Mountain Digoria is divided into Eastern and Western parts. The conventional border between them is considered to be the bed of the main water artery of Digoria - Urukh (Irafa in Digor style), which in the upper reaches is formed from the confluence of the Karaugomdon and Khares rivers. After merging with the Karaugomdon River (absolute height 1490 m), flowing out from under the Karaugom glacier, Urukh immediately becomes high-water, increasing in water volume by 2.5-3 times. Flowing further along the bottom of the wide Urukh gorge, the Urukh River receives its two largest tributaries: on the left - Bilyagidon, on the right - Aigamugidon. The Urukh plain comes out near the village of Kalukh (absolute height 750 m). Thus, over a relatively short distance - 20 km, the drop in height is almost 750 m. You can imagine the speed of the water flow.

The road to the upper reaches of the Digor Gorge is laid along the Urukh River and passes the “gate” of the Alania National Park in the village of Matsuta.

Almost all the natural attractions of Western Digoria are located on the territory of the Alania Park, access to which is still free (2016).
After Matsuta, the road turns to the left bank of the Urukh. The valley gradually narrows, the slopes become steeper, and a forest appears. The outlines of the surrounding mountains become sharp, the peaks are sharp and rocky, and the slopes become steep and steep.

After 6 km from Matsuta we find ourselves in the village of Akhsau, beyond which the Digora gorge becomes wider. From here you can clearly see the entire Urukh Gorge - a grandiose trough with a flat, wide bottom and steep steep slopes. To the right of the road rise the spurs of the Sugansky ridge, to the left - the Kazatykhokh massif - two huge links of the Side Range, separated by the transverse valley of the Urukh River. The river flows along a wide bottom, winding and dividing into numerous branches.

The peculiar trough-like shape indicates that it was created not only by the river, but also by an ancient glacier that descended 20-25 thousand years ago from the northern slope of the Main Dividing Range.

Another 4 km of the way, and at the foot of the Chirkh ridge, where the Karaugomdon and Khares rivers - the two main sources of the Urukh River - merge, the road forks. To the left, across the bridge along the Karaugomdon River, the road goes to the Dzinaga tourist center and further to the village of Dzinaga.

We will continue our journey along another road along the Khares River to the Khares, or Upper Digor, gorge. Here it would be appropriate to talk about the origin of the name of the gorge Digorsky. It comes from the name of the Ossetian ethnic group - Digorians (in Ossetian - “Digoron” or “Dyguron”), who have long inhabited the Urukha Gorge.

The Verkhne-Digorskoe gorge is very beautiful. From the south, above the greenery of the forests, the peaks of the Main Dividing Range, exceeding 4000 m, sparkle with white snow; from the north, no less high granite massifs of the Sugansky Range rise.

The road passes through the villages of Moska, Odola and Stur-Digora, which is located 6 km from the fork in the road. At the end of the 19th century. it was the largest village in mountainous Digoria. In 1884, there were 588 residents (67 households).

Nowadays, like all mountain villages, Stur-Digora (Ustur-Digora, Big Digoria - Ossetian) is going through hard times. The number of households, and accordingly, the number of residents, decreased sharply. But many new brick houses under tiles and slates also appeared. In Stur-Digor, old buildings (Khadzars) are well preserved. The lower floor of such a house had a commercial purpose, and the upper one served as housing.

In the village in 2007, a chapel was consecrated in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost.” This is one of the highest chapels (2300 meters above sea level) in Europe and the Russian Federation. A landmark of sorts.

The blue (the color of the Virgin Mary) pyramidal dome of the chapel seems even bluer against the backdrop of snow-white peaks, because from the village of Stur-Digora there is a wonderful view of the mountains. The cone-shaped green Mount Kubus, sacred to the Digorians, is clearly visible, which separates the valleys of the Hares and Tanadon rivers.

The last village in the gorge is Kussu, which is located near Stor Digora - 3 km. When you are at the top of Kubus, you notice that the villages of the Verkhne-Digorsky gorge are located on the left bank of the Khares almost nearby. Between them there are holiday villages and new recreation centers, so it seems that the houses of the villages stretch along the road in a single street.

Another 1 km from Kussu, and we approach the Rostselmash recreation center.

From here begins the resort area of ​​the Digor Gorge with recreation centers of various sizes and comfort - for every taste and budget. On a section of the gorge 3 km from the Rostselmash recreation center, among pine forests there are such comfortable shelters as “Eagle’s Nest”, “Sky Threshold”, “Tana-Park”, “Koma-Art”.

