.
For those who like to ride bicycles, there is a great opportunity to rent a bicycle or velomobile and travel along the trail that way. There are special routes for this:
- "X-traverse" with a length of 3075 meters.
- "Rosa Downhill" 2775 meters long.
- "Bi-One" 2035 meters long.
"Rosa Khutor": beach
Let's continue the conversation about the Rosa Khutor resort. What interesting things to see here, where is the best place to go? We can’t help but mention the beach called “Rosa Beach”. The beach is absolutely free, and for an additional fee you can get many additional services. It is possible to purchase a comprehensive ticket for all services for 500 rubles for the whole day. Included in the price:
- Beach towel,
- chaise lounge,
- use of showers and changing rooms,
- swimming in the pool,
- playground for families with children,
- toilet.
The beautiful embankment is filled with numerous cafes, restaurants, and shops. Here you can walk for hours and take photographs without getting tired, since there are a lot of views that you want to capture.
In conclusion, I would like to separately highlight the reasons that push tourists to visit the Rosa Khutor ski resort in the summer. This is a possibility:
- spend time in the mountains,
- enjoy the fresh mountain air,
- take a ride on the cable car,
- cool down after hot summer days,
- visit the Olympic Park,
- take a lot of wonderful photos.
We spent one day in Krasnaya Polyana. Just a day. Although we stayed there overnight, the next morning the journey continued, and we left for Adygea. Initially, we were allotted a day to Krasnaya Polyana because we couldn’t imagine what we could do here for longer. Tourists and travelers travel from Sochi to Krasnaya Polyana mostly in one day (with excursions or on their own), and for many this is enough. We didn't have enough. I hope that my article will answer at least some of your questions about Krasnaya Polyana - what to do and what to see, where to stay, where to eat inexpensively and, of course, how many days to go.
I’ll start with what we ourselves screwed up on - how many days. For a sightseeing acquaintance, a traveler will have enough daylight hours, for a deeper one - at least three. A vacation in Krasnaya Polyana involves, in my opinion, at least five days. The bigger, the better. One thing I can say for sure is that it’s worth going here! Firstly, it is incredibly beautiful here - mountains, mountain rivers, waterfalls, snow in summer, blooming rhododendrons, intoxicating air. Secondly, it is interesting here - there is something to see, to plunge into the atmosphere of a ski resort, to see the Olympic fashionable Rosa Khutor and Gorki Gorod, and even to explore new, much lesser-known natural places and attractions.
That day we went out until we dropped. By evening, Sophie had already climbed onto her father’s neck, or rather shoulders, because she could not walk from fatigue. I don’t even remember how I moved. But, knowing myself, I can assume that I relied only on the inspiration and delight that the Caucasus mountains and the healing aura of these places breathed into us.
Krasnaya Polyana (district), in addition to Krasnaya Polyana itself, includes several settlements - the village of Esto-Sadok (including the ski resorts Rosa Khutor, Gorki Gorod, Gazprom), the villages of Medoveevka, Kepsha and Chvizhepse. I told you a little about Chvizheps (Bear Corner) in an article about. So you can imagine the uniqueness of these places (Sochi National Park!).
Krasnaya Polyana is part of Greater Sochi, its mountainous part. This is a mountain climatic resort, a place where everything heals - air, climate, sun.
Krasnaya Polyana is interesting not only for those who are interested in alpine skiing. This is an attractive place for tourists, travelers, and vacationers. Moreover, it is attractive all year round. And what a blessing this is for romantics, lovers of beautiful landscapes, photographers and amateur photographers! Awesome place! The ski resort is quite expensive for a holiday, but it is quite an accessible place to visit, where even if you don’t have serious money, you can have an unforgettable time. I mean both an excursion tourist trip and an independent trip for several days. Independent, of course, comes first.
Krasnaya Polyana made an indelible impression on us. With pleasure and curiosity we looked at Esta-Sadok, Gorki Gorod, walked along the embankment of the Mzymta River in Rosa Dolina and the Cultural and Ethnographic Center “My Russia”. Beautiful, aesthetically pleasing, well-groomed, unusual.
