Republic of Dagestan: Fortresses, Plateau and Dune

The Republic of Dagestan offers many different reasons to visit: Derbent is defined by its fortifications and historic buildings, while plateaus, gorges and the Sarykum Dune bring other landscapes into focus. When planning your holiday, you can first consider whether you are particularly interested in history, mountain scenery or nature experiences. You can also use these priorities to guide your search for a suitable holiday apartment.

Derbent: Citadel and Historic Old Town

The Derbent Citadel stands on steep slopes that surround it on three sides. Its massive stone walls are 2.5 to 3.2 metres thick, more than 700 metres long and 10 to 15 metres high. Nine of the fortification’s original 14 gates remain. The complex also includes a mountain wall that runs 40 kilometres westwards across the mountains and completely blocks the pass between the sea and the mountains.

Within the citadel are archaeological remains of a bathhouse, several underground water reservoirs, a fifth-century Christian church and an eighth-century mosque. The historic old town also retains courtyard houses, public buildings, mosques, bathhouses, madrasas and the remains of a caravanserai. Together, the fortifications and the old town’s medieval buildings, known as Magalims, form a cultural landscape. Derbent thus connects individual buildings to a broader historical context.

Gunib: Wall, Tunnel and Plant Life

A fortress wall with a round tower and two gates remains in Gunib. The lower gate is called the Baryatinsky Gate, and the upper one the Shamil Gate. A path leads from the Shamil Gates along the three-kilometre-long fortress wall to a tower. For travellers who enjoy walking, this route offers a practical way to explore the fortifications.

The Gunib Tunnel also tells the story of the place: the 107-metre-long tunnel was cut through the rock in the 1860s, and Alexander II travelled through it. The mountain botanical garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences offers a different perspective on the landscape. It is located in the Upper Gunib Nature Park and includes rare and endemic plant species from the Caucasus and Dagestan.

Plateau, Waterfall and Dune

Tobot Waterfall lies at an altitude of 1,690 metres, at the start of the Tsolotl Canyon on the Khunzakh Plateau. It is one of the highest waterfalls in the North Caucasus. Its exact height is unknown; estimates range from 50 to 100 metres. Tobot has its greatest flow from May to July; in winter, it freezes and turns into a large icicle. The seasons therefore shape the landscape here: more water in the warmer months and ice in winter.

The Sarykum Dune also brings Dagestan’s range of landscapes to life. It is described as the largest dune in Russia and Europe; its absolute height is 262 metres, and it is about three kilometres long. The area is part of the Dagestan Nature Reserve, and not all of the dune is accessible to visitors. Metal walkways lead onto the dune; the walking trail is called “Put’ mudroy cherepakhi” (“Path of the Wise Tortoise”). Check the current visitor regulations before your visit.

More Experiences and Planning Your Trip

On an excursion to the Chirkey Hydroelectric Power Plant, visitors can stand at the foot of the dam. They can also visit the station’s tree museum and two viewing platforms. It is a good idea to check in advance whether the excursion is running. In the Karadakh Gorge, visitors can walk through an unusual rock corridor. This gives you specific landscape experiences to choose from, alongside the historic sites.

If you are planning together, it helps to sort out travellers’ interests early on: if historic buildings and fortifications are the priority, Derbent or Gunib can be the focus. If you are mainly interested in landscapes, you can compare Tobot, the Karadakh Gorge and Sarykum as different destinations. Then choose your holiday apartment based on the places you actually want to visit. This way, your choice of location starts with the experiences that matter to your trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Kizlyarskiy Rayon, Bryansk, Makhachkala, Sovetskoye, Derbent, Shara, Izberbash, Kurla, Kizlyar, Khasavyurt, Buynaksk, Derbentskiy rayon, Gunibsky District, gorod Makhachkala.

To the higher-level travel overview: Russia.