Teberda: Shumka Trail and Memorial to Ismail Akbayev

Near Teberda, an ecological educational trail leads to Shumka Waterfall. In 2024, a memorial plaque was installed on Ismail Akbayev’s house in Verkhnyaya Teberda. Akbayev (1874–1937) was an educator and spiritual leader of the Karachay people. Nature and culture offer different points of focus when planning a trip.

To Shumka Waterfall

The educational trail is 1 km long; the route is listed as taking 1.5 hours. It runs along the slope on the right bank of the Shumka River, through fir forest and moss-covered shrubs, to the waterfall. Its location between Teberda and the resort of Dombay provides a clear point of reference for this nature outing. The park can provide information on the current route status.

The distance and stated duration help you plan how much time to set aside for the outing. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, take your specific itinerary into account and check the accommodation’s location in relation to your destinations. This keeps the Shumka Trail a clearly defined focus, rather than suggesting a general impression of the entire destination.

Memorial in Verkhnyaya Teberda

The memorial plaque was installed on Ismail Akbayev’s house in the village of Verkhnyaya Teberda. Akbayev’s dates of birth and death and his role as an educator and spiritual leader of the Karachay people give the memorial a specific historical context. The plaque is therefore a different point of interest from the educational trail to the waterfall: here, the focus is on a person; there, on the landscape along a short route.

More things to do in the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia

The wider destination of the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia offers other, distinct themes for a trip. One markedly different focus is the Arkhyz Resort, with its 16 ski runs, ranging from green slopes for beginners to black runs for particularly experienced skiers. Children aged four and older can learn to ski there under the supervision of experienced instructors; confirm current lesson availability with the operator. Runs are also designated for evening skiing, but no current schedule is provided.

In summer, all cable cars operate at the Arkhyz Resort. Mlechny Put and Lunny Express take visitors to a viewpoint on the southern slope, 2,240 metres above sea level. Seasonal operations and access may change; check the current conditions before travelling. The options at the resort therefore vary by season and the activity you have in mind, but this does not provide a reliable operating schedule for your visit.

The region’s designated routes also differ in their mode of travel and destination. Under a 2008 government resolution, a route from Teberda via the Dzhamagat mineral springs and the Epchik Pass to the Duut Gorge is designated for hiking and horseback riding. A route from Karachayevsk to Mount Shoana and the Shoana Church is also designated for hiking and horseback riding; an equestrian and driving route leads to the Senty Church in Nizhnyaya Teberda. Check current trail conditions and access before setting out.

Other designated trails lead from Arkhyz to the Sofia Gorge and are open to hikers, horseback riders, and drivers, while the route to Lake Oymatly-Dzhagaly is designated for hiking and horseback riding. There is also a hiking route to the Sofia Lakes. From the Arkhyz Resort, you can hike to the mountain lakes of Zaabishirya, which lie beyond the ridge. When planning, it is worth choosing a route based on its starting point and the stated modes of travel; check local trail conditions and access.

The wider destination of the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia also includes sites with a historical focus. The republic’s government recommends visiting Nizhny Arkhyz Gorodishche, a temple complex dating from the 9th and 10th centuries. The church complex of Nizhny Arkhyz comprises the North, Central, and South Churches. The Shoana Church and Senty Church in the Karachay District were built in the early and mid-10th century, respectively. Check current access arrangements before visiting Nizhny Arkhyz Gorodishche.

These destinations offer different points of focus: a short nature trail near Teberda, a memorial in Verkhnyaya Teberda, and other designated routes and cultural sites in the wider destination of the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia. When choosing a holiday apartment, it helps to decide which destinations you want to visit first, then check the accommodation’s location against your specific itinerary.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Khabez, Kamennomostskiy, Dzhaga, Khasaut-Grecheskoye, Psemen, Arkhyz, Cherkessk, Dombay

Back to the main travel guide: Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia.