Derbent to Kubachi: Emdzhek-Pir, Old Villages and Varkhadag: hiking in Caucasus
TrailTrack route Hiking Caucasus Multi-day
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Derbent to Kubachi: Emdzhek-Pir, Old Villages and Varkhadag

Distance
106.9 km
Estimated moving time
1 d 7 h
Elevation gain
—
Difficulty
Hard
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Route description

The journey from Derbent to Kubachi links Emdzhek-Pir Spring, old Kaitag villages and Varkhadag Pass. On the Derbent side, the shade beside the water invites a change from the town’s bustle. Farther on, the path gathers another history: Tama, Sanakari and Chakhri appear among the slopes, where surviving houses deserve a patient look rather than a quick guess at their past. Towards Kubachi, the outing changes again. Varkhadag offers a mountain pause, while Amuzgi provides another encounter with an old settlement before the inhabited finish. Give Kubachi time of its own: jewellery traditions and streets deserve more than the gap between a tired arrival and an urgent departure. This is a long journey through different parts of Dagestan, with water and overnight stops planned beforehand.

Route status

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Подробнее о состоянии маршрута No recent trail condition reports
Data source Information prepared

The description, logistics and points of interest were prepared using maps and open sources. Trail conditions may change.

Route data was imported from GPX and has not been field-verified.

Last updated 12.10.2026

Before travelling, check trail access, restrictions and the weather forecast.

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Before you go

Всё важное о маршруте

Route at a glance

Главное за минуту
Reach Kubachi through Emdzhek-Pir, Tama, Sanakari, Chakhri and Amuzgi, placing mountain stops beside the history of the old settlements. Varkhadag provides a fresh perspective before the Kubachi section.
Length
106.9 km
Elevation gain
—
Surface
Нет данных
Derbent to Kubachi: Emdzhek-Pir, Old Villages and Varkhadag: route photo 3 in Caucasus

Route suitability

Кому будет комфортно
Without a car - Hard With children - With caution With a dog - No data By bike - No With a stroller - No Mobile signal - No data For walkers prepared for several days in the mountains. Children need experience of similar treks. Dog access, continuous reception and uniform conditions throughout are unconfirmed.

Nearby

Naryn-Kala in Derbent deserves a separate visit; entry inside the fortress is not part of the crossing. Dyurk Cave lies near one of the mountain sections and needs its own approach. In Kubachi, plan a museum visit or meeting with a jeweller after confirming arrangements.

Getting there

Варианты и важные моменты Show on map
Without a car
The organiser lists railway travel from Makhachkala to Derbent and shared vehicles from Makhachkala’s Southern Bus Station. Check current departures separately. Agree departure from Kubachi beforehand: local vehicles depend on passenger demand and may not run.
By car
Select a drop-off on the Derbent side, then arrange collection in Kubachi separately. A personal car at the beginning requires a later return journey. Ask local providers about access to intermediate villages and possible changes of plan.
Parking
Official parking for this journey is unconfirmed. Ask a host or local services whether a vehicle may be stored at the chosen location throughout the trip. Request the conditions and permission before departure.

Электрички туда и обратно

Расписание на дату и время, до которого нужно выйти на маршрут

What to expect

Places
Emdzhek-Pir Spring Emdzhek-Pir is a named mountain spring on the Derbent side of the journey.
Old Tama Village Old Tama stands beside the journey through the Kaitag hills.
Old Sanakari Village Old Sanakari is a historic stop on the Kaitag part of the walk.
Old Chakhri Village Old Chakhri lies on the mountain section before Kubachi.
Varkhadag Pass Varkhadag is a named pass on the Kubachi side of the journey.
Old Amuzgi Village Old Amuzgi stands on the final mountain section towards Kubachi.

Difficult sections and safety

На что обратить внимание
Elevation gainДанные по набору высоты уточняются.
SurfaceТип покрытия пока не определён.
Риски Rain can make clay cling to footwear, while eroded sections require care. Do not enter unstable houses in old villages. Reassess spring water rather than treating a mapped name as a guarantee of safe drinking. Allow for delay instead of committing to a wet, narrow hillside crossing.

How much time to allow

Оцените свой темп
Расчётное время в пути 1 d 7 h
С запасом на остановки + 30–60 мин
Allow several trekking days with overnight places chosen beforehand. Reserve pauses for the spring and old villages, then retain time on the final day for Varkhadag and arrival in Kubachi. Give craft visits in Kubachi their own time outside the walking day.

Best time to go

Сезонность и рекомендации
Dry autumn weather, particularly September, suits this journey. Check water separately in summer and allow for heat; clay sections matter after spring rain. Examine overnight weather carefully at either end of the season.

What to bring

Базовый список для комфортного похода
Reliable mountain footwear and poles
Water containers and purification
Food and fuel reserves
Tent and sleeping system suited to the forecast
Rain, sun and tick protection
Offline map, phone and power bank
Headtorch, first-aid kit and cash

FAQ

Questions before the trip

Can I do this route without a car?

The organiser lists railway travel from Makhachkala to Derbent and shared vehicles from Makhachkala’s Southern Bus Station. Check current departures separately. Agree departure from Kubachi beforehand: local vehicles depend on passenger demand and may not run

Is this route suitable for children?

Possible with caution: review the surface, difficult sections, and extra time for stops in advance.

Can I download GPX and KML?

Yes, GPX and KML are available on the route page. Open the map, download the file, and use it in a navigator before your trip; key route facts: 106.9 km, hard.

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