00Chechnya
Return to the portal's main Chechnya atlas, cities and in-depth travel guides.
Alexxx-Malev (Alexxx1979) · CC BY-SA 4.0Open guide →CAUCASUS ATLAS
Caucasus guide: countries, regions and places to visit
Explore the countries, republics, territories, cities, landscapes and cultural heritage of the North and South Caucasus through detailed travel guides.
The Bolshoy Zelenchuk river valley at Arkhyz · Photograph: Александра Пучкова (sanechka_puchkova) · CC BY-SA 4.001 · CAUCASUS ATLAS
Start with the Caucasus at a glance
The Caucasus is not one country. Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are sovereign South Caucasus states. Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia and the other North Caucasus republics are distinct administrative units within the Russian Federation. This guide explains each place through its status, geography, culture and practical visitor context.
Last updated · 27 August 202602 · ROUTE FINDER
Which Caucasus route fits you?
Choose your time, interests and pace; compare the best-fit region, gateway bases and trip flow.
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See eight Caucasus routes side by side
Filter by cities, nature, heritage or food, then compare bases, duration, pace and route character at a glance.
02 · CAUCASUS ATLAS
North Caucasus
Mountain passes, tower settlements, canyons, spa towns and many distinct local cultures.
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01Places to visit in the North Caucasus: an eight-region route atlas
A sourced North Caucasus guide to tower villages, canyons, historic cities, national parks and the Caucasian Mineral Waters, from Dagestan to Adygea.
Александра Пучкова (sanechka_puchkova) · CC BY-SA 4.0Open guide →
02Places to visit in Dagestan: from Derbent to mountain villages
A sourced five-to-seven-day Dagestan itinerary covering Derbent, Sulak Canyon, Sarykum, Gunib, Chokh, Gamsutl, Khunzakh and Samur.
Alexander Novikov · CC BY-SA 4.0Open guide →
03Places to visit in Ingushetia: Jeyrakh and the tower valleys
A sourced three-day Ingushetia guide to Magas, Jeyrakh, Erzi, Targim, Khamkhi, Egikal, Thaba-Erdy and Vovnushki.
Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0Open guide →
04Places to visit in North Ossetia–Alania: Vladikavkaz to Digoria
A sourced four-to-five-day North Ossetia–Alania guide to Vladikavkaz, Kurtat Gorge, Dargavs, Midagrabin, Tsey and Digoria.
Александр Байдуков · CC BY-SA 4.0Open guide →
05Places to visit in Kabardino-Balkaria: Nalchik, Elbrus and three valleys
A sourced five-day Kabardino-Balkaria route covering Nalchik, the Elbrus area, Chegem, Cherek–Upper Balkaria, the Blue Lakes and Bezengi.
Baze1evs · CC BY-SA 4.0Open guide →
06Places to visit in Karachay-Cherkessia: Dombay, Teberda and Arkhyz
A sourced five-to-six-day route through Dombay, Teberda National Park, the Baduk Lakes, Arkhyz, the Lower Arkhyz churches and the SAO observatory.
Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0Open guide →
07Places to visit in Adygea: from Maykop to Lago-Naki
A sourced four-day Adygea guide to Maykop, Khadzhokh Gorge, Rufabgo Falls, the Lago-Naki plateau, Azish Cave and Guzeripl.
RusRec13 · CC BY-SA 3.0Open guide →
08Places to visit in Stavropol Krai: the Caucasian Mineral Waters route
A sourced five-day culture, park and city route through Stavropol, Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk, Yessentuki, Zheleznovodsk and the Caucasian Mineral Waters.
Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0Open guide →03 · CAUCASUS ATLAS
South Caucasus
City, landscape, architecture and food routes across Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
01Georgia travel guide: from Tbilisi to Svaneti
A sourced Georgia itinerary guide connecting Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Kazbegi, Kakheti, Kutaisi, Svaneti and Batumi without rushing the country.
Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0Open guide →
02Azerbaijan travel guide: Baku, Shaki and Caucasus mountain villages
A sourced 7–12 day Azerbaijan guide to Baku, Gobustan, Absheron, Lahij, Gabala, Shaki, Guba and Khinalig.
Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0Open guide →
03Armenia travel guide: Yerevan, Sevan and monastery routes
A sourced 7–10 day Armenia plan covering Yerevan, Garni, Geghard, Echmiadzin, Sevan, Dilijan, Gyumri and Lori.
Սէրուժ Ուրիշեան (Serouj Ourishian) · CC BY-SA 3.0Open guide →04 · FAQ
Quick answers about the Caucasus
01Is the Caucasus a country?+
No. The Caucasus is a broad geographic and cultural region between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea, commonly discussed as the North and South Caucasus.
02Which three sovereign states make up the South Caucasus?+
Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are the three internationally recognised sovereign states of the South Caucasus.
03Where can I find more information about Chechnya?+
The Chechnya card on this page opens the portal's detailed guide to its cities, culture and travel planning.
Last updated · 27 August 2026
Geography and status sources
Core references used to frame the region, administrative terms and the distinction between countries and regions.