MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF THE HIGH CAUCASUS

October 2025 Update: in compliance with the latest amendment (23 October 2025) to EU Council Regulation 833/2014 / Decision 2014/512/CFSP, all tours and tourism related services to the Russian Federation are currently suspended until further notice. This page remains active for informational purposes only. Individual travellers can still legally travel to the Russian Federation without breaching international regulations, though. Russia remains open and welcoming to foreign visitors: don’t let nonsense regulations and bad press scare you away! Please contact us to learn more about your options to visit the Russian Federation, including all locations of the Ossetia Tour described hereunder, without incurring any violation to the existing sanctions against the country.

DAY 1 TO DAY 2 – Vladikavkaz and THE PLAINS

Meet-and-greet at Vladikavkaz International Airport and transfer to our hotel of choice in central Vladikavkaz.

Two days devoted to the Ossetian northern plains: the elegant capital Vladikavkaz, where Tsarist architecture, Soviet modernist shapes, traditional Ossetian churches and ancient mosques harmoniously come together; the small town of Beslan, sadly notorious due to the dramatic events of the 2004 school siege; the Soviet military city of Mozdok with its imposing memorials; Mizur, a rough-and-ready quintessential Soviet mining town home to the futuristic statue of Petr Barbashev.

Overnights in Vladikavkaz.

DAY 3 TO DAY 5 – DARGAVS AND THE OSSETIAN MOUNTAINS

The next three days will be spent travelling across the breath-taking magnificence of the Ossetian highlands: the larger-than-life monument to Saint George the Slayer in Tamisk; the mountain resort hamlet of Tsey, renowned for the pristine nature of its surroundings and the mystic atmospheres of the ancient Ossetian temples; the almost mythical settlement of Dargavs, the Ossetian City of the Dead; the gorgeous sceneries of the Alaniya National Park, close to the internal border with the Karachay-Cherkess Republic.

Dinner and overnight in Tsey.

DAY 6 – journey home or Southern Extension

After enjoying a last Ossetian-style breakfast together we'll take care of your transfer to Mineralnye Vody International Airport.

For those wishing to explore the internationally unrecognised but de-facto suzerain Republic of South Ossetia, there is a three-day South Ossetia bespoke trip option that includes the self-declared capital of Tskhinvali, the border town of Leningor, and a vast array of remote mountain hamlets and secluded monasteries. Get in touch to learn more!

End of the tour.

2450 €

The designations employed and the presentation of the material on this website do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of our company concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

ეს მედიამონიტორინგი მხოლოდ საქართველოს შესაბამისი ორგანოებისგან მოითხოვს წინასწარი თანხმობის მიღებას

ოკუპირებული ტერიტორიების შესახებ საქართველოს მოქმედი კანონების შესაბამისად, ეს ტურის შეთავაზება შეჩერებულია

The territory of the Tskhinvali Region (formerly: South Ossetian Autonomous Region) is internationally recognised as integral part of Georgia.

In compliance with the current Georgian Laws on Occupied Territories this tour offer has been suspended.

ESSENTIAL MODERN CHRONOLOGY

1922: Incorporation into the Soviet Union as an autonomous region within the Georgian SSR.
1989: Demands for more autonomy in the South Ossetia region lead to violent clashes between Georgians and Ossetians.
1991: Dissolution of the Soviet Union and consequent rise of destructive nationalist movements.
1991-1992: First Ossetian-Georgian War: South Ossetia becomes a de facto self-ruling geopolitical entity within a shattered and divided post-Soviet Georgia.
2008: Russo-Georgian War and recognition of South Ossetia’s definitive independence by the Russian Federation.

BEST TIME TO VISIT SOUTH OSSETIA

Late spring (May-June) and late summer (from mid-August to September) are ideal: comfortably warm days and slightly chilly nights. Festivities and celebrations worth travelling for include Victory Day (May 9) and Independence Day (September 20), both marked by grandiose parades and photogenic expressions of national pride.

IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL TO SOUTH OSSETIA?

Short answer: yes, definitely safe.
Long answer: while it is generally ok to walk on your own in Tskhinvali after dusk, we recommend to stick to well-lit streets and avoid walking alone when nobody’s around. South Ossetian settlements outside Tskhinvali have a bad reputation for aggressive drunk behaviours. This is only partially true, but you should be vigilant at all times when visiting those areas.

VISA AND CURRENCY

The country’s official currency is the Russian Ruble. Most upmarket establishments, such as hotels and restaurants, accept US Dollars and (sometimes) Euros. Credit card payments and ATM cash withdrawals are not a viable option at the moment (updated: May 2020).
South Ossetia visa procedure is a lengthy and complex affair. Holders of Russian passports may enter South Ossetia visa-free using their national passport, while non-Russian citizens must obtain permission from the South Ossetian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If you booked a tour to South Ossetia with us, we will take care of the entire paperwork and easily secure your visa without you having to wrestle through kafkaesque bureaucratic affairs.

LANGUAGE AND RELIGION

Russian and Ossetian (an Iranic language related to Persian and Tajik) are the two official languages of the republic. Georgian is the first language of choice for most inhabitants of Leningor. English-speakers are rare in South Ossetia but communication skills in the Caucasus easily overcome language barriers.