Psebay tourist routes. Psebay - holiday in any weather
Almost ten days have passed since I returned from my next trip, but I still couldn’t start the article. The place is so fascinating, winter, mountains, waterfalls... We didn’t see much, we just didn’t have much time, there’s so much left there... And I want to go there again!
Wonderful pristine nature, untrodden paths, clean transparent air, breathtaking springs with such tasty water that the first day at home I could not drink our tap water.
And it all started with the fact that my friend and I wanted to meet New Year on the train, on the way to Siberia. To the sound of wheels, four days on the road! Romance! But it didn’t work out. And we decided to stay home with the children to welcome 2017.
We started thinking about Christmas. Well, how can we not go anywhere during the holidays, it’s impossible, unrealistic... and we found a tour to Psebay. At the Voskhod camp site in the folk Kuban style with songs and dances, round dances around the fire, we spent 3 holiday days. Still, ours is rich in amazing places. An unforgettable vacation, a lot of impressions. But first things first.
In the very east of the Krasnodar Territory, between two ridges and along the Malaya Laba River, a hospitable village stretches for several kilometers. Then there are a couple more villages and that’s it, there is no more road. And only with backpacks do they conquer mountain peaks.
And even though we came to relax at the camp site, Psebay is still more suitable for active recreation. If you love hiking, are into cycling, hang gliding, or dream of rafting down a mountain river, then this is the place for you. You will find all this here.
Amazing hikes can be done here. Somewhere far away... or rather a couple of tens of kilometers from Psebay - Bolshoy Tkhach, and the Devil's Gate, Acheshbok and the Alous ridge. But all this was not part of the plans for this trip; it is part of my future plans.
Psebay translated means “a place with a lot of water.” There are so many waterfalls, rivers, springs, and lakes here that you can’t count them.
We walked to the Malaya Laba river.
Now she is relatively calm. And in the spring, when the glaciers begin to melt, it turns into a stormy, roaring stream.
In winter, the landscapes are no less beautiful, and not far from this place there is a silver spring; people from all over the area go there for water.
We also visited the Waterfall of Wishes.
In winter, the path there is not the easiest; we had to overcome climbs and a very steep wet slope. But at the end of the road a real miracle awaited us. Everyone made their deepest wish. They say it comes true. Let's see!
You can look at Psebay and its surroundings from above at the observation deck where the guide took us. Beauty! True, there has been no fresh snow for a long time and the colors are not very bright, but this does not spoil the overall impression.
Those who wished could ride down the hill on tablets. Steep hill, the speed is developing oh-oh-oh. But people come there specifically to ride, in cars, and spend several hours there.
Almost all the attractions of Psebay are far away, and you need to go by car. But the Gerpegem ridge is very close, it can be seen from everywhere. All tourist centers offer excursions there. But they didn’t offer it to us, and I decided to go there myself.
I won’t be me if I don’t conquer at least one. There's a gentle slope there. There are almost no trees at the edge of the ridge. The road didn’t seem to be difficult, it seemed like it wasn’t far, why couldn’t I handle it? And I climbed the mountain! And it was already after lunch, and the daylight hours were short….
And I didn’t even think about the fact that it was winter outside. The weather was excellent, the temperature was above zero, the snow was melting. And so I rise, and the higher, the more difficult it is. Walking through the snow in boots, not even sneakers, my feet got soaked through. No. I'm going higher. And there it got steeper and steeper, I slipped, fell, and a couple of times my camera sank into the snow. I thought I had ruined everything. No, I shook off nothing, it works.
And then I found a horse trail. Wow, I think horses can rise to this height, but I’m worse. Well, follow the horse path. Horses choose the easiest road. Nooooo, straight ahead faster. Yeah! Why!
Somehow I got back onto the path and then I realized that the shortest road is not always the closest, especially in the mountains.
And then the sun began to set. I didn't have time to reach the top. There are only 200 meters left.
And the view from here is stunning!
I didn’t want to walk back through the dark alone in an unfamiliar area. And I hurried to go back.
