Biyuk-Isar — an impregnable stronghold,
where ancient sentinels guarded the horizon

/

Shortly after starting our walking route, the bizarre
Camel Rock rises up before us — a stone giant with two
humps, as if sitting down to rest among the junipers and
pines. Climbing to its summit, a stunning circular panorama
opens up: the endless sea of the South Coast, stretching
beyond the horizon, the majestic Baidar-Kastropol Wall,
which appears to us as a huge rock bastion stretching to
the west and east, and in the background of the
wall — Mount Biyuk-Isar (Big Fortress), an outcast of the
yayla with sheer walls. Fresh wind, dizzying views — the perfect place for your first photos and the feeling that ‘Crimea begins here.’

After taking a break and admiring the views, the trail leads us to two picturesque mountain lakes. They lie in a basin at the foot of Biyuk-Isar. The water is clear and calm, reflecting the rocks and the sky. It is quiet here, and you can sit on the shore and catch your breath before continuing on your way — a real oasis stop in a protected forest of oaks, pines and junipers.

Going around Mount Biyuk-Isar, we descend to a narrow crevice at the foot of the rock, where a grotto opens up — narrow, mysterious and echoing with the sounds of times gone by. In those distant times, it served as a water collection well for the medieval fortification of Biyuk-Isar. Inside, it is cool, dimly lit, and you can feel the breath of history: ancient peoples once stood guard here. The grotto adds mysticism to the route, like the entrance to an ancient fortress.

The trail then leads us to the Miesis-Bogaz Pass, a narrow, steep ‘throat’ between the rocks. The pass is like a portal: on one side are the wooded slopes of the South Coast, on the other is the open plateau of Ai-Petri.

We come out onto the Ai-Petri plateau and immediately head for Mount Spiridy, the final peak of our route. The plateau is covered with grass and sparse pine trees. Spiridy offers epic views: part of the South Coast below, the sea stretching to the horizon, and a pleasant breeze that is soothing after the climb.
After resting, having a snack and admiring the views, we make our way back along the trails through the dense forest to the gates of the reserve.

Shortly after starting our walking route, the bizarre Camel Rock rises up before us — a stone giant with two humps, as if sitting down to rest among the junipers and pines. Climbing to its summit, a stunning circular panorama opens up: the endless sea of the South Coast, stretching beyond the horizon, the majestic Baidar-Kastropol Wall, which appears to us as a huge rock bastion stretching to the west and east, and in the background of the wall — Mount Biyuk-Isar (Big Fortress), an outcast of the yayla with sheer walls. Fresh wind, dizzying views — the perfect place for your first photos and the feeling that ‘Crimea begins here.’

After taking a break and admiring the views, the trail leads us to two picturesque mountain lakes. They lie in a basin at the foot of Biyuk-Isar. The water is clear and calm, reflecting the rocks and the sky. It is quiet here, and you can sit on the shore and catch your breath before continuing on your way — a real oasis stop in a protected forest of oaks, pines and junipers.

Going around Mount Biyuk-Isar, we descend to a narrow crevice at the foot of the rock, where a grotto opens up — narrow, mysterious and echoing with the sounds of times gone by. In those distant times, it served as a water collection well for the medieval fortification of Biyuk-Isar. Inside, it is cool, dimly lit, and you can feel the breath of history: ancient peoples once stood guard here. The grotto adds mysticism to the route, like the entrance to an ancient fortress.

The trail then leads us to the Miesis-Bogaz Pass, a narrow, steep ‘throat’ between the rocks. The pass is like a portal: on one side are the wooded slopes of the South Coast, on the other is the open plateau of Ai-Petri.

We come out onto the Ai-Petri plateau and immediately head for Mount Spiridy, the final peak of our route. The plateau is covered with grass and sparse pine trees. Spiridy offers epic views: part of the South Coast below, the sea stretching to the horizon, and a pleasant breeze that is soothing after the climb.
After resting, having a snack and admiring the views, we make our way back along the trails through the dense forest to the gates of the reserve.

Biyuk-Isar is a place where the rocks preserve the echoes of ancient peoples.

Biyuk-Isar is a place where the rocks preserve the echoes of ancient peoples.

What lies ahead*

*(The itinerary may be changed at the instructor's discretion depending on weather conditions.)

A rest stop at Mount Biuk-Iisar, with a healthy snack.

9:30–10:00 a.m.

Start of the route

11:00 a. m.

12:30 – 1:00 p.m.

3:00 – 3:30 p.m.

A rest on Mount Spirada, a healthy snack and the journey back.

6:00 p.m.

Timing