All about Cape Ayia in Crimea

Crimea is a wonderful land with picturesque landscapes and a warm sea. There is unlimited scope for any type of recreation: mountains, hiking trails, beaches, historical excursions. There are many interesting places on the peninsula both for single tourists and for couples with children. One of these is Cape Ayia Nature Reserve.

A rocky ledge stretches along the sea for about 15 kilometers. Imagine a ridge of mountains and picturesque green valleys with relict pines - this is Ayia. Here, natural monuments border on sheer cliffs, karst funnels and inaccessible beaches.

Cape Aya in the Crimea is a protected nature reserve, here you can not touch plants and light bonfires in the wrong places. In addition, tourists spoiled by the All inclusive system will not find luxury hotels and services here.

The ridge of rocks on the peninsula has several high peaks: Kokiya-Kai, Cape Juniper, Kush-kai. The height of the mountains here ranges from 500 meters above sea level. The highest point is Kokiya-Kai (559 m). Good tourist routes of varying difficulty have been laid here, both for beginners and professionals.

On the map of the peninsula you can see that the closest village to Cape Ayia is Balaklava.

Cape Ayia has many attractions in addition to beautiful views and mountains, not without reason this place is called the "lost world". Here you can see a large number of flowers and plants listed in the Red Book.Tearing them, of course, is forbidden, as well as walking on them. A large number of rare animals and insects also live here. In the water area there are sharks and dolphins of three species, many crabs.

Hiking in the mountains will bring great aesthetic pleasure. You will definitely want to capture these places as a keepsake. They are beautiful in any weather, so you should carry a camera with you.

In addition, there are many ancient buildings: temples and monasteries. Attractions also include laspi bay, where the site of primitive man has been preserved since the Neolithic. The bay itself and grottoes are popular among vacationers.

This amazing place with unspoiled wildlife annually attracts more and more tourists from different countries and cities. If you do not want to spend your entire vacation here, then you can take an excursion in Balaclava and sail here by boat or a small ship. Only it will turn out to be quite lengthy, since in 1 hour it is impossible to see all the sights.

You can get to the reserve by car or bus from Sevastopol or Balaklava (about 8 km). But transport can only reach the turn to Ayia, then you have to walk a short distance. The entry of any vehicles into the Cape is prohibited, as this is a protected area.

You can also get here by sea: from Balaklava to the cape about 30 minutes on a small private skiff. Ships come here all the time, you can rent a yacht or boat or find a free captain. In the summer, they are here around the clock.

There are several options for an overnight device.

• Tourists can relax here in a specially equipped tent camp, where there is everything you need: bonfire sites, trash cans, tents and places for them, tables and benches, a field kitchen.
• You can spend the night by renting a room in one of the private houses in the villages adjacent to the cape. They are within walking distance from the reserve, not more than 5 kilometers from the sea. There is quite inexpensive housing, there are shops and cafes.
• There are numerous recreation centers along the coastline, where you can also rent a room for one or more people. Housing prices here are much higher than in the private sector and towns.

As for excursions, you can visit some attractions on your own, but it is better to use the services of guides and choose a group study tour, especially if you are resting in these places for the first time. It should be remembered that unknown routes on the cape can be dangerous due to steep cliffs, landslides and seismic activity. therefore if you go to the mountains, then only with a guide.

You can visit the cape at any time of the year, but most beautifully, of course, in the summer. In the warm season there is a comfortable temperature: during the day to +29, at night to +20. Rains rarely occur, as a rule, they quickly end. The weather on the cape can be changeable, but it is always well tolerated.

It is not recommended to go into the open sea on your own in boats or small vessels, since a storm or storm can suddenly begin, which is not uncommon in these places.

The most famous and most inaccessible beach on Cape Ayia is The Lost World beach. It can be reached by sea, having agreed with the captain of some skiff, or on foot.On your own, you first need to go to the Chembalo Fortress, then go to the wide trodden path and walk along the coast to the very last beach. There you will need to go around a couple of rocks, and then you will find yourself in a small enclosed area. Here soft fine sand, limestone millennial stones and almost no people.

Fig Beach - Another interesting and more crowded place. The name was given to him by a rock located nearby, in shape resembling an exotic fruit. Also here are the ancient ruins of the monastery almost on top of Mount Ilyas Kaya.

In addition to the Lost World beach, there are other places for swimming and relaxation on the cape. The water temperature is comfortable, you can sunbathe on large smooth boulders. Pebble beaches are predominant here.

You will learn about the beauty of Fig Bay from the video below.