In the morning we saw footprints in the snow - some were of a hare, and others... I don’t even know what kind of animal it was, but the claws were 4 centimeters long. And so, going down, for some reason I kept thinking about these footprints. And although I’m not such a coward, and I walk alone through forests and mountains, but... it was getting dark slowly, and all the time it seemed to me that someone from the forest was looking at me. I walk and look around, no one. It’s a long way from the village, even though it’s down below me, no one will hear it, no matter how much you scream…. Mom dear. She ran downstairs skipping. And I forever understood that you can’t go to the mountains alone in winter, even if it seems that it’s not high and not far away.
The peak remains unconquered, which means it is waiting for me, and I will return here again.
Nowadays, there are fewer and fewer places left where the paths are untrodden, the animals are not scared, and the water is crystal clear. Psebay is just such a place. They even have spring water flowing from their taps. While you will not meet crowds of tourists there, as in Sochi or Sochi, there are no huge 5-star hotels, and, thank God, civilization has not yet reached here and you can plunge into pristine nature entirely, with all your soul and whole body.
The climate here is unique, there is almost no wind, it is not hot in summer, but winter is real! True, until mid-summer there is a lot of rain and even hail. Our guide told us that it is better to come from the second half of July. Then there are many sunny days and you can visit all the local attractions.
There will be a separate article about our camp site “Voskhod”. (Already have read I really liked their organization of recreation, the territory, the rooms, the SPA complex with a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and herbal tea... Mmmmm, what a great time we had!
See how we drove on the map.
Adventure in the flowerbed
Mackerel blooms
Palm trees, palm trees, palm trees...
Apiary and temple of the monastery at the base of Shahan
Where is Psebay
Village Psebay located at the very foot of the Caucasus Mountains, in the south-eastern part of the Krasnodar region. Administratively, it belongs to the Mostovsky district, which borders Karachay-Cherkessia and Adygea. Stretched along the left bank of the river Malaya Laba for 12 kilometers in a wide mountain valley. The altitude above sea level is 400 meters. Covers the valley from the east mountain range Shahan, consisting of a chain of mountains with maximum high point 1200 m. The ridge rises from the west Gerpegem from which there is a great view of the village itself and the entire valley.
View of the valley where the village of Psebay is located 
Everywhere you see meadow flowers, sometimes of quite exotic shapes. 
Where there is an abundance of flowers, there are fluttering butterflies How to get to Psebay
I described the route in sufficient detail in my previous article. I publish here map route from Armavir and to the final point.
Armavir-Psebay travel route map It’s better to get there, although there are also bus routes from cities such as Rostov and Krasnodar. The nearest city with railway connections is Armavir. From there there are minibuses and you can take a taxi if you arrived from afar and by train. (distance to Psebay -120 kilometers, - 1.40 - 1 hour 50 minutes) Price trips from Rostov around 500-600 rubles.
View of the peaks of Shahan What to do in Psebay
In Soviet times, Psebay was positioned as one of the centers hiking in the North Caucasus. Here was the beginning of one of the popular treks along the tourist route “ Psebay – Krasnaya Polyana». Now mountain tourism every year it becomes more and more popular. Also, local landscape conditions and weather in Mostovsky and Psebay are conducive to such types of recreation as rafting, jeeping And cycling.
Hotel in the form of an impregnable medieval castle colorful and actually accessible Some routes pass through the territory Caucasian Nature Reserve. To avoid problems with rangers, it is better to register permission, the office of one of its departments is located in Psebay. 10 kilometers along the road in a southerly direction, behind the village Transshipment There is border post, where, if necessary, you can obtain documents for passage through the border zone, address st. Industrial, 226.
If you climb Mount Shapka, you will see a picturesque view with depth in the background For me, as a lover of hiking in the mountains, the Psebaysky mountain region has become an alternativeMountain Adygea with its famous plateauLago-Naki , where it became too crowded, especially on weekends. For 15 years, I went on vacation every year to those parts and followed the development of infrastructure. The places are not inferior in beauty to other areas of the Caucasus Mountains, but sometimes you want to be away from people and closer to nature.
