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MOSCOW · DAGESTAN
Moscow & Dagestan Tour – 9 Days / 8 Nights
From $1,790 per person
- Duration: 9 Days / 8 Nights
- Stay: Moscow 2N (4★) + Dagestan 6N
- Flights: Domestic flights included
- Meals: Listed meals: 2 dinners + 1 breakfast
- Group: Guided tour · private transfers
- Guide: Guide: English, Turkish
- Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 15 days
Tour Overview
9-Day Moscow and Dagestan Tour: Red Square, Sulak Canyon, Gamsutl & Derbent
This 9-day, 8-night Moscow and Dagestan tour opens with three days of sightseeing in Moscow, then flies to Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, for six days in the North Caucasus. The Moscow–Makhachkala flight is included, and the tour ends at Makhachkala Airport.
Moscow covers Red Square, the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Metro and Zaryadye Park. In Dagestan you visit Sulak Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in Europe, take a boat trip on the Sulak River and climb the Sarykum sand dune. You then travel to the fortress town of Gunib, hike to the abandoned “ghost village” of Gamsutl and finish in Derbent with Naryn-Kala Fortress (UNESCO), the Old City and the Juma Mosque.
It suits adventurous travellers who want more than a big-city route; Dagestan is conservative, so pack modest clothing. The package includes 4★ central hotels in Moscow (or similar), a mountain guest house or boutique hotel in Dagestan, transport with private airport transfers, a local guide and visa support documents where required. Entrance fees are not listed as included. See also our Baku, Tbilisi and Dagestan tour or see the Caucasus and Russia tour packages.
Highlights
- Red Square, Kremlin and Moscow Metro
- Sulak Canyon and boat trip
- Sarykum sand dune climb
- Gunib fortress town and Chokh village
- Hike to Gamsutl ghost village
- Derbent: Naryn-Kala and the Lun ekranoplan
Quick facts
- Best time to visit: May–September, when the mountain roads and trails are open.
- Dress modestly in villages and mosques: long trousers or skirts and covered shoulders.
- Visa requirements depend on your nationality; we provide the invitation / support documents where required.
- Planning your first trip abroad? See our first-time travel abroad guide.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
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Day 1Arrival in Moscow & Evening Walk to Red Square
On arrival at a Moscow airport you are met by our assistant and driven to your central 4★ hotel, a transfer of roughly an hour depending on traffic. After check-in, take a little time to rest, then head out for an unhurried evening walk to Red Square, the great cobbled square beside the Kremlin walls. The red-brick towers and the colourful onion domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral look their best once the lights come on. The rest of the evening is free for dinner and an early night before a full sightseeing day.
Overnight: Moscow — 4★ central hotel (or similar)Transport: Airport transfer ~1 h (depending on traffic)Tour: Guided tour with a local guide; private airport transfersEntrances: none -
Day 2Kremlin, Red Square & St. Basil’s Cathedral
Spend the morning inside the Kremlin, the walled fortress that has been the heart of Russian power for centuries, and walk through its grounds with your guide. Afterwards, return to Red Square for a closer look at St. Basil’s Cathedral, whose multicoloured domes are the best-known image of Moscow. The afternoon is left for strolling around the square and the nearby streets at your own pace, with your guide happy to suggest places for lunch. In the evening you return to the same hotel for a second night in Moscow; dinner is at your own choice.
Overnight: Moscow — 4★ central hotel (or similar)Transport: Walking and local transport with your guideTour: Guided tour with a local guideEntrances: Kremlin: payable on-site -
Day 3Moscow Metro, Zaryadye Park & Evening Flight to Makhachkala
After checking out, descend into the Moscow Metro, whose ornate stations were built as underground “palaces for the people” with marble, mosaics and bronze statues; your guide takes you through several of them. Then walk to Zaryadye Park, a modern landscaped park beside the Kremlin with open views over the Moskva River. After some free time in the city you are driven to the airport for the evening domestic flight to Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, about three hours away; you spend the arrival night in Dagestan. Checked baggage allowance is as per your airline ticket.