Digoria occupies the southwestern outskirts of North Ossetia, covering the territories of modern Digorsky and Irafsky regions of the Republic. They make up the flat and mountainous parts of this region. The historical name of the area comes from the name of the local ethnic group of Ossetians - Digorians. The Iraf region is named after the main river Urukh, which the Digorians call Iraf. In this article we want to tell you a little about this little-known and almost unvisited place with amazingly beautiful and untouched nature.

The most popular among travelers is the mountainous part of Digoria. Mesmerizing pictures open up from the unofficial natural “gate” to this fabulous country. They are the Akhsinta Canyon. Here the stormy waters of Urukh, roaring through the huge wall of the Rocky Ridge, form a narrow passage no more than 30 meters wide. The height of the vertical “gates” reaches 300 meters. In the narrowest places the river bed does not exceed a couple of meters. The rays of the sun never fall on the bottom of this eternally gloomy gorge. Once upon a time, a small path ran along the steep slopes of this canyon, which was the only route connecting the Digorians with the North Caucasus. In the twentieth century it was expanded, but still its width did not allow two cars to pass each other. Now a safe tunnel has been made through the ridge. Nevertheless, thrill-seekers even today choose the old bypass route. Nearby, a concrete bridge, popularly called the “Devil’s” bridge, is thrown across a stormy river.

This narrow passage made mountainous Digoria one of the most inaccessible regions of the Caucasus, where lowland inhabitants found refuge from external invaders for centuries. These natural gates stopped the hordes of the Tatar-Mongols, Timerlane, Persian shahs, detachments of Turkish Janissaries and Crimean khans. At moments of greatest danger, the defenders created entire rock collapses, completely cutting off Digoria’s connection with the outside world. The ruins of numerous watchtowers and battle towers, as well as geographical names, testify to the dramatic pages of the history of this region. Thus, the nearby village of Akhsarisar, translated from Ossetian, means “the height of military valor.” According to legend, the heroic battle of their ancestors - the Alans against the invincible Central Asian commander Tamerlane - took place here.

At the very end of the canyon, from the steep cliffs, travelers are greeted by a winged statue of the patron saint of Ossetia - the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious. Ossetians call him “Uastirdzhi” (in the Digor manner - “Uasgergi”) and his worship combines the interweaving of alien and local traditions. Which is not surprising, because for Ossetians this is not so much a Christian saint as a Nart hero who helps warriors, travelers and shepherds. Praise and prayer are offered to him at any table and at the beginning of every task. There are many sculptures of the Saint in Ossetia, but in the Digor Gorge it is special. Here he is depicted without a sword and the usual serpent. He seems to bless people for righteous deeds, stretching out his hand over the steep serpentine of a modern highway.

Nearby is the ancient sanctuary (zuar) of Uastirdzhi. It should be noted here that he is considered an exclusively male saint, therefore entry into the territory is prohibited for women. When saying their prayers and making requests, men traditionally bring a monetary offering, always in an odd number. Ossetians are superstitiously afraid of even numbers. While waiting for their better halves, women can also spend time usefully: enjoy the picturesque views, quench their thirst at the icy spring located here and take a walk to the nearby waterfall.

Digoria is often called “Paradise for climbers.” And she deservedly bears this title. After all, this is a land of the highest peaks, sheer cliffs, huge glaciers, turbulent rivers and other mountain obstacles. Gigantic mountain ranges rise here to a height of more than four thousand meters. The height of the steep slopes reaches 2000 m, and the difference in absolute heights between the peaks and valleys is up to 3500 m. The highest mountain in Digoria, Wilpata, has a height of 4646 meters above sea level. Here you can find passes of any complexity. If you really want to, you can even feel like a pioneer here, walking through a place where no one has ever set foot before.

But the majestic nature of Digoria opens up not only to professional athletes, but also to lovers of comfortable relaxation. Even unprepared people can feel all the grandeur of the wild nature of Digoria without much physical exertion. There are a huge variety of so-called weekend routes here. Spending the night at recreation centers, wearing headscarves, or simply coming for the day from nearby cities, you can take a short walk to a variety of attractions: waterfalls, glaciers, canyons, mountain peaks, medieval castles. But you can simply enjoy the most picturesque panoramas, the cleanest air, the aromas of alpine meadows and coniferous forests.

One of the main calling cards of Digoria is its glaciers. Its high mountain part is a real kingdom of eternal ice and snow left over from the Ice Age. In a relatively small area there are more than 60 glaciers, with a total area of ​​about 90 square kilometers, which is comparable to such a large city as Elista.

