Crimea Turns Off-season On!

by Natalia Rudnichenko ©PANORAMA

Your holiday is still far off, but you already want to escape and forget about work? The question: where to? The answer: Crimea. This peninsula, usually associated with hot summers, is really a little corner of nature’s paradise and a wonderful get-away in any season. Additionally, mountain bikes, Quadra cycles, donkey rides, jeep safaris, paintball, “dulfer” and even mysterious tunnels await you there

The first gentle sunbeams of spring have already begun to shine in your window and you feel the irresistible urge to run away from the bustle of the city and experience your own awakening after the long winter. So quickly gather your backpack, get a ticket and go to extreme and entertaining Crimea. Even in the off-season Crimea guarantees a good dose of adrenalin that will make an unforgettable impression on anyone who loves interesting journeys and adventures. In fact, our journalist greatly enjoyed her journey to the peninsula and can attest to Crimea’s charms.

Mountain extremes

Those in search of cool extremes should visit Ak-Kai - White Rock. Situated outside Simferopil at a height of 325 meters above sea level, it is the ideal point for rapelling or “dulfering” (named after German Hans Dulfer, the first to use this lay-back technique). Veteran climbers can enjoy “the world in the palm of your hand”, while beginners can get help from experienced instructors. The professional staff and equipment of the Control and Rescue Service of Crimea (www.kss.crimea.ua) is on hand following your every step. The most exciting moment of this journey is when you are descending through the “ear”, a large hole in the rock. The support slips away and you hang between heaven and earth.

The Crimean hill region also attracts cycling enthusiasts. You can choose between a brief bicycle journey of a few hours or a weeklong tour. The route you take also depends solely on your preferences and skills. Beginners need only their desire, because in addition to instructors they can also be accompanied by a car carrying food, a tent and even a chef.

Those who need more excitement are invited to Angarsky Pass, a 15 minute drive from Alushta resort. There the sharp turns of super-extreme Quadra cycles (four wheel all-terrain vehicles) guarantee a real shot of adrenaline! Routes are laid out over both rough terrain (beginning and ending near the foot of Chatyr-Dag Mountain) and carry-on through lavender fields, forests of beech and pine trees and by picturesque lakes. If you want, the instructor can plant himself behind the wheel so that those onboard won’t miss any of the interesting sights.

Jeep, horse or donkey?

Fantastic Crimean landscapes near the sea and the mountains are also a hallmark of the peninsula. In order to see those hard-to-reach nooks of nature, which are seldom visited even by seasoned tourists, you should go on a fascinating jeep safari. I advise you to go to Lysa (Bald) Mountain, where you will have a wonderful view from the highest point of Crimea - Roman Kosh Mountain (1525 m). During a jeep safari one can visit Crimea’s famous cave cities such as Mangup-Kale and the cave cloisters (Chelter-Koba, Shuldan and Holy Assumption Cloister).

Taking in the Crimean landscapes will give you an unsurpassed romantic touch if you combine it with a horseback journey. It is a wonderful chance to enjoy the healing Crimean air, which, according to the specialists, is more health-giving in the mountains than by the sea.

Whatever you do in Crimea, don’t miss the chance to bring back a “donkey driver’s license”. The Wonder Donkey farm is the only one of its kind in the CIS and is where these very clever and friendly animals are bred. By the way, donkeys are not stubborn at all. They simply take care of their health and refuse to move if luggage or a passenger is too heavy for them. But in fact, it is very easy and enjoyable to ride these wonderful animals. After the donkey journey you may want visit Aisha’s Tartar tea-house, situated near the farm at the foot of Mangup Mountain. Tasty authentic dishes with sweets and fragrant herbal tea surely will stimulate you to restored energy, which you will certainly need for the more exciting adventures that await you.

Surprises of Balaklava

A good alternative to swimming in the Black sea, (that can be rather cold in spring), is a motor boat or yacht journey where extreme athletes still may choose to swim and dive in the open sea.

The ideal starting point for such an excursion is Balaklava, which is over 2500 years old. After recent restoration the Balaklava promenade looks amazingly like the seaside of Monaco. The bay is named the Golden Symbol (www.goldensymbol.com) and is the best on the coast from a location and navigation point of view, receiving all classes of yachts year round.

After you have returned to the bay, look for a tunnel entrance cut into the rock. Locals call it “the black hole”. At one time this was the entrance to one of the most secret submarine repair plants of the former Soviet Union. It was built into the mountain in 1961 during the cold war and is supposed to be able to withstand a nuclear bomb attack thereby protecting the 5000 people inside. The factory was enclosed by 12 ton doors and working in such an environment was a secret even to employee’s family members. Now on this territory there is a museum, which is like a time machine that puts you “back in the USSR”.

To relax after your journey through dark tunnels you can visit the Khatynka Rybalky (Fisherman’s House). This restaurant offers various fish delicacies: rapanas, mussels, squids, goatfish, horse-mackerel, perch, grey mullet, spurdog, needlefish, crabs and a classical fish soup of the house, prepared by an old local recipe. It’s delicious!

Off-season Options

Now I think that it’s good that the wait for summer in Crimea is very long. In spring, when this wonderful peninsula is not crowded by tourists, you can have an interesting and pleasant vacation with friends, family or colleagues, or organize any private or corporate event. For example, a paintball game will bring colleagues closer more than a traditional training course in the office. Also, there is the possibility to spend a unique honeymoon with donkey ride included that will be more memorable for the newly-weds than just the usual tour.

In addition, an active holiday can be successfully combined with educational events. You may want to search for stalactites in Kyzyl-Coba caves, taste famous Tartar wines on Ay-Petri Mount, or visit glorious Sevastopol city museums and then have dinner in an authentic ethnic restaurant like Ukrainsky Shynok.

Another pleasant surprise “off-season” Crimea has for you are the attractive low hotels rates. Fans of luxury and comfort can choose to stay in hotels like Kazka in Alushta, Lito park-hotel with the new SPA-centre in Yalta or Tauria resort complex near Foros, where the famous boxer Volodymyr Klichko has stayed several times. But those who like to rough it may spend a couple of nights in the open air as long as you have a tent or a sleeping-bag available.

Whatever you do in off-season Crimea, enjoy the surprises and activities offered by this magnificent Balck Sea peninsula.