Alpine meadow near Psebay 
Plane SP-30 of the Psebay aviation club On the right bank of the Malaya Laba opposite the village there is a village Andryuki , there is a grass airfield and flying club, where the annual gathering of small aviation enthusiasts from all over Russia takes place. When I first arrived in Psebay and while driving around the area I saw this airfield, I immediately stopped by and made an agreement with the local pilot hang-glider(not to be confused with a hang glider, which does not have a motor). The next day, for a reasonable fee, we flew with him over the valley and nearby mountain ranges.
A hang plane from the village of Andryuki will take you above Psebay 
Petrovich on takeoff 
The view from the deltoplane is open in all directions Both the village and the mountains around it look fascinating, stunning views and a whole range of thrills are guaranteed to you. I recommend everyone to try a bird's eye view, especially since, unlike an airplane, the view is all-round and free, and not from the cockpit through the glass. The entire Caucasus range and nearby mountains, such asBig Thach and famousDevil's Gate . If anyone decides to fly, then dress warmly; at altitude it is much cooler than on the ground, even in the heat.
View of Gerpegem from Shahan You can climb one of the mountains of the Gerpegem ridge, since the climb can begin immediately from Psebay. Stunning views at any time of the year, and in the summer there are also aromas of mountain herbs and flowers. The hike is not difficult, accessible to any age and experience.
View from Mount Shapka to the Skirda plateau In the village of Perevalka, which I have already mentioned, which belongs to the Psebaysky rural settlement, there is one of the nearby attractions of the mountainA cap, You definitely need to climb it. The ascent is short and not difficult; the path to the top passes through a shady forest with giant trees and giant boulders.
Petrovich on top of Mount Shapka The mountain offers a picturesque panorama of the Malaya Laba River and a view of the plateauSkirda. If after this you are not overwhelmed with delight, and you do not mentally thank God for the opportunity to see this beauty, then it is better to sit at home and watch TV!
Petrovich on the suspension bridge in Perevalka In Perevalka there is suspension bridge across the river, you can cross it and climb the forest road along the river Hungarian, in the upper reaches of which is located waterfall in several cascades. The places are completely wild; the passage to the waterfall through the thicket cannot be found right away.
Waterfall on the Vengerka River But I followed the sound of the water and finally found it by half-overgrown marks on the trees made many years ago. Judging by the lack of a trail, no one has visited this waterfall for a long time. After something like this you feel almost like a pioneer.
The Malaya Laba River in the Perevalki area 
In fact, the water in the river is not that cold There are many in the forest mushrooms, can be found bison, according to the stories of local old-timers. Found in the river trout, and lovers fishing In mountain rivers they really like to come to these places.
Malaya Laba River in bad weather The village is also interesting because it is after it that they begin high mountains, a mountain road passes through it along the gorge along the Malaya Laba River. The only path that leads to points such as villagesStormy , Nikitino AndCordon Chernorechye .
Petrovich in the waters of the thermal spring in Mostovsky Mostovskoy – thermal springs
The administrative center of the district, the village of Mostovskoy, is located 40 kilometers from Psebay to the north. It is famous throughout the country for its thermal springs, the infrastructure of which has rapidly developed in last years, with hotels, recreation centers for every taste. The water temperature at the outlet is +85 +90 degrees, but it is supplied to the pools in parameters from +37 to +44. The water is saturated with many trace elements and mineral salts, which is extremely beneficial for the body. Helps with problems with the musculoskeletal system, nervous exhaustion and stress. The springs are especially popular in the cold season; in winter there is a full house, despite the rather high prices for accommodation for the area. have to to book places at the bases at the springs in advance, especially on weekends.