The region contains the second largest glacier in the Caucasus - Karaugom (26.6 sq. km). Its huge ice shell, stretching for almost thirteen and a half kilometers, from a bird's eye view appears to be a huge silvery lizard crawling into the green valley of the river of the same name. At the same time, being the lowest glacier in the North Caucasus (its tongues reach a level of 1850 m), the Karaugom glacier is considered one of the most difficult to pass. Its very name translated from Ossetian means “Blind Gorge”, or a gorge with no exit. It earned this fame thanks to its extensive icefall, consisting of a large number of ice rocks, cracks and labyrinths. Nevertheless, the beauty of this Caucasian giant can be enjoyed by walking just a few kilometers along a relatively simple mountain path.

The melting of huge glaciers and snowfields forms a great many beautiful waterfalls. Due to their number, Digoria is often called the “Land of a Thousand Waterfalls”. And they are here for every taste: from huge cascades hundreds of meters high to small but beautiful water streams. The most famous waterfalls in Digoria originate from the Taymazi massif. People poetically dubbed them “Three Sisters.” This name is determined by the number of the three largest streams of water rushing in parallel threads from the wide cap of the mountain. From a distance, they really look similar to their relatives, but when you get closer, it turns out that each “sister” has her own character and characteristics. One is flatter, the other has many rapids, the third is unusually winding.

In Digoria, as throughout the Caucasus, it is difficult to ignore geographical names, because behind each of them there is always some interesting story or legend hidden. There the toponym “Taymazi”, which is borne by the mountain peak itself, as well as glaciers, rivers and a clearing. According to local legends, they come from the name of a certain Digor resident Taymazov, who in ancient times escaped from captivity in neighboring Georgia. Fearing pursuit, he began to make his way to his native places not through beaten paths, but

over the top of a nearby mountain. Subsequently, these places were named in honor of him as a pioneer.

Relatively small waterfalls also have a special charm. One of the most visited is the thirty-five-meter waterfall “Pearl”, located on the Galdorion River. The seething water stream has seven cascades falling into a small bowl. Thrill-seekers love to swim in this huge natural shower. But staying under the jets of water is not always so easy. In addition to the powerful pressure of water, daredevils are also hampered by the slippery bottom of the bowl.

Digoria is also a kingdom of wild nature. Herds of brave Caucasian aurochs and chamois graze in the alpine and subalpine meadows of high-mountain Digoria. In the forest zone you can meet graceful roe deer, wild boars, wolves and brown bears. Badgers, foxes and martens live in deep ravines filled with windbreaks. From time to time, in the most inaccessible regions of Digoria, cases of encounters with the main living symbol of North Ossetia are recorded - the Central Asian leopard, which residents of the East proudly call “leopard”. This wild cat, larger than a large mastiff, is unusually cautious and rarely catches the eye of a person. Seeing her is considered great luck.

Travelers in Digoria can be surprised not only by the wild inhabitants of the mountains and forests, but also by quite domestic animals. Thus, herds of highland yaks and Asian buffalos may be very unusual for Europeans. These huge shaggy bulls give a special exotic flavor, more typical of the distant Himalayas than of the mountainous Caucasus. In order to preserve the unique nature of Digoria, Alania National Park was created on its southern outskirts in the late 90s of the last century.

Digoria is famous not only for its picturesque nature, but also for its unique, original culture. The ruins of ancient mountain villages, legendary watchtowers, family crypts, and ancient sanctuaries testify to the dramatic and turbulent history of the region.

Digoria is especially proud of its castle complexes. Perhaps the most famous is the frigate castle in the village of Khanaz. There is no other castle like this in the entire North Caucasus, and in its architectural complex it is very similar to classical European citadels. Attention is drawn to its unusual shape, reminiscent of a sailing ship. In foggy weather, it seems that this stone frigate, stuck on a sheer cliff, seems to be sailing across the sky-high sea of ​​the Caucasus Mountains. According to legend, this castle was built by a certain Mansau, the only one of the men who remained in these places after the bloody battle with the invaders. He was a robber and his main craft was stealing children and selling them into slavery in distant Turkey. Mansau was so impressed by the foreign ships that he decided to build a fortified castle similar to them.

An amazing medieval architectural complex is located in the village of Galiat. It is an example of traditional mountain villages. Houses here were built in tiers. The roof of one house served as a yard for another, so the Galianians could easily visit guests without leaving their own yard. The highest ancestral towers in Ossetia are also located in the village.