Overnight: Dagestan (arrival night)Transport: Airport transfer; domestic flight Moscow → Makhachkala (~3 h, included)Tour: Guided tour with a local guide; private airport transfersEntrances: none -
Day 4Sulak Canyon & Sulak River Boat Trip
Your first full day in Dagestan belongs to Sulak Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in Europe, carved by the Sulak River through the mountains. Stand at the viewpoints above the gorge, then board a boat for a trip on the turquoise water between the steep canyon walls, where the scale of the rock is easiest to feel. The boat trip is included in the package, and the rest of the day is unhurried, with time for photographs. You spend the night in a mountain guest house or boutique hotel.
Overnight: Dagestan — mountain guest house or boutique hotelTransport: Road transportTour: Guided tour with a local guideEntrances: boat trip included -
Day 5Sarykum Sand Dune
Today brings an unexpected landscape: a desert in the Caucasus. Sarykum is a huge sand dune, one of the largest in Eurasia, rising on its own above the surrounding countryside. Climb to the crest on foot, sinking into the soft sand with every step, and look out over the dunes and the green land beyond. Sturdy shoes and drinking water make the climb more comfortable, and photographs are easy as the light changes. Afterwards you return to your mountain guest house or boutique hotel for a second night.
Overnight: Dagestan — mountain guest house or boutique hotelTransport: Road transportTour: Guided tour with a local guideEntrances: none -
Day 6Gunib Fortress Town & Chokh Village
Leave the lowlands behind and travel along winding mountain roads to Gunib, a historic fortress town on a high plateau that served as a natural stronghold. Walk to its viewpoints, where deep valleys fall away on every side. In the afternoon you reach Chokh, an old village of stone houses climbing a steep hillside, where your guide explains the traditional building style that has lasted for centuries. Progress on mountain roads is slow, so the day is paced gently, and you settle into your guest house or boutique hotel in the evening.
Overnight: Gunib area — mountain guest house or boutique hotelTransport: Road transportTour: Guided tour with a local guideEntrances: none -
Day 7Gamsutl Ghost Village Trek
Today’s trek leads to Gamsutl, the abandoned “ghost village” whose stone houses cling to a ridge high above the valley, often called the Machu Picchu of the Caucasus. The path rewards you with long views over the canyons and mountains, and your guide shares what is known about the village. Wear proper walking shoes and take water and a windproof layer. After the descent, an authentic local dinner is served with a view of the mountains, a fitting end to the highland days.
Meals: DinnerOvernight: Gunib area — mountain guest house or boutique hotelTransport: Road transportTour: Guided tour with a local guideEntrances: none -
Day 8Derbent: Naryn-Kala Fortress, Old City & Juma Mosque
Travel to Derbent, an ancient city on the Caspian coast, where the UNESCO-listed Naryn-Kala Fortress and its long defensive walls guard the old town. Walk through the Old City (Magals), a maze of narrow lanes, and visit the Juma Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in Russia. On the Caspian shore you also see the Cold War–era Lun-class ekranoplan, nicknamed the Caspian Sea Monster, a huge ground-effect aircraft. The day ends with a traditional Dagestani farewell feast with folk music and dance, followed by the night in Makhachkala.
Meals: Dinner (farewell feast)Overnight: Makhachkala — hotelTransport: Road transportTour: Guided tour with a local guideEntrances: Naryn-Kala Fortress: payable on-site -
Day 9Departure from Makhachkala
After breakfast at the Makhachkala hotel, the morning is free for a last walk along the Caspian waterfront or a final souvenir stop, depending on your flight time. A private vehicle then takes you to Makhachkala Airport (MCX), where our services end. Your return flight is not included, so please arrange it yourself. We hope the canyons, the mountains and the warm hospitality of Dagestan stay with you long after you leave. Your guide answers any last questions before the transfer.
Meals: BreakfastOvernight: —Transport: Private airport transferTour: Guided tour with a local guide; private airport transferEntrances: none
Places Along the Route
Red Square
A cobbled square of the old city beside the Kremlin walls, ringed by red-brick towers and multicoloured domes. Together with the Kremlin it is a UNESCO site and the usual first stop on a Moscow evening walk.
