YPT TOURS TO CHECHNYA

Our Chechnya tours take you to one of the most famous of the Russian republics. Known today for all the wrong reasons, the Chechen Republic as it is officially known used to be one of the most touristic areas of the old Soviet Union due to its stunning natural beauty and the culture of the fiercely nationalistic yet incredibly friendly Chechen people.

The republic forms part of the North Caucasus. Russia’s only Muslim majority district has a rich diverse ethnicity and complex history. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, there was a movement of independence from Russia, which led to the First Chechen War and ultimately the Second Chechen War for Russia to gain control of the district. 

Chechnya tours are perfect for YPT, as we take you off the beaten track, crossing mountain ranges, hiking through the countryside where fierce battles took place, visiting rural villages, dining with proud Cossacks and embracing hidden wonders found in the North Caucasus.

GROUP TOURS TO CHECHNYA

Currently, YPT offers one yearly group tours to Chechnya, in combination with Moscow, the Republic of Ingushetia and concluding in North Ossetia–Alania. The 10-day tour explores this very misunderstood republic of Russia from the capital Grozny to the beautiful Lake Galanchozh.

Chechnya and North Caucasus Uncovered Tour – September 9th – 18th 2025 – $2895

Ultimate Chechnya and Caucasus Unrecognised Countries Tour – September 9th – October 1st 2025 – $7595

INDEPENDENT TOURS TO CHECHNYA

The beautiful and incredible nature of the region, the hospitality of the people combined with its complex and troublesome history has made Chechnya a popular destination for YPT. Our bespoke and independent tours can start in Russia or anywhere in the North Caucasus and can easily be combined with Abkhazia. Prices depend on the number of people and what level of accommodation you desire, but YPT can arrange everything you need for perfect independent Chechnya tours.

Example of a Chechnya itinerary (7 days)

Day 1  – Grozny (Chechen Republic)

• Morning arrival in Grozny at your own convenience. The city, which translate to “fearsome”, is the capital of the Chechen Republic. We will be picked up by our local guide and transferred to our hotel for breakfast and a much-deserved shower.
• Tour of Grozny including the Heart of Chechnya mosque, locally known as the Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Russia.
• We’ll continue to the monument to police officers, the memorial to victims of deportation and the “Alley of Honour”.
• Lunch at a local restaurant.
• We’ll continue our exploration with the Kadyrov Museum, Square of Journalists, Monument to the Dead Journalists, Monument of Nations Friendship, Putin Avenue, Manor House, the National Library of Chechnya, the Theatre and Concert Hall of Chechnya, the Akhmat-arena Stadium and the Mother’s Heart Mosque.
• The capital city of Grozny was completely rebuilt following the war and now looks like a modern metropolis. We take a slow walking tour of the city to get a feel of modern Grozny.
• For dinner, we’ll head to our favourite spot for shashlik. Vegetarian options are available.
• Overnight stay in Grozny.

Day 2 – Grozny

• Breakfast at our hotel before we set out to discover the natural beauty of Chechnya.
• We’ll head to Argun Valley for a short hike. This is the first region where the Chechen people made their settlements. Around the river, there used to be many farms and houses. Unfortunately after the first and second Chechen War, many residents didn’t return.
• Visit the stunning Nikhaloi waterfall and the suspended iron bridge, 100 metres above the canyon).
• Picnic lunch. We’ll stop at a small store to pick supplies and enjoy the beautiful nature.
• Walk amongst the 42 crypts and the two pillar-shaped altars. Look around the Ushkaloi twin towers, the Phakic medieval castle and the local history museum. Take in the stunning scenery and medieval architecture and the general mysteriousness of the City of the Dead!
• We’ll take the scenic route back to Grozny stopping on the way at various sites of beauty.
• Dinner and overnight in Grozny.

Day 3 – Grozny – Starogladovskaya – Grozny

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• We head first to the National Museum of Chechnya, the main museum in Chechnya. This museum houses fascinating artefacts from Chechen history. We’ll also learn more about the historical struggles of the Chechen people.
• Head on to the beautiful village of Starogladovskaya, where Leo Tolstoy – who was fond of the Caucuses – wrote The Cossacks and Hadji Murat. We’ll visit the Leo Tolstoy Literature and Ethnographic Museum.
• For lunch we have a genuine highlight. We’ll have lunch in a remote village with Cossacks, learning about their cultural heritage while being served traditional dishes and homemade wine!
• We’ll take the scenic drive back to Grozny stopping on the way at various sites of beauty for photographs as well as a few rest stops.
• Dinner and drinks in Grozny.
• Overnight stay in Grozny.