A typical Ossetian tower (ganakh) consisted of four floors. The first floor was intended for livestock, the second and third were allocated for the living compartment, the fourth floor was a defensive compartment. In turbulent times, family members took turns keeping watch and controlling all approaches to the tower from the loopholes.

On the stones of the outer walls of many houses in Galiat there are mysterious petroglyphs - ancient drawings and writings. Scientists have still not been able to accurately determine the date of creation of these ancient works of art. Today, no more than a couple of dozen residents live in Galiat, but once upon a time this village was a very rich medieval city. It flourished thanks to one of the branches of the Great Silk Road passing through it. The local nobility traded in livestock, which was famous far beyond the borders of Ancient Ossetia. Large craft workshops operated in the village itself. The development of Galiat is evidenced by the remains of a water supply and sewerage system found by archaeologists dating back to the 10th century. On the spurs of the ridge around Galiat there are several large cult complexes.

In Digoria, places of sacred significance for the history of the centuries-old Ossetian people have been preserved. So in the village of Zadalesk there is a crypt dedicated to one of the most revered women of Ossetia - Saint Nana Zadaleski. According to legend, after the devastating campaign of Tamerlane, the once powerful Alania was devastated. Unable to conquer the proud people, the invaders indiscriminately exterminated local residents. Neither women, nor children, nor the elderly were spared. Sacrificing themselves, parents hid their small children in small shelters inaccessible to adults. One woman who miraculously survived after the enemy left, walked through the devastated Alan villages, collected orphaned children and took them along secret paths to inaccessible mountain shelters. One day, in search of food, she went down to the village of Zadalesk. Local residents built a separate house for the woman and the orphans and helped as best they could. Over time, the children grew up and took root in nearby villages. Unfortunately, the name of this brave woman was lost through the centuries, and only her venerable name for her old age remained in the memory of descendants - Nana. After her death, grateful descendants turned her house into a sanctuary. Now there is a museum in the village, where you can learn the history of the region and immerse yourself in the kingdom of ancient legends and traditions. In memory of those events, every year on the third Saturday of July the village celebrates the holiday “Zadaleski Nana”. Responsible for the holiday are three families, who donate a ram for the kuvd (holiday), brew beer, and prepare arak. Families in which girls were born during the year bring a sacrificial animal to the sanctuary, bring pies, araka, and beer. The elder offers a prayer, entrusting the children and youth to Nana, asking that by her grace they avoid illnesses and troubles, difficult roads. They entrust the patronage of Nana and those who go on the road.

In the village of Matsuta there is a crypt of the legendary Nart Soslan. The Narts were analogues of the medieval Russian heroes, who bravely fought against any opponents. Their adventures and exploits are captured in the famous Nart epic, the main cycle of tales of the Ossetians and other Caucasian peoples. Soslan was one of the main defenders of Digoria and, according to legend, even after death he defended his native land. According to legend, as soon as the enemy army approached the Digor Gorge, the local residents ran to the Nart’s crypt and loudly shouted: “Exiled, Fadis!” (“Exiled, alarm!”), to which Soslan immediately jumped out of his tomb with one single question - which side is the enemy. And moments later the enemy was defeated. But one day, out of simple curiosity, one man called the mighty Nart, and when he saw him, he laughed out loud. Since then, Soslan stopped helping his descendants.

Like the Russian heroes, the Narts were not fictional characters, but were real people whose glorious life path was shrouded in fabulous legends. So in 1880, during excavations in the Matsuta crypt, Professor V. Miller found a skeleton of “truly remarkable size,” which confirmed the burial of a mighty warrior here.

Of genuine interest to travelers are not only impressive monumental structures, but also traditional Ossetian gravestones - tsyrts, which are installed in large numbers on the outskirts of villages and along roads. They are vertically placed rectangular stone slabs, the height of a person. A complex ornament reflecting the image of the deceased is carved on their front part. Ancient Scythian tombstones are considered to be the direct ancestor of the Ossetian Tsyrts. From the Scythian culture they migrated to the Alanian, and then to the Ossetian.

But Digoria is famous not only for its ancient architecture. The attention of visitors is also attracted by a small chapel erected in 2007 in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost.” Located at an altitude of 2300 meters above sea level, it is one of the highest places of religious worship in Russia and Europe.

