Our self-drive Tours in Dagestan 

Adventure, Comfort, Online Experience & own vehicle

Adventure
self-drive Tours

Discover even the remotest attractions in Dagestan on a unique vacation renting our fully equipped 4×4 camping vans. Where for others, the road ends – your journey begins.  We selected for you amazing places to camp and relax in pristine nature. You light fires under the stars and enjoy your individual vacation off the beaten tracks. Our English-speaking friends in their remote villages welcome you as their guest,  a unique and authentic opportunity to get to know the local people and their culture.

We recommend 10-25 days for this tour.

 

About the car

We rent classic Soviet-designed UAZ minibuses (still in production today). Thanks to a modern engine, disk brakes, ABS and power steering they drive very much like an ordinary car.

There is plenty of living room in the back, which fits a comfortable bed for two, fridge, fully equipped kitchen, and plenty of storage for your belongings. All vans come with stationary heating, so you will always be warm and comfortable.

Your safety is paramount for us, we start every tour with off-road driving training and introduce you to all gear and equipment on board. You will then start very well prepared in your unique holidays.

Prices & booking

Individual Adventure tour for two people, fully equipped 4×4 camper included

  • Season 2022 →  139.2 Euro/day
  • Season 2023 → 174 Euro/day
  • Discounts for booking 14+ days or more than one car

To calculate your tour, please scroll down to the booking calendar.

Adventure Tour Example - 10 days

This tour costs, 1392 Euro in 2022 and 1740 Euro in 2023 (for two people)

Day 1
We pick you up from the airport, introduce you to car and equipment and do off-road driving training. Together we finalize the details of your individual route before you start your unique journey.

Day 2 to 5
Driving scenic mountain roads, you pass magnificent Sulak Canyon, the magical waterfall cave Saltinski and explore Gamsutel, the Russian “Machu Picchu”. Visit some of our Dagestani friends in their sleepy mountain villages and enjoy their hospitality and local food. You will have plenty of opportunities to camp in beautiful spots in the wild.

Day 6 and 7
You will reach the coast in the south of Dagestan and visit the ancient city of Derbent. Then you to discover the wild Caspian Sea coast, camp on wonderful wild beaches.

Day 8 to 10

You are now driving to the southernmost tip, deep into the spectacular mountain scenery of the Caucasus where the highest village in Europe is located at 2560m. Enjoy the incredible mountain panoramas, visit thermal baths and follow forgotten paths to long-abandoned ghost villages.

When you return your car to say goodbye – we’ll make sure you are well fed before we drop you off at the airport again.

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about 1050 km in total

 

What should you bring?

Please bring an international driver’s license.

Everything else, the complete camping gear including kitchen equipent, as well as sleeping bags, pillows, etc. you get from us.

 

What is included in this Tour?
  • UAZ 4×4 Camper (unlimited kilometres)
  • car insurance
  • off-road driving training
  • individual route configuration
  • English self-drive guidebook and maps
  • SIM card (unlimited internet)
  • transport from/to airport
  • 24/7 assistance
  • 4×4 recovery equipment
  • fridge + kitchen equipment
  • comfortable mattress, pillows
Adventure Tour with children?

You are very welcome to explore Dagestan as a family.

Our 4×4 campers can be equipped with seats for 1-3 children
(You can get child seats from us at no extra charge)

We have two children ourselves and have gained a bit of experience travelling by UAZ camper as a family over the years. If you have any questions, please write us or call via WhatsApp +7 937 3324 835.

We will be happy to assist you.
Can I really camp wild everywhere?

Yes, driving and camping on public land is widely allowed in Russia.

You can easily set up camp and light a fire in a beautiful spot.
Wild camping is actually quite common in Russia and a popular way to relax and enjoy the wonders of nature with friends and family. Fishing is also freely allowed by the way.

2023 only tours in Georgia and Armenia are available – you can find the booking calendar on our new website www.uazfamily.com

Comfort
self-drive Tours

For visitors looking to discover the wonders of Dagestan by rental car but prefer to stay in guesthouses and hotels.
Following our custom made guidebook and self-drive map you easily find all great attractions in Dagestan. On your journey, we will introduce you to local people who are happy to welcome visitors from abroad and show you their unique culture.

We recommend 7-20 days for your Comfort Tour.
Tip: Booking 6-8 months in advance would be ideal as the best accommodations in the mountains are very popular and must be reserved well ahead

Your accomodation

Ethno Guesthouses
Spending the night in one of the lovingly restored traditional-style guest houses is like travelling back in time to the previous century.

With local families
Experience the famous Dagestani hospitality at local families who rent guest rooms to travelers.

Hotels
We have selected smaller, family-owned hotels for you where you will be excellently looked after.

Prices & booking
  • February to November → 147.5 Euro/day per person
  • Discounts for groups of 3 & 4 guests and longer tours

To calculate your tour, please scroll down to the booking calendar.

