The Devil's Staircase is the oldest mountain pass in Crimea, shrouded in mystery and curses, a muse for great poets and writers.

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View of the mountains from the Devil's Ladder trail

Let's try the best chebureks in South Coast

View from Mount Kils-Burun, on Foros Kant

A healthy snack for the journey

View of Mount Foros and Foros Church

View from the Baydar Gate to the Foros Church

We will begin our hike at the legendary Devil's Staircase Trail
(Shaitan-Merdven) — the oldest mountain pass in Crimea,
once trodden by the Tauri, Romans and medieval travellers.
The narrow, winding trail winds between the rocks of
Merdven-Kaya and Isar-Kaya, like giant stone steps leading
through a dense relict forest to the plateau of the Baidar Valley.

Let's climb to the top, where a dizzying view will open up before us: below, the emerald-turquoise sea of the South Coast, above our heads, the endless blue sky, and the path leading us along the edge of the Baidar Wall cliff. The trail will take us to the majestic Mount Merdven-Kaya with a panorama of the entire south-western Crimea, where the wind whispers ancient legends. The next peak that awaits us is Kils-Burun, the highest point of our route today. Here, on the edge of the sheer cliffs, it seems that the whole world lies at your feet: the endless Black Sea, Foros below, and in the distance, the silhouettes of mountains stretching to the horizon.

We will walk with you along the edge of the Foros cliff — a stunning rock wall where every step is accompanied by magnificent views of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, hovering above the cliff, and the countless bends of the coastline. The finale is the famous Baidar Gate, a majestic arch built in 1848 to a design by Count Vorontsov. It is a real portal between worlds: on one side is the rugged Baidar Valley, on the other is the luxurious South Coast of Crimea. Here, at this height, the air is filled with the scent of pine needles and the sea, and the soul is filled with a sense of freedom and conquered heights.

We will end our day at the legendary Shalash restaurant right next to the Baydar Gate, where they serve the best chebureki in the South Coast: juicy, crispy, with a large selection of fillings, from classic lamb with herbs to apple with cinnamon. After such a trek, they will be a real reward for us!

We will begin our hike at the legendary Devil's Staircase Trail (Shaitan-Merdven) — the oldest mountain pass in Crimea, once trodden by the Tauri, Romans and medieval travellers. The narrow, winding trail winds between the rocks of Merdven-Kaya and Isar-Kaya, like giant stone steps leading through a dense relict forest to the plateau of the Baidar Valley.

Let's climb to the top, where a dizzying view will open up before us: below, the emerald-turquoise sea of the South Coast, above our heads, the endless blue sky, and the path leading us along the edge of the Baidar Wall cliff. The trail will take us to the majestic Mount Merdven-Kaya with a panorama of the entire south-western Crimea, where the wind whispers ancient legends. The next peak that awaits us is Kils-Burun, the highest point of our route today. Here, on the edge of the sheer cliffs, it seems that the whole world lies at your feet: the endless Black Sea, Foros below, and in the distance, the silhouettes of mountains stretching to the horizon.

We will walk with you along the edge of the Foros cliff — a stunning rock wall where every step is accompanied by magnificent views of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, hovering above the cliff, and the countless bends of the coastline. The finale is the famous Baidar Gate, a majestic arch built in 1848 to a design by Count Vorontsov. It is a real portal between worlds: on one side is the rugged Baidar Valley, on the other is the luxurious South Coast of Crimea. Here, at this height, the air is filled with the scent of pine needles and the sea, and the soul is filled with a sense of freedom and conquered heights.

We will end our day at the legendary Shalash restaurant right next to the Baydar Gate, where they serve the best chebureki in the South Coast: juicy, crispy, with a large selection of fillings, from classic lamb with herbs to apple with cinnamon. After such a trek, they will be a real reward for us!

Portal of Worlds:
Devil's Staircase — Baydar Gate

Portal of Worlds:
Devil's Staircase — Baydar Gate

What lies ahead*

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

Rest stop on Mount Kilsa-Burun, a healthy snack

9:30–10:00 a.m.

Start of the route

11:00 a. m.

1:00 – 1:30 p.m.

3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Shalash restaurant, eating chebureki

4:00 p.m.

Timing