Thursday 18th September – Vladikavkaz (Russia)

Morning

• Arrive at your own leisure in Vladikavkaz. The largest and capital city of North Ossetia-Alania is well connected with Russia, Dubai and Turkey. Self-transfer to our centrally located hotel.
• Alternatively, continue directly by private transport from our Chechnya and North Caucasus Uncovered Tour.
• A pre-tour meeting will be held at hotel lobby at 10:30am to discuss the tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• We’ll visit the site of the Beslan school massacre and pay our respects before we begin the tour. In 2004, during the height of the 2nd Chechen war, a group of terrorists captured the school and took over 1,100 people hostage. After three days and an intense battle with security forces, the school was liberated but over 334 people (including 186 children) died.
• Mukhtarov Mosque. Visit this iconic beautiful mosque set against the dramatic backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains. It was used to serve the Ingush residents of Vladikavkaz before they were expelled from North Ossetia in the 1990s.
• We’ll then check out the enormous Soviet monument to Issa Pliyev on horseback. He was a Soviet general who commanded forces during the battle of Moscow and Stalingrad and also played a vital role in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Afternoon

• We’ll then walk down the picturesque main boulevard of Vladikavkaz set against the mighty Caucasus Mountains. Here we’ll have a traditional Ossetian lunch with Caucasian tea and people watch.
• Visit the Victory Park full of hulking Soviet monuments to the NKVD, Cossacks or WW2 battles. The park also features one of the last surviving statues of Joseph Stalin left in the former USSR. Locals claim Stalin was an Ossetian and he is well thought-of here.
• If dates align, we’ll try and catch a concert at the national university of North Ossetia.
• Dinner at a local restaurant followed by drinks.
• Overnight stay in Vladikavkaz.

Friday 19th September – Vladikavkaz – Tskhinvali (South Ossetia)

Morning

• Breakfast at our hotel before depart to Tskhinvali, the capital city of the Republic of South Ossetia.
• The drive will take 4 to 5 hours. Along the way, we’ll stop to see the imposing Soviet monument to the Red Army soldier and hero of the Soviet Union Peter Barbashov who sacrificed his life during the brutal fighting for the city of Vladikavkaz in 1942. There are also a selection of original WW2 tanks and weaponry alongside the monument.

Afternoon

• Along the epic mountainous journey, we’ll stop at some Soviet monuments before having lunch at a small village.
• Next, we’ll continue to the famous Roki Tunnel to cut through the Caucasus Mountains before reaching the South Ossetia border. Your guides will take care of all formalities and get you inside.
• Keep an eye out on the road to South Ossetia and you’ll see various artillery guns on standby.
• After arriving in the capital of South Ossetia, we’ll check into our hotel, drop our bags and freshen up before heading out.
• We’ll walk through the main city park and see the “I love Tshkinval” sign before going for dinner at one of the best eating spots in the city. If we’re lucky, we may even see the South Ossetian president who’s a regular here! We’ll order traditional South Ossetian chacha to toast your arrival in one of the hardest to visit breakaway republics on Earth!
• Overnight stay in Tskhinvali

Saturday 20th September – Tskhinvali – South Ossetia Independence Day

Morning

• Early morning start with breakfast at our hotel.
• We’ll begin a city tour of the capital city of South Ossetia. We’ll start at the former Intourist hotel of the Soviet era, still functioning but riddled with bullet holes and rocket blasts.
• We’ll then explore the former train station and the plinth outside that once held a statue of Joseph Stalin. After this, we’ll head down the main street and see the university. Outside is the turret of a Georgian army tank which was destroyed outside the train station before embedding itself in the concrete.
• We’ll take our prime spot to see the Military Parade. Representatives of all other non-recognized states, including the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics, will be in attendance alongside high ranking Russian generals. If we are lucky, South Ossetia will also roll out Grad launchers, tanks and artillery for the parade.

Afternoon

• We’ll then enjoy lunch in the form of food stalls from all regions of South Ossetia at the “South Ossetia Cultural Festival”, accompanied by live traditional music, dance and other performances. The South Ossetian president will be walking around with his delegation.
• To make the most of the celebrations, you’ll have time to enjoy the event at your own pace to mingle with the locals and take photos.
• We’ll meet up as a group in the evening to have dinner and watch the firework display.
• Overnight stay in Tskhinval.

Sunday 21st September – Tskhinvali

Morning

• Breakfast at our hotel before we head out to explore South Ossetia.
• We’ll start by walking in the old town of Tskhinval. This is a harrowing experience as it has been left the same since it was obliterated in a Grad rocket strike in 2008. Some people still live here despite many buildings being in ruins. There is a former synagogue here and only one Jewish person left living in the city.
• Next, we’ll drive out to the Highway of death monument, a sobering ring of burnt out cars which were part of a refugee column fleeing the capital. Many were slaughtered in a rocket strike on the column and the memorial stands as testament to the war crime.
• We’ll drive along the lonely mountain road to Leningor, the second biggest city in the republic and inhabited by Georgians. On the way, we’ll be passing through stunning scenery and war torn ghost towns.
• We’ll stop at 8th century fortified churches on the way with stunning views of the Caucasus Mountains.
• In Leningor, we’ll see the local museum, medieval monuments, Soviet WW2 memorial and monuments to Pushkin. Here it’s possible to buy Georgian wine, brandy, and bizarrely, even magnets saying ‘I love Georgia’.

Afternoon

• We’ll enjoy a traditional Georgian lunch in Leningor before returning to the capital.
• A genuine tour highlight, we’ll visit the vineyard of a former field commander and sample some wine. You’ll have the opportunity to hear stories and ask the commander questions (a rare and exclusive opportunity).
• Journey back to Tskhinval, on arrival we’ll head straight out for dinner and drinks to celebrate our epic journey.
• Overnight in Tskhinval.

Monday 22nd September – Tskhinvali – Nalchik (Russia) – Mineralnye Vody

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• We’ll have a free morning to explore the capital and pick up souvenirs.

Afternoon

• Picnic lunch during our journey to Nalchik, the capital city of Kabardino-Balkaria.
• On arrival we’ll have a city tour of Nalchik before meeting Felix Nakov, a skilled master of the shashka, a North-Caucasian sabre.
• Tour concludes on the arrival to Mineralniye Vody, YPT can arrange additional nights in Mineralniye Vody and airport drop off along the route. We are more than happy to provide advice for ongoing flights. Continue onwards for Abkhazia Independence Day Tour or join the Caucasus Unrecognised Countries Tour to make most out of the region!

Read More