Day 4 – Grozny – Lake Kezenoy-am – Grozny

• Early morning start with breakfast.
• We’ll out to Lake Kezenoy-am. We’ll make a stop in the town of Kharachoy and pass through the scenic Andean ridge where we can see classic North-eastern Caucasus mountain scenery.
• Next, we will visit the spectacular Lake Kezenoy-am. This is the deepest lake in the Caucasus Mountains and one of the most beautiful places in the region. We will take our lunch break here as well as offering lots of time for pictures and additional activities.
• Drive to Khoy, the Village of Guards, and wander around the medieval settlement.
• Once again, we take the scenic drive back to Grozny, taking in the natural beauty of the region.
• Dinner at our favourite Chechen restaurant.
• Overnight stay in Grozny.

Day 5 – Grozny – Lake Galanchozh – Grozny

• Early morning start with breakfast before we head out.
• Today, we’ll be travelling to the Urus-Martanovsky District. As the journey is mountainous and remote, we’ll be taking 4WD to drive up to the mountains.
• We’ll make plenty of rest stops along the way until we reach Lake Galanchozh. Those brave enough can take a dip in the chill water.
• Picnic lunch at the beautiful lake.
• Next, we’ll visit old medieval settlements with defensive towers. Around the surrounding areas are burial grottos.
• In 1944, Joseph Stalin approved Operation Lentil, where Chechens and Ingush were deported to prison camps in Central Asia. We’ll visit the ruins of Khaibakh village, where around 700 villagers were massacred.
• We’ll take the scenic journey back to Grozny.
• Dinner at a local restaurant. We recommend trying barsh, similar to the Scottish haggis.
• Overnight stay in Grozny.

Day 6 – Grozny – Ingushetia (Republic of Ingushetia) – Armkhi

• Early morning start with breakfast before we check out.
• We’ll drive to the Republic of Ingushetia, the scene of some of the fiercest fighting during the war of independence. On our way, we will drive through the spectacular Dzhejrakhsk canyon for some breathtaking views.
• Visit the memorial complex of victims of repression in Ingushetia. This is an extremely interesting complex in true Soviet style. Head to the Magas Towers and drive through the Cey-Loamsk pass (2200m) to the observation platform, taking in more jaw-dropping scenery and medieval buildings scattered in these mountain lands.
• Explore Tkhaba-Yerdy Church and the surroundings. This church dates from the 8th-10th centuries and is one of the oldest Christian churches in Russia. We’ll then head on to the castle complex of Vovnushki, one of the ‘Seven Wonders of Russia’. This castle had defended the residents for centuries until Stalinist deportations emptied the local population.
• As it’s our last night together, we’ll have dinner with the locals in Djeirakh village – serving a selection of meat, salads and homemade chepalgash. As it’s a Sufi community, it’ll be a dry night.
• Overnight stay in Armkhi.

Day 7 – Ingushetia – Armkhi – Vladikavkaz (North Ossetia–Alania)

• Breakfast at our hotel overlooking the beautiful mountains.
• We’ll check out and head to Vladikavkaz – the capital city of North Ossetia–Alania, arriving at 10:30am.
• Tour concludes. YPT can arrange additional tours throughout Russia, including north Caucasus and Abkhazia.

BESPOKE TOURS TO CHECHNYA

We proud ourselves with long-term presence in Chechnya, enabling us to explore the North Caucuses and the de facto states of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Our bespoke and private tours can start in different parts of Russia (St Petersburg, Moscow or Grozny).

For more information on the following programs, or if what you are looking for not be on this list, simply get in touch and we’ll arrange it.

Moscow to Grozny train

YPT can arrange train journey from the Russian capital, Moscow to Grozny. Railway journeys from Moscow are an experience by themselves. Get in touch and we can take care of your bespoke itinerary.

Chechnya and Dagestan tour

Combine your Chechnya tours with the neighbouring republic Dagestan. Please let us know your time frame and we’ll create a bespoke and independent tour of Chechnya and Dagestan. 

Gastronomy tours in Chechnya

Chechen meals are famous throughout North Caucuses. The basis of many dishes consist of meat, leeks, cheese, pumpkin and corn with spicy seasonings, onion, wild garlic, pepper and thyme. We can arrange a bespoke tour sampling the Chechen cuisines. 

Sports tours to Chechnya

Chechnya has seen an increase in sports including football, wrestling and mixed martial arts (MMA). We can arrange visits to sports and enrol in exchange programmes. Please get in touch for more details. 

Historic Chechnya tours

Chechnya is a proud republic which saw two brutal wars with Russia. The history of imperial rule dates back from 1700s with a complex and in-depth history prior this. We can arrange bespoke and independent tours discovering Chechnya historic past. 

Filming in Chechnya

Through our media arm Pioneer Media, we can make arrangements for productions, journalists, or others to film within Chechnya from big-budget to guerrilla productions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TRAVEL TO CHECHNYA

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