The people who inhabit it give a special flavor to any region. By their ethnic origin, being part of the Ossetian ethnos, the Digorians are also descendants of many ancient Iranian-speaking peoples: Scythians, Sarmatians and Alans. Before the arrival of the Tatar-Mongol hordes, they dominated the central part of the North Caucasus. After the foreign invasion, their ancestors found refuge in remote areas isolated from each other. Mixing with the local population, they gradually formed separate sub-ethnic groups with certain ethnic, linguistic, cultural, material and other differences. One of such groups are the Digorians, who took refuge in the gorges of the upper reaches of the Urukh River. The main distinguishing feature of the Digorians is their language. They speak a very specific dialect of the Ossetian language, which until the mid-20th century was considered a separate literary language of the Iranian group of Indo-Europeans. In addition, the Digorians have quite complex religious traditions. In this regard, among them there are Christians, Muslims and representatives of traditional Ossetian (pagan) beliefs. Moreover, they are all intricately intertwined and here it is difficult to meet orthodox believers who strictly observed the canons of only “their” religion.

Like other Ossetians, Digorians are distinguished by special Caucasian hospitality. It’s here, the most sincere thing you can’t get enough of. Local residents, when receiving guests and communicating with visitors, do not so much strive to show how good they are, but rather express their love for their native land and natural goodwill. Local residents are happy to tell legends about their region and show local attractions.

Unfortunately, the famous mountain villages are gradually dying out. In once populous places, where hundreds and even thousands of people lived in the distant Middle Ages, today only a few families remain. In some places you are more likely to meet foreign tourists than native Digorians. Sometimes it feels like life has stopped here. However, it is in such silence, especially near abandoned ruins, that eternal serenity is felt.

As for the best time of year to visit Digoria, it is without a doubt mid-summer - early autumn. In the summer months, alpine and subalpine meadows look most advantageous, delighting travelers with multi-colored carpets of various colors. In autumn, tourists are spoiled by warm, dry and windless weather. At the turn of August and September, in addition to enjoying the most picturesque views, you can also enjoy the generous gifts of the mountain region: raspberries, blueberries, lingonberries, stone fruits, barberries, currants and rowan. In winter, the mountains and valleys are covered with a multi-meter blanket of snow.

In conclusion, I would like to say that there are places where you want to return, but after visiting Digoria you understand that there are still places, having visited which you want not only to return, but to continue the journey, to explore the entire region up and down. Digoria is just such a place. Having visited it, you fall in love with this mountainous region and feel an irrepressible desire to travel all over Ossetia, look into all corners of this glorious Republic, and feel its special flavor.

Purpose of a trip to Upper Digoria in one day: visiting the natural beauty of the Urukh River basin, the southwestern part of the Republic of North Ossetia - Alania - Upper Digoria.

Our small company, consisting of four “girls” of different ages and a driver, left the city of Essentuki (we live there) early in the morning for North Ossetia. We ordered a car with a driver-guide for the whole day (cost 10,000 rubles for 6 people, but at the last moment two could not go, therefore, the amount had to be divided between 4 people).

Uastirdzhi

Upon entering the territory of North Ossetia, we immediately saw a sculpture carved into the rock of the patron saint of warriors and travelers, St. George the Victorious (Uastyrzhi). The Ossetian name Uastirdzhi came to us from the epic of the Narts - the ancestors of modern Ossetians (Alans). Later, during the era of the adoption of Christianity in the second century, Uastirdzhi became associated with the Christian Saint George. Currently, this is the favorite Ossetian patron.

Zadalesk

Next, our route on a trip to Upper Digoria in one day lay in Zadalesk - a small highland village in a gorge on the banks of the Urukh River. At the entrance to the village, a snow leopard guards. Zadalesk is famous for the house-museum of Nana Zadaleski. History says that in the 14th century, when the lame-footed troops of Tamerlane (Timur) during jihad destroyed civilians, including women and children, one miraculously surviving Ossetian woman found the children and took them to a secret gorge where enemies could not penetrate. Thus, Nana was able to save and raise several dozen orphans, for which she was canonized as a Saint.

That terrible time for the Alans was reflected in folk songs and poems:

Leaders of Tapan-Digori,
Their courageous youth, one better than the other,
They drown in blood at the hands of the enemy,
They thin out and go to the kingdom of the dead.
At least they fight to the last man.

The museum recreates the life of Ossetians of that time, national clothes, kitchen utensils, and also has a stand with photographs of ordinary Ossetian women - mothers of many children of our days. Every year at the beginning of August, Nana’s holiday is celebrated in Zadalesk, which attracts pilgrims from all over Alanya and some other countries of the so-called ethnic camp of the “Alan trace” (Ossetian diasporas from different parts of the world). Entrance to Nana's house-museum is free.

Next on the trip to Upper Digoria we passed by the village of Dzenag, where there is a monument to the soldiers who died in the Second World War. By the way, 37 Ossetians were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for their exploits during the Great Patriotic War.

