Mount Ai-Petri has been one of the most visited and famous attractions of the Crimean peninsula for many years. The beauty of its picturesque landscapes is difficult to describe in words, it can only be done by a talented artist or an experienced photographer. But even painting will not convey the fullness of emotions. It is better to come and see it with your own eyes. Well, we’ll tell you how to get there.
Soaring in the air
There are several options to get to the plateau. Let's start with the most beautiful, fast and romantic. This is the Miskhor − Ai-Petri cable road. The trip leaves an indelible impression: in less than 15 minutes you soar to the height of 1,153 meters, from where you can enjoy stunning views of the South Coast of Crimea. This is one of the most favorite ways for tourists to get to the plateau, however, from January 20, the cable car is closed for annual scheduled maintenance works and it will open no earlier than spring. So at the moment you can get there only by road.
Driving through the mountains
So, by car you can go up to Ai-Petri from two sides: from the Bakhchisaray district and from Yalta. In the first case, it is necessary to follow to the village of Sokolinoyeh and drive up from there. The mountain road is not easy, narrow, with abrupt closed turns. The distance is 27 km. Travel time is approximately 40-50 minutes depending on the traffic, weather conditions and the type of the car.
If you plan to go to Ai-Petri from Yalta, then from the resort capital you need to follow in the direction of Sevastopol along the South Coast highway, till the Bakhchisaray turn. It is difficult to miss: the road sign informs that this is the way over the Ai-Petrinskoyeh plateau. This is where you need to go. This serpentine road is, perhaps, more difficult than that from the Sokolinoyeh side. The distance and travel time are approximately the same, and if there are not many cars, then you will get to the plateau in 45-50 minutes.
However, keep in mind that not everyone is allowed to go to Ai-Petri in the winter season! In particular, for this it is necessary to have four-wheel drive cars on good winter tires or on special chains. In addition, in order to avoid road blocking in narrow sections of the road, the recommendation is: go up to the plateau in the morning, and go down after 03:00 p.m. Otherwise, everyone risks getting stuck in serious traffic jams.
In addition, before traveling to the mountain, be sure to check the weather forecast. In case of heavy snowfalls or avalanche hazard, the movement of all types of transport along the mountain road may be limited.
Well, if you do not want to go up in your car or do not have the necessary experience, then use the services of a taxi or fellow travelers. This will save you nerves, time and health.