Photo Credit:
Dmytro Balkhovitin | IG: @donlandscape | Original Post: March 1, 2014
At a Glance:
| Location: | Crimean Mountains Koreiz, Crimea, Ukraine |
| Trail or Landmark Name / Map: | Ai-Petri |
| Parking Coordinates: | Unknown, estimate near 44.454381,34.058443 |
| Photo Coordinates: | 44.4493406,34.0597409 |
| Distance: | 1.2 miles / 2 km round trip, Out-and-Back |
| Time to Complete: | 1-2 hours |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
| Elevation Gain: | Unknown |
| Quick Facts: | ✔ Entrance Fee: 300 rubles ✔ Dog Friendly ✔ Kid Friendly ✔ Bike Friendly ✔ Restrooms Available- ✔ Wheelchair Accessible- |
Description:
The photographer posted this photo on March 1, 2014 and states that it was taken at dawn.
Details about accessing the Crimean peak of Ai-Petri are a little difficult to track down, due to the unstable political situation in Crimea and general lack of tourist information. Most people do not drive personal cars to the location, but rather take a cable car / bus / taxi / minibus / tour company up to the area.
The closest driving landmark I could find to Ai-Petri was the Turistskiy Informatsionnyy Tsentr Vizit Ay Petri on road T0117 – the visitor area located on the main highway below the mountain. Based on the information I have read, I am assuming that this area is where tourists can pick up the cable car, bus or car to get to the top of the mountain.
The cable car is a popular option. As of this post, it costs 300 rubles (~$4 USD) one way, cash only as of 2016. The wait times can be long (up to an hour) but it will take you up and down the mountain in about 15 minutes each way.
If you opt to drive yourself, I have pasted a map below of what I believe to be the route up to the parking lot from the visitor center. From road T0117 turn southwest on the road intersecting the visitor center and keep following it up. It is a long, gravelly, serpentine road. Parking at the top is around 300 rubles ($4 USD).
Once at the peak, you will find an area with many shopping, dining and recreational options. You will need to pay another nominal fee (one reviewer said 100 rubles) to hike the .5 miles / 1 km to the very top of the mountain, and you can pay yet another fee (same reviewer said 500 rubles) to walk over the suspension bridges. I am unsure whether the photographer took this photo from the lookout or from the suspension bridges.
Be wary that the peak is very windy, cold and foggy, so dress appropriately. It sits at a 4,000 foot elevation and offers amazing views the surrounding cities of Yalta and Alupka, as well as the Black Sea.
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