Place of fastening of beams of an ancient dwelling on Mount Shapka But for his readers Petrovich gives hint How to get around this problem and not spend extra money. This recommendation is only suitable for those who travel with their own transport. You can live at bases somewhere in Psebay or the surrounding area, fortunately there are enough of them there, and prices are an order of magnitude lower than in Mostovsky and travel by thermal springs purchasing a one-time visit to the baths. I assure you that even with gasoline consumption it will be cheaper, I checked it personally, I tried both options.
Meadow flowers of Gerpegem will go to hikers Mount Kizinchi Located 66 kilometers from Psebay on the left bank of the river Hodz, slightly before reaching the village Bagovskaya, north of the village Kizinka. You will have to go through Mostovskoy; there is no shorter road. You can cross to the left bank via an iron bridge, not very presentable in appearance, but strong enough for any type of transport.
An incomprehensible natural phenomenon in the Psebaya Mountains awaits its researchers The mountain stands alone and is very majestic, with an abundance of grottoes and niches that arose naturally as a result of natural influences. It consists of two tiers of rocks - the topmost and the second just below, consisting of separate pillars resembling fingers. Between the tiers there is a path along the entire southern slope. From this path and from the very top of the rock there is a picturesque view of the Main Caucasus Range and the Small Bambaki as well as towards Mountain Adygea.
In Kizinka, grazing horses came out to meet On the road from Mostovsky to Psebay, in front of the village Shedok there is a left turn with a sign
"White Rocks", once there was a sanatorium on the banks of the Laba River, now it’s either a recreation center or a summer cottage, we’re not talking about it. Nearby is a children's sports camp, there is a suspension bridge to the other side. The place itself is interesting; the outcropping of white limestone rocks on the right bank and along the river bottom makes this place especially picturesque.
Petrovich swims on the White Stones It is also a favorite swimming place for the surrounding population; in the summer months, the water running down from the mountains manages to warm up to a comfortable temperature while remaining crystal clear. The depth is quite shallow, which is very popular with children who love to splash around and scare the little fish scurrying along the bottom. Smooth limestone blocks of bizarre shapes create natural swimming pools in which you can relax under a natural massage with fast streams of mountain water. At other times of the year you can simply relax in good location, admiring the views.
Petrovich walks along the terrace to the top of Mount Kizinchi 
Mountain flora 
View from Mount Kizinchi to the valley A quiet haven for the spoiled tourist
Very unusual place We chose the village of Psebay for our holiday during the May holidays. I wanted to relax on a budget Krasnodar region... We heard from friends and relatives that there are hot springs in the Krasnodar Territory in the Mostovsky district, we looked at the location on the map. It turned out that nearby in the Mostovsky district there is the village of Psebay, where it is located. Unfortunately, we could not find websites of other places where we could stay on the Internet.
Psebay is an urban-type settlement in the Mostovsky district of the Krasnodar region of Russia.
How to get to Psebay
We drove by car from Rostov-on-Don along the M4 Don highway, then along the P-217 Tikhoretsk - Kropotkin - Armavir - Labinsk - Mostovskoy - Psebay road. The entire journey took approximately 5.5 hours.
The village of Psebay is very small in size and population (about 10 thousand people in 2010). Psebay is located in a valley in the foothills of the Caucasus, between mountain peaks along the Malaya Laba River. The road from Psebay to the south ends in the mountains of the Caucasian natural biosphere reserve.
Caucasian Nature Reserve included in the list World Heritage UNESCO.
In the village of Psebay there is a gypsum production plant - “Kubansky Gypsum - KNAUF”. We ourselves personally climbed to the tops of the mountains and saw how the equipment works. This is probably the only place in the village that provides work local population. It’s a pity that the Knauf brand is not Russian. As our guide in the USSR said, it was a completely Soviet plant, and after the collapse the Germans came, bought it, and took it into circulation. Well, what can you do?
Unusual geographical location makes this place amazing. A fast mountain river, gypsum rocks of the slopes, caves and arches, waterfalls, springs with clean drinking water, golden sand made of mica and shell rock, unusually rich vegetation - all this is amazingly intertwined here, in one place. For those who like active recreation, I definitely recommend visiting here, because... There are a lot of places where you can go.