But the main entertainment in Krasnaya Polyana is the cable cars and ski lifts. What shocked us most of all, of course, were the mountains and landscapes that can be seen “at arm’s length.” Even now I can’t calmly look at the photographs taken at the Mountain Carousel. I will make separate posts about the mountains and, possibly, the “My Russia” center. I can’t “bury” a huge number of cool photos. :)
Now closer to the point. To the report. If we arrange all the events of that day chronologically, then everything happened like this:
- Road from Sochi to Krasnaya Polyana,
- check-in at the hotel "Paradise House",
- Gorki City, ascent to the mountains on the "Mountain Carousel" lift,
- walk around Rosa Khutor,
- center "My Russia"
- dinner at "Pelmennaya" in the "Siberia" pavilion,
- return for the night to the hotel "Paradise House".
Road from Sochi to Krasnaya Polyana
A completely unburdensome, high-quality, very picturesque road leads us from the sea to the mountains.
The day turned out to be hot. In the sun +34+35 °C, as indicated by the electronic board above the track.
Tunnels, bridges, interchanges - everything is modern, interesting, cool.
In parallel with us, an electric train is rapidly rushing to Krasnaya Polyana.
You turn your head in all directions. Everything is great and beautiful!
The stele was installed at the historical site where the peace treaty was signed, ending the Caucasian War.
The inscription on the pyramid stone: “Here on May 21, 1864, the long-term Caucasian War ended with a parade of Russian troops. 1878 - the founding of the village of Krasnaya Polyana, 1897 - 1899 - the construction of the Adler - Krasnaya Polyana road...”. And so on - the main milestones in the development of the village.
On one of the edges are lines from a poem by M.Yu. Lermontov "Caucasus". How consonant they are with my soul:
"Though I was destined at the dawn of my days,
O southern mountains, they are torn from you,
To remember them forever, you have to be there once:
Like the sweet song of my homeland,
I love the Caucasus..."
Having looked around at the surroundings from the platform near the stele, we drove on.
Krasnaya Polyana... The A148 highway passes through the entire village - Street of Defenders of the Caucasus. On both sides of it there are numerous hotels, as well as shops, gas stations, etc. It is quite convenient, when coming to Krasnaya Polyana, to stay here, in the village itself. Yes, you have to drive to the sights, this place is only suitable for an overnight stay, but, firstly, it’s not far to go, and, secondly, accommodation here is much cheaper than in Esto-Sadok and its mountain resorts.
Hotel "Paradise House"
The street where the hotel is located, the hotel gate.
The hotel building is in the form of a chalet.
Our bungalow is on the far right on the first floor.
View from the window.
On the threshold of the room.
We checked into the hotel and immediately left it - we went to see Krasnaya Polyana.
Past the Rosneft gas station,
past cafes and hotels,
marveling at the beauty of the wooded mountains, various strange structures
and cable car cabins flying above the cars
we reached Gorki Gorod.
Gorki Gorod, "Mountain Carousel"
The Gorki City resort is located in the village of Esto-Sadok. It is the first one on the way from the village of Krasnaya Polyana to the Rosa Khutor resort. We decided to start watching Krasnaya Polyana from here.
We enter the territory and go to the underground parking.
Parking cost: the first hour is free, the second and subsequent hours are 50 rubles per hour.
Entrance to the parking lot.
We parked and went to the ticket office of the Mountain Carousel. The huge, incomprehensible price list is confusing. So we just asked at the ticket office how much it costs to ride the cable car. If I'm not confused, we pay 1,100 rubles each. per person for ascent to a height of 2,375 (the Black Pyramid peak is the highest point of descent). We thought it would be more expensive. Sonya rode for free.
Operating hours of the cable cars at the Gorki Gorod resort in the summer.
Let's go for landing. Since I’m thinking of making a separate post about Gorki Gorod and in particular about cable car riding, here in the report I’ll show everything very briefly.
"Mountain Carousel" is part of the "Gorki Gorod" resort, which is located at different levels: at heights of 540 m - "Lower City", 960 m - "Upper City", 1,500 m and 2,200 m - cable cars . 2375 m - "Black Pyramid" peak. The "Lower" and "Upper" levels are connected by a road and a cable car. There is serious infrastructure there, hotels, restaurants, cafes...