We passed the Urukh River - not wide, but like all mountain rivers, very restless.

Our path lay to Galiat. On the way we came across the remains (more precisely, only the walls) of a stone and ore processing plant, which was destroyed back in Soviet times. Please note that the inscriptions are from 1932 (!!!). It reminded me a little of the Palace of Winds in the Indian city of Jaipur (there is only one wall). Now, in the ruins of this plant, locals are engaged in farming.

Galiat and Kumyldon waterfall

And here we are in Galiat, a famous medieval settlement. When it was one of the richest and cleanest villages in North Ossetia (one of the first to have running water and sewerage here); an interesting way of building houses is tiered, when often the roof of one house served as the porch of another; a village of petroglyphs - ancient writings and images of people and animals. Now it is an almost endangered settlement with a dozen local residents. Some Ossetians living in other cities have dachas here and come here to relax (barbecue, drink).

These are the Ossetians we came across when we wanted to go to the most beautiful observation deck, which turned out to be a dacha. The locals were barbecuing there and wouldn’t let us go anywhere until we ate with them. 🙂 Such Ossetian hospitality. By the way, Ossetian women whom we met in Zadalesk and who were traveling along the same route as us were also with us.
Having eaten heavily (and we couldn’t “get away” or get away with just one piece of meat), we wandered around the village, looked at the high stone watchtowers with loopholes and, on the way out, came across such a miracle. Piggy mother with children. 🙂

Having probably taken a hundred photos (and maybe more...).

By the way, the pig didn’t react to us in any way - she was enjoying her mother’s happiness 🙂, we went to the final destination of our trip route to Upper Digoria - Kumyldon waterfall. The waterfall is small, but very picturesque, and then we headed home.

So, in short, our trip to Upper Digoria in North Ossetia took place along the following route:
Essentuki - Zadalesk - Dzenag - Galiat - Kumyldon.

Useful information: how to get there

Nearest airports:

• Vladikavkaz (the capital of North Ossetia) – about 130 km;
• Nalchik (capital of Kabardino-Balkaria);
• Mineralnye Vody.

These cities can also be reached by train.

You can stay in numerous hotels of different levels, as well as in sanatoriums (in addition to accommodation and meals, treatment is also included). Locals also rent apartments by the day.

Advice: At any airport, at the exit (but without leaving it!) there are official 24-hour taxi stands with fixed tariffs. You need to order a car there. If you have already left the airport, you will immediately fall into the clutches of rather arrogant private traders who charge visitors 3-4 times more than an official taxi.

Or you can leave the airport by public transport (during the daytime only).

I remember well when we returned home (to Mineralnye Vody airport) from Egypt, where we were quite tired of the annoying attention of locals who wanted to sell something, a taxi driver accosted us (we were already waiting for the bus to the city). He walked in circles for a very long time and persistently offered to leave with him. In my hearts I said: “My God, I’m already in Russia! Well, why are you pestering me!” I was given a brilliant answer: “You are not in Russia, you are in the Caucasus.” So keep that in mind.

As for the trip to Upper Digoria in North Ossetia itself: you can rent a car and go on your own. You can (if you are a group) order a whole car - an SUV with a driver, who, most often, will also be a tour guide.

Advice: Dress in layers (that is, in such a way that you can undress if it gets very hot). Be sure to bring a raincoat, sunscreen, and a cap. The weather in the mountains is very changeable. During our trip to Upper Digoria in North Ossetia, it rained twice, heavy fog descended and then the sun shone.

Nutrition:
There are no cafes on this route. It's better to take food with you.

• Most residents of North Ossetia are Christians;
• As a sign of respect, guests are always served 3 pies - with Kadyndzjin cheese, with Fydzhin meat and with Tsakharajin herbs (more precisely, with beet tops).
• Now there are Ossetian pies with cherries and dozens of other fillings, but the original national ones are those mentioned above.
• Strong dark homemade beer is very popular among Ossetians. It stands on the table in the yard, and the guest can drink it to his heart's content.
• When you drive past the Uastirdzhi monument, you need to rise to show your respect. The driver does this too.
• Ossetians have very strict table etiquette.

Almost all Alan houses are surrounded by high stone fences (that is, the yard is not at all visible from the street). The fact is that legends were made about the beauty of white-skinned and dark-haired Ossetian women, which is why such fences were built to protect the women living in the house from the attention of men.

