The Crimean Peninsula located in the South of Ukraine has always been a crossroad between East and West, a combination of the history of Byzantium and Golden Horde, Tatars and Cossacks, first Christian churches and mosques. Archeologists claim that humans first appeared in this area thousands of years ago. Crimea attracted Cimmerians, Scythians, Hellenes, Goths and other ancient tribes. The Crimean Peninsula was a strategic part of the Great Silk Way. A great number of peoples have walked on Crimean roads contributing their customs and traditions to this land.

This is a unique combination of mountains and the sea, rivers and lakes, boundless steppes and abundant forests. Located almost in equidistance from the equator and the North Pole the Peninsula is washed by waters of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Owing to the Crimean Mountains, a subtropical oasis is located at the Southern coast of the Peninsula. The Crimean Southern coast is not less than fortunate to Nice and other Mediterranean resorts in terms of sunny days per year. The coast will greet you with typical subtropical flora like palm trees, figs, and magnolia. In Crimea, one can find a small plant - dictamnus angustifolius educing flammable ether exhalations without the flame touching the plant. The Bible says that God first appeared to Moses exactly out of this plant. The coast also preserves pre-glacial flora such as pistachio, and juniper trees close to a millennium of age. The well-known Nikitsky Botanical Garden near Yalta has a collection of 1400 species and 300 varieties of plants representing a large range of the world’s flora.

The Crimean shores keep numerous landmarks such as ancient settlements, hidden towns and sanctuaries, monasteries and mosques, the ruins of Chersoneses in Sevastopol, Byzantine  fortresses in the Alushta Valley, Genoese fortifications near Sudak and Balacklava, the Vorontsovsky, Massandra, and Imperial Livadiia palaces turned into museums, the Swallow Nest Castle located on a steep rock.

Walking along the seashore one can nothing but admire the mountainous landscapes. The great Crimean Canyon is considered a natural wonder. Here, travelers will find basins and baths struck by water streams. The most known of them is The Bath of Youth with 11°C degree water temperature all year round.

The 150-170 million years old Karadag Vulcan amazes with its peaks, walls, towers and grottoes. The Jemerji Mountain Top changes its color through a day. Fantastic monsters, stone idols, strange birds and animals can be seen on its steep slopes. This is the Ghost Valley guarded by a magnificent statue of the Mountain Guard.
Crimea boasts 900 caves. The Marble Cave on the slopes of the Chatyr-Dag Plato is among Europe’s top-five most beautiful, well maintained and well-serviced caves.

You, too, are invited to discover the charming and eternal beauty of Crimea created by Nature and by Man.