To climb to a height of 2,375 meters, we had to ride five sections of the cable car. Three are in booths, two are in chairs.
First section. We sit down in the Lower Town - mark 540 m. We ride in a cabin. Visibility due to the thick scratched glass is not very good. And we noticed that all the booths are different. There are also ones with good glass, there is an excellent view.
The first transfer is in the Upper City, at an altitude of 960 meters.
Complete delight! The soul freezes from the surrounding views.
We arrive at an altitude of 1,460 m..
The final push is very powerful and the most picturesque
to the Black Pyramid peak.
It seems that you can touch the mountains, snow and flowers with your hand - they are so close.
We are at an altitude of 2,375.
And no matter which edge of the mountain you approach, magnificent views open up. You can look at the mountains forever.
And then... the rain began to pour.
Not only did we forget the prepared package with warm sweaters in the car, but without warm clothes it is very cold at such an altitude. It’s not for nothing that the snow doesn’t melt here even when it’s hot below. So the freezing rain covered us. Everyone was urgently forced to board the cable car. We were riding in a closed cabin, and the rain was lashing our bare legs. It was something...
and admire the crazy beauty of the mountains and the Rhododendron Valley.
I tried to absorb all this beauty with every cell, remember, enjoy. The cable car worker showed us mountain goats and goats walking in the mountains and told us stories about them.
Well, then the test of beauty and cold ended, and we moved on...
We walked around Gorki Gorod for a bit. The architecture is, of course, unique. But it’s interesting to see, interesting... The atmosphere of the resort is relaxing. I want to go crazy, sit in a street cafe under an umbrella, not rush anywhere... But for this you need to come here to relax for several days.
And we went to Rosa Khutor. We spent quite a lot of time at the Mountain Carousel. We had to hurry.
Rosa Khutor
We arrived in Rosa Khutor at half past six.
We didn’t bother with parking -
They parked the car along the road - like everyone else.
We came out to the embankment approximately in its middle. The mountain river is noisy... :) Beautiful!
Rosa Dolina is a cozy corner in the style of alpine villages. Europe, Christmas trees! The eye rejoices. :)
Rose of the Valley diagram.
Town Hall building. In front of it is the central square of the resort.
Alley of Olympic Stars.
McDonald's, ticket office for the Rosa Khutor cable car - the most popular cable car in Krasnaya Polyana. We flew with her. Two cable cars in one day is too much. But we visited McDuck. The most economical option for a snack in Rosa Khutor, again, a free toilet.
On the square we found the Usadba Jazz festival. How I wanted to relax, sit back in a sun lounger, listen to music and take my time...
That's why you need to come to Krasnaya Polyana for longer.
The walk was pleasant, but we didn't know "where to run." I wanted to be able to go everywhere and see everything.
What I saw most was the landscapes; I liked the beach area and the pretty bodies of water.
Tourists are transported to Rosa Khutor in trains. The huge parking lot was jam-packed with buses of all kinds.
We walk along the Panorama embankment towards the waterfall.
You turn around and... ah! Beauty!
In the summer of 2018, my husband and I took a long-awaited vacation and had a pretty good time in Adler.
One of the brightest impressions we had was a trip to the well-known ski resort Rosa Khutor, located near Krasnaya Polyana.
So, without further ado, I’ll move on to the story about the trip itself.
HOW TO GET THERE?
There are many options and they all have their pros and cons.
1. With a tour. Cost 600 rubles per person (from Adler). This price includes a transfer to Rosa Khutor by bus and about 2.5-3 hours of walking around the resort with a guided tour. The cable car is paid separately.
Pros: They’ll bring you and take you where you need to go, they’ll tell you everything and show you everything - no need to worry about the road and entertainment.
Minuses: As a rule, on such excursions there is absolutely no time to fully enjoy a walk in the mountains, everything is done on the run, and because of the huge queues everywhere, you are unlikely to even be able to take clear photos. You can ride the cable car for an additional fee, but only along the lowest route, the so-called Olympia. You are unlikely to have time to climb to the waterfalls and Rose Peak.