The area of the village of Psebay is very promising and diverse in terms of Russian tourism. I would even say unusual, with its amazing beauty, purity, simplicity. There are no equipped places for walking, only slightly trampled paths that are lost in the grass and then appear again. Markings on trees indicating hiking trails, and nothing more... Real wild nature, with its unpredictability and mystery.
In addition to the traditional walking tourism for these places, cycling tourism is developed here. There are active cycling routes on the Gerpegem ridge; by the way, they also race ATVs there. A fast mountain river is simply created for. And some will definitely like rocks and caves for rock climbing.
Excursions, routes in Psebay, waterfalls
We rested in Psebay for 6 days. But since the weather was not always favorable, we visited only a small part of the protected nearby places. Wet weather, washed-out roads, slippery hiking trails, and, perhaps, our unpreparedness for extreme tourist hikes, did not allow us to go down to the Gunkin caves and the Dedova Yama cave, as well as see the Kyzylbek waterfalls and salt water mineral springs in the village of Solenoe. But what a reason to come back here again.
- Kapustinsky waterfall;
- Nikiteno village and Nikitinsky waterfall;
- Thermal springs of the Mostovsky district;
- Suspension bridge;
- White Widow Rock;
- Waterfall "Wishes";
- Gerpegem Ridge;
- Silver Spring;
- Bank of the Malaya Laba River.
Some of the routes were on foot. Together with a guide (a kind, nice uncle), we walked around all the surroundings of the Beryozki sanatorium. We were introduced to the local landscapes and nature. We visited many places on our own, despite the fact that they were not so easy to find.
Experienced tourists will be interested in a 5-7 day hiking along the famous route “Psebay - Krasnaya Polyana”. But this is a very serious journey and they won’t let you go there just like that. To obtain a permit and pass for a hike, go to the office of the Northern Department of the Caucasian Nature Reserve in Psebay or to the border post. The documents will be completed here.
Flora Psebaya
Walking through the meadows and forests in the villages of Psebay and Nikitino, you can see many beautiful and unusual plants. And the time at which we came to rest in Psebay (early May) showed us the flowering of many plants. Small mountain iris, lilies of the valley, strawberries, sage, mint, wild garlic and many more unknown but beautiful plants that form a blooming and fragrant carpet on the ground.
For the first time in my life I saw a mountain iris bloom. The lily of the valley is listed in the Red Book of Russia, but in Psebay the lily of the valley is not uncommon.
What to bring from Psebay as a souvenir
In addition to all the standard souvenirs: magnets and paintings, in Psebay you can buy meadow honey, mountain tea, souvenirs and jewelry made from rocks. We also brought water from the Silver Spring, a piece of gypsum rock, and fern bushes. You can dry a herbarium of meadow herbs as a souvenir. I couldn’t resist this uncontrollable greenery of the Psebai forests; I wanted to remember with all my heart and keep this beauty at home.
Psebay is an amazing place for a Russian tourist to relax. A relaxing holiday with your family, away from civilization, or a holiday with a noisy group. Measured walks around the village or extreme mountain routes. And everyone here will find something dear to their heart.
All this is Psebai, all this is Russia!
Interesting things nearby
Rest in Psebay.The village of Psebay stretches for 12 km along a picturesque valley on the left bank of the Malaya Laba River, in the Mostovsky district of the Krasnodar Territory. Translated from ancient Turkic, “psebay” means “place rich in water.” The surrounding area is replete with various manifestations of karst processes - caves, grottoes, arches, rocky cliffs. And in the south, the Rocky Ridge ends with sheer cliffs sometimes several hundred meters high. These rocks were named: “Shakhan”, Amet-rock, Church rock, Gerpegem ridge, etc. Unique natural monuments have developed in the deep beds of streams originating from the rocky bastions of the Rocky Range. Thus, in Gunkina Balka there are several caves, the total length of which reaches several kilometers. To the west, on the other bank of the Malaya Laba, there is the Dedova Yama cave, a sudden failure on the old road; according to legend, the arch of the underground cavity collapsed at the moment when the grandfather was riding on the road above it in a cart.
