Mount Ai-Petri

Mount Ai-Petri (Greek Saint Peter) is perhaps the most famous and frequently visited landmark of the Crimea. The mountain reaches a height of 1234 meters, and rises majestically above Miskhor and Alupka.

If you decide to go to Ai-Petri, then the very ascent to it will bring you a lot of impressions. There are several ways to get to the mountain, the most popular are the "Miskhor - Pinery - Ai-Petri" cableway and excursion taxis that depart directly from the lower station of the cableway. 

If you decide to go up by minibus, then you will be driven along a narrow serpentine, will show the waterfall Wuchang-Su (although it dries up in summer) and the Silver Gazebo, and from the road open beautiful, majestic panoramas.

Serpentine road to Mount Ai-Petri

Serpentine road to Mount Ai-Petri

However, all this can not be compared with the impressions you get by climbing the cablewat\y, which in itself is a tourist attraction. The funicular cabin, designed for 35 people, first hovers at a height of several human growths over the vineyards, then rises above the trees and finally slides along the steep slope of Ai-Petri. In the booth, a circular glazing and, despite the fear, passengers cling to the windows to admire the opening views of the coast and the sea.

"Miskhor - Pinery - Ai-Petri"

We recommend you to use the cable way for the ascent - this is an exciting journey, and besides, the cableway can boast of work without accidents since its discovery in the distant 80's. The only thing, at the moment, the state of emergency occurred in August 2013, booths stopped at a significant height. But the rescuers quickly descended tourists from booths, cost victims and injuries.

So, one way or another you turned out to be on Ai-Petri, what is the mountain remarkable, except for the ascent to it? Also what here it is possible to see interesting?

The most interesting thing on the mountain, and that it is necessary to look necessarily - these are the kinds that open from it. 

View of the southern coast of Crimea

When you climb to the observation deck, you will open a panorama of the South Coast from Ayu-Dag in the east, to Mount Koshka and Diva rocks in the west. Between these mountains, far below, you can see the settlements of Gaspra, Koreiz, Simeiz and Alupka drowning in the greenery. If you are lucky, you can experience a rather unusual feeling, looking at the coast through the gaps in the clouds that are under you. The sea on a clear day is seen from Ai-Petri farther than 100 km, at such a distance it is not even possible to say where the sea ends and the sky begins.

View of the southern coast of Crimea

Near the observation deck are the famous Ai-Petri Teeth. They are formed by 4 main (12-15 m high) and several smaller peaks, and looking back to the north, you will see.

Toothed peaks of Mount Ai-Petri

In addition to the observation deck, tourists can visit three caves equipped for excursions: Yalta, Geophysical and Three-Eyes, it's Ice, it's also a Refrigerator. Of these three caves, the most interesting, in our opinion, is the latter. The entrance to it is 700 meters from the top station of the cableway, you can get into the cave through one of the three large holes, and from there the name. In the Three-Eyes you can see ice stalactites and stalagmites, a skating rink and a block of iced snow 6 meters high. The cave is rather cold, the temperature in it is kept at around + 10 ° C, so it's better to prepare warm clothes in advance.

Ai-Petri Mountain Plateau

On the plateau of the mountain, near the cableway station, a whole village was formed, which also became in some way a tourist attraction. Here, tourists are offered to refresh themselves, buy souvenirs, home wine, take pictures with various animals, ride a camel or horses and other services. In our opinion, neither the quality of goods and services nor the level of service corresponds to the prices that they are asked for. The fact that wine is homemade, in our opinion, is generally lying.

Village near the ski lift

If you decide to visit Mount Ai-Petri, and we strongly recommend that you do this, pay attention to the following tips:

1. On Mount Ai-Petri, the air temperature is 5° C -10° C lower than at the foot, in addition, this is the most windy place not only in the Crimea, but also in Ukraine, so dress warmly. On the other hand, take a break from the heat :-)

2. Having decided to take a picture at the edge of the cliff, remember that the stones there may be slippery (a feature of this kind), and Ai-Petri, as we have already mentioned, is the most windy place in Ukraine, tourists are broken there with enviable regularity. Be careful.

3. Stock up with money. Eat, go down from the mountain, go on an excursion - everything is expensive in Ai-Petri. Even independently pass on the observation deck costs money, though small.

4. If you decide to use the cableway, remember, during the season there are wild queues, waiting for the rise sometimes takes hours.

5. There is no tap water on Ai-Petri. Think about it before you make an order in a cafe.