2. By minibus from Adler. Buses No. 105 and 135 go daily to Krasnaya Polyana and Rosa Khutor. Here it is important not to get confused and get to the Rosa Khutor stop, and not to Alpika (as the locals call Krasnaya Polyana).
The issue price is about 100 rubles. per person one way.
Pros: Flights run quite frequently and are relatively inexpensive.
Minuses: in the high season in Adler there are endless traffic jams, plus bus drivers, in order to save money, do not turn on the air conditioning (the Olympics and the World Cup are over), and you are driving in a mini-sauna filled to capacity with people, and even along serpentine roads. The pleasure is dubious, I tell you.
3. By taxi. Well, I won’t go into detail here. The price here is already higher (400-500 rubles per person), but this will not save you from traffic jams and serpentine roads. The only advantage of taxis over buses is that they still have working air conditioning.
4. On the Lastochka train. The best option in my opinion.
Price: 250 rubles per person (from Adler) one way.
Travel time: 40 minutes.
Comfortable high-speed trains with air conditioning and a toilet are just a fairy tale; these are not Soviet trains with wooden benches from the Brezhnev era.
No traffic jams, no crowding - contrary to expectations, the carriages are half empty. All the way you admire the picturesque views of the mountains, sitting in a soft, comfortable chair, without getting motion sick on the serpentine road and without languishing in the heat in a stuffy bus, standing in a traffic jam.
If you, like us, choose to travel to Rosa Khutor by train, then upon arrival at the station, before leaving it, you will immediately see a free bus that will take you to the resort itself.
Their schedule coincides with the train schedule, so you won’t have to wait long.
However, if for some reason you didn’t get on the bus, then don’t worry: you can get to Rosa Dolina on foot (about 15-20 minutes walk).
By the way, you can also take these buses back to the railway station. Very comfortably.
A local volunteer guide will travel with you on the bus, who upon arrival will give you a free mini-excursion, tell you about the resort, and give practical advice. I advise you to devote 15 minutes of your time to this excursion, especially if you come here for the first time.
You will also be able to purchase tickets for the cable car from the guide at the same price as at the box office, bypassing the queues.
But there are some nuances with tickets, more on that below.
About tickets for the cable car.
Before the trip, I spent a long time studying information on the Internet and downloaded it for myself. official resort app .
By the way, I highly recommend doing this for several reasons:
Firstly, cable car tickets are often cheaper when purchased online.
Secondly, the application is very convenient to track the weather on Rose. Even if you have beautiful sunny weather on the coast, it is not a fact that it will be the same in the mountains. And if it’s cloudy or God forbid it rains, then the impressions of the excursion will be ruined.
Well, thirdly, in the application you can find out about all the events taking place at the resort; there is a lot of useful information, starting from the lift schedule and ending with a map of the resort. And as a bonus, it has its own social network where you can share your achievements in winter sports, for example.
There are several types of tickets for the Rosa Khutor cable car in the summer:
1. “Rose Valley - Mountain Olympic Village”
(560m – 1100m) 1 ascent and 1 descent on the Olympia cable car
adult 850 rubles, children 500 rubles, beneficiaries 500 rubles.
2. “The Path to the Heights + Waterfall Park”
Rosa Valley – Rosa Peak – Mendelikha Waterfall Park
(560m – 2320m – 1472m) 1 ascent and 1 descent on all operating cable carsAdult 1,590 rubles, children 930 rubles, beneficiaries 930 rubles.
3. “Discovery Day”
1 ascent and 1 descent on the Olympia cable car and UNLIMITED use of other operating cable cars for 1 day
(to visit the Waterfalls Park you must have a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation with you, and a birth certificate for the child).
Adult 1,790 rubles, children 1,100 rubles, beneficiaries 1,100 rubles.
4. " Sunset on the Peak » Rosa Valley - Rosa Peak, (560m - 2320m),
1 ascent and 1 descent;
access to the “Reserved Forest” cable car from 17:40
Adult 1,390 rubles, children 830 rubles, beneficiaries 830 rubles.