Comfort Tour example - 7 days

2 guests: € 1032.5 p.p. 3 guests: € 910 p.p. 4 guests: € 812 p.p. 

Day 1 (~60km)
We pick you up from the airport and together discuss all details of your journey. Enjoy a magnificent sunset from the mighty “Barkhan” sand dune before checking into your hotel in the evening.

Day 2 (~150km)
You visit Sulak, the deepest canyon in Europe. Additionally, to the most popular viewpoints, we will also show you some less known but even more spectacular places at the edge of the canyon. You’ll stay tonight in a hotel in the town of Buynaksk.

Day 3 (~100km)
Today you’ll try the unique local woodworking and in a master class in the village of Untsukul.

Then we organized for you an English-speaking guide for the great museum in Khunzakh. In the evening visit the famous Tobot waterfall and tonight you’ll be staying with a friendly family who rent guest rooms to visitors.

Day 4 (~50km)
A beautiful panoramic leads down the mountains. You best spend the morning in old Khahib and visit its ancient watchtower, recently restored by UNESCO. In the afternoon you change a few kilometres over to old Goor, built directly on a rugged cliff edge – wonderful photo opportunities. In a small guesthouse nearby you’ll spend today’s night.

Day 5 (~85km)
Visit the famous Karadakh Gorge early in the morning and Gamsutl, Russia’s “Machu Picchu”, you will see just next. Then travel back 200 years and check out the unique “Ethnosakl” A wonderfully restored ancient house,  best described as a museum you can live in. Your host will be happy to provide you with traditional clothing for some unique photographs and you’ll stay today directly in the guestroom at Ethnosakl.

Day 6 (~200km)
You visit the famous Salta waterfall – a unique place. When the water splashes from the cave ceiling while mixing with the sunbeams an extraordinary atmosphere is created.

You cross the mountains back to the coast and will in the evening explore Derbent, the oldest city in Russia where you stay at a small family-run hotel.

Day 7 (~110km)
An English speaking guide introduces you to the most interesting corners and the colourful markets of Derbent.  One last drive takes you along ancient trading routes to the airport where you return your car and say farewell to Dagestan, the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea.

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about 750km in total

 

What should you bring?
  • international drivers license
What is included in this Tour?
  • Rental car
  • Transfer from and to airport
  • All overnight stays with breakfast
  • English self-drive guidebook & special map
  • Local SIM card with unlimited internet
  • Master class woodworking
  • Lunch with local families
  • English-speaking museum guide
  • English-speaking tour in Derbent
  • Photos in traditional costumes
Comfort Tour with children?

Families are welcome, you get child seats from us at no extra charge.
We have two children ourselves and have already gained a bit of experience as a travelling family. If you have any questions, just write us or call us via WhatsApp +7 937 3324 835.
We will be happy to assist you.

 

 

 

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Dagestan Online Experience

A virtual journey takes you to the most interesting places in Dagestan and you will learn about the rich culture, history and the local kitchen of the region.  Finally, you can visit Dagestan directly from your couch without worrying about any travel restrictions.

This tour takes about 1 hour and will be held in English.

When is the next virtual journey planned?

Please subscribe to our monthly E-mail newsletter and you will receive an invitation for upcoming Online Experiences automatically.

How do I join the Online Experience?

You only need a computer (or mobile phone) and the internet.
We use the free video conference software Zoom to connect for a guided virtual tour around Dagestan.

Dagestan with your own vehicle

You are of course also very welcome to travel our unique region with your vehicle. We would be happy to create an individual route for you to see the most beautiful places in our homeland. Organize meetings with our English speaking friends in their mountain villages, plan interactive workshops and other cultural and culinary highlights for you on your trip.

Why plan my Dagestan trip with you?

To offer you the most beautiful routes, the most exciting encounters and the unique attractions, we have driven over 15 000km, explored practically every corner of Dagestan and established countless contacts with local hosts.

We are happy to share our local knowledge and create an individual itinerary to get the most out of your time spent in Dagestan.

Which vehicles are suitable?

It doesn’t matter if you are travelling in an expedition truck, a minibus or a motorcycle. We plan each route individually according to your wishes, season, travel duration and of course adapted to your vehicle.

Questions? Get in touch with us.

Services and costs

Our services

  • An individually travel route, planned in advance, adapted to your wishes and your vehicle
  • English language self-drive manual and maps
  • Personal meeting at the beginning of the trip in our base in the city of Kaspiysk to discuss the last details of your route (optionally also possible via video conference)
  • Upfront applying for border permits which are required for some locations
  • 24/7 assistance during the trip via phone
  • All workshops and meetings with local hosts are already included
  • At the end of the trip, you are very much invited to have lunch or dinner with us.
  • Using the washing machine, showering, etc… is of course possible at our base anytime

Costs: 65 Euro per day per vehicle
(Minimum duration 10 days, 2 adults per vehicle)

Discounts for groups – write us a message

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