Tourist route”Botkin trail” (Crimea)
Rating: 9,4/10 (6576 votes)  Botkin Trail The Yalta Botkin Trail is not as well-known tourist hiking trail in Crimea as the famous Green Trail or the Tsarskaya Trail. Nevertheless, many guests of the peninsula have at least once visited this terrencourt - a road known for"local treatment". The mountain air, unique in its purity, is saturated with vapors of coniferous thickets, and springs and small waterfalls are suitable for drinking at any time of the year. The route requires from tourists knowledge of the area and a certain level of training. History of the routeThe trail owes its name to the outstanding Russian therapist Sergei Petrovich Botkin. It was he who, in the 19th century, stood at the origins of the study of Russian resorts and favorable climatic zones of the Russian South. In his research, Crimea, along with the Caucasus, was called one of the most valuable health resorts in Russia. It was these two regions at the very beginning of the 20th century that were represented in a single Crimean-Caucasian Mountain Club, whose members decided to build a new hiking route around Yalta. The first mention of the trail dates back to 1902, although walks here were officially started only in 1905. There is practically no information about the fate of the route after the 1917 revolution. Rare tourist groups have been here until the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. The second surge in popularity of the route occurred in the 1960s. Today the Botkin trail is very popular with those tourists who want to be as far away from the noise and eternal holiday of summer Yalta as possible. The unique microclimate of the place allows us to call the trail one of the best routes for Crimean ecotourism. Description and durationThe total length of the Botkin trail is 4.5 kilometers. All the way from the Yalta border to the Stavri-Kaya mountain goes uphill, the elevation difference is sensitive, so unprepared tourists or people with pressure problems should consult a doctor before going on such walks. The height difference between the starting and ending points of the route is almost 500 meters. Passing from the path stone, tourists will find themselves near the Ay-Dimitrii stream, which is well-known among local residents and experienced tourists. From it, a winding path leads to the Bufilya-Dere gorge. Before reaching this gorge, you can see another natural attraction of the route - a small Lower Yauzlar waterfall, located on the river of the same name.  Lower Yauzlar Waterfall The river will need to be crossed by a suspension bridge. You should walk on it carefully, dilapidated and slippery boards have let inattentive tourists more than once. The passage from the bridge leads to the Upper Yauzlar. There is also an equipped observation deck between the waterfalls, from which the final point of the route will be viewed between the pine branches. The last part of the path is a steep ascent to the Stavri-Kaya rock. Here the path diverges into several branches, and the final segment of the ascent should be chosen based on one's own strengths. The easy path is a narrow serpentine road that bends around the rock and leads to the final site at its very top. A more difficult path is a few paths laid right along the slope. Of course, there are no steep sections here, but a certain level of preparation from tourists is still required. We must not forget about elementary safety - rockfalls are possible here at any time of the year. The ascent and the traditional photo for memory on the top of Stavri-Kai is the final point of the route. It is best to return back in the same way in order to once again appreciate all the natural beauty of the Botkin trail. The approximate time of ascent to the Stavri-Kaya rock is 3 hours. The way back will take significantly less time.  The top of Stavri-Kai AttractionsBefore going out on the trail, many guests of Yalta get acquainted with its surroundings, the main object of which, of course, is Yalta Zoo. It was opened relatively recently - in 1990, funded by private investors. Now on the territory of the zoo, exceeding 3 hectares, more than a thousand animals of almost a hundred species live.  Yalta Zoo The final point of the route will be a stop at the highest section of the Stavri-Kaya rock. A large metal cross was erected here, and since then the place is considered sacred. The approach to the cross is fenced, but the safety of this place is always relative. The steep edges of the cliff rise 700 meters above sea level. In rainy weather, it is reasonable to refrain from a lot of movement on the top of the cliff. Interesting factsThe name of Sergei Petrovich Botkin is associated with another hiking tourist route of Crimea - the legendary Tsar's Trail, starting from the Livadia Palace. The trail was created on the recommendation of Botkin himself for the walks of Empress Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Alexander II.  The Tsar's path The proximity of several hiking trails in Yalta often causes confusion even among the most experienced tourists. In guidebooks, very often one of the sections of the Stangeevskaya trail is attributed to the Botkin route, although this is fundamentally wrong. There is a so-called Upper Botkin trail trail and Lower Botkin Trail. In fact, the Upper Path is an old version of the route, which was laid in 1902. After some time, part of the ground on the way collapsed, so the initial segment now goes a little lower. The upper trail is not considered the safest route today, so the official route of the Botkin Trail has been slightly changed. On the southern slope of the Stavri-Kaya cliff there is an entrance to the cave. It is strictly prohibited to climb here on your own without insurance and other climbing equipment. With an organized separate tour, you can go inside the cave. According to archaeologists, the site of the most ancient people could have been here. Some sections of the Botkin Trail route are associated with ancient Tatar legends. You can hear them from any guide who is willing to share folk legends. We also recommend reading Dangers in Canada Topic: Tourist route”Botkin trail” (Crimea). |