ACTIVE DAY PROGRAMS
"Active Day I"
1 route in the Yeti Jungle;
bike rental (1 hour);
1 route "Flight of the Eagle";
discount on paragliding flights.
Adult 1,999 rubles, children 1,499 rubles, beneficiaries 1,750 rubles
"Active Day II"
ticket "Path to the Heights - Waterfalls Park";
Nordic walking or excursion;
set lunch at the Berloga restaurant;
master class in the creative workshop "Olgiz";
master class in the Tasting Room;
excursion to the soap factory;
discount on the menu at the Les restaurant;
discount on paragliding flights
Adult 1,999 RUR, child 1,499 RUR, reduced price 1,750 RUR
When purchasing tickets through the application or website, you can save 10-15% of their cost.
Of all the routes presented, we found the most attractive “Path to the Heights” + “Mendelich Waterfalls”.
(!) go to Rosa Khutor early in the morning to arrive just as the cable car opens. This way you will avoid the huge number of people, the influx of which increases at lunchtime.
Now I’ll tell you about all the resort’s sites in more detail.
Rose Valley. Height 560 m.
This is where you come by free bus from the station, or by minibuses or taxis from Adler.
The Town Hall with its clock proudly stands on the main square; against its background it would be a shame not to take a couple of selfies for history.
One of the major rivers of Sochi, the Mzymta, flows through the valley - a typical mountain river with a rapid current.
The embankment by the river is very beautifully equipped; small pedestrian bridges, decorated with forged railings and lampposts, lead from one bank to the other.
Along the riverbed along the embankment there are numerous shops, cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops - everything that any sophisticated tourist needs.
Here is also the exit to the first cable car operating in the summer, called Olympia. The cable car is a closed type with a capacity of cabins for up to 8 people.
This is what the cabin looks like from the inside (the doors close and open automatically):
What picturesque views open around! Thanks to the excellent weather, you can easily admire the views of the mountains.
"Olympia" takes you to a height of 1100 m, and you find yourself at the Rosa Plateau site, where the Olympic Village is located.
Rose Plato. Height 1100 m.
As soon as you leave the cabin, clean mountain air rushes into your lungs with a whistle, which makes you slightly dizzy.
This feeling intensifies with every climb, so I am no longer surprised by stories about excellent Caucasian health and longevity, I even sincerely envied the mountaineers
A magnificent view of the Olympic Village opens from the platform near the cable car.
Houses that look like they came out of a postcard from Switzerland, mountain peaks shrouded in cloud haze:
Right next to it is an installation of the Olympic rings, near which someone is always taking pictures. I was no exception to the rule
Don't be lazy and go down for a walk around the Olympic Village. Here you will find many interesting locations for beautiful and atmospheric photos.
I really liked this historical place, there’s a thrill in my soul from the realization that 4 years ago Olympic champions and world stars roamed these streets, lived in these very houses, had breakfast on these lovely cozy verandas and smiled at the sun on the wrought-iron balconies.
After a walk around the Olympic Village, you can move on.
Here on Rosa Plateau is located one of the most popular establishments of the resort - the cafe-dining room "Berloga". A set lunch in July 2018 cost 450 rubles per person. In other cafes and restaurants the price tag is even higher.
On Rosa Plateau you can take the “Reserved Forest” cable car, which will take you to a height
1350 m to the Besedka station.
At this station, on the left side there is an exit to the “Wolf Rock” chairlift, it is circular with no exit possible, you can ride it an unlimited number of times, which is what we did on the way back
And on the right is the entrance to the Caucasian Express cable car, which takes you to a height of 2320 m.
We climbed this road around 11 am, the queue for it was not that long yet.
Here, lifting is also carried out in closed cabins with a capacity of 8 people.
In the cabin of this cable car there is a radio broadcast where the announcer talks about the features of the flora and fauna of this part of the mountains, about transitions from one climatic zone to another depending on the altitude above sea level, as well as about the features of local ski slopes and natural sites, their those around you.