Travel plan

Arrival in the morning at the airport (train station) of Mineralnye Vody. Group transfer at 11.30 to the Digor Gorge of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania (3 hours to the border). Lunch (on your own). In the national cafe in the village of Chikola you will be offered dishes of Ossetian cuisine. In the company of a guide, you will travel to the Main Gate of mountain Digoria - the Akhsinta Canyon.
It is in this place that the canyon narrows so much that it turns into a stone trench, and it becomes visible how the Urukh River beats at a depth of seventy meters among the rocks. The canyon amazes with its grandeur. Its steep walls are formed by cliffs of gray layered Jurassic limestone. Several karst springs spectacularly fall into the abyss.
Along the way, you will be met and escorted on a good journey by a sculpture of the most revered saint in Ossetia - St. George (Ossetian: Uastirdzhi). You will also visit the village of Matsuta, located at the confluence of the Aygomugidon and Urukh rivers. “There is no further way” - this is how its name is translated.
Arrival at the Tana Park Hotel***, which is comfortably located in the farthest picturesque corner of the Digor Gorge on the left bank of the Khares River in the “horseshoe” of natural attractions: Metelaska Falls, Mount Kubus, spurs of Laboda and Sugansky Range. In the evening, discussion of the tour program. Dinner on your own in the hotel restaurant.

Breakfast in the hotel. Meeting with a guide, leaving in an SUV for an auto-walking route to the Karaugom Gorge (the length of the round-trip walk is 10-12 km.)
Before leaving on the route, you will issue a pass to the border zone. Hike to the Karaugom glacier. The Karaugomdon River originates from under the tongue of the glacier. The name “Karaugom” itself translated from Ossetian means “blind gorge” or “gorge with no exit.” It received this name due to the fact that previously it was possible to get into the gorge only through a high icefall. The length of the Karaugom glacier is just over 13 kilometers, the area is 27 square kilometers, the glacier descends to a height of 1820 meters. The glacier has two icefalls. The upper one, the most powerful, breaks out through the narrow “gates” of the Karaugomsky ridge and flows out from a height of 3500 meters; the tongue of the glacier reaches a length of 800 meters. The lower icefall is smaller, about 500 meters. Lunch on the way (packed lunch). Return to the hotel, rest. Dinner on your own in the hotel restaurant.

Breakfast in the hotel. Today you will climb to the top of Mount Kubus and walk to the Taymazinsky waterfalls. Climbing Mount Qubus will delight you with beautiful panoramas and virgin forests covering its slopes. Having descended from the mountain, you will continue your walk around the foot of Kubus to the Taymazinsky waterfalls. The waterfalls look especially spectacular from afar. Three snow-white streams fall at a distance of 150-200 meters from each other. The waterfalls originate on the Taymazi glacier, in the Khares Gorge. Below, the streams break against stepped stone pyramids. Over the years, water has carved out many depressions in the pyramids, which are a real decoration of each of the waterfalls. Water falling into these depressions splashes out of them in fountains. Lunch at the waterfalls includes packed lunch.
Return to the hotel, rest. Free time at the resort. Dinner on your own.

Breakfast in the hotel. Today you will go on a journey through the medieval Ossetian villages of Kumbulta (visiting Bagayt Castle), Lezgor, Donifars.
The route runs along the spur of the Rocky Range, or more precisely, along the spur of the Uazakhokh massif. Here is the highest point of the Rocky Range in North Ossetia - the mythological peak - Uazakhokh, whose outlines resemble a dilapidated fortress (3,529 m).
Moving to the villages of Lezgor and Donifars, which in the Middle Ages were communities independent from anyone, where a democratic form of self-government was preserved, which differed from governance in other societies of Digoria. Today these villages are abandoned by people and represent an ancient ethnographic open-air museum with numerous remains of mountain architecture monuments: towers, crypts, castles, sanctuaries... Lunch (packed rations).
In a huge clearing between the villages of Lezgor and Donifars, the second largest in North Ossetia, after Dargavsky, is located the unique early medieval Lezgorsko-Donifars crypt burial ground. There are 64 tombs of various types and 7 tsyrts - memorial pillars. The Satayi-Obau temple is also located here (second half of the 15th – early 16th centuries).
You will devote most of the program to getting to know the necropolis and the remaining monuments of medieval mountain architecture.
You will stop by the medieval settlement of Zadalesk, where you will visit the museum of the mother - the savior of Alan children - Zadaleskoynan.
After which you will go to the settlement of Khanaz, in the past one of the largest settlements in mountainous Digoria. The settlement is famous for the castle of the Tsallaev family, which is called “Frigate”. There is no other such architectural building in the entire North Caucasus. Indeed, it is not clear to a person who comes here for the first time what rises on a high rocky ledge at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. m. - a sailing frigate or a medieval castle, cutting the air waves with its sharp stone bow. This unique example of medieval mountain architecture dates back to the 14th-16th centuries. After the excursion, you will visit an Ossetian house, where the hospitable hosts will treat you to homemade Ossetian pies and tea with herbs collected in the mountains.
During the meeting you will learn about the lifestyle and customs of the local residents. Return to the hotel. Dinner on your own in the hotel restaurant.