Psebay lies at an altitude of 400 meters above sea level. The climate in the village is foothills, with moderate humidity. There are no strong winds here, and the sun shines 180 days a year. In summer it is not hot in Psebay, the temperature does not exceed +25-27ºС. In winter, the thermometer drops to -8ºС. Snow on the mountain slopes lasts for 4-6 months.
The village of Psebay is a popular tourist center in the Western Caucasus. Psebay is like a place for have a relaxing holiday with your family away from civilization, or for relaxing with a noisy group. Both hiking around the village and extreme mountain routes are popular here. Twelve months a year Psebay receives tourists.
There are no equipped places for walking in the Psebay area, only lightly trampled paths that are lost in the grass and then appear again. Only marks on the trees indicate hiking trails. Real wild nature, with its unpredictability and mystery.
In addition to the traditional walking tourism for these places, cycling tourism is developed here. The village of Psebay is a center for the development of mountain biking in the Krasnodar Territory and the Southern Federal District. Since 2011, the village of Psebay has hosted a stage of the Russian Mountain Biking Cup in the cross-country race and one of the rounds of the Russian Championship in the uphill race. There are active cycling routes on the Gerpegem ridge. You can also ride quad bikes here.
The village of Psebay is well known to hang gliding enthusiasts. Clear weather and lack of wind allow you to fly nine months a year to admire the Caucasus Mountains from a bird's eye view. A fast mountain river is simply made for rafting. And some will definitely like rocks and caves for rock climbing. There is a ski slope near the village of Psebay.
Psebay is the starting point for many tourist routes. Hiking and horseback riding are popular here; there is a seven-day tourist route Psebay - Krasnaya Polyana, which passes through snowy passes along the banks of the Malaya Laba River and ends in Krasnaya Polyana. The administration of the Eastern Cordon of the only Caucasian Biosphere Reserve in Kuban is located in Psebay. Here you will receive permission and a pass for the hike.
And to the south and higher is the village of Nikitino, from which many beautiful routes begin.
The story of Psebay. The village of Psebaysky was founded in 1857 on the banks of the Psebayka River. By 1862, Cossack families from the village of Novopokrovskaya arrived to settle in Psebaysky. The soldiers who fought on the New Line of Fortifications were allowed to bring their families from the central provinces. The first houses have not survived, except for the Holy Transfiguration Church, built in 1858. Initially the village was small: 34-35 huts. There was only one street and it was called Boulevard. It stretched from church to school.
In 1873, the village was transformed into a Cossack village. In 1894, Emperor Nicholas II issued a decree according to which soldiers who served for more than 17 years were rewarded with an allotment of land of 3 dessiatines per capita. By this time, the village had grown, and there was a need to build new streets. As a result, the village was divided into two parts: Cossacks lived in one, soldiers (non-residents) lived in the other. The separation of Cossacks and soldiers occurred in 1890. In the same year, the Cossacks, who did not want to attend a common church, built the Church of St. Michael (now destroyed).
In the 19th century, Psebay was a place of princely hunting. In 1862, the right to use the land was acquired by Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich Romanov, cousin of Nicholas II. He ordered the construction of a hunting lodge and outbuildings for servants and keeping dogs in Psebay. He came to the village 2-3 times a year to hunt on a huge plot of mountains he rented. Now the hunting lodge of Prince Romanov is included in the regional register of monuments of cultural and historical heritage. With Romanov’s blessing, two schools arose in the village: one for nonresidents, the other for Cossacks.
No later than 1938, the village was transformed into the village of Psebay. The status of a working village has been since 1958, when the village of Psebay was merged into one locality with the villages of Zheleznodorozhny and Gipsovy Rudnik. In 1944-1962, Psebay was the center of the Psebay region.