St. Basil’s Cathedral
Nine chapels grouped around a central tower and topped with patterned domes give this 16th-century church an unusual, almost toy-like outline. Painted in bright colours, it is easiest to take in from the edge of Red Square.
Moscow Kremlin
Moscow’s old fortress, seat of Russian power for centuries, has towers, cathedrals and palaces inside its brick walls. Your guide walks you through the grounds, while entrance fees for the museums are paid separately.
Sulak Canyon
A deep gorge cut into the mountain foothills by the Sulak River, with steep walls and turquoise water at the bottom. Viewpoints on the rim show its scale, and the boat trip puts you at river level.
Gamsutl Ghost Village
An abandoned stone village perched on a rocky ridge high above the valley, reached on foot by a mountain path. The empty houses and the long views over canyons make the walk worthwhile.
Moscow Metro
Underground stations built as public palaces, with chandeliers, mosaics and bronze figures. Each has its own theme, and a short guided stretch lets you compare several designs without leaving the system.
Zaryadye Park
A modern landscaped park beside the Kremlin, opened in 2017, which recreates several of Russia’s natural zones. Its viewing platforms and floating bridge give open views over the Moskva River and the Kremlin towers.
Sarykum Sand Dune
A huge single sand dune standing alone above green countryside, which makes it look like a piece of desert dropped into the Caucasus. The soft climb to the crest rewards you with wide views.
Gunib
A small fortress town on a high mountain plateau, known as a natural stronghold and as the place where Imam Shamil’s long resistance ended in 1859. Viewpoints at the plateau edge look into deep valleys.
Chokh Village
An old mountain village whose stone houses are stacked up a steep hillside, with narrow lanes between them. It shows how highland builders in Dagestan used local stone and the slope itself to shape a settlement.
Naryn-Kala Fortress
A hilltop citadel at the heart of Derbent, part of the UNESCO-listed ancient city whose long walls once ran from the mountains down to the Caspian Sea. The upper terraces give views of the old town and the coast.
Juma Mosque
The Friday mosque of Derbent, regarded as one of the oldest mosques in Russia, stands in a quiet courtyard inside the Old City. Visitors dress modestly, and the calm interior contrasts with the busy streets.
Why Choose This Moscow & Dagestan Tour?
The included Moscow–Makhachkala flight joins three days in Moscow to six in Dagestan, from Sulak Canyon and the Sarykum dune to the Gamsutl trek and UNESCO-listed Derbent, in one nine-day programme.
- Domestic flight included — The flight from Moscow to Makhachkala, about three hours, is part of the package, so the evening of day three already ends in Dagestan.
- Moscow landmarks first — Day two goes to the Kremlin and Red Square with St. Basil’s Cathedral, both UNESCO-listed, and day three to the Metro and Zaryadye Park. The Kremlin entrance is paid on site.
- Canyon, dune and ghost village — A boat trip on the Sulak River is included, followed by the Sarykum dune climb, Gunib and the Gamsutl trek to an abandoned mountain village; sturdy shoes are advised.
- Derbent and mountain stays — Day eight reaches the UNESCO-listed Naryn-Kala Fortress in Derbent. Dagestan nights are in a mountain guest house or boutique hotel, Moscow nights in 4★ central hotels (or similar).
- Invitation letter provided — TourQuaz provides the invitation letter for your entire stay for the Russian tourist visa application; the visa itself, tips and entrance fees are not included.
- Licensed local agency — TÜRSAB A-group licence #18154, Istanbul-based, rated 5.0 on Google (15 reviews), free cancellation up to 15 days before the start date.
Your Hotels on This Tour
These are the hotels we use on this tour, so you know where you’ll stay and can explore them before you book. Your final hotel is confirmed with your booking; if a listed hotel is unavailable on your dates, we reserve another hotel of the same category (or similar).
