Autumn in Crimea: ideas for an unforgettable vacation

With the onset of autumn, a wonderful time comes to Crimea. The heat gradually recedes, but the sea is still warm with the heat accumulated over the summer. The high season gives way to the velvet one, unhurried and generous in impressions. And if you are lucky enough to go on vacation in autumn, then load yourself with ideas for a great vacation in Crimea.

This year, many Russians changed for their private cars to go to Crimea. And this is understandable, because the Crimean Bridge opened up new opportunities for travel. A voyage on wheels allows to explore the peninsula to the maximum. And start with the new modern Tavrida Highway, which runs through the entire Crimea from Kerch in the east to Sevastopol in the south west. But do not rush to make a quick transfer from point "A" to point "B", enjoy the beauty and by all means make at least a few stops. 

• Immerse yourself in the font of the Toplovsky monastery, towering in the Belogorsk District.
  
• Climb the famous White Rock − the "star" location of several Russian films.
  
• Feel the flavor of the former capital of the Crimean Khanate, walking along the narrow streets of Bakhchisarai.
  
• In the legend-city of Sevastopol, be sure to visit at least one of the places of military glory. Diorama "Storming Sapun Mountain on May 7, 1944", Museum "35th Armored Turret Coastal Battery", "Malakhov Kurgan" − there are plenty to choose from. It is a sacred deed in the year of the 75th anniversary of the Victory! 

And after that, resolutely move in any of the chosen direction, either to the sea, mountains or lakes. Autumn in Crimea is an ideal time for travelling by car.

What do you imagine when saying the words "magic forest"? Giant oak trees drowning in fog, Baba Yaga and other fairy-tale characters? And in Crimea autumn forests are called like that, but not because of the similarity with fairy tales, but because of their stunning beauty. In September-October the leaves "inflame" in all shades of red and yellow, fresh air descends from the peaks, and a light haze envelops the mountain slopes. It's high time for adventure.

• Climb Mount Demerdzhi, with its bizarre boulders.
  
• Walk along the Great Sevastopol Trail.
  
• Get a free session of herbal medicine in Nauchniy village when on a walk in the forest and by the lakes.  
  
• Take a photo with a colorful "carpet" of leaves on the Sevastopol-Yalta road.
  
• And also collect an autumn bouquet, fill up your pockets of acorns for crafts, taste delicious Crimean dogwood right from the bush, look carefully under your feet − and you may be lucky enough to pick up mushroom harvest... 

Crimea is known by its mountains. Real, tall, amazing. While vacationing on the peninsula, at least once take a chance to climb one of the peaks to understand the meaning of poet Vladimir Vysotsky's words "Only mountains can be better than mountains". Put on comfortable clothes, pack a snack, take an experienced guide and go:

• Conquer Mount Chatyr-Dag.
  
• Be impressed by the Valley of Ghosts.
  
• Climb Ai-Petri Mountain.
  
• Walk between the Ai-Petri merlons by the suspension bridge.
  
• Walk in the cave town of Mangup-kale.

And then − as your fantasy allows. You can go for a horse ride in the mountains or pitch a tent and spend the night there to breathe in the clean mountain air. And you can go down, lower, even lower... literally underground. And find yourself in the amazing underground world of Crimea. Hundreds of large and small, well-equipped or partially equipped caves will hardly leave anyone indifferent. Your TOP-3 must-see attractions may look like this:

• The Red Cave (Kizil-Koba) is the largest in Crimea.  
  
• The Marble Cave is the most beautiful.
  
• And a cave of vertical type is the Emine-Bair-Khosar cave.

What must be done in Crimea is to indulge in gastronomic tourism. People of 175 ethnic origins live on the peninsula, and each has contributed to the peculiarity of Crimean cuisine. Therefore, when planning a route, keep in mind a few "tasty" places:

• In Bakhchisarai, you should definitely taste chebureks, dolma, manty and yufak-ash. They cook delicious food, for example, in the Bistro café, Meikhane, and the Khan restaurant.
  
• In Eupatoria, you can taste real Kezlev coffee with crushed sugar, delicious desserts, puffy meat pasties (chebureks). These and other dishes are served to guests in the Dzheval ethno-complex.

• Restaurant Shalash is lost in the mountains on the old Sevastopol highway − there you should taste the most delicate shashlyk (shish-kebab) and the original Baidarski-style lamb.
  
• Well, and in Sevastopol and Balaklava you need to go for real Black Sea cuisine and seafood. You can taste oysters, mussels, rapana, fresh fish, for example, in the Barkas, Fisherman’s Hut or Oblaka restaurants.  In short, discover the taste of Crimea!

Crimea is inseparable from grapes and wine; it is rightfully considered one of the best wine regions in Russia. And if you find yourself here in autumn, at the height of the wine-making season, then do not miss the chance to taste the genuine, tasty, Crimean wine.

• Go to the tasting rooms of the Novy Svet winery or the Champagne room of the Zolotaya Balka winery for sparkling champaign wine.
  
• In search of rich dessert and fortified wines go to Massandra, the oldest winery.
  
• You can taste dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet and other wines grown in the sunny valleys of the Sevastopol region at the Inkerman winery.
  
• And to appreciate the unique Madeira, twice born in the sun, − go to the Koktebel winery.

In autumn you can taste the best wine brands and the wines of young wineries of Crimea at the #Novemberfest wine and gastronomic festival. It brings together wine experts, winemakers, Crimean vineyards and thousands of connoisseurs of good wine. If you are one of them − take a note!

Vacation in Crimea does not have to be quiet and calm. Catch the wave of extreme and plunge into the sea of active entertainment! In autumn you definitely can:

• Go to Mount Klementyev in Koktebel and fly on a hang glider.
  
• Pump up your adrenaline in a parachute jump in the air of the Zavodskoyeh airfield in Simferopol.  
  
• Go on your own or with friends on kayaks from Balaklava to Cape Aya.
  
• Try rope jumping on Shaan-Kaya Mountain. This is a jump from a steep edge to the abyss of about 150 meters deep. Of course, with due safety measures, but believe me: you will never forget these 7 seconds of free flight.

A boat trip − with a taste of salt and light splashes − closes our "trendy" TOP. Choose transport, route, take blankets, lunch set and go towards the sea. There are a lot of options for sea travel, for example:

• Take a yacht ride along the coast from Yalta to Theodosia or Sevastopol.
  
• Go by the Tavrida − replica of the ancient Greek galley along the bays of Sudak and Noviy Svet.
  
• Take a boat trip along Cape Fiolent and see the colorful Jasper Beach.  
  
• Pass on a small skiff under the Golden Gate of Kara-Dag and by all means make a wish while passing.

And if the weather permits, ask the captain to stop at sea for swimming. Those "Old Salts" know the best places and will certainly bring you to the bays with the purest water. As a rule, the sea is quite comfortable until mid-October, so if you really eager − then it's a must! 

In general, holiday is above all. Think of the way you want to spend it in Crimea, and choose the ideas you like. We are sure that the holiday will be bright, rich and interesting. See you again in autumn!