At the Arkhyz resort, a new cable car “Orbita” has just opened with gondolas running along it, two of which have a glass floor. What other surprises has the resort prepared this year?
Maria Zolotukhina: The opening of the cable car really became a high-profile event and attracted the attention of both regular and new guests – lovers of active recreation. Today, several mountain resorts are developing in the Caucasus, which gives rise to active competition: the struggle for guests is serious. Thanks to the introduction of new services and active popularization of Arkhyz in the upcoming ski season, we are preparing for full occupancy: the resort’s hotels are already more than 80 percent booked for all New Year’s holidays. I believe that this winter we will be able to welcome the millionth guest of 2024 to the resort.
The growth of the tourist flow is also stimulated by the rapidly growing number of rooms – in the near future it is planned to introduce about a thousand hotel rooms in Arkhyz. As for new entertainment, at the start of the winter season an extreme alpine swing has been opened on the northern slope, which will operate all year round at an altitude of almost 2500 meters. The new attraction is already available in the description of the resort services. In addition, there will be an updated rental of equipment for skiing and snowboarding. The start of the new ski season, which has every chance of becoming the longest in the history of the all-season resort, was given this year on November 15 – half a month earlier than usual. Thanks to the stable sub-zero temperature and the height of the snow cover, one of the tracks on the northern slope was completely ready for the arrival of the guests.
Let’s move to neighboring Sochi. At the Krasnaya Polyana Resort, they start booking winter holidays almost in the spring. Can you create, from your point of view, an ideal week of vacation here?
Maria Zolotukhina: A week is hardly enough, but this is for the best: so that there is something to come back for. The slopes at the resort are of different difficulty levels: “blue” and “green” are suitable for beginners, “red” and “black” – for more experienced skiers. Particular emotions are evoked by evening skiing along the illuminated slopes that lead to the area with restaurants. By the way, it is a common misconception that only skiing guests come in winter. We are trying to debunk this myth by building an entire ecosystem of impressions.
The length of the ski slopes of three resorts in Sochi, Karachay-Cherkessia and Adygea is 550 kilometers
Regardless of how you ended up in Krasnaya Polyana, the first attraction on your way will be Gornaya Karusel Street, which is considered the heart of the resort. There are restaurants and trendy cafes, souvenir shops and shops with local products, and musicians perform in the open areas in the evenings. There is also an unusual Museum of Friends, created by people who are endlessly in love with mountains and skiing. Among the exhibits are antique skis and equipment, old photographs, all kinds of sports equipment and climber flags. The museum often hosts excursions and master classes. But even if you don’t ski or snowboard, it’s worth coming to the mountains at least for the atmosphere and scenery – here they are incomparable to anything.
Tell us about the project that you plan to develop in the Lagonaki area. What objects will appear there and when?
Maria Zolotukhina: Construction of the year-round resort “Lagonaki” will begin next year and will take place in several stages. We assume that by its opening, which is tentatively planned for 2028, hotels with 642 rooms will be put into operation. Also, by this time, five cable cars and at least 20 kilometers of ski trails will be operational.
When developing the concept of the resort, we proceeded from the fact that all its facilities would need to fit into the local landscape. Therefore, buildings created in the neo-chalet style will have sloping roofs and facades with large windows. Another feature of the resort will be that the entire city infrastructure – hotels, restaurants, shops and rental points – will be moved outside the specially protected natural area. Only trails and lifts will remain on the slopes.
Using the principles of sustainable development has always been and remains one of our main priorities. The resort infrastructure is being formed in such a way (today gas and electricity supply facilities are already being built in the Lagonaki area) so that the impact on the environment is minimal and tourist flows are orderly.
The approved plans also include ensuring environmental control and arrangement of walking routes. According to our estimates, the implementation of the project will double the tourist flow to Adygea. Two thousand new jobs will be created, and related sectors of the economy will receive additional development. For example, it is planned to purchase Adyghe cheese, Adyghe salt, honey, seasonal vegetables, fruits and the world’s northernmost tea from local farmers.
What audience is the future resort intended for?
Maria Zolotukhina: Mainly for family. Picturesque mountains, thermal springs, national cuisine and mild climate are the main tourist advantages of Adygea. Thanks to the terrain with safe slopes, the Lagonaki trails will only be “blue” and “green”, they are suitable for beginners and children.
In general, the potential of the North Caucasus, as a key region for the development of all-season mountain tourism, is enormous. The length of the ski slopes of our three resorts in Sochi, Karachay-Cherkessia and Adygea will be 550 kilometers. This is comparable to the figure for the world’s largest ski region, the Three Valleys, which is located on the border of France, Switzerland and Italy. By creating the same network of interconnected mountain resorts in Russia, we will achieve traffic of at least five million tourists annually.
But in addition to a comfortable ride, guests also need an interesting entertainment program – especially during the New Year holidays.
Maria Zolotukhina: Of course. Therefore, our resorts formulate their offers taking into account not only last year’s demand, but also the individual wishes of guests. For example, the New Year’s program at the Krasnaya Polyana Resort this year will be aimed at developing the skills of live communication, ingenuity and team play. Children and adults will take part in the “Magic League of Santa Claus” – with interactive and quest games, performances, animation programs and dance DJ sets. Resort guests will also be able to meet the main winter wizard at his residence and take part in a large New Year’s parade.
The entertainment program at the marine cluster facilities will begin at the end of December and will last until the old New Year. A holiday in the style of the fairy tale “Twelve Months” awaits guests of Sochi Park. During this period, the “Estate of Father Frost”, a dolphinarium, “Baba Yaga’s Residence” will operate there, and the highlight of the program will be the unique circus performance “In Search of Snowdrops”.
It will be no less interesting at the resort in Karachay-Cherkessia: on New Year’s Eve, the TEXNOTAU electronic music festival starts there, which will become an annual event. Guests of the show program will be treated to the most powerful light and music installation in space style in the North Caucasus.
The Arkhyz resort is preparing for full capacity in the new ski season. Photo: Oleg Sergeev
Everyone has heard about the famous Caucasian cuisine, but there are many restaurants with haute cuisine in the resorts. What should you definitely try when you come to the Krasnodar Territory this winter?
Maria Zolotukhina: At the Krasnaya Polyana Resort there are two restaurants with original cuisine from brand chef Ilya Zakharov – Brunello and Buffett. The first serves tartlets with black caviar, sea urchin and butter cream, scallop carpaccio and veal tongue with asparagus, green peas and sheep cheese cream. In addition, you should definitely try Kamchatka crab stew, duck pate with foie gras, cherries and crispy brioche, as well as rack of lamb with burnt cucumber, mint and matsoni. The Buffet restaurant is a more democratic establishment; the menu includes European, Russian, Japanese and Pan-Asian cuisine. Ilya Zakharov plays with well-known dishes in a new way and turns them into real gastronomic hits.
Techno style
The New Year at a mountain resort in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic will be fiery. At the end of December this year, the TEXNOTAU electronic music festival starts at the famous mountain resort “Arkhyz” in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. For four days, the Soyuz (northern slope) and Milky Way (southern slope) stations will host parties, live performances, audiovisual performances and vibes with the participation of the best representatives of Russian and European electro dance music.
Source: rg.ru