Moscow · 2 nights
4★ hotel in Moscow area
Hotel confirmed with your booking (or similar)
Meals as named in the program
Dagestan · 3 nights
Mountain guest house or boutique hotel in Dagestan area
Hotel confirmed with your booking (or similar)
Meals as named in the program
Gunib area · 2 nights
Mountain guest house or boutique hotel in Gunib area
Hotel confirmed with your booking (or similar)
Meals as named in the program
Makhachkala · 1 night
Hotel in Makhachkala area
Hotel confirmed with your booking (or similar)
Meals as named in the program
Tour Price & Booking
What’s Included
What’s Not Included
Optional Upgrades
Private guide, hotel upgrades and extra nights available on request — ask us on WhatsApp.
Good to Know
Baggage on the Domestic Flight
Checked baggage allowance is as per your airline ticket.
Cash and Currency
Bank cards issued abroad do not work in Russia. Bring cash and exchange it into rubles (RUB) for meals, souvenirs and tips.
Trekking Days
Day 5 has a dune climb and day 7 a trek to Gamsutl. Wear sturdy walking shoes and take water; for Gamsutl add a windproof layer.
Visa
Visa rules depend on your nationality; we provide support documents where required.
Pick-up Times
Your exact pick-up time is confirmed with you the day before each tour.
Hotel Check-in & Check-out
Standard hotel check-in is from 14:00 and check-out is until 12:00. Early check-in or late check-out depends on availability; ask us and we will request it.
Dietary Requirements
Halal and vegetarian options are available. Please tell us about any dietary needs when you book.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, cancel up to 15 days before the start date.
- If you cancel less than 15 days before, the amount paid is non-refundable.
- Changes made less than 15 days before the start date cannot be accepted.
- If the tour is cancelled due to poor weather, you'll be offered a different date or a full refund.
- Domestic flight tickets are issued after the balance payment and are non-refundable once issued.
Payment
Reserve now, pay later (no credit card required). A 30% deposit secures your booking after we confirm availability; the balance is due 15 days before the start date.
What guests say about TourQuaz
"Super und zuverlässige Organisation unseres Fimenausflugs. Zuverlässige Abholungen zu vereinbarten Zeiten und hilfreiche Tips beim Programm vor Ort.
Vielen Dank an das ganze Team. Jeder Zeit wieder!"
"Everything was very good specially the staff there
Special thanks to Mr. Emre for amazing efforts and support during all visit in istany"
"معاملة راقية تجربة تستحق الإشادة شكرا على حسن التعامل"
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your nationality. We provide support documents where they are required for your booking; the visa itself is not included in the price.
The price starts at $1,790 per person. It covers the Moscow–Makhachkala domestic flight, 4★ central hotels (or similar) in Moscow, a mountain guest house or boutique hotel in Dagestan, transport with private airport transfers, a local guide, the Sulak River boat trip, the day-7 dinner, the day-8 farewell feast and the day-9 breakfast. International flights, visa, entrance fees, other meals and tips are not included.
Yes. The flight from Moscow to Makhachkala, about three hours, leaves on the evening of day 3 and is included in the package price. Checked baggage allowance is as per your airline ticket.
You arrive at a Moscow airport, where our assistant meets you and drives you to your hotel. The tour ends on day 9 at Makhachkala Airport (MCX) after a private transfer; your return flight home is not included.
Dagestan is a conservative region. Wear modest clothing in villages and mosques: long trousers or skirts and covered shoulders.
Day 5 is a climb up the Sarykum dune on foot, day 6 is a slow drive on winding mountain roads to Gunib and Chokh, and day 7 is a trek to the Gamsutl ghost village. Sturdy shoes, water and a windproof layer make the walking days easier.
Typical dishes include khinkal (dough with meat), kurze (dumplings) and chudu (thin stuffed pies). The program includes the day-7 dinner with a mountain view and the day-8 farewell feast; other meals are not included.
Entrance fees are not listed as included; for example the Kremlin and Naryn-Kala Fortress are paid on site. The Sulak River boat trip is included.
Children aged 0–2 travel free; children aged 3–7 get a 30% discount when sharing the room with adults. Day 5, 6 and 7 involve a dune climb, long mountain drives and a trek, so please tell us the children’s ages when you book.
Free cancellation: cancel up to 15 days before the start date for a full refund. Reserve now, pay later (no credit card required). A 30% deposit secures your booking after we confirm availability; the balance is due 15 days before the start date.