Breakfast in the hotel. Group gathering in the hotel lobby. Exit to the route. Today you will hike along the Tana-dona gorge to the Tana-tsete glaciers. The length of the round trip walk is 10-12 km. During your walk, you will find yourself captivated by unique, intricate vegetation: juniper, dwarf perennial deciduous trees. Leaving the vegetation zone, you will find yourself in an amphitheater of mountains: Taimazi Main, Chashura, Tsiteli, Digoria Peak, the tops of the Western and Main towers of Laboda.
At the end of the path you will see the Tana-tsete glacier. Lunch on the way (packed lunch). Return to the hotel. Dinner on your own in the hotel restaurant.

The village of Galiat is located in the Uallagkom Gorge. This is a unique medieval architectural complex. Houses here were previously built in tiers. The roof of one house served as a yard for another, so the Galianians could easily visit each other without leaving their own yard. Typical Ossetian towers, consisting of four floors, have also been preserved in Galiat.
Lunch on your own.
At 14.00 departure from the gorge to Mineralnye Vody airport (5 hours travel time) for evening flights after 12.00 hours.

Looking at the Digor Gorge on the map, you can immediately notice its distinctive feature. It lies in the altitude of its location above sea level - about 2000 meters. Ossetians call the Digor Gorge “Country” because people with ancient history and original traditions that are passed on from generation to generation live there.

The Otkritie tourist club offers exciting adventure tours into the world of ancient towers and sanctuaries, stormy mountain rivers and glaciers, alpine meadows and the hot southern sun. Our trips include:

• active recreation in nature;
• acquaintance with the rituals, architecture and national cuisine of Ossetians.

We select unique author's routes for each traveler, based on his preferences and individual preparedness.

Geographical characteristics of the Digor Gorge

Digoria is located in the southwest of North Ossetia, in its farthest corner. From the capital Vladikavkaz to the gorge you need to drive three hours to cover a distance of 120 km. The Urukh River flows along the bottom of the Digor Gorge.

Conventionally, the entire area is divided into parts:

• Stur-Digora (Ustur-Digoræ - “big Digoria”);
• Tapan-Digora (Tæpæn-Digoræ - “planar Digoria”);
• Donifars (literally - “side of the river”);
• Uallagkom (Uællagkom - “upper gorge”).

At first, the asphalt highway spreads along flat terrain before and for some time after the village of Chikola. And only after a while you realize that you are already in the mountains. The steep serpentine winds higher and higher around the enormous rocks. Renting a holiday home in the Digor Gorge is not difficult. The people here have always been famous for their hospitality and respect for the traveler.

Around every turn, a new discovery awaits the traveler. The first to meet the traveler at the entrance to the Digor Gorge is the Devil's Bridge. The height from its level to the bottom of the abyss is equal to the height of a 25-story building. In this place in 1919, near the bridge, Red detachments defeated the disunited White Guard of General Denikin.

It is from this passage that you can contemplate the entire perspective of the deep Akhsinta canyon, which is 5 km long. In some places, bubbling springs and mountain streams break out from the mass of rocks. According to tourist reviews, the waterfalls are the pearl of the Digor Gorge, irrigating barren stones.
Soon the mountainous terrain partes somewhat and a sunny valley opens into view. Above its banks one can see stone security structures and ancient settlements of the highlanders:

• Donifars;
• Lezgor;
• Zadalesk;
• Khanaz.

On the flat pastures you can still see large herds of horses. You can see such photos of the Digor Gorge on our website, and then photograph these beauties yourself during the hike.

Sights of the Digor Gorge

Zadalesk is now a residential village. Several families live here, and some stay in the gorge for the winter. The deserted streets of the village make you think that the inhabitants have abandoned them. But in fact, everyone is busy with their own business, some tending flocks of sheep, some making cheese. No gourmet restaurant food can compare with the taste of these natural products grown in the cleanest air of the highlands. The weather in the Digor Gorge is favorable for cultivating grain and keeping small livestock.

Our adventure tours allow you to get a powerful boost of energy, improve your health and expand your horizons during an active holiday in North Ossetia.