(!) By the way, for some reason I was always afraid that while we were riding the cable car, the electricity would be cut off and we would be stuck for a couple of hours above a mountain abyss
Imagine my horror when, on the way back on the Orient Express, the cable car suddenly stopped. It was just the two of us in the booth, and I was so freaked out. However, after about five minutes the descent continued. and then the husband teased his cowardly wife for a long time.
Rose Peak. Height 2320 m.
We spent most of our time at the Rosa Peak site with pleasure. In addition to the clean mountain air, the view from here offers indescribable beauty.
For those who are hungry: the Height 2320 restaurant is also located here with an open veranda and unearthly prices. We ate at a more budget-friendly place (more on that a little later).
On the right side of the observation deck at Rosa Peak you can see a large suspension bridge over the abyss, which those who like to tickle their nerves can walk along for an additional fee.
Here, at a distance, there is a landing for the Edelweiss open-air chairlift. It takes you down to the opposite slope to the Mendelikh waterfalls.
I must say that here, too, I was very scared at first: the cable car moves from the landing site quite abruptly, and the careless cable car employee did not warn when boarding that it was necessary to lower the protective crossbar (like those installed on various attractions).
As a result, we drove for about 10 minutes without any protection or the ability to hold on to anything, until we saw that we could lower this crossbar down. Then I grumbled for a long time that I could have fallen out of the chair, and my husband went crazy over me
However, despite a little fear at the very beginning, I can say with confidence that the trip on this cable car turned out to be the most unforgettable for me and for my husband.
The views are simply amazing!
There is simply a ringing silence around, broken only by the trills of birds. Clean mountain air and bright sun. The feeling of peace and all-consuming happiness did not leave us, so we didn’t even want to say unnecessary words. And these clouds look like cotton candy, which you really want to touch and even quietly bite :)
Mendelikh waterfalls. Height 1472 m.
Having risen to the entrance to the routes to the waterfalls, we saw a huge stand with a map and route markings.
There are large and small circles for visiting the waterfalls. Since we were already limited in time and could not visit both circles, we only walked along the Bolshoi.
The trails are very comfortable, equipped with special steps in the right places. Everywhere you can see benches and gazebos built for those who find it difficult to walk and want to relax.
The path is bordered by ancient trees, which makes the walk to the waterfalls comfortable. However, I still advise you to wear comfortable shoes and clothes that do not restrict movement.
My husband and I covered the big circle in about 40-50 minutes. In some places it was a little difficult to go down, especially near the waterfalls, where the steps were slippery and wet. But it was definitely worth all our effort!
About food.
We decided to save a little money at lunch, so we didn’t eat at the advertised “Den”, but went to McDonald’s, which is located not far from the Town Hall. There were, of course, a lot of people here. After standing in line for about 20 minutes, we made an order, then spent another 10 minutes looking for a place where we could sit down to eat, but the prices here are more than humane in comparison with other Rosa Khutor establishments (as in the entire McDonald's chain).
So if you are the same unpretentious tourist and you don’t need a three-course set lunch, go to Mak
Total price:
An independent excursion to the Rosa Khutor resort from Adler cost us 5,000 rubles for two.
The price includes travel by train (500 rubles per person), tickets for the cable car (1590 per person), lunch at McDonald's (about 500 rubles for two).
In conclusion, I would like to express my deep admiration to the creators of the resort for such a wonderful opportunity - to have a wonderful time, enjoy the views of the mountains, and relax in European comfort.
Now my husband and I dream of getting here at the height of the ski season and experiencing the beauty of winter sports.
However, there is also something to see here in summer!
To summarize:
- go to Rosa Khutor on your own, it’s cheaper than going with a tour,
- Take warm clothes with you in case it gets chilly at the very top. The weather was great during our visit and we didn't need the sweaters at all,
- bring plenty of water and a light snack if desired,
- It’s better to start exploring the sights from top to bottom, because after long walks along the sites to the waterfalls you will not have the strength and desire left,
- wear comfortable clothes and shoes,
- install the resort's official app, buy cable car tickets online - this way you can save a lot.
I am happy to recommend Rosa Khutor resort in Krasnaya Polyana!
