Through Mountain Gorges

Photo of route “Through Mountain Gorges” — 3

6 points163 km11 hours

This route takes you through the calling card of the Chechen Republic, the Argun Gorge, with its amazing nature and man-made monuments. Susanin advises: • Be sure to bring your passport. A border zone begins beyond the village of Itum-Kali. • Check the weather forecast. It can be very windy in the mountains even on a sunny day. • Bring any medicines you may need. If you have high blood pressure, note that you should only come down from the mountains once your blood pressure is back to normal. • Bring an empty bottle. There are many springs with clean, delicious water along the way.

Route author

Susanin Team

Things to do

🏞️ Enjoy the view
🌲🦋 Enjoy nature

Route points (6)

Tsoi-Pede Necropolis in Chechen Republic

Point on route “Through Mountain Gorges”

Point 6

Tsoi-Pede Necropolis

📜 Historic site

Historical Background

Tsoi-Pede translates literally from Chechen as “City of the Dead.” It is one of the oldest and largest medieval necropolises in the Caucasus.

An Unusual Location

The necropolis has an unusual setting: a long, high promontory formed where the Chanty-Argun River meets its tributary, the Meshekhi. The rivers and the steep, high slopes of the promontory make it inaccessible on three sides. The only way to reach Tsoi-Pede is along the narrow rocky ridge of the isthmus leading from the Kyurelam range. Climbing the steep slope up to this isthmus is no easy task, but the heights reward you with breathtaking mountain panoramas. In all there are 42 aboveground and underground crypts here, in varying states of preservation.