Yew and boxwood grove in Khost - a walk through the Russian jungle
This post was very difficult for me. Try to choose a couple of dozen photos, because they are all alike. When you walk in the woods, you photograph trees, paths and stones. And for several kilometers the path is the same, and at the same time it is equally beautiful and indescribable. If you photographed the forest, then you know what I mean.
The yew and boxwood grove, or rather a walk along the excursion route, will not leave indifferent any nature lover. Always at such moments, I regret that there is no similar path next to my house. Here you have mountains, and trees, swallowed by moss, and winding paths, and a bright blue river, and a canyon with steep walls. Tell me, is it possible for any city square to compete with such beauty and diversity??
The content of the article
Yew-boxwood grove
We went to the Yew-boxwood grove with my friend who had recently moved to Sochi. So I did not prepare for the trip at all. However, in my opinion, there is nothing to prepare there, you just come to the place and walk for several hours. Even the reviews do not make sense to read, because it is worth taking a visit to this attraction as a walk through the forest and mountains. A kind of small civilized tracking for several hours. I read somewhere that someone had a hard time giving the Big Ring, but for an ordinary person who does not have health problems, I do not see any difficulties. The same thing about «nothing to watch». Obviously, there is no Colosseum there, only nature.
In total, the reserve offers two routes. We first passed the Small Ring, then the Big, that is, we passed both. It seems to me that it is necessary to walk along the Bolshoi, there is all the most interesting. And in general, when you pay the entrance fee, you have to bypass everything :) The places there are good. Unfortunately, only the boxwood is almost gone, the moth has eaten it, and all the trees stand as if in winter, without leaves. But the yew is fine and gorgeous. I had not been to the grove before, so I cannot say how it was before, but it is beautiful there even now. I hope my photos can at least partially convey this. The route is safe and signed, there are signs everywhere, dangerous places are fenced off with a chain, half of the tracks are even too civilized and rolled into concrete, but it's great that not all.
Entrance to the Yew and Boxwood Grove
Boxwood grows near the entrance, indicated by a sign
The road to a fairy tale
At first I want to take a lot of photos of moss.
I stand next to a yew giant
All along there are benches for rest
Ecological trail in the Yew and boxwood grove
The Khosta river valley narrows and turns into a canyon
Route entrance «Big ring»
Next, you need to walk along the cliff
The paths are already ordinary, forest
The end point of the Great Ring is the canyon «Devil's gate», similar to Grand Canyon in Crimea, sheer cliffs and river bed. It would be great to pass it in the summer from the bottom (the usual route runs on top). Also on the way you can go to the ruins of the Khosta fortress of the 8th century AD. True, only fragments of the walls remained of her, and the rest must already be fantasized.
Khosta fortress of the 8-10th century A.D..
The ruins of the old Khosta fortress
Any Indian or a knight in armor is about to jump out from around the corner.
The wall is already overgrown with trees
Excursion route along the Yew-boxwood grove, Big Ring
There is even a suspension bridge
See what letters are massive carved
Great idea on how to make a hat with a trash bag and cement
Devil's Gate canyon
I would like to go there on foot, but in summer, when it is warm
The water carved its way through the stone
On the way back we returned along the channel of the Khosta river, which has a blue color. I just wanted to stop for a picnic in order to enjoy the surrounding nature more. By the way, it's a good idea to take food with you and have a snack at one of the shops or right on the rocks. On this section of the route, the canyon ends and you just walk along the valley. On the way there will be a cave, the entrance to which is prohibited, but they still enter. There is nothing to see, it is quite small. They say that bats used to live there, but I have not seen a single one..
Part of the route runs along the river
Great picnic spot
It beckons to swim, but the water is icy
As if someone poured paint into the river
Cave in the Yew and Boxwood Grove
Dead boxwood, frozen in eternal winter
Sometimes you go and it seems that you are somewhere in the distant overseas jungle, and not in Russia. One labyrinth is worth something (a path in the rock from which trees grow), for some reason it reminded me of Ankor Wat in Cambodia. When you are in nature, you just want to absorb it as much as possible, remember, breathe fresh air for the future. I can't imagine how some people live in the city without getting out and don't go anywhere except concrete boxes.
Labyrinth in the Yew and Boxwood Grove
Feel like the hero of an adventure movie
Video
A short sketch that does not pretend to be a whole video. Just a couple of minutes to convey the atmosphere.
Information to visit
What else can you see in Sochi and the surrounding area
Where to stay in Sochi - a selection of cheap hotels
Opening hours from 9 am to 6 pm.
Ticket price: 300 rubles per adult, 150 rubles per child 7-12 years old. Children under 7 years old are free. Previously, a ticket cost depending on which ring you go, but at the end of 2015 the price is the same for everyone. You need to buy a ticket before 5 pm, then the ticket office closes and the reserve will work on the way out. That is, no one bothers to go back even in the dark..
The time for a visit should be set at least 2 hours (preferably 3-4). But it depends how much you want to bypass. There are 2 routes: Small Ring and Big Ring. In my opinion, it makes sense exactly the Big, to reach the very end and see the canyon «Devil's gate», and on the way to enter and look at the ruins of the old fortress. We walked slowly for about 4 hours, passing both rings, stopping to think and take pictures.
Yew and Boxwood Grove Map (clickable)
Map and how to get there
If you go there by car, then no problem at all, just use the map below. It is not difficult to drive there, especially if there is a navigator in the car. On the way from Sochi, do not miss the turn to Khosta, it is right after the tunnel.
But if you get by public transport, you can get there by any minibus from Sochi or Adler that goes to Khosta and passes the Golubaya Gorka (Hosta-bridge) stop. For example, these are minibuses 122, 125, 134 and buses 4 and 4c. From the stop you will need to walk about 15 minutes on an asphalt road to the entrance to the reserve. You can also get to Khosta by train and there you can walk (about 30 minutes) to the entrance to the park..
You can also take an excursion to the Yew-boxwood grove, which in the summer season you will be offered at any travel agency on the street. Does this make sense, you decide, I personally prefer to visit everything on my own.
Yew-boxwood grove
Yew-boxwood grove
Yew-boxwood grove and ecological trails. From here you can walk to the Devil's Gate canyon. Read more about the grove.
Yew-boxwood grove and ecological trails. From here you can walk to the Devil's Gate canyon. Read more about the grove.